To ruin an Omega novel Chapter 295

Chapter 295: Stranger in stranger places

HAZEL

The car rolled to a stop in front of the estate and my breath caught in my throat.

Lily of the Valley’s main house sprawled before us like something out of a fever dream. It was perfectly cut stone, stained glass and full of architectural ambition. It made SilverCreek look like a cottage. The sheer size of it pressed down on me. This was where I would live now. This massive monument to wealth and power that belonged to people who mostly probably didn’t want me here.

The door opened. A sentinel stood there, his hand extended to help me out. I took it because that was what fucking proper Lunas did. My heels hit the gravel drive and I straightened my spine.

Delta climbed out from the front. Her eyes were huge as she stared up at the building. I didn’t blame her.

Movement drew my attention to the entrance. The front doors opened and someone walked out.

Lysander.

My stomach did this stupid flip thing that I hated. He looked good. Too good in his dark trousers and white shirt that fit him perfectly. His hair was neat. His posture was relaxed but somehow still commanding.

And his face was completely blank when he looked at me.

I smiled anyway. It was the brightest and warmest I could handle. Everything a bride-to-be should be when seeing her future husband. "Hello."

He didn’t return the smile. His gaze slid past me to the car behind me. To my grandparents.

"Alpha Dimitri. Luna Pauline. Welcome to Lily of the Valley."

Grandmother stepped out of the car with Grandfather following. She gave Lysander a pleasant nod. "Thank you for having us, Alpha Lysander."

"Please, come inside. My father isn’t around. But we have refreshments prepared and rooms ready if you’d like to stay the night."

"That won’t be necessary." Grandfather spoke for the first time since we’d gotten in the car. His voice was gruff and as dismissive. "We’re just here to drop her off."

Her. Not Hazel. Not my granddaughter. Just ’her’.

Lysander nodded like that was perfectly reasonable. "Of course. I understand you must be busy."

Grandmother smiled at him. The kind of smile she never gave me. It was warm and almost affectionate. "You’re very gracious. We appreciate you taking Hazel in like this."

Taking me in. Like I was some stray being offered shelter instead of the bride entering her future home.

"It’s no trouble at all," Lysander said. His tone was polite. Perfectly courteous. He still hadn’t looked at me.

The sentinels were already unloading my luggage from the boot. Bag after bag appeared. There was still something jarring about seeing my entire life packed into leather cases and designer bags.

"Well then." Grandmother Pauline turned to me. She placed a hand on my shoulder. It was brief and it felt impersonal. "Behave yourself, Hazel. Make us, and if not us, make yourself proud. You have lost enough."

"I will."

Grandfather grunted something that might have been goodbye. But he was already heading back to the car before I could even decipher it.

Grandmother followed. Neither of them hugged me. Neither of them said they’d miss me or that they’d visit soon or anything that resembled actual family affection.

They just left.

Lysander stood beside me and watched them go. He even waved. This small gesture of farewell that looked so genuine it made my chest tight.

The car pulled away. Down the long drive. Through the gates. And just like that they were gone.

I was alone. Well, not alone. Delta stood behind me like a shadow. But alone in every way that mattered.

"Omegas."

Lysander’s voice cut through my thoughts. Several Omegas appeared from the house. They moved quickly and efficiently towards my luggage.

"Take these to the guest wing. The blue room."

The blue room? What the heck was that? Because the guest room or the fuck-ass blue room didn’t sound like his room. It probably wasn’t even anywhere near his room. What he saw me as was a guest.

The Omegas bowed and started gathering my bags. They struggled a bit with the weight but none of them deemed it smart to carry it two at a time. It was pathetic to watch.

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