The Omega Mated To The Four

Chapter 65

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The Omega: Mated To The Four

Chapter Sixty Five

When Commander Lynne finally released me from my punishment, didn't waste any time. My legs ached, my shoulders screamed, and my pride-thought

battered—remained intact. Ignoring the lingering stares and murmured conversations of the onlookers, I trudged straight to my room. I couldn't deal with their curiosity or their pity. I just wanted to be alone.

The evening dragged on. I sat in my room, staring at the walls, my mind a whirlwind of emotions. Anger simmered beneath the surface, mixing with betrayal and an ache I couldn't quite name. Eli's words from earlier-about the lot drawing-still echoed in my mind. It felt like I was some kind of prize, a game piece they'd passed around without a second thought.

A knock at the door startled me. For a moment, I considered ignoring it. But when the voice on the other side called out, my resolve faltered.

"Stormi, it's me," Elijah said, his voice soft, almost hesitant.

I stayed silent, my arms crossed tightly over my chest as I stared at the door.

"Please," he said again, and this time, there was something raw in his tone- regret, maybe even desperation. "Can we talk?"

I debated for a long moment before finally relenting. I stood, crossing the room and pulling the door open just enough to meet his gaze.

"What do you want?" I asked, my tone colder than I intended.

Elijah stepped inside cautiously, his hands raised as though to show he wasn't a threat. His hair was slightly disheveled, and dark circles lined his eyes. It was clear he hadn't been sleeping well.

wanted to explain," he began, his voice steady but soft. "I owe

what, exactly? How you and the others decided

his features. "It wasn't like

let out a bitter scoff, the anger flaring

through his hair, his frustration evident. "I know it looks bad. Hell, it is bad. But it wasn't about reducing you to... to a game or

my voice rising. "Because from where I'm standing, that's exactly what

looks like."

"It

blinked, caught off

were trying to figure out how to handle things without stepping on each other's toes. We didn't want to argue over who got to spend time with you or-" He

my chest tightening.

voice quieter now. "We didn't think at all. We were so focused on trying to navigate this...

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Chapter Sixty Five

say. The sincerity in his voice as disarming, but it wasn't

voice trembling, "Was that part of your 'game,' too? Some

head snapped up, his eyes locking

for any sign of deceit, but all I saw was a taw vulnerability that made my

was

his words pressing against my chest You hurt me, Elijah,” I said quietly, my voice breaking. "All of you did. Do you have any idea what that feels like? To know the people who are supposed to care about you treated

"And I spend the rest

tension between us almost suffocating. For the first time, I saw a flicker of something in his eyes-fear, maybe. Fear that

me.

just our mate, Stormi,” he said after a