I needed air and space to think about everything the elders had dumped on me so I headed for the gardens behind the main house. The same gardens where I used to hide from everyone when things got overwhelming in my old life, except now they were supposedly mine and not just a place where the unwanted omega went to cry.

Lily caught up with me as I was pushing through the heavy wooden doors that led outside and she looked concerned in that big sister way that made my chest hurt.

"Iris, you look ...