Here's Friday's chapter, bright and early (at least in my time zone!)

Hope you guys like it.

Next update is this Sunday, so check back soon! 

Dedicated to @floatsus for coming back to STAWP after all this time! 

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Saffron

"No one will think less of you if you go upstairs and take a little nap." Luna pats me on the shoulder. "You've been through a lot in the last couple of days."

I smile at Luna. She's such a sweet, caring person. I just don't understand how she ended up married to someone like POW. It can't be easy on her. "Are you sure you don't need help?"

"We'll be fine. I got Darren here on kitchen duty so he can spend some time with his dads." She gestures at the group.

"If you're sure..." I hesitate. When Luna nods encouragingly, I turn toward the door, and then turn back to look at her one last time. She smiles at me warmly and I make my way upstairs.

The moment I exit the dining room, I get completely freaked out about running into POW. . What if he thinks skipping kitchen duty was my idea? What if I tell him it was Luna's, and he doesn't believe me? What it he thinks I'm lazy and slacking and lashes out with his fists first and asks questions later?

I peek into the hall when I reach the fourth floor landing but there is no sign of the Pissed Off Wolf. Holding my breath, I walk down the carpeted floor on the balls of my feet, careful not to make a sound. When I reach my room, I turn the doorknob gently and quietly slip inside.

The lights are still on from when POW turned them on earlier and I flip them off. As soon as the room is engulfed in darkness, it feels like the middle of the night again, and I climb back into bed. I'm exhausted, not just from the lack of sleep I've gotten over the last two days, but also from the weeks leading up to it.

Dad's been especially angry for the last two weeks; I guess he was stressed from all the gambling he was doing. He's woken me in the middle of the night, beat me within inches of my life, tested my limits, and made my life a living hell. It's really no wonder that I fall asleep the instant my head touches the pillow.

I'm not sure how much time passes before I wake up again. It feels like I just closed my eyes and then someone's hand is on my shoulder, gently shaking me awake.

"Saffron?" A soft, musical voice calls out. "Safie, dear, wake up." The house smells like frying meat, the way it does in the mornings when Mom makes breakfast. For a split second, my sleep-addled brain actually expects to find her sitting at the edge of my bed. Then I realize that Mom's gone at it's just me and Dad now.

I sit up abruptly and it takes me several seconds to figure out where I am. I'm really, really getting tired of doing that. I think I'm in the room I share with Zara again, then realize I already went through that, and wonder how long it will take before I'm used to whichever room it is I wake up in.

I look around and sunlight is streaming in through a large window. Luna is sitting on the edge of my bed, smiling at me. "I didn't mean to startle you," she says gently.

"You didn't." I smile shyly.

"Here." Luna places a breakfast tray on my lap. There are two plates, the larger one heaped to the brim with various types of meat, and the smaller one holding a stack of pancake with a side of eggs. There's also a glass of orange juice on the tray, and a fork.

My eyes brim with tears as I look up at Luna. I should be the one serving her breakfast in bed, not the other around. Why is she doing this for me? Taking care of me in a way that I don't remember anyone doing since Mom died?

"I know you've had a rough couple of days, but things will get better. I promise." Luna gives me a gentle smile. "Now, go on, before the food gets cold."

I nod and try not to cry as I pick up my fork. Before Dad sold me to POW, I never cried. I could fake tears as part of my Omega act, but it had been years since I'd shed real tears. Nothing got to me, not cuts, not bruises, not even broken bones. Now, practically everything makes me want to cry. Dad's betrayal, my feelings for Logan, and now even Luna's gentle voice. Maybe she's right, and the last couple of days have been a lot harder on me than I thought.

Once I start eating, Luna gets up and walks over to the closet. Inside, all my clothes—well, Zara's clothes, technically—are neatly folded and put away. There are the three pairs of shoes—the boots, sneakers, and flip flops that once belonged to Jes—as well as Dad's old duffle bag and the backpack that holds all the stuff I packed to run away. I pale slightly and look at Luna, but she doesn't seem the least bit suspicious.

"What would you like to wear today?" Luna asks, looking through the clothes.

"I'll find something," I tell her, spearing a slice of sausage with my fork. "You don't need to—"

"Oh, I don't mind," Luna tells me, picking a pair of black pants and a plain black t-shirt from the closet. She looks at them for a seconds and sets them at the foot of my bed. The outfit's a little plain, but who am I to complain? As long as she doesn't go through my backpack, I'm happy.

"Thanks," I say, "but you didn't have to bring all my clothes up. Alpha said I'm only staying in this room for one night."

"We talked it over and decided you'd be more comfortable on this floor," Luna tells me. By 'more comfortable' she probably means 'close' so they can keep an eye on. "Zara and Jasper are going to be just down the hall, as will Logan, Alpha and I."

That gives me pause. It'd be nice to have Zara next door, and Luna too. The thought of POW nearby is a little terrifying, and the thought of Logan on the same floor makes my heart race for a completely different reason.

"Why don't you finish your breakfast and get ready for school?" Luna asks me.

"What time is it?" I've completely forgotten about school.

Luna checks her phone. "Almost ten."

"Oh, no," I gasp, scrambling out of bed and setting the tray full of food on the nightstand.

"You can finish eating first." Luna chuckles. "I called the school and I'll give you a note. You just looked so exhausted, I thought I should let you sleep."

"Thanks." I climb back onto the bed and shovel food into my mouth.

"Jasper and Zara only came down to breakfast half an hour ago and I asked Logan to skip first period so the four of you can go to school together." She heads for the door. "I'll let you get dressed. Come downstairs when you're done."

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Did you like this chapter? 

Do you think Saff should trust Luna? 

Do you want to see Mr. Hanks again, or a new class/teacher? 

Can you guess what will happen next?

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