Heron Lake Plateau Could be stuck here and happy

Obviously, she knew Niamh wasn't pulling her leg. This was no joking matter. But Towhee struggled to make sense of this unexpected betrayal. Why did she have to move there? Why was she even getting back together with Colt? It hit her like a slap to the face: maybe Niamh really just wanted kids so badly, she'd take back that piece of shit and blow up everything else in her life to have them? The Beta didn't want to think that of her Person—or entertain the hideous thought that Quixote was absolutely right about her, after all—but what other explanation was there?

Niamh didn't bother trying to explain, either. She just offered an apology, which hit Towhee like a second punch to the gut. "WOW," she said loudly, a flash of fire crawling beneath her skin. She felt like she was about to spontaneously combust—literally.