Once Upon A Pack (Royalverse #1)

Chapter 55

fifty-five

“IVY!”

The room is a blur of bellows and running footsteps. My mind feels farther and farther away, like I have to peer down a long tunnel to see what’s happening. But a much deeper, stronger part knows without sight— they’re all here .

My alphas came for me.

The burned, bitter scents swirling around the apartment are sort of a giveaway. Even without those, I have a feeling my Omega would know they were here; the way some piece of my soul seemed to snap to attention every time Dair stared at me. Or when Asher would walk past. Or if Bast smiled at someone else.

My baron isn’t smiling at all now. It isn’t the first time I’ve seen him so serious, but he’s never radiated pure fear before.

“Ivy,” Bast gasps, practically ripping me from Dair’s arms. I expect my duke to snap, but he chooses to direct his rage at Matilda, growling a low explanation to the others while he snarls at her.

I blink, my brain bumbling through the motions. Recognizing Sebastian. Cataloging his expression. Then Dair’s fierce face, all harsh lines and the feral gleam of protectiveness. Before it moves on to Asher, who’s directing his security to drag my aunt off the floor…

I barely care. All I can think is that they’re really here . And as that sinks in, I start sobbing.

Bast hums, tucking my body into his and dropping onto the nearest chair, rocking us. “Sweet angel, it’s okay. I have you.”

Lord . His voice is enough to have me squirming in his lap—the place between my thighs throbbing. When I whine, he presses his lips to my forehead for a long second.

“You’re hot,” he mutters.

A delusional giggle bubbles under my tears. “You, too.”

That only draws deeper lines across his expression. His ocean eyes gloss with tears. “Fucking hell,” he whispers. “I’ve never been so scared, angel. I thought you’d gone. And all I could think was?—”

He swallows, weak cloud-filtered light catching in his golden hair as he shakes his head. “I thought I’d never get to tell you how much I love you.”

Tears blaze paths down my cheeks. “Y-you do?”

His smile is somehow even more breathtaking with pain pulling at his eyes. The hurt underlines just how heart-stopping his happiness is.

“Not sure I’ve ever loved anything quite like this,” he confesses, an adorable beat of bewilderment evaporating some of the worry furrowing his brow.

I try to smile, but it just sends new droplets down my face. “I love you, too, Bast. You’re my—” I pant around a stabbing cramp. “—best friend.”

His entire face glows, beaming back at me. He leans close and steals a soft kiss, murmuring, “Shh. We won’t tell Asher.”

“I heard that.”

The prince’s dry mutter interrupts as he falls to his knees beside Bast’s feet. His bitter bergamot scent does nothing to discourage the wetness seeping into my panties despite the intense frown on his face.

Ash brushes my bangs back with careful fingers, so gentle that fresh tears rise to my eyes. “Goose,” he breathes. “ Never scare me like that again. You can go anywhere you want, but you have to tell me so I can keep you safe .”

Dair glares at the open door. Where— oh —I guess they just hauled Matilda out. He keeps his murderous gaze on the exit as he replies, “Ivy wanted to surprise us. She was trying to get the last of her stuff and bring it home.”

Bast’s bone-melting purr deepens, and he hugs me. Another tingly shiver wracks my body. Slick slides out of me, wetting his lap, but he only hums, scent-marking me with his cheek against my crown.

“ Home ,” Asher repeats, his hazel eyes glowing. “Is that right, omega?”

I nod against his palm. “I want to bond,” I beg him. “P-please alpha. I want us to be bonded, but I—I don’t think I want to wait. I’d rather do it with just the four of us, in private.”

When he keeps gazing at me, I ramble, “I know it isn’t what your parents were hoping for, and I’m so sor?—”

He kisses me suddenly, cutting off the apology. When he pulls back, he whispers, “My queen doesn’t apologize to me. Especially not for this.”

He flicks a look up at Bast. “You’re right.” Then, to me, “You’re too warm, Ivy. We need to get you out of here and back to your nest. We can bond at the end of your heat—that’s the best time for your Omega, though I’m not sure if I’ll be able to wait that long.”

His wry half-smile does crazy things to my heart. I can feel it sealing itself back together, the new cracks filled with pure gold. I sob another watery laugh, nodding my fervent agreement.

Asher’s eyes soften with pure adoration. “Let’s go home,” he murmurs. “Did you get what you need to take with us?”

I shake my head, voice trembling with more tears. “They got rid of my mother’s things. And her ashes… I can’t find them.”

Dair growls low and abruptly stalks off. Bast watches him with exasperation, but Asher only scowls mildly, bending to pluck up one of the pill bottles I dropped when Matilda grabbed me.

“Th-those aren’t mine,” I explain as he scans the label. “Sh-she was… drugging me. And my mother. Since I was sixteen.”

“ What ?” Bast hisses.

Asher reels back, a bolt of pure rage cracking across his gaze like lightning. “ Why ?”

I do my best to muddle through an explanation, but honestly? I don’t understand it much myself.

I get that Matilda didn’t appreciate having to take care of Mama after my father died… and I think I can empathize with being a beta and wishing I could have mates like an omega would.

But even that… is an excuse.

These men didn’t fall for me because I’m an omega. They all knew me before—they all liked me before. Even Dair, in his own dark way—letting me take care of him that night in the alleyway, all his vulnerable rambling and begging me not to leave.

After months of courting every eligible omega in the universe, none of them ever wanted those women the way they desire me. Because how the guys love me has nothing to do with what I am.

It’s who I am.

I’m what they love.

I’m what’s made them whole .

And that’s the last coherent thought I have before hazy darkness closes in.