Chapter 47 #2
“I may not have a bark, but I can bite,” Nicole snaps. “There’s an emergency signal on this pole. You have less than twenty seconds to leave or I will push it.”
I didn’t even realize she was moving us closer to the streetlight with the emergency alarm meant to make students feel safe walking around at night. My mother’s eye goes straight to it, and she immediately takes a step back.
“I’m leaving,” she announces, not wanting to cause a scene. “We’ll talk later, Veronica.”
And then she walks away, leaving me arm in arm with someone else who hates me. I hope she can’t feel how sweaty I’ve become.
The silence lingers, and I’m almost afraid to speak, thinking it might ruin the moment.
She saves me from having to break the silence. “You don’t have to say thank you. I really don’t deserve it.”
I eye her warily. “Why did you do that? You didn’t have to intervene.”
“Yes, I did,” she says, and then she huffs out a breath. “Look, there’s things you don’t know. Things that… explain why I am the way I am. I’m trying really hard to not let it overcome me, but it’s hard.”
I arch a brow, even more confused than before.
When she sees that her words didn’t explain anything, she goes on.
“I got a tongue lashing from my parents at Thanksgiving. And I was supposed to talk to you sooner, you know, to apologize , but my ego got in the way. It’s always my damn ego.
” She hangs her head, ashamed. “I’m really sorry.
Not just for acting out at Thanksgiving, but for everything before that.
I thought it would be okay to stop taking my meds and to not go to therapy because I was better , but that was the whole point.
” She waves a hand at herself, realizing she’s going into a rant.
“My issues are my issues, not yours. I’m sorry for everything I’ve said over the last few months.
I honestly can’t even remember all of it.
I’m back on my meds now, so I’m thinking more clearly. ”
I nod, but still don’t know what to say. She’s clearly been struggling, so I don’t want to add onto it with any more guilt or anger.
But her apology, I’ll gladly accept. Especially if it means we’re one step closer to mending things. Dax is my mate, we’re bonded. She’s going to be in my life forever. I’d like to spend that time without any hostility.
“I forgive you,” I finally say and the look of relief on her face is amazing to see, like the words have literally taken a heavy weight off of her shoulders.
Before she can say anything else, there’s movement nearby. A car pulls up swiftly—but crookedly—into a parking spot before three alpha bodies get out in a rush.
When they see us, my mates rush forward quickly.
“What the hell is going on?!” Dax exclaims, and I can see the anger there immediately.
Nicole winces at the alpha tone, looking much more vulnerable than she did facing my alpha mother.
“I thought you knew you couldn’t mess with her anymore, Nicole.
Why the hell are you so determined to make my mate’s life miserable? ”
I find my voice, holding my hands up in surrender. “It wasn’t Nicole,” I say quickly, trying to grab their attention with the frantic movement of my arms. “She’s not the reason why I called you.”
The air between us immediately changes as the hurried motion between them slows to a stop. “It wasn’t Nicole?” Dax asks and the guilt immediately reflects on his face. “Then who was it?”
“Her bitch of a mother,” Nicole responds. “Seriously, that woman was a piece of work. ”
All of their eyes widen. “What?” Jett is at my side in an instant, looking me over.
Everett sees the bruise first. He holds my arm gently to inspect it. “Did she do that to you?!”
I cringe a little but decide to tell the truth. “Yeah, she was angry. She wants me to transfer over the inheritance. I’m pretty sure she’ll keep trying until there’s nothing left.”
Dax lets out a growl. “My parents know the best attorneys. We can get you a restraining order quickly.”
“I’ll call Mom right now and take care of it,” Nicole says and then looks sternly at my mates. “You guys just take care of your omega.”
She pulls her phone out and walks away, leaving me alone with my alphas. They all look in her direction, all clearly confused by the sudden change in heart from Nicole, but quickly turn their attention back to me.
“Are you okay, Rory?” Jett asks me, trying not to hover but keeping a close eye on every muscle in my face in case I try to lie.
But I don’t want to lie. They’re my safe place. I feel comfortable telling them the truth.
“Honestly? No. I didn’t expect to see her and it really fucked with my nervous system, I think.” I still feel a bit jumpy, like she’ll pop back out from behind their parked car.
“Just tell us what you need and we will make it happen,” Everett tells me. “Do you want to skip rehearsal? I will march in there right now and tell Chapman that you won’t be attending, no questions asked.”
His leading qualities are peeking out from behind where he keeps them hidden and it makes me smile.
I let my hand cradle his cheek, thrumming my finger across his skin softly.
“I know you would do that for me, and more, but I don’t want to skip rehearsal.
I actually think it would help. There’s something that’s been on my mind, some lines that I’ve been tripping over—” I look at Jett because he knows exactly which lines those are.
“I think I finally know how I’m going to deliver them. ”
I peer out into the tiny room where rehearsals are being held, imagining the seats filled with bodies.
I turn back to Nicole—Lady Capulet—as she tells her daughter of her betrothal to Paris.
She speaks as a mother who has accepted their roles in society, of their lower standing on the hierarchy.
One who despises Lord Capulet, but still obeys him. Juliet will not do the same.
“Madam, in happy time, what day is that?”
I say it with vitriol, both complying and letting my bitterness show.
Nicole sees the change I make, knowing that we have had an unnatural dialogue with this scene before, and takes it exactly in the direction that I intended.
We are no longer at odds, so our characters aren’t either.
Juliet’s mother plays the part, speaks in riddles, and lets Juliet know that she sees right through her, but she does not disapprove.
She tells her the time of the wedding, something that she will long regret doing by the end of this tragedy.
The new tone of the scene feels right, and when Chapman ends rehearsal, I am practically floating.
Our pack meets us outside, standing nearby in case I need them after the event in the parking lot earlier, but there’s no more anxiety.
There is only giddiness and triumph. There is only my alpha’s hand in mine as he jokes with his new brothers. There is only love, in its purest form.
And just like the scene, it feels right.