Chapter 19
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Saint Cage, Haven
“ W ow.” I stand in the center of the kitchen, staring around myself in amazement.
“I had it redecorated,” Thomas says. “Vito helped me with some ideas. He grudgingly doesn’t appear to want to rip off my balls any longer. I thought that it’d feel more like home to you, if it was made up in the Dough Knot’s colors. I want this to be your home, as much as it’s mine. I refuse to call it a cage any longer.”
Thomas did all of this for me, since I moved in? Is this why he’s been so late coming to bed each night?
Not only has he been working insanely long hours but he’s also been adapting the kitchen as a surprise for me.
No wonder he’s had such deep shadows underneath his eyes. I’m amazed that he hasn’t collapsed from sleep deprivation.
He still manages to look gorgeous in his navy suit.
I feel comfortable, however, in my relaxed leather trousers and black t-shirt.
The kitchen is like a burst of bright joy, amidst the cold grandeur of the Saint Estate.
Vinyl records and books line the kitchen in deep alcoves.
The cabinets and counters are pink. The walls are bright violet, and the floor is sparkling purple.
A familiar happiness and calm washes over me.
It pulls me back to dawn mornings with me kneading bread and baking cupcakes in the Dough Knot.
Thomas did this for me.
It’s both thoughtful and romantic.
When I take a deep breath, I’m shocked to smell the familiar sweet scent of vanilla, cinnamon, and baked bread of my bakery kitchen.
Thomas must be piping in the scent.
I’ve adapted to no longer having enhanced scent abilities. I’m certain that I still have a better sense of smell than other Omegas. But it no longer overwhelms me. I don’t suffer from side effects like migraines or nausea.
The strength of my bonds mean that I can control how much it affects me, rather than being driven to my knees by sensory overload.
The world feels like it’s opened to me, rather than attacking me all the time.
Life has been returned to me.
I’d made my peace with dying. But this is my second chance.
I won’t let Raylan or anyone else take that away from me.
Thomas is hesitating in the doorway, trying not to show how nervous he is about my reaction.
But I can tell that he is.
I can see beneath his mask now.
I rush to Thomas, wrapping my arms around him. “I love it. I can’t believe that you did all this.”
I’m amazed that Thomas has such a level of understanding about my needs.
Vito is the only Alpha who’s shown me that he understands Omegas need the scent and feel of their familiar territory. And Vito’s many things but he’s more of a party, beer, and pizza guy.
Vito’s a loving brother. But he’s not Thomas, who’s a serious, hardworking Alpha.
To have Thomas’ focus on you is intimidating.
It’s beyond obsession.
It always was. At high school, he only needed to look at me to feel like we were the only two people in the world.
Thomas tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “Don’t you remember my profile on the app? I love cooking too. We must have somewhere to cook together.”
I smile. “I can’t wait. This is kind.”
“No one calls me kind anymore.”
“They should.”
“I have something else to show you.”
Thomas kisses me lightly on my lips, before tugging on my arm that’s wound around his waist. I reluctantly release him, and he grasps my hand instead.
He pulls me on to a large oak table in the middle of the kitchen.
“I had this commissioned from an Omega carpenter, who’s secretly working in the center of Haven.” Thomas proudly studies the table. “They worked nonstop to have it ready in time. You see, there are more Omegas being inspired every day to fight for their dreams. We simply have to support them.”
I lovingly trace over the pictures that are burned onto the top of the oak.
They’re beautiful and they represent our pack.
A peacock, snake, gargoyle, and ghost.
“This house belongs to us,” Thomas says. “Soon, the entire pack will as well. Most of the Betas no longer follow Dad. I know those who do and those who don’t. It’ll be easy to divide and conquer. Is it a prison, if you could leave at any time but are choosing to stay?”
I blink. “What do you mean?”
Thomas doesn’t reply but drops my hand in order to reach for something that lies on the wooden bench next to the table.
“I have one more surprise. Vito risked meeting me to give me this. He says that it belonged to your mom and is the most important thing that you own.” Thomas cocks his head, reaching to stroke over the aquamarine pendant that’s hanging around my neck. “I gave you the most important thing that I own.”
I draw in a sharp breath. The pendant was the only thing that he had left of his mom’s.
And the cookbook that he’s holding out is my mom’s.
My eyes smart with happy tears. “Shit, thank you. Vito and you are both awesome. I owe you a drink.”
“I’m going to take you up on that. To think that when you told me over the app that you were looking through a cookbook, I thought you were flirting with me.”
“I was telling the truth but I was also flirting.”
“My messaging with you was the highlight of every day. You challenged me in a way that made me fucking hard.”
Thomas leans against the table, and the material of his suit trousers pulls tight, revealing the outline of his cock.
I can tell how hard I’m making him.
I try not to be distracted.
Determined, I place the cookbook down on the table over the picture of the snake.
I stroke my thumb over the cookbook’s stiff pink cover with the donut logo, smiling softly. It’s still gritty with sugar and old cookie dough.
“Mom was an incredible baker,” I tell Thomas. I want to share this with him. He’s already trusted me with so much. He deserves for me to do the same. “I get my love for baking from her. When I was little, however, Dad sold Mom to the Institute. I didn’t even get to say goodbye. One of my Alpha sisters, Gia, managed to save this cookbook for me because she knew how much it’d mean to me. But Dad burned everything else of hers. It’s why Vito and I are close. In the Saint pack, you never knew whether you were going to be sold or sent away like Link was.”
Thomas’ gaze is achingly sad.
He places his hands on my shoulders. “I swear, I’ll battle every day of my life to prove that I’m not that kind of Alpha. None of you need to fear being sent away or rejected. You’re my forever Omega, sweet venom. I’d die for you.”
“I know.”
And I do.
But that doesn’t mean we’re safe. Thomas doesn’t promise that we are either.
I’m glad that he doesn’t.
I glance away from Thomas’ piercing stare back at the cookbook. “What if I honor Mom and every Omega who was sold like her by using her secret chocolate cake recipe in the Haven Festival?”
Thomas’ strong hand caresses from my shoulder to clasp the base of my neck. “That’s a great idea. I’m proud of you.”
I bite my lip, as ideas swirl through my mind.
I love this best: The thrilling creativity that comes, when I’m planning new designs.
It’s an adrenaline rush.
“I have an idea for the cake.” I quirk my lips. “But I’m not telling you. It’s going to be a surprise.”
“Tease.”
“Oh?” Mischievously, I push closer to Thomas, slipping my hand between us to brush across the tight material that strains over his crotch, being careful to not quite give him the pressure that I know he’s craving.
He sucks in a sharp breath. “Like I said, tease.”
“Do you need some help edging our Alpha?” Lincoln’s voice calls from the doorway.
I laugh, glancing around.
Lincoln’s leaning in the doorway in his fancy suit, looking relaxed.
He whistles. “Good job on nesting. You’re taking over this joint with your glitter bomb style.”
Thomas snorts with amusement.
Then my eyes widen.
Ghost swaggers past Lincoln, studying the kitchen with admiration.
Ghost’s breathing deeply like he’s savoring each smell, determined not to miss any sensation of his first time out of the basement.
His feet are bare, but he has one of Thomas’ white work shirts open loosely over his tatty t-shirt and jeans.
He’s also carefully slicked back his platinum curls, making his masculine features appear even sharper.
This is the first time that I’ve seen him in the natural light, and his skin is more flawlessly pale than I’d imagined.
He’s fucking breathtaking, mine, free at last and in my kitchen.
I’m shrugging out of Thomas’ hold and rushing across to meet Ghost, before I know that I planned to.
“Ghost,” I repeat, whispered now against his neck, as I clutch onto him.
He nuzzles against me in turn, chirping and purring.
He’s vibrating with a vibrant joy that I can feel in my soul.
Ghost’s scent is sweeter with happiness than normal.
Sugar slinks into the kitchen, winding around Lincoln’s ankles. She’s luxuriating in the sun.
Lincoln leans down to stroke her back.
Sugar arches her back in encouragement. Then she prowls further into the kitchen to curl up underneath the window in a pool of sunlight.
I pull back to study the expression in Ghost’s eyes.
There’s still a bruise along Ghost’s cheek, where Richard struck him. His lips are swollen from being gagged.
But I know that look.
It’s hope.
“We have two days,” I say. “You’re never going back into that basement. We can spend them together up here, right? And after that, we’re making our move. We know the dangers but we’re not waiting any longer because I won’t put you back into the dark.”
Ghost winks, before sliding his hand into his pocket and pulling out his adapted iPhone.
His fingers hover over it for a moment, before he types.
Then the words are spoken aloud in an educated, American voice. “Who said that I didn’t put myself into the dark? The best card tricks are the ones that no one sees coming. Who’d suspect the feral Omega of being the genius mastermind? How’d you like my poker face?”
What the fuck?
My mouth gapes open.
I push Ghost back for a moment to study his face.
Lincoln pushes his hands into his pockets. The sunlight catches on his snake earring.
“Smart and badass. Just my kind of Omega.” Lincoln smirks, strolling across the kitchen to throw himself down on the wooden bench. He traces over the picture of the gargoyle on the table in fascination. “And look, I have both the male and female version. I’m a lucky guy.”
My heart speeds up. “What the hell do you mean, my little gambler?”
“He means that we have a final secret to tell you.” When Thomas’ expression becomes unexpectedly serious, my pulse races. Secret? “But first…”
Thomas takes a couple of long strides across the kitchen, until he’s standing in front of Ghost and me.
Surprised, I step back to the side of Ghost, holding his hand.
Thomas’ gaze is intent, as it meets Ghost’s.
Then slowly, he lowers himself to his knees.
Is this truly happening?
Is an Alpha kneeling for an Omega?
Ghost’s eyes widen, before his pupils dilate.
He types. “If you want to suck my dick, the answer is yes. In fact, you have blanket permission to suck my dick, Alpha.”
Ghost quirks his brow challengingly, but at the same time, I’m pretty certain that he’s trying not to laugh.
In shock, I drop Ghost’s hand.
“Good idea.” Lincoln waggles his eyebrows. “You also have blanket permission to suck mine.”
“How generous, love. I’ll be sure to remember that.” Thomas shoots Lincoln a glare. He steadies himself, before his expression gentles again. When he looks up at Ghost, it’s like Ghost is precious — an elite Omega, rather than a Rej 1. There’s no doubt that he’s looking at a man who he admires as much as he worships. Ghost’s breath catches in surprise. “I’m sorry. I didn’t protect Candy and you yesterday like I was desperate to. I hope you know that I was acting. It’s taken longer to put our plan into place than I hoped, and it’s killed me to keep my distance from you. I’m sorry that I’ve needed to treat you like every other Alphahole in your life has. I’ll do anything that you ask to make it up to you. I’ll spend my life to make it right. Can you forgive me?”
Ghost’s expression becomes serious.
He grips Thomas by the shoulders, lifting him to his feet.
Thomas looks like he’ll fly apart at any moment.
Ghost’s white truffle scent becomes stronger. He’s putting out his pheromones to soothe our Alpha.
Then Ghost types, “Dumbass Alpha. Good Alpha. My Alpha. There’s nothing to forgive. You’re so earnest that it hurts my heart. But this is how we play the game, and I’ve been playing since I was a kid. I’m not some weak Omega who needs protecting. I’m the Ghost of Ace Casinos . And now, I’m going to kiss you.”
Thomas looks dazed, as Ghost threads his fingers into the back of his hair and drags him into a hard, passionate kiss.
“I have the best Omegas in the fucking world,” Lincoln breathes.
I can’t wrench my gaze away from the way that Ghost is kissing the life out of my Alpha, or the way that Thomas runs his hands up and down the other man’s slim back, pulling him impossibly closer like he wants to devour him.
Finally, Ghost breaks the kiss.
Both men are breathing hard. They rest their foreheads together.
“You are still heard,” Ghost types.
“You are still heard,” Thomas repeats back like a mantra. Then he turns his head to fix me with a stare. “Now, it’s time to tell Lincoln and you the truth.”