Chapter Forty-EightGrace
Chapter Forty-Eight
Grace
I dabbed my lips with a cloth napkin and made a happy noise. This was the best dinner I’d ever eaten. Oh, those mashed potatoes.
It wasn’t just course after delightful course, or the live music, or even the rotating view of the city. It was the people I was with, laughing, telling me stories, showing me that the six people at the table with me truly were a family.
Pushing back from the table, I stood. “I’ll be right back.”
Wes stood. “Do you need air?”
“I need the ladies’ room, I’m fine.” I waved him off and went to the restroom.
While I was in the stall, others came in, talking as they went into the stalls.
“I can’t believe Spencer Thanukos and his whole beautiful pack are here. Oh, be still my ovaries,” one woman said.
“Why not? Everyone eats. But yeah, that does add to the view,” another giggled. “Brennan Morris is much more my style.”
“But Spencer’s single. ”
Spencer had a fan club. But he was smart, rich, single, good-looking, successful, and was part of a powerful pack. Brennan was known in many circles because of his family.
“I’d share, wouldn’t you?” she giggled.
“Who are those women, though?” a third one added. “Sisters maybe?”
“No,” the first said. “Not that blonde. She was with Spencer at some dinner. Saw pictures. Whore.”
Whore? Seriously? My blood boiled as I tried to decide if I should leave the stall or not. All that being told I was a hussy for having a dream boyfriend when I was seventeen made me dislike slut-shaming.
“Jealous?” the second one laughed. “It’s not like you’re in line for his bite.”
Time to leave before they came back out of the stalls.
“She doesn’t even have a bite, she’s probably just arm candy,” the third said.
I flushed and went out and washed my hands, glad they hadn’t emerged yet.
Another woman walked in, she looked at me, and her lips curved into a sneer. I tried to leave the bathroom, and she blocked me.
“A word of advice. Don’t even waste your time with a pack like that,” she told me. “They’ve got what they need; they’re not looking for new members. You’re a plaything. You’re not going to get a bite, or pack membership, you’re just going to get hurt.”
The other three women came out of their stalls and stared at me.
“You’re not even an omega,” the first one blurted.
“Um, no. But for the record, I’m not a whore, I’m mated to one of them. Just because you can’t see a bite or use your nose doesn’t mean it’s not there.” I pushed past the woman, tears pricking my eyes.
What I wanted was to go outside. But we were on the top floor, and there didn’t even seem to be a balcony.
“My good doctor, what’s wrong?” Spencer stood there, his phone in his hand. “Come here.” He pulled me into his arms.
For a moment, I rested my head against his soft suit, inhaling his leathery scent, as he stroked my back. I took a deep breath. 3.14159265359.
“That’s it, just breathe. It’s okay, Grace.” He rubbed my back as he held me.
Safe. I felt safe in his arms.
“Let’s get you back to Wes.” He took my arm and escorted me back to the table, keeping me close to him, as if shielding me with his body.
“What’s wrong,” Brennan demanded as I sat back down.
Not Wes. Not Evan. Brennan.
I shook my head, taking another deep breath, and leaning into Wes.
“Don’t lie, Grace. I know that face. Lies also have smells. What happened?” Brennan pressed.
“Bren, she was in the bathroom,” Jett replied.
Lies had smells?
Riley shook her head. “Bathroom bitches. Should’ve gone with you.”
“Just women calling me a whore and telling me a pack like yours doesn’t need girls like me.” My voice was soft as my head hung.
“I’m so sorry. That’s a hazard of being seen with a pack like ours. Jealousy.” Evan came up behind me.
Wes cupped my face with his hands. “Don’t believe them. I need you.”
“Me, too.” Evan took my hand and kissed it.
“There’s so much I don’t understand.” You’re not even an omega.
“We want you here. Fuck them.” Wes grinned, revealing a dimple. “I have a present for you.”
“More presents? I… I don’t think I’ve ever gotten so many presents in my life.” I chewed on my lower lip, still a little unnerved by the mean girls.
He took a little box out of his pocket. A little velvet box. My heart pounded.
“This was my grandmother’s, and I want you to have it.” Wes’s eyes glimmered boyishly as he opened the box, revealing a pretty art déco style ring with a blue rectangular stone with little diamonds around it.
Taking the ring out of the box, he slid it on my ring finger, eyes never leaving mine. The heat of his hands searing my skin, going straight to my core. The entire time, Evan held my other hand, staying at my side.
“Wes, it’s beautiful, thank you.” I admired the sparkle. The whole thing made me wet. How much longer until we go home? I’d like to thank him… properly.
“I love you.” He leaned in and kissed me long, and deep.
I clung to him, taking the reassurance I needed that I was wanted. He loved me.
“I love you, too,” I whispered, breathless, my face close to him.
“My turn.” Evan leaned in and kissed me, then kissed Wes.
“Shouldn’t I give you rings? I mean, I did declare that you were both my husbands now.” I laughed.
“When we all get married,” Evan said. “We’ll get matching rings.”
“You’re getting married?” Riley asked.
For a moment I held my breath. What if Riley didn’t approve? Wait. We were getting married? Or was this just Evan being Evan?
I mean, I’d spent a whole lot of time dreaming about marrying Wes…
“Eventually,” Evan said. “All three of us. Want to be in it?”
“Fuck yeah. I want to help plan it so it’s fun.” She shrugged.
“Dance with me?” Wes stood and offered me a hand.
I let him lead me to the dance floor, which surrounded a fountain. It was supposed to feel like a little town square. The dance was like one that I’d danced with Spencer, and Wes held me tight, leading us across the floor to a song in four-four time.
“Thank you for the ring,” I told him. “What does it mean here? Where I’m from, if you give a girl a ring like that, the way you did, she’ll be expecting a wedding.”
“We’ll give you a wedding. Evan is completely serious. I’m pretty sure he’s already planning it, and it will be amazing. You did say we’d get married one day. Why not make it a three-way.”
My heart fluttered in my chest. “That I did. Who can say no to a proposal like that?”
“A mate bond between you two won’t be legally recognized, but a wedding would, so you and Evan would have that legal connection,” he explained as we swirled around the floor.
“I want to be connected to the both of you,” I breathed. “I… I want a wedding with you, like we dreamed of. But now it will be even better because Evan will be with us.”
“Love it. I can’t wait. As for the ring, it’s so stupid and antiquated, but it basically says you’re taken. You smell like me, if you’re close enough, but you don’t have a visible bite,” he told me.
“Oh.” That flutter turned to a pound. “I’m taken.”
“Absolutely.” His eyes met mine as he turned on the smolder.
My heart. I melted into him as we continued to dance.
“We can get rings, too. Advertise that we’re all taken.
Brennan, Jett, and Evan do. They all wear them on their right hands, not their left, because Brennan and Jett are lefties.
And well, you wear your ring on whatever finger you want.
Evan and I don’t have rings, we got tattoos,” he told me.
“But yeah, let’s get rings for the three of us. .”
“I think I’ve seen your matching tattoos a couple of times.” I grinned at the thought of him shirtless.
He laughed. “It’s a little basic of us, the infinity heart on our chests and all, but I like it.”
“Do I get one, too?” It was cute.
“A tattoo, you? Scandalous. And hot.” He nipped at my ear, sending desire shooting through me.
“May I cut in?” Evan joined us, his chest to my back, as we continued dancing with me in the middle.
“I love you both.” I leaned back and snagged Evan’s lips.
Riley glided along the floor with Spencer. Brennan and Jett danced, too. We were being watched. But I didn’t even look for the ladies from the bathroom. I was having too much fun. The song ended, and we all went back to our seats.
“You’re nauseating. But I fucking love you.” Riley gave me a hug.
“Love you, too, Ri.” I hugged her back.
I wanted to be part of this family–at least that little part of it. And well, if Spencer wanted to join in, I wouldn’t mind…
The server came over with our desserts–mine had a candle on it.
“Happy birthday, Grace.” Wes planted a kiss on my cheek. Evan did the same from the other side, and my thighs rubbed together with desire.
There was a commotion toward the front of the entrance.
“Where is he? Where the fuck is he? I know he’s here,” a man yelled.
“Excuse me, but you can’t go in there dressed like that–” A server flew across the room, landing on a table of diners with a crash. Diners screamed and stood, others got out their phones.
A bearded, rough-looking man, in jeans and a T-shirt ran towards our table. “Reverse the court order,” he demanded. “Give me custody of my niece. She should be at home with her family, not at school, getting ideas.”
Rose. This was about Rose. This must be the uncle. How did he know where we were?
“Give me custody now, Omega,” he ordered.
There was something both icy and oily about the way he said it. Alpha bark. That compulsion thingy alphas had.
“Don’t listen to him, Omega,” Wes growled, as he tried to move so he was between me and him.
“Correct. You will do no such thing, Omega,” Brennan added, doing the same for Evan.
Evan relaxed.
“You need to leave,” Spencer said to the uncle, his voice forceful, as he moved Riley behind him.
“I need my niece back.” The man withdrew a handgun. “Now, Omega.”
No. No one hurt my Evan. Anger boiled inside me. How dare he?
“Grace, under the table.” Wes didn’t bark but tried to push me. Spencer did the same with Riley.
Standing, I grabbed my chair, ran over, and hit the big guy with it with all the force I could summon. A growl ripped from my chest. He crumpled, gun skittering to the ground.
Take that.
I picked his gun up off the ground and aimed it at him. “Fuck with my omega at your own peril, asshole. Security, this man is trying to wreck my birthday dinner.”
Threaten my omega and ruin my perfect night? Hell no.
“I’d do what she said.” Jett had a gun out. “Police, you are under arrest.”
The man growled and lashed out as a bunch of security surrounded us.
“Let’s put the gun down, Grace. I think they have it.” Wes said, standing beside me.
“Fine.” Satisfied that Jett and security had it under control, and Evan was okay, I took the bullets out of the chamber and put both on the table.
Wes whistled. “You can use a gun.”
“My dad taught me to hunt.” I shrugged.
“Peaches.” Evan wrapped me in his arms. “You saved me.”
“I love you.” I smashed my mouth against his, reassuring myself that he was real and okay.
He kissed me again, my feet off the floor as he fully supported me. Brennan was right there, eyeing me. “I love you, too.”
Spencer got on the phone.
“That was amazing, ” Riley told me. “Why a chair?”
“You’re supposed to hit an active shooter with a chair.”
“I’m pretty sure that’s not what you’re supposed to do.” Wes sat down and pulled me onto his lap. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
“I’m fine. Just protecting our boy. I mean, that’s what we do right, protect omegas? Oof, I’m so hungry for some reason.” I picked up Wes’ half-finished dessert and started eating it.
Wes kissed my temple. “Probably that little burst of speed there. Didn’t know gammas could do that. Please don’t give me a heart attack. If you’re hungry, eat.”
The police came and talked to everyone. Jett led that show. Brennan was still holding Evan, Riley, and Spencer nearby.
As everyone gave their statements, I sat on Wes’ lap and continued to systematically eat everyone’s desserts and finished both Wes’ and Evan’s drinks–as well as another drink and dessert the server brought me for saving Evan.
A police officer came over to us and scowled at me as I recounted my side of the story. “You hit the gunman with a chair? ”
“I was protecting our omega.” I scraped the last bit of mousse out of the bowl.
“A chair? ” The officer’s eyebrows rose.
“What? That’s a thing you do. Oh, his gun’s on the table.” I frowned at the empty bowl.
“A man with a gun charges your omega, and you think it’s a good idea for you, the smallest person at the table, a table with a police officer, to hit him with a chair?” The officer stared at me.
“She’s a gamma, they’re wired weird.” Jett joined us. “Anything else, Officer?”
“I’ll call you if there is.” He studied me. “Let’s not hit shooters with chairs.”
“Sorry, next time I’ll be armed.” I scowled at him then turned to Wes. “Wes, I need a thigh holster.”
Jett laughed as the officer left.
“How do we un-fuck her danger response? I almost had a heart attack.” Brennan looked worried.
“It’s not weird,” I retorted.
He raked a hand through his hair. “For you. But for everyone else in the room, it was.”
“I’m not going to flee or hide or wait for some alpha to protect someone I love when I’m capable of doing it.” I scowled at Brennan.
Brennan nodded. “I understand completely. Thank you for protecting Evan. That doesn’t mean it was easy to watch.”
“No. It wasn’t,” Wes agreed.
“It was pretty efficient,” Jett replied. “You’re fast.”
Evan pulled me off of Wes’ lap and kissed me, rubbing his erection against me. “I’m happy you care that much for me, Peaches. Sorry he tried to ruin your birthday dinner. We’ve trained for stuff like this at work. But I never expected it to happen–especially outside the workplace.”
Warmth spread through me. “You can make it up to me tonight.”
“Oh, I will.” His hand cupped my ass. Wes came up behind me.
“At least everyone is safe,” Spencer said. “I’ve settled the bill. Should we go home? I think we’ve outstayed our welcome.”
Desire pooled between my thighs, and I looked up at Wes. “Alpha, take us home.”