Chapter 24
Twenty-Four
NOVA
I’m driving out to see Quinn today, and then I’m going to go check in on my little house. I miss it. I’ve spent the past four weeks living at Katee’s house, helping her acclimate into her role as a mom.
She was doing great, but something is definitely off now.
The baby is having some stomach issues, but that shouldn’t be the problem since that’s normal for babies.
I’m unsure if Katee is depressed or not, however, even her scent is different.
I am really confused since she’s a beta.
Except, the problem is that all I can smell at her house now is the scent of hyacinths.
I know post pregnancy hormones can do insane things, which is why I offered to stay with her through Christmas to help.
Malcolm texted me to let me know that he’ll be gone with his pack and Hollis this week on vacation.
The text made me feel short of breath with panic because I really need to find time to speak to Hollis.
I just need my life to slow the fuck down first. I feel as if I’m just spinning from place to place to provide services, and the chaos of my life doesn’t matter.
The snow is really coming down today as I drive to Pack Kelly’s house and I hope that I can make it back to Katee’s before the roads are impassable. The weather man said there’s a snow storm coming, and that we’d definitely have a white Christmas.
It’s looking as if it’ll be closer to a blizzard than a normal storm as I lean forward like an old lady to see through my windshield.
My body is practically vibrating with the stress as I get to their house, and I hurry inside.
“You made it,” Callum sighs.
“Barely,” I breathe, following him to the living room. The baby is growing so well, and outside of how uncomfortable Quinn is, the pregnancy is completely normal.
Dropping to my knees beside her, I smile at her as I set her up with an IV. Duncan and the guys know exactly how to help me since I’ve been coming by more often, and soon the IV drip is flowing quickly.
I’m too tired to do more than drop onto my ass on the floor, using the sofa as a backrest.
“Do you drink coffee or tea?” Duncan asks worriedly. “I’m worried you’re about to pass out on me.”
“Coffee would be amazing,” I sigh tiredly.
“What’s wrong?” Linus asks with wide eyes.
“Just nightly baby duty with a baby who has her mornings and nights mixed up,” I chuckle. “Addy is adorable. My job is to hang with her and bring her to her mom when it’s time to eat. I’m just not getting very much sleep during the days either. It’ll pass.”
“I’m sure it will, but in the meantime, I’m getting you coffee. Shit, have you eaten today?” Duncan asks.
“You do not need to feed me,” I laugh.
“Yeah, I think the fuck not. I’ll be back,” Duncan grumbles.
“You’re in trouble,” Linus chuckles as I shake my head.
The alpha does bring me a rice bowl with chicken and black beans, and I very obediently eat it all. I also drain my coffee cup and check on Quinn. She’s napping the way she tends to during an IV treatment.
“I always manage to knock her out,” I murmur. “Is she able to exercise, or is she nauseous throughout the day?”
“The mornings are actually great for her now,” Linus says. “She eats a small amount of yogurt with granola and fruit before we go into the dance studio and stretch before dancing. It’s not until about one in the afternoon that she begins to feel gross.”
“Maybe her sugar is dropping from the carbs in the granola?” I wonder. “If she’s able to switch it up to something with a different kind of protein before she dances, that may help. Or, possibly eat before one in the afternoon to stay ahead of the drop.”
“I’ll suggest it to her,” Linus says with a nod.
I’m finished with my meal and coffee, and when I get up to check on Quinn, I see that the bag is almost completely drained.
“While I’m here, do you have any questions for me?” I ask.
“No,” Callum says. “I can tell that she’s been struggling to find her center as her stomach grows though. Is there anything that we can do to help?”
“Center for dancing or is she feeling self conscious?” I ask.
“Both. Her balance is different now,” Linus says.
“Can you dance with her, and try to take her hands to pull her up to find her new center?” I ask. “Instead of her solo dancing, that may help.”
“I can,” he says.
“Also, woven wraps like Kane has will be helpful for belly wrapping. The last time I saw him, he had some scrap wrap that would be perfect to tie around and lift her belly,” I remember, my eyes lighting up.
“I heard you’re responsible for his new sewing obsession,” Duncan chuckles. “The buckle carrier is coming along well.”
“I don’t know if responsibility can be laid at my feet, but I did send him some easy videos to watch,” I admit.
Callum watches me begin to clamp the tubing as the IV is drained, and grabs the trash can to place near me. Five minutes later, Quinn is free again and I am hurrying to my van.
“Merry Christmas, Nova,” Duncan calls out as I open my door.
“Merry Christmas,” I say with a smile as I climb into the vehicle.
“Please be careful,” he says, frowning at the snow as I close my door.
I feel just as worried as he looks, but I simply wave at him and start the car so I can get started on my drive.
I have worn the same five pairs of outfits for the past four weeks, and I really want to see the inside of my house. I’ve obviously done laundry while at Katee’s place, but it’ll be nice to take a warm shower where I’m not rushing through it.
I feel guilty for wanting something like this, but I am tired. I need to pour into myself so I can pour into others, which is why I’m going to suck it up and tell myself to shut up.
A shower and new clothes will not be the end of the world. The worst of the storm is supposed to hit tonight. I have some time. Someone should really have a talk with this snow, because it’s dropping buckets of the white stuff on me as I drive.
I’ve been getting more used to driving in bad weather while living in Minneapolis. I don’t think anyone is ever really ready to drive through a blizzard, so I don’t want to test my limits.
The world is so quiet, and the roads are deserted until I get back into the city. Even then, no one is walking on the sidewalks. The only people out are those who absolutely have to be due to work I expect.
Pack Ledger’s gate is a welcome sight as I drive up to it. Except, I’m not expecting two, large alphas to be standing in front of it. I can’t open it while they’re there because it affects the security of the property, and I can’t drive through them.
Rolling down the window, I glare at them because I unfortunately recognize both alphas.
“What do you want?” I ask. “I’m tired, I’m fighting to get back to my client before this blizzard, and I don’t have time for your bullshit.”
My nerves are shot. I’m not ready to see Caleb and Lars again. I don’t think I ever will be.
“Why are you working yourself to the ground, Nova?” Caleb asks. “You know we have to talk. This affects Hollis.”
I’m somehow unsurprised that they know my name. I wonder if Hollis and they have talked or if they figured this out on their own. I have clients in the mafia world, and they definitely remind me of the men who walk within it. My head hurts as I spiral. All I wanted to do was get a fucking shower.
Pixie has been with me at Katee’s house, happily sitting in her cat tree and watching the snow as it falls. There’s no way that I’d be able to stay with Katee and Addy for this long otherwise. I’m glad I don’t have to worry about her while I’m stuck dealing with this inconvenience.
“Why?” I ask him. “I’m literally no one.”
And it should stay that way honestly. People on the run can’t have friends. I don’t want my parents to use anyone to get to me.
“That’s not true,” Lars purrs, taking a step toward me.
Panicking, I shove Bertha into reverse and turn the wheel to turn around.
“Fuck the change of clothes and shower,” I growl under my breath.
There I go, talking to myself again.
“Woah, no. Nova, come on,” Lars says, running into the middle of the blessed road and holding out his arms.
“You shouldn’t know my name or where I live,” I wheeze. Trauma is making me extra paranoid, and I shake my head.
There’s no way they’re working with my parents. They don’t seem the type. The darkness is trying to descend, telling me I have to run.
“I don’t want to do this, but I’ll just disappear,” I say. “I have people who need me, clients and babies I’m taking care of!”
“You don’t have to go anywhere,” Caleb soothes as tears cloud my vision.
“I can’t, I can’t,” I gasp, clawing at my throat.
“Fuck, it would figure you have panic attacks like your sister,” Caleb grumbles.
“My what?” I ask. My vision is quickly turning black in the corners and my body is starting to list to the side. I’ve been pushing myself too hard.
I really don’t want to pass out.
Caleb’s long legs bring him to my door where he wrenches it open. My foot slips off the brake and the car continues to move forward. Lars curses, moving out of the way as Bertha proves she has a mind of her own and attempts to run him over.
Caleb climbs into the van and stomps on the brake, leaning over me. His pupils blow as he inhales sharply, but I’m unsure why as I struggle for oxygen.
“Breathe,” he growls, shoving the gear shift into park. “I don’t know who you’re running away from, but I sure as fuck plan to find out.”
And then, the darkness pulls me down, a heavy blanket of tears and fear that suffocates me and refuses to let me go. There goes my happy bubble.
Fuck.
CALEB
“Fuck!” I gasp, looking at the woman who is mine. My chest is heaving, and Lars comes around to stand behind me.
“Hand her to me so we can bring the van inside,” he says.
My eyes continue to gaze at her because she’s now become not only the most precious thing to my best friend, but also to me.
“I need you not to freak out,” I rasp. “Lars? Goddamnit.”
“You’re not making sense,” he sighs. “I can’t handle two hysterical people. There’s not enough lemon squares in the world for that.”
“I still don’t think there are,” I say, lifting her into my arms as I slide into her seat. “Seriously, don’t freak out.”
It would make sense for Hollis’ twin to be my scent match. However, if she’s mine, then there’s a high probability that she’s Lars’ too.
My brother gives me a droll stare before taking her from me. He takes a step back and gazes down at her before he shakes his head. Blinking, he pulls her tighter against his body before burying his nose in her neck and breathing deeply.
“No fucking way,” he mumbles against her skin.
“That’s what I thought,” I grunt.
Lars’ gaze traps mine before it narrows. “Drive the car,” he grumbles. “I can smell the exhaustion on her body.”
“Is that all you smell?” I ask, taunting him.
“You know it isn’t.”
Smirking, I shut the van door and find the gate clicker on her sun visor. Clicking it, I allow Lars to walk inside before I drive in. I haven’t been inside the gates prior to this, so I curse when I see how far her house is from the front of the property.
Lars recognizes it as too far to walk in the snow as well, and gets into the passenger seat with me. I know that Pack Ledger has cameras on the property. My only hope is that they’re too busy to be checking them.
The gate swings shut behind me, and I drive down to Nova’s house. There’s a shed next to it, making me wonder why she’d have something like that. I doubt it’s for the skeletons in her past.
I find her keys and lock up the van before we hustle into her house, and Lars looks around.
“It’s fucking tiny,” he growls. It doesn’t help I suppose that we seem to take up even more space here, and I’m amused as I see my brother sit on the couch with Nova in his lap.
I don’t think he’ll be letting her go anytime soon.
“I see a cat bowl. Do you see a cat?” I ask, looking around.
“I bet she took it with her to wherever she’s been staying,” Lars says before frowning. “Fuck, did you check the van?”
“I’ll look,” I groan. The last thing I need is to kill our scent match’s cat.
Trudging outside, I climb into the van and look around. There’s a kitchen, shower, everything she’d need to live in here. However, I notice there’s no food in the fridge, and it doesn’t appear as if she’s slept here recently.
There’s also no sign of a cat.
Closing and locking everything back up, I try not to stew about how not only is Nova used to being on the run, she’s equipped to live out of her van.
Lars glances up as I walk back inside, and I see that Nova is beginning to come around. Whatever she’s running from, I don’t think it’s pretty. It makes me want to kill whatever it is.
“What are you running from?” I ask as her eyes slit open. I don’t want her guard to have a chance to slam down and shut us out yet.
I’ll take full advantage of her vulnerability if it gets me answers so I can help her. This is no longer only about reuniting Hollis with her twin.
“My parents,” she whispers.
My lip curls as I think about how I doubt those are her actual parents.
“Lars and I need to tell you a story,” I say as she sits up. Nova flinches as she sees she’s in Lars’ lap, scooting off to curl into a corner of the couch.
I can see how much that upsets the immovable force that is my brother, but I don’t think it has anything to do with us. Sitting on the edge of a chair, I lean forward as I gaze at the omega who appears so much more fragile than Hollis.
“You broke into my house, you may as well,” she grumbles.
“It’s not breaking and entering if we have the key,” Lars counters immediately.
He should have been a lawyer. Logic is his thing. Breaking the law and not getting caught is mine.
Smirking, I shrug.
“It just makes you our captive audience,” I say smugly. I watch as she sniffs, and notice the way her sinuses appear congested.
Good, we can handle the scent match thing later. One fucked up thing at a time.
“Almost twenty-nine years ago, my best friend’s sister was kidnapped,” I begin, noticing the way her gaze sharpens.
Yeah, buckle up bunny. It’s gonna be a rough ride.