Chapter 34
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
FLYNN
The cuckoo clock on the wall is messing with me.
I swear, every time I look up, the damn thing is moving backward. Time isn’t ticking—it’s dragging, making my nerves coil tighter with every second that passes.
My eyes focus on it as I try to distract my mind from going crazy. An antique. Something I’d find in my grandmother’s house, not in a home that’s owned by someone as young as Sasha.
I wipe my sweaty palms on my jeans, my knee bouncing relentlessly as I sit on the couch. My whole body is a knotted ball of anxiousness. I can hear the faint whispers of Sasha’s and Levi’s voices from where they’re curled up together on the oversized loveseat across from me. While their presence is comforting, right now, even their quiet murmurs do nothing to settle the anxiety twisting inside my chest.
Stone sits cross-legged on the floor in front of the coffee table, his laptop open, fingers flying over the keyboard. His face looks focused, but I still have a gut feeling he’s listening, always watching, perfectly aware of everything taking place in his surroundings.
I look over my shoulder, my eyes drawn to the door.
My sister’s coming. Allegra. I’m finally going to see her.
I’ve only spoken to her in hushed, stolen moments over the phone since I was taken by the Carlisle Pack. They allowed us brief chances to connect—just enough to keep me firmly under their control. But now she’s coming here, and I’ll finally get to see her. To hold her.
To know that she’s okay.
A soft knock at the door makes my entire body stiffen. Is it her?
I shoot up from the couch, instinct screaming at me to go , to move , to run to her. But before I can take more than a step, Levi’s voice cuts through the air, sharp and commanding.
“No.”
I startle at the force of it, my heart hammering against my ribs as I freeze mid-step. My eyes snap to Levi, my stomach twisting at the steel in his expression. He’s not talked to me like this since I’ve been here. Is this who he truly is? Was everything a ruse and now I’m seeing the true him? Did they have me lure Allegra here only to have us both?
He must sense the change in my body, my expression, as he releases Sasha and scoots forward on the loveseat. His face softens almost instantly. “I’m sorry,” he says as he rubs a hand over his face. “I didn’t mean to use my alpha bark. It’s just… we still have the Omega Foundation to worry about. We don’t want you opening the door. Even if we’re here.”
“Fucking bastards,” Stone mutters from his place on the floor, his fingers never pausing on the keyboard. “The corruption runs so deep, it’s hard to know who to trust. We need to make sure you’re safe. As soon as we’re sure about that, then you can open the door to your heart's content.”
My gut twists, the reminder of that looming threat settling in my bones. I hate it—hate that even now, even after everything, there are still people who see me as a thing to be controlled. Used. An object. No, a prize.
I push the thought aside because right now, all I can think about is Allegra and that it has to be her at the door.
The knock sounds again, louder, harder, more urgent.
Sasha is already moving, stepping toward the door as I try to steady my breathing.
The second the door cracks open, I hear it.
“I’m here to see Flynn.”
Her voice.
Thin. Trembling. Just as nerve wracked as me, with worry lacing her tone.
Allegra.
I don’t wait.
“I’m right here!” I shout, my feet moving without thought.
Sasha barely has time to step to the side before I reach the threshold.
And then I see her.
She looks smaller than I remember. Her ocean blue eyes—so much like mine—are wide and full of unshed tears. Her lip trembles as she grips the straps of her bag so tightly her knuckles turn white.
I lunge forward, crashing into her with a force that nearly knocks her over.
Allegra chokes out a sob, her arms wrapping around me, fingers digging into my back as if she needs to make sure that I’m real.
I hold on to her like she’s my last lifeline on the show Who Wants to Be A Millionaire . Almost as if letting go would send me plummeting into the hands of evil all over again.
Tears burn my eyes, my throat tight as I bury my face in her shoulder. I can feel her shaking, her body trembling against mine, her breath coming in uneven gasps, mirroring my own.
“Allegra,” I sob, my voice breaking.
She sniffles against my neck. “I’ve missed you so much. I wish you’d never given yourself to them to save me.”
“I missed you too.” My arms tightened around her. “I’m so sorry?—”
“Don’t.” She shakes her head, her fingers gripping the back of my shirt. “I know why you did it, and I love you for it. But the important thing is you’re here. That’s all that matters.”
We stand there, holding each other, crying quietly into each other’s shoulders. The weight of years spent apart, of pain and fear and desperation, pours out between us in ragged breaths.
When we finally pull apart, we’re both a mess. Allegra’s face is blotchy, her mascara running, and I can only imagine what my eyes must look like.
I rub my hand across my face, trying to wipe the tears away as I gave her a smile. “Come inside,” I tell her, my voice thick. “Let me introduce you to my Kismet bonds.”
Allegra hesitates, her eyes flickering past me toward the others in the room. Stone watches her with quiet curiosity, his laptop now closed before him. Levi now stands beside Sasha, their postures relaxed but attentive, his arms around her waist.
Slowly, Allegra nods.
I take her hand in mine and lead her inside the house. As I do, I feel something in my chest loosen, just a little. Like a bit of the load that I’ve been carrying has gotten lighter.
I guide her over to the couch and take a seat, while Sasha and Levi return to their spot on the loveseat. Allegra sits poised on the edge of the couch cushion beside me, her expression a mixture of relief and apprehension. She grips my hand in hers as she looks at the three people before us—my Kismets, the ones who saved me from the Carlisle Pack. The room feels heavy with unspoken words, and I can feel Allegra’s uncertainty about the situation as her gaze flicks between them.
“They rescued me,” I finally speak, my voice soft, breaking the silence. “From the Carlisle Pack. They made sure I was safe, and you don’t have to worry about them anymore.”
Allegra’s brow furrows. “But how can you be sure?” she asks, her voice shaky and scared.
Her scent is usually sweet, like honey, but now it’s sharper. I can smell the fear in it. It wraps around her like a second skin, just like the memories she’s still carrying.
It makes my chest hurt. I hate that she’s still living in that fear.
Sasha leans forward, her deep brown eyes locking onto Allegra. “I can guarantee you they will never come after him again.” Her voice is low and firm, the kind of promise that leaves no room for doubt.
Allegra swallows hard, her gaze flickering between them before landing on Stone, who stands from the floor, crossing his arms over his chest, his stance wide and one of quiet authority.
“It’s for your own protection we don’t tell you why we no longer fear them, just that they have been handled and will never be an issue again. We do still, however, have concerns about the Omega Foundation,” Stone admits, his tone measured.
Levi nods. “But we’re working on it. Until we know for sure that they’re not a threat, we’re going to find you a safe place to stay. That way, you can never be used against Flynn again.”
My eyes lock on Allegra’s face, watching as she eyes them warily, her arms wrapping around herself as if she is trying to ward off the ghosts of the past. “And are you planning to use him like the Carlisle Pack did?”
Sasha’s entire body tenses beside Levi, her jaw tightening as she fists her hands. “Fuck no,” she snaps. “He’s my Kismet. I could never hurt him.”
Levi places a calming hand on Sasha’s shoulder. “Easy, Little Brat,” he murmurs. “She’s just being protective. You’d do the same for Nadia,” he adds, his voice softer. “You have done the same.”
Sasha inhales sharply, exhaling through her nose before nodding. “I get it. I do.” She turns her gaze back to Allegra. “But you need to understand, Flynn is everything to me—to us. We would never hurt him.”
Fuck! My heart warms at hearing her say those words. And I know my blood orange scent will smell closer to sweet clementine. As I look at Levi and Stone, I see them nod in agreement.
Allegra searches their faces for a long moment before finally nodding.
“Why don’t we get to know each other?” Stone suggests, breaking the tension.
“I’d like that.” I turn to Allegra, my eyes pleading with her. “Please… they’re nothing like the Carlisle pack.”
Allegra lets out a shaky breath, then gives a small nod. “Okay.”
* * *
After spending the afternoon getting to know each other better, Stone suggested she stay for dinner. My heart soared when she agreed.
“How long will you need to get your things together?” Stone asks. “We’ll finalize the arrangements for your safe house.”
Allegra hesitates. “A few days. Not long.”
Stone nods. “We’d offer to have you stay here, but…” He glances at Flynn. “We want some time to build our bonds. We think it’ll be easier with just the four of us.”
“I understand,” Allegra says with a knowing smile. The three of them grew on her over the course of the day and I slowly saw any concern she had melt away.
“We’re going to go outside and give the two of you some time alone before you have to leave.” Sasha surprises both me and Allegra when she steps up and hugs her goodbye.
My eyes linger on them as they disappear out the front door. My Adam’s apple rises and falls as I swallow, getting the nerve up to speak with Allegra. I need to talk to her about something important. I shift on the couch, chewing on my bottom lip before finally opening my mouth.
“My heat is coming,” I admit, my voice barely above a whisper.
Allegra’s head snaps up. “Do you have a plan?”
I let out a sigh, running a hand through my hair. “I don’t know. I can’t go to the Foundation for help, not after everything. And I don’t want to ride it out alone.”
Allegra’s expression softens with understanding. “So you’re thinking about them?”
I nod. “They’re my bonds. I should be with them, but I’m scared.”
Allegra’s eyebrow raises as she studies me carefully. “Have you talked to them about it?”
I look away, shame creeping into my chest. “No… I haven’t.”
“Then talk to them, Flynn.”
“Okay. I will. I just don’t know how to bring it up.”
“Just tell them, just like you are telling me now. I had reservations about them at first. Especially with all you’ve been through, but they’re different. I can feel it.” She gives me a warm smile.
“I will. Soon.”
Allegra reaches over, squeezing my hand. “I don’t want to go,” she admits softly.
“I don’t want you to go either… but this is the beginning of our futures. One with freedom. ”
Allegra nods, a small, hopeful smile breaking through her fear. “Yeah. It is.”