51. Chapter Fifty-One
Chapter Fifty-One
I sat at the kitchen table, eating the food Lucas had prepared. The toast was perfectly golden, the eggs fluffy, and despite everything, I found myself ravenous. Dakota sat across from me, his dark eyes watchful as always, while Lucas leaned against the counter, sipping coffee. The easy domesticity of the scene felt surreal after everything that had happened—the attack, the escape, and what had transpired between the three of us just an hour ago.
"Eat up, flower girl," Lucas encouraged, his usual playfulness returning though his eyes remained alert. "You need the energy."
I took another bite, savoring the simple comfort of good food. "Any word from Gabriel and Theo?" I asked between mouthfuls.
Dakota nodded, his expression serious. "They're with federal agents now. Blackwood is in custody. They should be on their way home anytime now.”
The relief that washed through me was immediate and overwhelming. "Really? They got him?"
"About two hours ago," Lucas confirmed, his smile genuine but tired. "Federal agents had enough evidence to move in. Gabriel and Theo were there to make sure nothing went wrong."
"What happens now?" I asked, setting down my fork. The eggs suddenly tasted like cardboard as reality reasserted itself. What did all this mean for my life, my shop, my future?
Dakota's steady gaze met mine. "Blackwood will face multiple charges—conspiracy, attempted murder, corporate espionage. With the evidence we provided, he'll be in prison for decades."
"And the others? The people who worked with him?" I pressed, needing to understand the full scope of what had happened.
"Several arrests across Meridian's executive team," Lucas explained, moving to sit beside me at the table. "The feds had been building a case against them for months, but didn't have enough evidence until now."
I nodded, trying to process everything. "So it's really over? I can go back to my life, my shop?" The possibility seemed almost too good to believe after weeks of living in fear.
"Almost," Dakota replied, his honesty as steady as always. "There will be legal proceedings, testimony you may need to provide. But the immediate threat has been neutralized."
Lucas reached across the table, his hand covering mine. "You'll have protection until we're absolutely certain every thread has been tied up." His usual playful demeanor was tempered with seriousness. "We don't take chances with your safety."
The front door opened, and we all tensed momentarily until Gabriel's commanding presence filled the doorway, Theo close behind him. Gabriel looked exhausted but satisfied, the cut on his temple now properly bandaged. Theo's analytical eyes took in the scene—the three of us at the kitchen table, the slight flush still lingering on my cheeks, the way Lucas's hand covered mine—and I knew he'd deduced exactly what had transpired in their absence.
"It's done," Gabriel stated, his authoritative voice carrying both exhaustion and satisfaction. "Blackwood is in federal custody along with his key associates. The evidence is overwhelming."
I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. "Thank you," I whispered, the words wholly inadequate for what they'd all done for me.
Gabriel moved to the table, his blue eyes finding mine. "You don't need to thank us, Vivian. This is what we do." He glanced at Dakota and Lucas, something unspoken passing between the three Alphas before his gaze returned to me. "Protect what matters."
The intensity in his voice made my heart skip a beat. There was something different about Gabriel now—a vulnerability beneath his commanding exterior that I hadn't seen before. His hand came to rest on my shoulder, the weight warm and reassuring.
"When can I go home?" I asked, looking between the four of them. The four looked at each other before Gabriel spoke.
“You can go home tomorrow if you wanted…” He trailed off, his blue eyes flashing with emotion.
"If that's what you want," he added, his tone careful, measured. The unspoken question hung in the air between us.
I looked around at the four of them—Gabriel with his commanding presence now softened with something that looked almost like uncertainty; Theo analyzing my every micro-expression behind his glasses; Lucas watching me with uncharacteristic seriousness; Dakota's steady gaze unwavering as he waited for my response.
"And if I don't want to go back yet?" I asked softly, my voice barely above a whisper.
Something shifted in Gabriel's expression—hope, perhaps, or relief. "Then you stay," he said simply. "For as long as you need."
"Or want," Lucas added, the corner of his mouth lifting in that familiar playful smile, though his eyes remained serious.
Theo adjusted his glasses, his analytical mind clearly processing the implications of this conversation.
"The conversation has shifted from immediate security concerns to potential long-term arrangements," he observed, his voice matter-of-fact yet somehow gentle. "Which suggests a significant emotional development between all parties involved."
I felt warmth rise to my cheeks at his precise assessment. Trust Theo to analyze the unspoken undercurrents with scientific accuracy.
"What Theo means," Dakota rumbled from across the table, "is that we want you to stay. If you want to."
The simple directness of his statement made my heart flutter. I looked between the four of them, these Alphas who had turned everything I thought I knew about designation dynamics upside down.
“I do want that," I said, the words feeling both terrifying and right as they left my lips. "I want to stay."
The tension that had been building in the room seemed to dissipate at my words. Gabriel's hand tightened briefly on my shoulder, a subtle gesture that conveyed more than any words could have. Lucas's smile bloomed into something genuine and bright, the playfulness returning to his eyes. Dakota's expression remained steady, but I caught the slight softening around his mouth that I'd come to recognize as his version of a smile. Theo adjusted his glasses, but not before I glimpsed the satisfaction in his analytical gaze.
"Good," Gabriel said simply, that single word carrying the weight of his authority and, now, something warmer.
"Excellent decision, flower girl," Lucas added, squeezing my hand. "Though I might be slightly biased."
I laughed softly, feeling something settle inside me—a sense of belonging, of rightness, that I hadn't felt in years, if ever.
"There are practical considerations we should discuss," Theo said, his analytical mind already working through the logistics. "Your business, for instance. You've built something meaningful at Petal & Thorn. Abandoning it would be suboptimal."
I shook my head quickly. "I don't want to abandon my shop. It's part of who I am."
Gabriel nodded, understanding in his eyes. "No one is asking you to give up what you've built, Vivian. We can find solutions that allow you to maintain your independence while still being... with us."
"The flower shop is only twenty-three minutes from the main house," Theo pointed out, clearly having already calculated this. "A perfectly reasonable commute."
Lucas grinned. "And think of the possibilities for expansion with our resources. Your little shop could become the premier floral design studio in the city." His enthusiasm was infectious, his mind clearly racing with possibilities.
Dakota, ever practical, spoke next. "You'd need security for a while. At least until the trial is over. We can arrange that without disrupting your business."
I nodded, overwhelmed by their consideration, the way they were all thinking about how to incorporate my needs and dreams into whatever this was becoming between us. No demands, no control—just support and protection that didn't smother.
"What exactly are we talking about here?" I asked finally, needing clarity despite my racing heart. "Between all of us, I mean."
The four Alphas exchanged glances, some silent communication passing between them before Gabriel spoke.
"A pack bond," he said simply, his blue eyes intense as they met mine. "All of us, together."
There was silence for a minute as I looked at each of them, “Are you sure?”
"We've never been more certain of anything," Gabriel replied, his voice carrying that quiet authority that somehow never felt domineering. His blue eyes held mine, unwavering in their intensity. "This isn't a decision we've made lightly."
"We've discussed it extensively," Theo added, his analytical mind clearly having processed every angle. "The compatibility metrics between all parties involved are exceptionally high—statistically improbable, in fact."
Lucas leaned forward, his usual playfulness tempered with sincerity. "What the walking calculator means is that what's happening between us doesn't happen every day." His smile was warm, genuine. "The five of us together—it feels right in a way that defies explanation, even for Theo."
“Yes.” I told them. I was sure. I never felt more comfortable with anyone than I have with these four.
The expression on their faces - Gabriel's intensity, Theo's analytical satisfaction, Lucas's unbridled joy, and Dakota's steady, quiet happiness - made my heart swell with emotion. They each moved closer to me, forming a circle of warmth and protection that felt like coming home.
"We should celebrate," Lucas declared, his playful energy returning full force as he jumped up from his chair. "This calls for champagne, or at least whatever alcohol Theo keeps in this perfectly organized bunker."
Theo adjusted his glasses. "There's a bottle of Veuve Clicquot in the refrigerator. I maintain appropriate celebratory supplies at all safe houses as standard protocol."
I laughed, the sound bubbling up from somewhere deep inside me. "Of course you do."
Dakota's large hand found mine under the table, his touch warm and steady. "Are you sure about this, Vivian?"
I nodded, “I am sure. Though, I think I would like for you to take me out on some dates and such before we actually seal the bond.”
Gabriel smiled, his expression softer than I'd ever seen it. "Of course. We want to do this right." His hand reached out, brushing a strand of hair from my face with unexpected tenderness. "There's no rush, Vivian. We have time."
Lucas returned with the champagne and five glasses, his movements graceful despite his excitement. "Dating, huh? I can work with that. I know this amazing little restaurant by the river—candlelight, incredible food, romantic as hell." His eyes sparkled with mischief. "Though I think we technically started with the 'meeting the family' part."
Theo adjusted his glasses, his analytical mind already mapping out possibilities. "Traditional courtship rituals adapted to our unique dynamic. Logical and appropriate." He accepted a glass from Lucas. "I can prepare a schedule that ensures equal distribution of one-on-one interactions while maintaining sufficient group bonding.”
Dakota gave Theo a look that somehow communicated volumes without a single word. "No schedules," he rumbled, his deep voice brooking no argument. "Some things can't be planned."
"Spontaneity has significant psychological benefits," Theo conceded after a moment's consideration. "Though some basic parameters would—"
"No parameters either," Lucas interrupted with a laugh, passing me a glass of champagne. "Just living, Theo. Feeling. Following what feels right in the moment."
Theo looked momentarily perplexed, as if Lucas had suggested they all try breathing underwater. Gabriel's mouth curved into a rare smile as he watched the exchange.
"Perhaps a compromise," Gabriel suggested, his voice carrying that natural authority that never felt imposing. "Theo can have his organization for work matters and security protocols, but when it comes to our personal relationships..." He paused, his blue eyes finding mine.
"But when it comes to our personal relationships, we'll find our way together." His gaze held mine with a warmth that made my heart flutter. "Each at our own pace."
I raised my glass, a smile spreading across my face as I looked at each of them in turn. "To finding our way together."
"To us," Lucas added, his glass clinking against mine.
"To unprecedented statistical probability," Theo offered, making me laugh.
"To protection freely given," Dakota rumbled, his deep voice resonating through me.
"To a new beginning," Gabriel finished, his blue eyes holding mine as we all drank to our future.
The champagne bubbled on my tongue, crisp and celebratory. As I looked around at these four Alphas—each so different yet somehow forming a perfect whole—I felt something settle inside me. For the first time in years, I wasn't running from something. I wasn't hiding, wasn't shrinking myself to survive. With them, I could simply be—Vivian, the florist who loved color and creation, who had built something beautiful from nothing, who had survived and thrived despite everything.
And now, surrounded by their strength and their care, I could become something even more—part of a whole that was greater than the sum of its parts. A pack member. Protected not because I was weak, but because I was valued.
As Lucas refilled our glasses, his movements graceful and playful, I caught Dakota watching me with those steady, dark eyes. He gave me a slight nod, a silent acknowledgment of everything that had happened between us earlier. My cheeks warmed at the memory, but there was no embarrassment, only a deep sense of rightness.
Theo was already typing something on his phone, his analytical mind likely processing data even in this moment of celebration. Yet there was a softness around his eyes, a contentment I hadn't seen before in his usually analytical expression. Gabriel stood slightly apart, watching us all with that quiet intensity that seemed to miss nothing, his champagne barely touched. When our eyes met, something passed between us—an understanding, a promise, a future unfolding before us filled with possibilities.
As I took another sip of the champagne I couldn’t help but feel excited for the future that was ahead with these four Alphas.