39. Hannah
Hannah
T oday is the day.
I check myself in the mirror, making sure I look presentable. Charlie took me shopping yesterday with his millionaire NBA salary, and we settled on some smart high-waisted, wide legged dress pants, and pretty jewel-toned blouse.
I have my hair twisted up in a claw clip, and as I look myself over, I deem the look…professional.
"You ready to go, reinita ?" Enzo shows up in my doorway, dressed in slacks, a button up shirt and tie. He looks good enough to eat, but I think the judge will frown upon that in their court room.
It's been about a week and a half since Noah chased me through the backyard, and two days later, we got a call from Brody, letting us know the date for the preliminary hearing had been set.
In one hour, it'll be determined if the case is to go to trial, or if the judge thinks there's enough evidence to settle it now. Brody submitted video evidence and what we did of the lie detector test, hoping the judge will accept his motion for a mistrial.
I guess we'll find out soon.
The drive to the courthouse is only fifteen minutes, but I find myself spiraling in the short time it takes to get there. I'm rereading the texts that Wren and Cady sent in our group chat like they're a lifeline.
Cady
You got this Hannah-Banana. Even if it goes to court, they can't prove something that's not true.
Wren
We know things will work out. and if they don't…well, I have an entire mafia family under my thumb. I can make things happen.
I shake my head at the thought of Wren, the five foot omega with a penchant for animal onesies, having any sort of mafia connection, even though I know it's true.
"Have you talked to Kieran about any of this?
" Charlie asks quietly, squeezing my hand.
I'm sat between him and Austin in the backseat of the car while Enzo drives and Noah takes the front.
I've never seen Noah in a button up shirt, but damn does it look good on him.
All my alphas are looking so good it'll be a wonder if I make it through this without growling at any women who looks at them for too long.
"No," I shake my head. "Should I? He knows about the case, but not much else, I guess."
"You should call him," Charlie urges.
"Right now?" I raise my brows.
"Right now." He nods, and I shrug, pulling out my phone and calling my brother.
"Hannah?" He picks up on the first ring.
"Hey, Kier," I huff out a breath, not sure how to start.
"What's going on? Are you okay?" His voice is lined with concern, and I instantly feel bad for making him worry.
"Yeah, I mean…well, kind of. We're driving to the preliminary hearing to see if the case will go to court or not."
Charlie's hand grips my knee, and I shoot him a quick smile. "Damn. Okay, how are you feeling?"
"Um…well, my lawyer is hoping for a mistrial since Cat and Rue's lawyers are up to some shady shit, but I don't know how likely that is to happen."
"Fuck," he mutters, "I'm sorry I couldn't get Mom and Paul to get them to back off."
"It's not your fault, or your responsibility," I sigh. "Hopefully…I mean, there's no way to prove I did anything because I didn't do anything. You know that, right?"
"Of course I do. And if this goes to court, maybe I can testify. Tell them about yours and Nana's relationship. I don't know how it all works." My heart warms at his words, at the fact he'd be willing to come all the way out here just to testify for me.
"Thanks, Kier. I'll talk to Brody about it."
We say our goodbyes and hang up, and Charlie gives me a knowing look. "So?" He asks, gently elbowing me. "Feel better?"
"I do," I smile as we pull into the parking lot of the court house. "How did you know that would help?"
"I think you just needed to be reminded that not everyone in your family is an asshole." He grins at me before we all get out of the car. We make it to the front steps, and at that exact moment, a cramp hits me, making me double over in pain.
"Oh, shit," Charlie's arm wraps around me, his nose finding its way to my neck as he takes a deep breath. "Fuck, Hannah, are you in heat? "
"No, no I can't be," I shake my head, clutching my stomach. "I haven't had any of the pre-heat symptoms!"
" Reinita , you've been having heat spikes for over two weeks," Enzo says gently. "We need to get out of here. It's not safe for you to be in public like this."
I know he's right. I can already see alphas who were entering and leaving the courthouse stopping, their nostrils flaring with interest.
"Darlin', if we don't get you out of here soon, we could have a riot on our hands," Austin says worriedly as Noah growls and snaps his teeth at an alpha who lingered nearby a little too long.
"But…but the hearing!" An omega whine of pure distress leaves me, and my alphas surround me, forming a tight circle.
"Hey guys—" Brody's voice calls out, and I spot him in the little gap between Enzo and Austin.
His steps falter as his nostrils flare, and his eyes widen as all my alphas let out protective growls.
"Fuck." He runs a hand through his hair.
"Sorry, that wasn't professional. But this is literally the worst timing for a heat. "
"You think she doesn't know that, asswipe?" Noah snaps, on edge.
"I'm sorry, of course she does." He sighs, taking a step forward. "Look…Hannah—"
"Mr. Benson," Enzo says a little too calmly. "I really want to be civilized here, but we are an unbonded pack with an omega going into heat. Please understand that I mean it with every fiber of my being when I tell you that if you come one step closer I will rip your fucking throat out."
My omega could not be hotter for Enzo right now. Like, I have to stop myself from crawling up his body and mounting him right in front of this court house.
Shit. Guess I really am in heat.
As if to say, yeah, you think? , another cramp takes my ovaries in its brutal fist and I whine again.
Poor Brody can't help it, it's just his alpha reacting to an omega in distress, but the second his foot lifts, a chorus of growls leave my alphas and he pales, scrambling backwards as he shakes his head.
"I'm so sorry. Okay. Listen, Hannah. You still have rights.
The judge will legally treat your heat as an urgent medical issue—which it is —and they can't treat it as if you just decided to not show up.
Please, go home, I'll take care of it. They'll want to verify it with your physician though, so can you send me her information—"
My alphas are already herding me towards Enzo's SUV like I'm a sheep and they're all border collies. "I'll send it over—ah!" I double over, and Enzo scoops me up, carrying me back to the car.
"I've got you, reinita ," Enzo murmurs, pressing a kiss to my hair. They get me and themselves buckled into the car with the efficiency of a well-oiled SWAT team, and in an instant we're peeling out of the parking lot.
"We need to talk about bonds, before you get lost to the haze." Enzo says quickly. "I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say we all hope to bond you this heat. If you're not ready though, we will take it at your pace."
Emotion swells in me, another sign that this really is my true heat, and tears well in my eyes. Gods, mood swings suck .
"You do?" I ask, sounding pitiful. "You all want to bond me?"
"More than anything," Noah says, pressing a kiss to my hair. "We all love you, so much."
My eyes search out Enzo's, as he's the only one I haven't exchanged those words with. He keeps his eyes on the road though. Maybe he just wants the first time to be special, and not when we're racing home while I'm going into heat? I mean, he's the one who said he wanted to bond me to begin with.
Before I can answer, another cramp hits me.
"It hurts," I whine, clutching my stomach as I lean into Noah.
"I know it does, baby. We'll take care of you." He leans over and brushes his cheek against mine, scent marking me. Something in me settles, and I lean to the opposite side where Charlie is sitting, and he understands immediately, rubbing his cheek along my other side.
Noah's words do something to me. How many heats have I spent, checked into heat clinics with alphas who don't really care about me, just about getting their dicks wet?
I don't want to do the math, but four times a year times ten ish years…
around forty. And for the first time ever, I'm going to be surrounded by alphas who love me while I'm in my delirious, multiple-day sex fest.
For the first time, I won't come out of a heat tired and unsatisfied.
"Birth control?" Charlie asks suddenly.
"Implant," Noah answers without missing a beat. "Good for two more years." I can't even laugh at the incredulous looks my other alphas give him. Of course Noah got all up in my medical records when he found me.
The rest of the ride home is a blur, the cramps bad enough to make my insides shudder, but not quite so bad that I need a knot. Charlie carries me upstairs to the nest, and I'm clambering out of his arms the second we cross the threshold.
"Alright everyone." Enzo's authoritative voice speaks out behind me as I shed my clothes and rearrange the blankets and pillows in my nest. It's my first heat with my alphas and everything needs to be perfect.
My omega is seemingly convinced that our alphas biting us is hinged on whether or not we can impress them with our nest. "Go to your rooms and raid your hampers, your bedding, anything soaked in your scent.
I'll wait here until you get back so she's not alone, and then I'll get mine. "
Austin, Noah and Charlie hurry out of the room, and my omega takes immediate notice, sending a whine out. Why are they leaving? Don't they want us?
"Shhh, calm, omega." A hand stroking my cheek has me looking up at the deep brown eyes of my more experienced alpha. "They'll be right back. They're just getting materials for your nest."
My nose scrunches, looking around my weave of blankets and pillows. He's right. I do need more materials. Better materials. And there's not enough scent.
"We'll fix it, omega. I promise," Enzo soothes, running a hand over my hair as I close my eyes.
At that moment, Austin bursts into the room, his arms full of clothes.
"Put it on the floor," Enzo directs like he's the omega whisperer. "She'll pick through it and decide what she wants."
Austin follows his directions, and while I'm picking through the items, testing the feel of each item on my cheek, Charlie and Noah come in with their piles and do the same thing.
I'm not sure how much time has passed by the time I'm done sorting through everything and have built my nest to perfection, I'm sweating like crazy and starting to ache for a knot.
"What a beautiful nest, Hannah. Can we come in?" Enzo asks, and the rest of my alphas murmur their agreement. I nod, my body relaxing somewhat now that I know my alphas approve of my nest.
The last thing I see is them climbing in before I'm lost to the haze of the heat.