Chapter 11
Chapter
Eleven
BELLAMY
I feel as if I haven’t done something as mundane as take a walk in a decade, even though it’s closer to just a year.
My shoes are comfortable, and my feet are mostly healed up from the caning that dead crone gave me.
Walking surrounded by my scent matches feels both surreal and normal at the exact same time.
The breeze blows my pale hair into my eyes, reminding me I haven’t had a proper hair cut since Bret’s primping for his clients.
Now, it’s messy, and something that makes me look older.
The Hug Project didn’t care much for keeping us looking nice, and I can remember the freezing cold showers we’d have intermittently.
Even those didn’t help with the haze of the drugs.
“We’ll hail a cab if you get too tired,” Cassidy reassures me worriedly.
I nod, but refuse to tell her there’s no chance I’ll want that. This city doesn’t feel like anything I’ve ever experienced. Winter and I lived in a small town in Wisconsin, and it didn’t have the history that exists in Savannah.
The roads have huge trees that seem to stretch toward the road, as if wanting to say hello to someone on the other side. Everything is blooming, and my nose is filled with the scent of fresh flowers.
There’s no goddamned way I want to trade this for the closed-in feeling of a car.
“I think they’ll be fine,” Abbott says, surprising me. He winks as I meet his gaze, and I can’t help but wonder if he may have an inkling of what this means to Winter and I.
I can feel the wonder and happiness in her mind, and allow myself a small smile. How can I make this moment last? I know better than anyone that happiness is fleeting at best. As long as Madam Clara is out in the world, there’s the possibility that she’ll come back for us.
Don’t think about it…
I’m not sure if that’s sage advice from Winter or my own inner voice. I’m the same age as her, which means our birthday is next month, and I’m not very excited about it.
That’ll have to be a problem for another day.
Squeezing Winter’s hand, I focus on the warmth of her skin, the feeling of the sun on my face, and the stretch of my muscles as I walk. As much as Winter and I dislike exercise, I would be perfectly happy walking the city.
It’s about a fifteen minute walk to Forsyth Park, and my jaw drops as we cross the street into it. The trees get denser along the sidewalk, and they seem to touch as we walk through the lush park.
“That fountain is beautiful,” Winter whispers. “It’s hard to believe this place is real.”
Ansel is carrying a picnic basket, and we almost look like a normal pack. Except, Winter and I are still on the outside, figuring our way through what it means to be scent matched.
I kind of thought we’d be like our parents, and only be together with each other forever before we were sold. Afterward, I thought we’d be lucky to die at the same time so we’d never be alone, even in death.
My dreams of the future really have gotten dark over the last year. I think my hope died when Madam Clara switched places with our rescuers. She made sure we knew we’d die as whores.
It’s nice to know the bitch was wrong.
“This is why I love to walk the city,” Cassidy admits. “We can go together and explore if you want. There’s always something new to see, no matter how many times I walk the same streets.”
Winter and I agree eagerly, and Shiloh leads us to a pretty spot on the grass where we can watch the fountain. While it’s warm out, I don’t feel like it’s too much in my shorts and t-shirt. I feel like a plant searching for the light. Maybe it’ll help pull me out of depression.
It’s been hard to pinpoint how I feel. The shadow of death feels as if it’s fucking following me. The way I cling to moments, or focus on how fleeting my mind keeps telling me they might be. Most people can simply exist in the moment, instead of counting down until it’ll end.
I can’t seem to shake it off.
Cassidy and Ansel pull out a huge blanket and set it down, before beginning to set out food.
Winter and I sit gingerly on the edge, eyes wide at the never ending stream of offerings. There’s even some desserts, it looks like. I suppose it makes sense with so many people, it’s just overwhelming.
Winter leans against me, and I slide off my shoes to pull her between my legs. Winter scrambles to do the same, and I bury my face in her neck to inhale her sweet scent. God, I love her so fucking much.
She’s wearing a sundress that hits her knees, and it’s flowy enough to keep her decent as she leans against me. Her hair is pulled to the side, and her lips curl as she peeks behind her shoulder at me as I raise my head.
“Love you too.” I know she does, she’s the only person in the world alive who feels that way now about me.
“We have mini sandwiches, a cold thermos of smoothie, chicken, salad, and some pasta salads,” Abbott says with a small smile. “I may have gone a little over the top.”
“Just a little, but I’m fucking starving so it’s fine,” Ansel grins, handing out plates. “What are you feeling like, Winter and Bellamy?”
“Us?” I ask, looking at all the food. “I’m having a hard time choosing. I think I’m good with a smoothie and maybe a mini sandwich.”
“Smoothie and whatever that chocolate thing there is, please,” Winter says softly.
Abbott gives us a winning smile, and then pours us our drinks while Ansel fills our plates.
“I don’t think I could eat if you didn’t have food on your plates,” Ansel says with a shrug.
“Really? Why?” I ask, taking a small bite of the sandwich. It’s prosciutto, some kind of creamy cheese, and green. It tastes really fucking good, and I make a small sound of pleasure as I chew. All other thoughts are lost as the flavors hit my tastebuds.
“Fuck,” Ansel mutters under his breath. “The easy answer is that I really enjoy watching you eat.”
The sandwich is salty, sweet, and delicious. The perfect balance. There’s even different food groups in this bitch. It’s witchcraft.
“Is it that good?” Winter asks, glancing up at me as she sips her smoothie.
“Mmhmm,” I say. “Try it?”
Offering her a bite, I grin as her scent practically glows with happiness as she bites down and chews. I swear if sunshine was a smell, that’s what she’d remind me of right now.
“It is good,” she says with a grin.
The alphas surrounding us sit very still as they watch us, making Winter and I blush. It’s hard to know how to behave around people now. We’re so used to our own company, or being quiet so as not to garner unwanted attention.
“Of course it’s good,” Abbott murmurs, clearing his throat. “I made it. Here, Cass, let me get your favorites.”
It’s sweet how they dote on not only us, but Cassidy as well. I get the feeling they did something they’re trying to gain forgiveness for when it comes to her, but I’m not sure what they could possibly have done.
“I think we should make a point of going out a few times a week,” Shiloh says, taking a bite of some pasta salad. “Cassidy, want to show us your favorite haunts?”
She blushes as she takes a sip of water. “I could be persuaded,” she says teasingly. “That sounds fun.”
“Don’t you all have to work?” Winter asks uneasily.
“I’m the boss,” Abbott says with a shrug. “I can work dates into things. I doubt anyone would care.”
“No one will say a word,” Ansel growls. Instead, I hear that no one would dare.
“Dates?” I ask, still trying to wrap my mind around this.
“Yes, Bellamy,” Shiloh says, laid out on the blanket as he eats. “We did say we were planning to court you. There’s formal paperwork we could fill out, but we’re currently avoiding that in case people are looking for you.”
“I don’t…I mean Winter and I don’t need anything formal,” I say, stumbling over my words.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been on a date,” Winter murmurs under her breath. Smoothie finished, she picks up the dessert on her plate, not realizing that activity had stopped around us.
My stepsister and I are used to having promises broken. Hell, I’ve broken them to her through circumstances outside of my control. I don’t think we thought this pack was completely serious when they said they wanted to court us.
We already live with them, why put in the effort? Yeah, now that I think about it, I’m used to low effort in my life.
Winter and I never went on a date. We spent every living moment together, and still do. Fuck, am I an awful boyfriend?
Winter’s fingers dig into my thigh to pull me from my thoughts, while her other hand brings the chocolate tart to her lips.
“Mmm. This is good,” she murmurs, trying to take the sting out of her earlier words.
“I’m taking credit for that too,” Abbott says.
There’s heat in his eyes that makes me sink my teeth into my bottom lip as he watches Winter, and I’m not sure I’m ready for anything he’s thinking. I’ve never done anything consensual before with a male, but I definitely enjoy the man candy in front of me.
Each of my scent matches is gorgeous. It’s simply overwhelming to think about the mechanics of that, especially when I’m fairly certain my heat suppressants are still working. Maybe? I don’t know the length of time Bret’s cocktail is supposed to last.
Maybe I should figure that out soon.
“We definitely need dates,” Shiloh says under his breath, and I imagine him adding that to a list in his mind.
It makes me smile slightly as Winter offers me a bite of her dessert. Biting down, I smile at her as I chew.
“I can’t believe you had time to bake too,” I mumble. “It’s all so good.”
“I’m glad—”
“Summer and Chase?” a voice asks, interrupting Abbott.
The names make my spine stiffen, and I swallow hard as bile threatens to crawl up my throat. My arms tighten around Winter until she squeaks uncomfortably, but I can’t help it. Those aren’t names that should exist in the real world.
“What do you want with them?” Shiloh asks, getting up easily from where he’s laying. There’s tension in his body, the easy teasing gone now.
Ansel follows as well, while Abbott pulls a knife from a strap I didn’t see at his ankle. He’s in a more relaxed version of his usual suit, having ditched the jacket to lay it beside him. While the knife lays within my eyesight against the pretty plaid blanket, the man who called me Chase can’t.
Forcing myself to look up, I see a man with a smarmy smirk on his lip looking at Winter and I.
“Are you doing cuddle dates now? Whores for hire?” he asks, speaking very loudly and slowly as if we’re dumb.
Winter stares at the alpha’s shoes, refusing to look at his face as her body trembles against me.
“I think you’re misinformed,” Abbott says, standing up. “Let me set you straight about my omegas, shall I? Cassidy…”
“I got it,” she murmurs, texting near her knee quickly before crawling over to us. Her eyes remain wary of the guy who is being hauled away by Ansel and Shiloh while Abbott follows angrily.
It's done so quietly, no one turns to look at them.
“I don’t know who that is,” I rasp, breathing hard. “I swear…”
“It’s okay, Lovey,” she murmurs, sitting in front of us. “It’s clear that this is someone who used to frequent The Hug Project. There’s no reason why you’d remember them…”
Winter whimpers, and Cassidy and I freeze.
“Beloved…” I whisper. “Do you recognize him?”
“He used to keep his shoes on,” she says softly. “He was a regular in the private rooms. Even drugged, I remember the black stripes on his leather loafers. He used to hurt me.”
“And we’re going to make sure he hurts for that,” Cassidy says.
“What are you going to do?” I ask, eyes wide.
“What we do best. Add another name to Shiloh’s list so he can check it off, of course. Let’s go. There’s a car that’s going to pick us up.”
Standing, Cassidy brushes off her skirt before she begins to clean up the picnic quickly.
“Up we go,” I whisper in Winter’s ear. “It appears murder runs afoot.”
I used to love reading Shakespeare plays. Winter would always beg me to read it out loud because I’d make theatrical voices for everyone. My ninth grade teacher got me hooked, and I ran through all of his plays possible before rereading my favorites.
Something about the betrayals drew me to them, which is ironic now.
“Not funny,” Winter hisses, allowing me to help her up. I was being perfectly serious. This man who hurt her isn’t going to live for very long.
She’s a little pale from having seen him, her memory of his stupid, bougie shoes ingrained inside her mind.
“I didn’t mean to be,” I confess, holding her close to me as she continues to shiver.
“We’re never going to be free of those people,” she rasps.
“Oh yes you will,” Cassidy growls, draping the blanket over her arm as she stands with the picnic blanket. “Let’s get back to the house and you’ll see.”
Swallowing hard, Winter nods, and we follow Cassidy back through the park, where there’s a man standing outside of an SUV.
“Hi, Henri,” she says, waiting for him to open the back door.
“Hello, Miss Casey,” he replies formally, making me confused as we get inside.
“Our jobs will never touch you, because we don’t go by our real names for our less than legal work,” she explains. “Henri is going to drive us home, where the guys will be waiting in the basement.”
Basement?!
Winter and I hold hands pensively, not wanting to talk in front of a stranger while he drives us back to the house.
Henri opens the door for us as we get out, and Cassidy walks us to a black door below the stairs to the front door.
Pulling out her house keys, she opens it, leading us into the basement from the street access.
I walked past this door earlier, and had no idea where it led to since the first floor has a full flight of stairs to get to it.
Winter squeezes my hand as Cassidy closes the door behind us and locks it.
“You home?” she calls out.
“In the back,” Abbott calls out. “You’re just in time for the fun.”
Oh shit. What are we in for?