46. Nora
46
Nora
It's been almost five days to the hour since my interview with Rebecca at LunarNews1 showed the world just how wrong they were about the Perfect Omega.
My pack and I have finally all managed to shower and get dressed like civil people instead of the feral beasts we became during my heat. Chase is attempting to throw together the first real meal for all of us since my heat started while the rest of my pack sips beers, and I nurse a cup of tea.
"Well, now that the heat is over, " Nolan begins, his voice cracking with a hint of nervousness. "There's something I need to share with all of you." He pauses on a deep inhale, his fingers fidgeting with the label on his beer bottle as if unsure how to proceed.
"Wait," I interrupt, wincing at my poor manners. "Sorry to interrupt, Alpha Nolan, but before we officially move on from my heat, I need to say something."
"The floor is all yours, sweetheart," he says with a tight smile.
"Just Joey?" I say quietly, turning to my Beta. While his eyes are tired, they still shine with humor and affection. He's wearing loose black lounge pants and a plain white T-shirt, his hair still wet from his shower. His broad hand reaches out and squeezes my knee.
"Yes, little bird?"
With a deep inhale to smooth over my ragged nerves, I cover his hand with my own. "I know that, despite not mentioning it much, you must feel a little left out to not be a part of the bond."
"Oh, birdie, it's no problem. The bites don't work for Betas. I would never ask you all to hold off on bonding just because I can't. I'm not upset it happened. I'm happy for all of you."
And I believe him when he says he's happy for us, but there is still a set of lines at the corner of his mouth, barely visible around his beard, that hint at how he really feels. It's upsetting Joey that he isn't a part of this. He's shared with me before that he worries about not being seen as equal to the rest of the pack, and that doesn't sit right with me.
My Beta was the first man to ever make me feel comfortable. I trusted him almost immediately, despite the initial gruff impression. He has always supported me, and his kind but firm nature helps me when I'm feeling out of control. Not to mention his unique relationship with Levi and the way he has taken care of my gentle Alpha.
No, Just Joey may not be able to bond into this pack, but he is the heart of it.
"Just Joey, will you marry me?" I whisper as I take his hand in my own.
Chase drops the spatula he was using to flip pancakes, and the rest of the Alphas are completely silent and totally still as they stare at Joey and me.
"What was that, little bird?" Joey's voice is shaky as he speaks, his clear green eyes shiny. "I must've passed out for a moment there because I could have sworn you asked me to marry you."
I giggle, sliding off my stool and clamoring onto his lap. His calloused hands circle around my waist, scrunching up the lemon yellow t-shirt I put on when I got dressed for the first time in days. "I know most Omegas don't get married. I never thought I would. But the thought that you, my Just Joey, aren't formally tied to me the way the Alphas are hurts me. I want you to be able to claim me formally. I want you to be able to speak on my behalf and fight for me if needed. I want you to be able to be there in the delivery room when we have kids."
"You want kids?" His hand cups my cheek. "You wanna have kids with me?"
"Of course, I want to have kids. And you'll be the father, the same as the Alphas, and I want you to be there for those hypothetical babies in every way." I wrap my arms around him, nuzzling my face into the crook of his neck and inhaling deeply.
I may not be able to scent match with a Beta.
He may never smell like something complex, some nostalgic idea of home that surrounds me every time I hug him.
But Joey smells like safety. Like comfort. Like joy. The soft, pleasant scent that embraces me in his arms is perfectly him. Perfect for me. I don't realize I am crying until he gently pushes my head up so I can look at him.
"Birdie," he whispers. "Don't cry, please. My heart will give out."
"You're not that old," I mutter, then freeze. "Wait. How old are you?"
"Old enough to know that you're too good for me, but young enough to say who fucking cares." He kisses me softly, his beard scraping my tender flesh in a way that I'm not sure I will ever tire of. "Of course, I'll marry you, little bird. Though I think I was the one that was supposed to ask."
"I think we've all realized at this point that Nora's not going to do what's expected of her anymore," Chase says with a chuckle, breaking the Alpha silence and sliding a plate of pancakes in front of me.
Levi sniffles from Joey's other side, reaching his hand around to rub my arm. "I think this is such a beautiful idea, doll. A perfect way to make Joey officially pack."
Blaine comes running in from the formal dining room, holding a dusty bottle of champagne. "Let's celebrate!"
"Wait," Nolan interrupts, standing up and resting his hands on the island. "I need to tell you all something."
His words, though fairly innocuous, spread through me like a disease. The fear and dismay that laced them weigh my body down as I stare at my lead Alpha.
"Well, don't keep us waiting, then," Blaine snarks, grabbing a dish rag and cleaning off the bottle.
"Alicia left me a voicemail during the heat, and… well. Let me just play it for you." He pulls out his phone and puts it on speaker, hitting play on the voicemail that came in three days ago.
"Nolan, it's Alicia. Look, there's no easyway to say this, so I'm going to cut to the chase. We lost the hearing. The court approved the warrants for Pack Sloane's arrest. Dr. Greene provided proof of … ownership… of Nora. I let them all know that Nora was in heat, so they didn't bust in there and try to pull you all out, but you're going to have to be brought in when you come out of it. I'm sorry, Nolan. I tried. But this isn't over. We'll have a pretrial hearing where I will push for the charges to be dismissed entirely. But anyway, call me when the heat is over. It'll be better for everyone if you don't try to hide out and let the police bring you in immediately. Call me when you're ready for me to send them over."
You could hear the pancake that Chase drops splat on the floor. My chest aches as if it's going to burst out of my chest. Absentmindedly, my hand sneaks into my hairline, gripping tightly. Joey's big hand forces my fingers to relax, pulling my hand down and clasping it in his. "Don't, Nora," he whispers, using my name for the first time in a while. "I know you must feel really out of control, but we'll figure this out."
"I'm assuming you called her, then?" Levi says quietly.
"I did."
"Without talking to us?" Blaine shouts. "What the hell, Nolan?"
"We can't hide out here forever. The cupboards are bare, the fridge empty, and heats don't last a month. They'd be expecting us to leave soon, and then they'd grab us while we were out getting groceries or something. At least this way we can control it and set a good impression. Alicia said that a lot of what happens next is going to be optics and public perception. We've got to show everyone that not only does Nora want to be with us, but that we're a good pack for her and deserve for her to be with us."
"Who gives a fuck what the public thinks?" Chase snarls. His hands are shaking, and he's forgotten a pancake that's on the stovetop. I slide out of Joey's lap, going into autopilot and taking over cooking for Chase so it doesn't burn. He's so fired up that he doesn't seem to notice. "They're going to take her away and shove her right into her mother's arms! What do you think will happen then?"
"Nora is a bonded Omega," Nolan stresses, "with a fiancé. Regardless of the clinic not signing off on our bonding, they can't undo it now. Which means she can't be sent away from our home. I checked with Alicia. The law is clear."
"The law is also clear that you can't own a person, but look where we're at right now!" Chase screams, making me flinch. "I can't believe you'd do this!"
"We don't have a choice!" Nolan's voice is clear and unwavering but loud, the dominance of a pack Alpha seeping into every word. I flinch involuntarily at the power behind it. "They will arrest us and hold us in jail until the pretrial hearing. Nora won't be alone. Joey isn't included on the warrant."
"I'm not?"
"No, the law doesn't consider you liable because you're not an official part of Pack Sloane," he says quietly. "Which is bullshit but works in our favor this time."
I split the stack of pancakes I've finished into plates for all of my men, topping them with frozen berries and finding the bottle of pure maple syrup Chase had set out. I'm on autopilot, all of my training rising to the surface as I fight to keep my composure.
It's okay.
This is fine.
It's a formality, right? The hearing will go our way, and my Alphas will come home. It's fine. I can do this. I can watch them go to jail. I will handle this perfectly so they do not worry about me.
A bright smile. Calm my hands. Clasp them in front of me so my pack doesn't see how they shake. Straighten your spine, Nora. No one likes a slouchy Omega. Bigger smile, Nora. You have to make sure your Alphas are calm.
Big smile.
Still hands.
"Well, Alphas, please, eat up. I need to make sure you're not hungry. It sounds like you're going on an adventure."
"Nora," Levi pleads, his voice just shy of a whine. "Come sit down. It's going to be okay."
"I'm fine, Alpha Levi. Please, eat. I will take care of the house while you all are indisposed." An indecipherable look passes between my men. I can feel the tension in the air and see the concern in their eyes. I drop my voice low, pleading with my eyes. "This helps me feel in control," I whisper.
Instead of letting them respond, I wipe my hands on a towel. "If this is about perception, please allow me to pick out outfits for each of you. I want everyone to see how well I can take care of you."
I don't wait for their responses before rushing up the stairs.