34. Grace
The bell above the door chimes again and I feel weak. All I want to do is go home and curl up into a ball, like I’ve done for the past two days.
I’ve cried non-stop and my body aches so much I feel like I’ve flown economy on a round-the-world ticket.
I’m drained, but today, Sienna refused to let me wallow and after shoving me into the shower, she dressed me, fed me my breakfast and drove me to work.
I feel like everyone’s eyes are on the rejected omega. The one who is pregnant and doesn’t even know who the fucking father is.
Not that people know the full truth about that.
My friends Ella and Sienna do. Obviously, they’ve been there listening to me whining about my life choices.
When another sob is about to sneak from my mouth, I rush to the kitchen and bang my head against the wall.
“What the hell am I going to do?”
I know I have to talk to them eventually, but up to now, I’ve avoided their calls.
Ella strides into the kitchen. “How are you feeling today?”
“Peachy.”
She grins. “Is that their scent?”
“No, much worse.”
She nods knowingly. “That good, eh!”
“I said worse.”
“I know what you told me.” She stares at me for a moment. “When are you going to talk to them?”
“When I don’t want to punch them in their faces.”
“I could record it and put it on TikTok. Imagine the amount of views we’d get.”
I smile.
She walks closer to me. “I’m going to give you something.”
I rear my head back and laugh. “You’ll need to send me boxes and boxes of your best sex toys. I’ll need them.”
She laughs. “I was thinking more about working here for the next couple of hours for you. You need the rest,” she says. “Sit with Walker, and I’ll help Sienna. You look whacked.”
“I’m fine.” I lie.
“No, you’re not. Now sit with Walker, and a box of my finest toys might make their way to your home as a reward.” She wiggles her eyebrows.
“Okay. The box better be full, and I need Mr. Knotty. The new version with the twirly head and the double knot.”
Ella laughs as she unwraps me from my apron and ties it around her waist. “I’ll bring you a decaf over.”
“I need a vodka.”
“You’re not getting one.” She smirks, tapping my tummy. The baby won’t like it, and neither will I. “Now sit with my alpha and keep your hands to yourself, or I’ll chop them off.”
I chuckle.
Nobody would dare to touch Ella’s alphas, Walker, Gabe, and Jake. She really would chop off your hands. My heart sinks, because I know she’s found a pack and they’d never give her the reason to. They love her more than I’ve seen an omega loved before.
“She’s so lucky to have you,” I tell Walker when I take a seat opposite him.
“We’re the lucky ones.” He smiles. “Yours will be there for you, if you want them to be.”
“Is it weird finding out you love your best friend’s daughter?” I ask him. “She’s your goddaughter too, isn’t she?”
He laughs. “You already know the answer, Grace. Why don’t you start speaking about yourself? Tell me what happened?”
I smile. “Am I that obvious?”
“So obvious that now I’m going to ask questions.”
“That’s because you’re a noisy alpha.”
He rears his head back and laughs. I can see the appeal for Ella in the older alpha. He knew what he wanted and went out and made sure he got it.
I feel like I got the short straw with alphas. Her alphas killed for her. Mine...
I don’t know.
Lucas won’t stand up to his father, and Stanton told me he loved me and is nowhere in sight.
He waits as my hand lifts to my shoulder.
“I feel their pain and anger,” I say to Walker, touching Stanton’s claiming bite.
“Did they both claim you?”
I shake my head. “I have a proper bond with Stanton and I bit Lucas, but I feel him.”
“Maybe he feels rejected.”
My eyebrow furrow. “He doesn’t want me.”
He smiles. “If you’re feeling him, he does.”
I press my hand over my aching heart.
“It’s still real. The pain of rejection.” He adds. “I remember when Ella bit Jake and then Gabe and not me. I was devastated that she wanted them and not me.”
“I bit Lucas, though,” I murmur.
“But you changed everything when you presented your neck to Stanton,” he says.
I gasp. “You think that’s what Lucas is feeling? Is that the anger I feel?”
He shakes his head. “It’s probably the pain you’re feeling.“ He glances over at Ella as she helps Sienna with a customer. “It hit me hard. I’d wanted her before everyone else. She knew she was mine and yet...” Tears well in his eyes, remembering back to that time.
I rub my hand over his. “It’s okay. I understand.”
He tilts his head to one side as he considers me. “Do you? I know alphas have this reputation of being hard-headed, and that’s fair enough, but we’re not hard-hearted. When it comes to our omegas, we’re just big teddy bears.”
I laugh. “Are you?”
“With Ella I am. And I’m sure if you let your alphas in, they’ll be the same.”
I stopped wallowing after my talk with Walker. It surprised me to find out how alphas feel. Being brought up by a single parent omega, I only knew of her pain, and never once considered that alphas may go through the same. More so, scent matched alphas according to Walker.
I’m still not in the mood for talking with customers, so I’ve spent the last half hour making cakes and cookies. This is the last batch of the day. After mixing the cookie dough and adding chocolate chips, I place equal amounts on the two baking trays.
I grab the oven gloves and place the dough into the hot oven and set the timer for thirteen minutes.
And wait.
I jump when I hear my name at the door.
“Sorry Grace,” Sienna says, tilting her head to one side. “You have a visitor.”
“Who,” I mouth.
“It’s me,” Lucas stands next to Sienna. Looking like a model off a catwalk and not a hockey star. “Can we talk?”
“Yes you can,” Sienna says.
I fire her a dirty look.
“Okay,” I murmur as Sienna stands aside and Lucas comes into the kitchen.
“I know you’re angry with us, but we still want to look after you.” Lucas slides an envelope toward me. “Open it.”
I push my finger under the flap and flip it open. I feel Lucas’ eyes on my face the whole time.
I pull out a bundle of paperwork and on the top; the document reads: Purchase Document.
I read the details. My name is now on file as the new owner of the café and apartment above.
Owner. Not a leaseholder.
He bought it for me.
“How did you know I wanted to buy it?”
“Colton told me everything.”
I roll my eyes heavenward.
I push the envelope back to him. “This is too much. I was only going to buy the business, but you’ve purchased everything. You need to cancel the sale.”
“No,” he says. “You own the building, the café, and the business. I want your life to be easier than it is, and to give you something to build on.”
Inside, I’m crying because he doesn’t mention the baby.
“And you? Stanton mentioned you’ve been offered a place with a team in Florida,” I say. Wondering if this gift and not mentioning the baby is his way of saying goodbye.
“I don’t know.” He shrugs. “Stay here or go there. Either way, I’ll end up bitter and twisted like my father when he lost his scent match.”
I smile. “Maybe he never deserved her.”
“He doesn’t.” He returns my smile. “But it doesn’t stop him from remembering her.”
“But not pursue her.”
He doesn’t answer my question, but asks one of his own.
“Why did you present your neck to Stanton and not me?”
I exhale deeply. “Because his scent told me he was mine...” I swallow, seeing tears coat his eyes and realize Walker was right, Lucas is hurting. “And because I’ve regretted every day since my heat that I didn’t do the same for you.”
Every word is true.
“Do you?”
I nod. “Is that why you left me to wake up alone?” I ask a question of my own. “Because I never presented my neck to you.”
He shakes his head. “I made a mistake. I thought it would be easier not seeing you the next day... but it wasn’t. And when I came back to the hotel with breakfast, you’d gone.”
“You came back?”
He nods. “I knew I fucked up when you left the website, and I couldn’t find you anywhere. I never had your name or...” His voice stammers.
“I know you’re hurting.” I pause for a beat of my heart. “Because I am too.”
“Don’t.” He shakes his head. “I never fought hard enough for you. Stanton, on the other hand.” He swallows. “He fought non-stop for you. You should give him a chance.”
Is he saying we are over forever?
“Is that because you always had an omega? The girl at the charity night.”
He sighs deeply. “None before you and none after you. There’ll only ever be one omega for me.”
“Oh.” I dig my teeth into my bottom lip to stop it from quivering.
“But you’re Stanton’s. Don’t break his heart any more than it already is.” He spins on his heels and marches toward the door.
“Lucas!” I shout. He turns and all I can see in his eyes is anguish. “I have an ultrasound tomorrow at two.”
His eyes spark for the briefest moment, then his body just sags. “Are you wanting me to pass the message to Stanton?”
I nod. “Please.” I chew nervously on the inside of my cheek. “But I’d love it if you both come. I’ll message the address.”
He nods with watery eyes before he rushes out of the door.