Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
Sleep refuses to claim me. I swear I have tried every single trick in the book. I have lost count of the sheep I was hoping would pull me under.
After endless hours of staring up at the ceiling, I decide to give up.
It's been a long time since I have had a night like this. Years in fact.
There is at least some kind of silver lining to it. I know what is keeping me from rest.
Seeing that Omega who had been raped, abused and finally murdered feels as though it is seared into my brain. It's rare that we have had to deal with any injustices against Omegas. I guess that means that the OPA are actually doing their job.
It's just the big cases that seem to slip through the cracks and reach us. Much like this one is turning out to be.
I wish I could be one of those ignorant people that continue to go about their lives while terror is wreaked all around them.
But I’m not.
The thought of the killer being out there, unchecked and laughing at our faces has me on edge.
The last time someone dared to go up against us, too much blood was shed. We lost our Omega. Our sons were motherless and we became widows far too early.
That's not something that I want to happen again.
Not when I feel like my second chance at love is within reach.
My obsession with Valentina has grown in the short time I have spent in her presence today. I feel like an addict, constantly needing another fix of the drug that is her.
I grunt as I roll out of bed but pause with a groan as something in my back twinges. Fuck this getting old bullshit.
Righting myself, I stand and make a beeline for Valley’s door.
I feel something in my stomach pulling me towards her. That maybe all I need right now is her.
Reaching her door, I silently open it, taking my time to ensure it doesn’t creak. I don’t look up as I take a step inside before turning and shutting it behind me.
When I finally turn, I pause as I take in the situation on the bed.
Valentina is sandwiched in between both Conall and Victor. The twins' bodies are wrapped around her impressively so, to the point it is impossible to tell where one ends and the other begins.
The beauty between them remains fast asleep even though I know she wouldn’t be comfortable. Those two are like furnaces.
I take a seat in the chair in the corner of the room, relaxing as my eyes remain locked on my girl.
I startle as I realize the direction of my thoughts. I don’t know when I decided to mentally begin referring to her as mine but I find that I don’t hate it. Rather the opposite actually.
I want her to be mine. To be ours.
She may not be an Omega, may not be able to take our knots, but I don’t care.
Valentina is mine. Something about her speaks to me. There is something that I can see in her that is reflected in me.
Loneliness.
My girl is fucking lonely and that kills me.
She may have Amity and I have seen her laugh with the other dancers at the club but that doesn’t mean that at night when she goes to bed, she doesn’t long for something else.
Something more.
Something I know that I could give her.
Maybe it isn’t just her that’s lonely either.
Fuck, it’s been a long time since I have felt the comfort of sleeping next to a warm body. It's something that until you lose it, you don’t realize just how used to it you are.
I don’t realize I have spaced out until a soft voice is pulling me out of my thoughts.
“Are you okay, Olis?”
I try to find the words but each time I open my mouth to say something, anything, they become lost to the wind.
I hear Valley grunt and watch as she carefully untangles herself from between Cal and Vic.
By the time she makes her way over to me, I am already desperate for her. The need to breathe easier just by her touch alone, is almost impossible to keep contained.
Valley steps up into the space between my legs, her touch setting me alight, taking any of the negative and lingering feelings that had been plaguing me.
She doesn’t just stop at standing in front of me though.
Maneuvering both of our bodies, she settles herself down into my lap, so she is face to face with me.
Her hands settle on my stomach and I suddenly notice the lack of clothing both of us are wearing.
The same thought seems to occur to Valley as she stiffens slightly before relaxing again.
I follow her movements, not willing to give up this rare alone time with her.
Even though both Cal and Vic are already awake—knowing just how light sleepers they are—I am thankful that they are giving us this time together.
“Talk to me,” she whispers, her tone sending shivers over my body.
I sigh, dropping my head between my shoulders.
“Today was a lot.”
She nods, giving me an encouraging look to continue.
“I thought I had hardened myself against this life a long time ago. That there was nothing that could rattle me anymore. I became known amongst the ranks of being a force that couldn’t be broken. Today proved that I’m not that person.”
Valley looks at me sadly, her hands move up my chest to cradle my face.
“Thats because you are human, Olis. Humans break. We were never built to be impenetrable even though it would solve majority of our problems.”
I snort, knowing just how right she is.
“The thing I have come to learn about breaking is that it isn’t the end. Because you can heal from that which you feel has broken you. And in the end, maybe you aren’t so damaged. Maybe you are stronger than you ever thought possible. Even on the days when it doesn’t feel like it.”
I stare up at my girl in wonder. How the fuck did I become so lucky to have found her? Is this the god's way of repaying me for everything I have lost? Because at this moment, that is exactly what it feels like. Instead of an angel and devil sitting on my shoulder, it's just Valentina.
Not for the first time tonight, do words evade me. Instead of telling her just how far I have already fallen, I close the distance between us, allowing my lips to press against hers.
Butterflies soar in my stomach, a feeling of elation overcoming me as she moves against me.
The kiss is sweet and gentle. A feeling that is foreign to me but everything I didn’t know I really needed. It becomes impossible to not lose myself in the feeling of her. To not completely forget myself and just drown in her.
Eventually though, Valley pulls away from me but doesn’t go far. Her forehead rests against mine, our breaths becoming one as we soak in the moment.
I feel the moment my body relaxes even further under her hold. Valley leans back and smiles down at me before standing up again. She holds out a hand, one I instantly take.
On silent feet, I follow her, not surprised at all when we reach my door.
The moment she steps inside, I curse myself for not tidying up properly. Even though it is just my shoes from the day on the floor, I still feel a hint of embarrassment.
I know I shouldn’t. Cal’s room puts mine to shame tenfold but the lingering commands of my parents from all those years ago still linger. Longer than they deserve to. God knows those two would find delight in middle aged me still abiding by their rules even still.
It's a good thing they are dead now.
I continue to follow Valley as she slides in under my rumpled covers, her small frame becoming lost in the sheets. I could almost picture her snuggling up in a nest of her own.
Carefully, I slide in next to her. Opening my arms, she quickly adjusts herself against me—her head coming to rest on my right pec.
In an instant, the sleep that evaded me before comes rushing in like a freight train. My eyes become heavy and I begin to doze.
“Goodnight, Olis.” Is the last thing I hear before sleep claims me.
I wake with a groan blinking my eyes against the sun shining through the windows. My body feels surprisingly well-rested considering just how hard sleep seemed to evade me. Looking up at the ceiling, I smile at myself as I think about who I shared a bed with.
I know that the difference in my ability to actually fall asleep last night was her. She gave me the ability to relax.
Not only that but she gave me an opportunity to talk about what I was feeling. To get it off my chest rather than bundle it up like I would have if she wasn’t here.
I rub at a spot in my chest. Conveniently, it's the same one that has been giving me issues since I first saw my girl.
Speaking of, I roll over to face her but pause when I find the bed beside me empty.
Kicking off the blankets, I throw my bedroom door open but come to an abrupt halt as I find my missing girl right in front of me. Holding two cups of coffee.
Ignoring the steaming cups, I pull Valley into me, wrapping her up in my arms.
“Fuck, I thought you were gone,” I mumble, buring my head into her hair. Inhaling, I curse the fact that I can’t scent her. I know that it would have calmed me down instantly. I just have to work a little bit harder now, which is fine.
“It’s okay. I’m right here.”
Her whispers of reassurance and the way her body melts against my own help to ease the panic I felt finding her gone from beside me.
After what is surely way too long, I let her go, dropping my arms from her body. The minimal space between us is enough for her to hold up the coffee she had gone to make for me.
I don’t thank her with words as I take the cup. Instead, I place a gentle kiss on her forehead. A shiver runs over her body and I smile in delight as I take a sip.
“Sorry that I wasn’t here when you woke. My body alarm is set for stupid o’clock and I had to go make sure that Amity was alright.”
I nod, understanding all too well.
“It’s okay,” I reply, feeling a hint of embarrassment. “I think after last night, I instantly thought the worst.”
Valley nods before setting down her mug. Grabbing my hand, she directs me over to the bed. I sit, looking up at her as she glances down at me.
“Now that you have processed it, what is your plan?” she questions. I don’t miss the glint in her eye. It's one that I know all too well.
It's the need for vengeance. A thirst in your blood that calls for justice to be done. To rid the world of filth.
Not everyone can stomach it. Because the path there is littered with gore and deception. One that will have our souls knocking on Hell's door.
Something that I now know I won’t be walking alone because she will be right there beside me.
I knew she was perfect for us but I didn’t understand the depth of it.
Looking back up at Valley, I smile. It's a cruel, cunning one. One I don’t bother hiding from her. If she is to be mine. She needs to know the depths I will go to to ensure those that I love are kept safe.
“We go on a hunt.”