Chapter 42
Chapter
Forty-Two
SIMONA
D espite Dominic’s explanation of Alpha influence and what trumps what, I returned to Unity with three new barks holding control and power.
The process itself was simple. Emotionally, though my Alphas struggled but I needed the reassurance more, and they knew that. And they each freed me in spades, completely expelling any lingering worry I had with brutal intention, delivered in beautiful tenderness.
They ripped my fear of Brody’s lingering control over me to shreds.
The safety net knowing Brody’s influence is gone makes me feel the strongest I have for years. Add in the way my Alphas use our bond as a constant way to remind me of their belief is beyond encouraging, especially in light of our next showdown.
Dominic sits beside me, his formidable presence settling around my shoulders, helping me control the burst of nervous energy that has my hands shaking, and my scent diluting .
“Breathe, Mon Amore, everything is going to be fine,” he schools quietly, slipping his hand into mine.
Which is where it stays when Omega Mother Beatrice walks through the door to join us in the meeting room at Unity. The very room where Brody had acted as my brother before reminding me of my place in his world.
Being here is actually a good reminder of how far I’ve come, as well as being incentive to never allow myself to be in such a vulnerable position again.
“Simona, I am sorry to keep you waiting.”
As always, Omega Mother Beatrice’s no-nonsense approach helps mitigate my mild panic attack. The sudden well of emotion is to be expected really; she’s basically a test case for telling people my story, but on top of that, I don’t want to disappoint her. I lay a lot of my success at Unity, and a lot of my growth, towards her unwavering support.
Her focus doesn’t stray from me, even though Dominic sits holding my hand. I take my time working through a few deep steady breathing exercises before I start. Neither of them rush to fill the silence. They wait. And when I eventually manage to drag my eyes off her desk to look at her, I need another breath because her huge, encouraging smile wasn’t what I was expecting.
“I don’t know where to start,” I admit, keeping my focus on her while squeezing the crap out of Dominic’s hand.
“How about introductions? They usually help,” she offers.
Dominic stays quiet, and Omega Mother Beatrice also waits, both of them giving me the reins. For someone who was forced into thinking, and acting a certain way, the way they intentionally let me decide how to handle what I say feels like a gift.
“Omega Mother Beatrice, this is Dominic Torres, my packed Alpha.” My heart is in my throat as I speak the words I never thought I would want to say out loud .
The smile on her face grows. “It seems congratulations are in order.”
I interrupt her. “He is also my lawyer. I’ve lodged for emancipation.”
She settles back in her seat, compassion seeping through her expression, along with a healthy boost of pride. After quickly gathering her thoughts, she leans forward. “How can I help?”
The next few hours pass in the blink of an eye. It’s not a one-sided discussion either. Dominic outlines the legalities of the emancipation, after I talk through my reasons for applying for it. Some of them. Not all of them.
Omega Mother Beatrice offers sound advice, particularly after I explain how awful I feel about not telling the Scorned Girls. Unwittingly, she confirms it’s best for the girls to keep believing I have a stalker until the situation with Brody is completely resolved.A large part of her argument centres around the girls not being at Unity so the risk to them individually is lessened. Then she reiterates they have security of their own, to guard and protect, so there’s next to no chance for Brody to get to them. It still makes me feel like the worst friend ever, but if it keeps them safe then I’d lie to them if I had to.
Our conversation veers off into a few related tangents before I ask about remaining a student at Unity. I thought I saw pride on her face before, but now she leaks it.
She doesn’t stop smiling while we figure out the nitty-gritty of me staying a student. Technically, as soon as an Omega is packed, Unity can provide the Certification needed for Endorsement with the government, but I still want to receive the certification based on my achievements.
We come to an agreement where I will remain a student at Unity during the week before spending the weekend with the Torres Pack, or however I see fit. The arrangement needs her approval, as Headmistress, because of the change in my status to being a packed Omega.
Her request that I wear special blockers hiding my pack status was something my pack and I were expecting, though hearing her say it out loud still makes Dominic’s presence and scent twist in anger. Even before Hendrix, Dominic, and Ryder had driven me back to Unity, we had collectively decided to hide our pack bond—in most situations. They were fine then, but right now, Dominic’s primal side doesn’t like hiding it. And I get that. I move to him, basically sitting in his lap, and hold his hand and pump our bond with comfort.
Once our conversation resumes, Omega Mother Beatrice’s final stipulation isn’t a surprise at all—under no circumstances are any of my Alphas allowed in my room. That rule isn’t for me, it’s for the safety of all the other students attending. It’s easy to understand and also agree to.
And then she leaves me to say goodbye to my Alpha.
Nerves flutter around my stomach. I’ve shared a whole lot of myself with him, and spent my heat with him inside my body, but try telling my brain that. I’m so jittery I start breathing weird. Thankfully, he doesn’t seem thrown by it. He prowls until I have nowhere to escape before he cages me with his body. The instant his mouth is on mine, I feel the tension evaporate.
“Amore Mio.” An unintelligible growl bubbles from his chest as he kisses me with the full force of his destination. The taste of him lingers on my tongue, and his scent falls like soft mist against my skin, his designation reminding me in no uncertain terms that I am his, and he is mine.
I break away from his kiss. I have to. I’m pretty sure no matter how thrilled Omega Mother Beatrice was at my news, I’d push her to consider my attendance, and her support, if our goodbye got any more heated. Honestly, I’ll have to use the strong chemical spray to wipe off his scent and presence from the furniture as it is. It reeks in here.
My nervousness makes another sudden appearance, but it’s because I’m about to give him all the evidence he needs to win this case for me.
“Dom, I have to give you my journal. I mentioned I had sufficient evidence regarding Brody and the founding families, but I want you to take it and keep it safe for me.”
Talk about a mood killer.
The light in Dominic’s eyes fades before it blazes. Cupping his hand around the back of my neck, he pulls me to him and absolutely destroys me with his kiss until I’m struggling to remember my name or where I am.
He pushes his forehead to mine and waits until my breathing evens out.
“Simona, I’m in awe of your strength.”
I soften under his praise; my hand cups his face and I soak in the intimacy we share before I break our sweet connection and walk into the janitor closet.
Taking a step inside the small, dank space, it’s hard not to plummet into the dark memory of what Brody did in here. The promise of being rid of him is what I cling to as I step over the exact spot where he threw me down like discarded trash.
Once I make it past that point, a load falls away. I climb the edge of the industrial shelving to reach where I had hidden everything.
Turning, I nearly walk right into Dominic. He reaches out his hand, not for what I’m holding, but as a reminder I’m not alone anymore.
“Ryder messaged. He’s arranged your breakfast and snacks for the morning. And apparently Hendrix is waiting to hear what you’d like for dinner for the next few nights. I’ll be focusing on your case, so I will be at my office or working from home. We are less than twenty minutes away.”
We’ve had this chat a few times already. I suspect my Alpha is repeating it to ensure when I pass to him the incriminating evidence, the event doesn’t sear into a core memory.
Except, I still need to say something to him about it. “Dom.”
He checks over his shoulder but doesn’t stop walking out of the room and we are as far away from it as possible. He places the bag near his feet, taking my other hand in his for additional support, already recognising what I have to say is difficult.
“I journalled as a way of coping with what happened, and what was happening. I know what’s inside the pages, but I’ve never reread what I wrote from cover to cover. It’s too raw.”
“That’s fine,” he says stoically. I can feel the gathering storm of his emotions; he doesn’t need to vocalise them as they press like a touch on my skin.
“You could get one of your assistants or associates to transcribe my journal so you don’t need to.” He narrows his eyes at me, and my words speed up. “But if you do read my journal, I want you to keep what we spoke about in the ugly room in the forefront of your thoughts.”
I get a small smile at the mention of the ugly room, it needs no further explanation, but it needed mention because it was a reminder of better times, ones that haven’t yet happened but they definitely will. He doesn’t rush in to argue or appease, but I can see he’s made his mind up.
He wraps his strength around me, dropping his designation so I get a very intimate reminder he is a strong Alpha. “I am not going to let you carry the burden alone anymore, Simona. I will read each word you wrote. I will trace each tear stain before reviewing each and every photo. I will be memorising the details you carefully wrote. It is my role as yours to do that, but it is a great honour too.”
I have to blink back my tears, but that doesn’t dampen the impact of his words. Dominic’s arms tighten until I can breathe without choking on my emotions, and then I stay a little longer because I’m fast getting used to his cuddles.
When we finally break apart, it really is time to go. I’m exhausted, and tomorrow I have a heavy course load to study. After one last, lingering kiss goodbye, I use the spray on both of us before walking him out the front gates.
I wait until Hendrix turns the car and drives off before I wave to Nigel and Dale who will continue to watch me, when my pack can’t.