Chapter 41
Bayleigh
Milton hands the bag of food to Korbin, his athletic frame relaxed, sandy-blond hair curling slightly at the ends as he steps toward me. My heart feels as if it’s about to burst from my chest.
“Bayleigh. Why haven’t you been answering our messages?” he asks, eyes calm as he reaches out to me with steady hands, taking mine in his.
Lincoln stands to his side, just in my line of sight, and tries his hardest to sign what Milton’s saying. He’s getting bits and pieces, less than he probably thinks he is. He’s gone through all that trouble to learn, just to toss me to the side for some perfect omega.
Korbin holds still, every line of his tall, powerful body coiled tight, dark eyes watching the space around me like he’s expecting a threat to crawl out of the shadows—and like he’s already chosen who he’ll kill first. It’s what I don’t get.
I rip my hands from him and furiously sign, because they’re not worthy of my words. Of my voice.
Figured you were busy with your meeting.
“Bayleigh. I don’t understand what you’re saying. Lincoln, do you know what she’s saying?” Milton makes sure not to turn his head, ensuring that I can see every word he’s saying.
Lincoln steps forward, and my eyes shift over to him.
“I didn’t catch it all. Something about being busy. I don’t know,” Lincoln says, his eyes full of emotion as he speaks, making sure to enunciate each word.
He got one part of it right. Busy.
“Please, Bayleigh, Baby, talk, type it, just tell us what happened today. Why are you ignoring our messages? Why does it look like you’ve been crying for hours?” Milton says, grabbing my hands again.
I shake my head, pain coursing through me.
“Nuh-uh, Baby. You’re not going anywhere until we straighten out whatever has you upset with us.” Milton’s lips press together after he speaks.
Lincoln reaches out, covering both our hands with his, and I shift my gaze to him.
“She can’t type if you’re holding her hands. Let her go so we can figure this shit out.” Lincoln pulls his hands back and waits for Milton to do the same. He’s reluctant but does it. Milton pulls his phone from his pocket, holding it out to me.
Reluctantly, I take the phone from him, opening his messages and begin typing furiously.
The three of you said you wanted to court me.
Yet, you met with the matchmaker today. Not just you and Korbin.
But all three of you. I saw the posts and the pictures online.
You didn’t even bother to tell me. I reached out in our group chat and what did I get?
Silence. Even you, Lincoln. I asked you directly what you were doing, and you lied. Was this all a game with me? Why?
I shove the phone back at him, crossing my arms over my chest angrily. Movement behind them catches my eyes and I see Korbin has stepped forward, now beside Milton, as they all read what I wrote.
It’s evident when they finally catch on to what I’m talking about.
I can see their bodies relax, just a little.
Just another clue that they never wanted me.
If they did, then they surely would be more upset about it.
My eyes shift between each of them. Korbin, then Milton, finally Lincoln, waiting for whatever excuse they’re going to give me.
“Fuck,” Lincoln mouths, before stepping closer to me. “It’s not what it looks like. We didn’t know they were doing a press release for our meeting. Hell, they didn’t even know I was going to be there.”
Finally, I use my voice, too pissed to type and knowing they won’t get every word I sign.
“Then why were you there? You’re not a Scorpion. Why did you lie to me when I asked what you were doing?”
Korbin reaches out, touching my arm, getting my attention.
“We went earlier in the morning and filed paperwork to become an official pack. We knew we had the meeting today, but believe me, Bayleigh, we had no intention of the matchmaker setting us up with anyone.”
My eyes drift between them, seeing them all looking at me. They became a pack. An official one.
“That’s right, Omega.” I raise my brow at Milton’s term of affection. “You should have seen the prissy omegas they tried to push onto us. But they aren’t you, Bayleigh. You’re the tornado we want.”
“He’s right. You’re beautiful, smart, full of life and fire. The omega we want is you,” Lincoln adds.
“Then why go? Why lie?”
“We had to,” Milton says, taking my hand.
“It’s required by the team. They didn’t even like Lincoln being there, but they had no say in it.
We showed them the paperwork making us a pack, told them they could fuck off with their omegas because we didn’t want them.
We fully planned to tell you everything afterward.
We were going to have you come over, feed you, and then show you the paperwork.
We’re serious when we say we want to court you, Bayleigh. You’re ours.”
Each of them nods in agreement. My vision becomes blurry as tears well in my eyes, realization finally hitting me that I completely misread the situation. James was right. Something was off, and if I had answered their messages, talked to them earlier, then I would’ve known this already.
Lincoln signs, taking his time, making sure he gets the words right. We’re here. With you.
“I know you and I are not as close as you are with Milton and Lincoln, and believe me, I plan to change that. But, Bayleigh, we would never pick anyone over you.”
Korbin’s words hit me. Even though we're not close, he’s still announcing that I’m his.
“You’re it for us, Bayleigh. From the moment I heard Lincoln talk about you, I was hooked. I knew before I even spoke the words that you were it for me. If we knew our meeting was going to be placed in a news blast, we would’ve told you.” Korbin's eyes stay locked on me as he speaks.
“In hindsight, we should’ve done that anyway.” I can see the guilt etched on Lincoln’s face.
“You never wanted them? It’s me you want?” I ask, needing to hear it again. “This whole time?”
“Yes,” they all say in unison.
“And once we court you and you’re ready, we want you to join our pack,” Milton adds. My heart crushes again, but this time with happiness.