Chapter 31
thirty-one
Xenia
Amonth passes, Ruth was taken to deliver her calf and came back just as angry. Vinny has kept his promise and left us entirely alone. And there is no evidence of the distant snowstorm that started all of this.
My head swivels between Wren, Pierce, Luther, and back outside.
Luther is in the kitchen, making up something that smells heavenly. Pierce is on the ground tinkering with a metal part. Wren is leaning back on the couch crocheting as the TV hums in the background.
The sight of all of them warms my heart.
Charles still isn’t back, but they have made contact. He knows it’s safe.
He simply decided it was time to keep a bit of space from his dads, to travel and explore. I know it breaks Wren’s heart, but the two postcards he has already received are helping to dull the pain.
“She should be here soon.” Bouncing at the window, it isn’t much longer that I see her familiar vehicle.
I don’t wait any longer, running outside and to her, I rip open the door, and throw myself into Serena’s arms.
It is only my alpha’s growling behind me that reminds me that I maybe shouldn’t have done that, but I don’t care.
“You didn’t say your best friend was an alpha.” Pierce is the first to make it outside, plucking me off of Serena.
He allows her to get out, and they both begin sizing each other up.
“She’s my best friend,” I explain. “We met just after I landed myself in the facility for omegas without families.”
Serena cracks a smile, eyeing his tattoos. “You must be Pierce. Yes, I’m an alpha, but don’t worry, I have my own omega.”
“You do?” My eyes widen in surprise.
Serena laughs. “We can catch up. Let’s get inside, let me meet your other men.”
She gestures for Pierce to lead the way, but when he doesn’t move, I shoulder past him and offer my grumpiest face.
Once in the house, my other alphas are still in their same spots, but it’s clear they aren’t doing anything correctly. Luther is holding a spatula attempting to flip a plate? And Wren is somehow now endeavoring to crochet with a pencil.
“This is Serena. She’s an alpha, but she’s my best friend first. Behave.”
Wren and Luther jolt into action at my words. A plate shatters to the ground and Wren curses as he stabs himself with lead.
“Can I just have some time with her, alone?” I flinch, but then relax.
They aren’t going to hurt me.
I’m not used to asking for things, even less accustomed to someone listening. But sure enough, Luther, Wren, and Pierce all make themselves scarce as soon as I request it.
“They’re wrapped around your fingers,” Serena comments, spinning in place and examining the house. “It’s nice in here. You always did like the citrus and musky scents, but isn’t this too much?”
I grumble and she cocks a brow in response. “Sorry, I just… I’m protective over them. They… Serena, they make me so happy.”
“Good.” She sighs and walks towards the living area, making herself at home, leaning back and appraising me. “I tried to get you away from Tony.”
My face heats, a mixture of shame and appreciation. “Thank you for helping clean up my mess.”
Serena breaths out, a strand of her dark hair lifting with it. “I didn’t know if I should force you to remember or let you forget. Vinny and I argued over it relentlessly, but I agree, it is best for you to process. Especially now that you have the support and love to do so.”
“So you and Vinny?”
I hadn’t meant much by it, but Serena’s pinks flush in shame and she begins to bite her lips.
“You grew up together?”
“Oh, yeah. Our fathers run in the same circles. I used to talk to him about you…” She screws her eyes shut. “That’s how Tony found out about you, that crazy fucker always took anything Vinny showed remote interest in.”
Settling down next to her, I offer her a reassuring squeeze.
“I’m working through it. I’m letting myself remember.
All of it. The good, the bad, the awful.
But because of that, I can recall all of the times you risked yourself to check on me.
Thank you, Serena. I love you. Now tell me about your omega… ”
And she does, sort of. She tells me how she met them at the First Chapter Clinic, but she is intentionally vague, skirting around any prying questions. Instead, she focuses on relaying all the life I had missed while hiding away on this farm.
I know at some point I will have to return to the “real world,” especially as my pregnancy progresses, but right now it is nicer to hear it from her perspective.
She goes on and on for a while, and we trade life. We laugh. We cry.
Eventually the subject of my pregnancy comes up.
“Vinny explained it all to me. The clinic is corrupt. There’s more to it than that, but I’m going to look into it with him. No one should be forced into pregnancy when all they want is a safe encounter.” Serena looks behind her. “You three can come out now. It’s getting late.”
And she’s right. The sun has completely set now outside. “I love you, Serena. And I am so thankful for everything you have done for me. I truly believe I would not be here if it were not for you.” Leaning over, I wrap my arms around her, squeezing her to me and burying my head against her chest.
It is only this close that I can decipher there is an additional scent on her, an omega’s.
One that I recognize. They were at the clinic.
My eyes widen in shock, but I choose not to voice it. I imagine when she is ready I will meet them, but in the meantime I won’t press her.
This time, when I am plucked away from her it is Wren holding me. He gathers me up, placing his chin on my head. “Yes, Serena, we are thankful for your assistance. Please visit when you can. We would especially love for you to bring your omega too.”
Serena laughs, shaking her head. “I hear you loud and clear.” She offers one last wistfully sad smile my way. “See you soon.”
And just like that, she’s gone.
Leaving me with my three alphas.