Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
After packing up everything I’m going to need for the week, Nick heads home so we can get ready for dinner and pick up Benson.
I'm a little lost in my head as I try choosing a dress I know Bee will like. I’m having a hard time deciding what to wear. Part of me wants to wear something so full coverage that I’m hidden behind layers of fabric, but that’s never really been my style.
I don’t hide from my problems; I face them head-on. Usually.
Kai is an exception. My feelings and emotions when it comes to him are all so jumbled. He’s engrained into who I am as a person, because we met when I was a kid. Hell, I met him the same week I met my best friend and soulmate, Sable. Kai is as wrapped up in my past as she is.
The alphas are my barrier. My thick, muscled layer of protection, and if this afternoon taught me anything, it’s that I need that buffer. Just the sight and scent of Kai had my mind reeling.
So instead of hiding like I want to, I pick out something that Kai’s mom will think is pretty—an emerald green maxi dress with a sweetheart neckline.
It’s soft and looks good on me without being revealing.
I’ll wear a thick jacket over the top for the trip there, but it’s comfortable enough that it will get me through dinner.
Once in the shower, I wash off the alpha’s scents, not wanting Bee to think I'm being bitchy. I'll save my bad behavior for Kai. His mother has been kind to me since the day I met her, and I’m not going to do anything to disrespect her just because I’m pissed at her son.
I get ready on autopilot, and when the alphas knock on my door, I have to take a deep breath before answering them.
I don’t know why I’m so nervous for this dinner.
I’ve known Bee for a long time, and even though Kai broke my heart, and I want nothing to do with him, I can tolerate his presence for her sake.
I would tolerate anyone for her, if I’m honest.
I love Bee, and one of the worst parts about Kai abandoning me was losing my relationship with her. We both tried after he left, but when it was clear that it was too painful, she pulled away to give me space. Something I desperately needed but hated entirely.
I’ve been wanting to spend time with Bee again. Preferably without Kai, but I’ll use this as a bridge to open that door between her and me again. Something Kai was no doubt able to guess, which is why he included Bee in this dinner offer. He knew it was an invitation I wouldn’t refuse.
Although, I don’t think I could’ve gone if it was just going to be the three of us. I’ve spent too many nights as a teen at a table with just Kai and Bee, and the direct echo of our past is something I’m not sure my heart could handle.
“Hey,” I say, pulling the door open to greet Benson and Nick. “Oh, wow,” I whisper, unable to hide my surprise or appreciation as I take in the sight of them both.
Benson has a simple black v-neck t-shirt tucked into dark wash blue jeans secured at his waist with a black belt. His dark brown boots really tie the whole outfit together. Nick is wearing a similar outfit, but his shirt is pure white. They both look great, without coming off as trying too hard.
“You look amazing, Plum,” Benson says as he pulls me in for a quick hug. I blush, murmuring a quiet thanks.
“Stunning,” Nick rumbles, hugging me next. I’m feeling extra thankful that they had me stay the night with them last night; otherwise, I don’t think I would be this relaxed. Grabbing my purse and joining them in the hallway, I just finish locking my door when I hear Kai behind me.
“So, are you excited to see her new house?” Kai asks while locking his door.
Did he hear Benson and Nick knock and rush out here before we could make our way over to his apartment? The alphas and I stand around awkwardly, watching the beta until Kai turns around to face us.
Fucking hell. He looks good.
He’s wearing a cream-colored polo, with long sleeves pushed up his forearms and tucked into his slim-fit dress pants. They’re a dark navy blue, secured at his waist with a black faux-leather belt, as well as matching black shoes.
Oh, he is not fighting fair at all. If Nick’s playing a game, then Kai is in full-on battle mode. I’m glaring at him as he takes in the sight of my dress. Feeling self-conscious, I tug the front of my jacket shut tightly.
“Holy shit. You look stunning, Plum. Green looks amazing on you.” Kai’s husky tone sends shivers down my spine, so I press in against Benson, wrapping my arm around his waist, as I reach my hand out to Nick.
“Thanks, it matches Nick’s eyes,” I shrug. “We’ll follow you there.” Because no fucking way am I allowing myself to be trapped in a small space with Kai’s scent. Not to mention, if I need a quick escape from this dinner, we’ll need a getaway car.
“Whatever you want, Sweet Plum.” Kai smirks, holding his hand out for Nick to shake. “Thanks for joining tonight, alpha,” he says, shocking us both with the formal show of respect.
It’s something that packs tend to save for each other. Or if Kai was hitting on the alpha, but seeing as Kai once told me he’s solidly straight, that’s definitely not what that was. My eye twitches when he turns to Benson and holds his hand out to him next. “Thanks for being here tonight, alpha.”
There’s no fucking way. There is just no fucking way Kai thinks he can get to me by getting the alphas on board. That can’t possibly be his plan, can it?
I glance between the three of them, feeling a strange twist in my chest as I think about everything he’s done and said since finding out about Benson and Nick.
Fuck. It might be.
“After you,” the alpha grunts.
Kai nods, grinning like he hasn’t got a care in the world. A rage-fueled desire to hurt the man nearly overwhelms me, and I hate that he brings this side out of me.
Why the fuck is he so happy?
Like he didn’t break my fucking heart, like he didn’t lie to my face!? How dare he come back here and act like it hasn’t been five fucking years of this pain.
We follow Kai out silently, but the second I’m buckled into my seat, and Nick turns his truck on, I unleash my agitation. I turn so I’m facing Nick and can glance at Benson, in the backseat behind his brother.
“I want you to know that nothing I’m about to say is meant to insult either of you. I just need to vent, and since I can’t tell Sable or Stella, you two are all I’ve got,” I growl.
“I think I can take it, omega. Let it out. I’m here for you,” Nick offers gently, his scent already reaching out to soothe me, filling the small space with pine needles.
“Great. Because I’m having a hard time understanding this man’s motivation.
Things between us ended brutally when Kai told me he was leaving in front of half of the fucking town instead of trying to make long distance work or, I don’t know, asking if I wanted to go with him!
” I hiss, waving my hands around like a crazy person.
“Now he’s back, and acting like nothing ever happened!
Using his sweet angel of a mother against me because he knows how much I love her.
Taunting me with that fucking scent, and inviting me to dinner without a shirt on!
?” I’m shouting now, breathing heavily as my scent explodes with my fury, making Benson grunt and Nick cough.
They let me vent, nodding along quietly as I lose my absolute shit.
The warmth of Nick’s hand through the thin material of my dress as he caresses my thigh with his thumb soothes some of my frayed nerves.
I breathe in his scent once again, and Benson’s reaches me next. I relax slightly, but not enough.
“Then, of all fucking things, he makes my childhood dream come true in the blink of an eye and doesn’t even mention it! Like it’s no big deal. Like it doesn’t even fucking matter!” All of my anger deflates as I slump back in my seat, tears filling my eyes as I work hard not to let them fall.
This is so fucking confusing. He’s so fucking confusing.
“Why does he seem perfectly fine? Like the last five years have been a breeze for him and not the torture they were for me?” I whisper. I don’t know what answer I’m expecting. I don’t even know who I’m really asking for one either, my fake alphas, myself—the universe?
Only Kai really knows why it was so easy for him to walk away from me.
The next thing I know, Nick is undoing my seatbelt, leaning over my body to pull the bar to lean my seat back. Then Benson reaches out and grabs me, pulling me into his lap.
My body turns to jelly in an instant, and I melt into his arms.
“He’s hiding his pain, Plum,” Nick says as I nuzzle my face against Benson’s neck, breathing in deeply. “I can see it in his eyes every time you cuddle into us. The way his muscles tighten.”
“The way he flinches when you show one of us affection,” Benson murmurs, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead as I look up at him.
“He looks unfazed and perfectly chipper to me,” I grumble, frowning up at the alpha. Benson chuckles, shrugging one shoulder.
“He’s good at hiding it from you,” Nick says, and I glance over my shoulder at him, catching the reflection of his green eyes in the rearview mirror.
“Or maybe you can’t see it through your own pain, but it’s there.” Benson is quiet for a long moment before he continues. “You’re in control here, Plum, but if you want us to help you see it, we can apply pressure until he shows you just how much he’s hurting,” Benson offers as he strokes my hair.
I nibble my lip, staring out the window.
I don’t like the idea of hurting someone else just because they hurt me.
That’s not who I am or who I want to be, but…
Well, it’s not that I think Benson is lying; I just haven’t seen anything that makes me think Kai is actually hurting at all.
Using Nick and Benson as shields isn’t supposed to hurt Kai, just scare him off.