Chapter Sixteen
Two days later
Chase
The phone woke him too early for a Saturday. He grabbed it off the bedside table, flicked the screen and scowled at his mother’s name. Swiping the green button, he rolled onto his back and mumbled an indistinct, “Mum?”
“Morning, dear. I hear that Lucky’s recovery is going well.
Now you’ve had a few days to settle back into college, I’d like to meet your true mate,” Wynna said, barely making sense to his tired brain.
“I’ll meet you at the mall around ten. Don’t be late.
I’ll be bringing Pip and he gets anxious waiting for people. ”
Chase opened his mouth to argue, to ask what she was talking about, but she hung up. He groaned, buried his face in the pillow, and braced for the day ahead.
He reached out without looking to place his phone back onto the bedside table. He was almost asleep when a breath against his ear forced his eyes open. Chase turned his head on the pillow to find Ford grinning, barely an inch from his face.
“Get up, shower and dress sharp. We’re meeting your mam at the mall for ten.”
“She called you?”
“Said you’d just go back to sleep.” Gentle fingers raked through his hair, far more tender and familiar than Chase was used to.
His stomach swooped―though he couldn’t tell if that was from the bond strengthening, nerves, or the hope that Ford would keep going―then Ford dropped into a crouch to look him in the eye.
“You want five more minutes? I haven’t called Lucky yet. ”
“If we’re late my mother will never let me hear the end of it. Did she wake you up?” He instinctively brushed fingers through Ford’s bed hair to right the mess.
“It’s not often I get to sleep in late. Kinda nice to wake up when it’s bright outside, instead of minutes after going to sleep.”
Chase hummed, not sure what to do with that information. No ORTa could survive a lack of sleep for long. The job took too much from them and losing sleep could lower their reactions enough to make a split-second difference between dodging a bullet and getting shot. “We’ll fix that.”
Ford stood and pressed his hands into the mattress, leaning so close that Chase expected to be kissed. He hadn’t decided whether to lean in or away when Ford smiled. “I look forward to it, meda. Get your ass up and into the shower.” He waited until the last second to steal a quick kiss.
“How did you get in here, or should I not ask?”
Ford stole another kiss but didn’t answer. Chase figured there was no point pressing for an answer and Ford didn’t linger, which meant Chase didn’t have to make up his mind about whether to react to that kiss.
Ford headed out, reminding him they were on a tight schedule.
He had a feeling that his mother wouldn’t care as long as Ford claimed to be the one holding them back.
Though Chase had been nervous when Ford had walked into their lives, he’d proven to be more than he appeared.
He was ORT, but could be soft and sweet with Lucky, intense and inappropriately flirty with Chase, and resolutely single-minded about taking care of their omega.
When they were together Chase never had to worry, because nothing would get past Ford to hurt their omega.
It was time Chase accepted that their bond went three ways. There was no point fighting Omha’s will. He’d seen enough this week to be convinced that She had plans well beyond anything he’d expected and resistance was futile.
* * * *
Chase stopped the ORT truck at the front entrance of the mall. While Lucky unbuckled and stepped out, Chase told Ford to wait with Lucky while he searched for a parking space. The place was packed for early in the morning.
Ford guided Lucky to the front entrance, where a small wall divided the entryway from a trolley bay. Lucky sat down, fiddling with his hair, while Ford lit a smoke.
Chase wished he’d thought of that.
Turning the car around, he spent the next three minutes searching for a space and found one by the back exit. It wasn’t ideal, but it was quick to find on the way out. Chase parked, shut the engine off and grabbed his phone to send a quick text to Grant.
If I don’t text in three hours, call me! About to have lunch with my mum, Ford and Lucky!
Grant didn’t waste time, sending back six laughing emojis followed by a thumbs up.
He hoped that meant he was ready to rescue him, because Chase was dreading this.
If his mother decided to interfere in their bond, even if only because Ford was one of her ORTas, he could kiss goodbye to having a peaceful bonding.
When Wynna Walker wanted something she was dangerous, but if she decided his mates weren’t good enough for him, or didn’t like Ford being an active ORTa, there was nothing that would stop her from getting her way.
Chase got out the car and walked around the corner to the front entrance, stopping short when Ford tossed his cigarette. He’d been hoping to steal that before they went inside.
Lucky was pacing and walked straight into Ford, an unmoving mountain. Ford cupped Lucky’s chin and tilted his head up. Whatever he said had Lucky clutching his arm, the tension fading when Ford bent to kiss him.
Lucky’s fingers tightened in Ford’s jacket sleeve—he was clearly enjoying himself.
Not that Chase could complain. Ford was an incredible kisser.
He smiled when those tight fingers released and Lucky pushed up on his tiptoes to wrap his arms around Ford’s neck, calmed down and riled up in a different way.
“You two keeping it PG for my mother?” he called, chuckling when Lucky startled and backed off to put a hand over his mouth. “How about one of those for me?”
Lucky positively beamed at the request and met him halfway to stand on his tiptoes to press a gentle but lingering kiss to his lips.
If they’d been anywhere else, he might have pushed for more.
Looking up at Ford, sporting a shit-eating grin, Chase tossed him the keys.
“Parked at the back exit, right outside the door.”
“Perfect.”
“You’re not the only one who knows how to take care of our omega, darlin’.”
The nickname had that grin dipping into sexy territory as Ford stepped closer. “Say that again, meda, and we ain’t going nowhere.”
Chase shook his head and lifted his phone when it buzzed in his hand. “My mother’s waiting at the coffee stall inside.”
Lucky toyed with a pendant and slipped his hands into his jean pockets, looking smart and cute in an oversized jumper with a cream top underneath, paired with khaki jeans and baseball trainers.
His hair had been swept off his face, wisps making a fringe over his forehead, while the rest sat in a ponytail.
Sporting a white shirt and black jeans, with a bomber jacket, Chase felt underdressed, while Ford looked his usual smart-casual in a T-shirt, jacket and cargo trousers which no doubt hid a multitude of weapons, cigarettes, or both.
Heading inside, he had a minor panic over what his mother would say about Ford.
“Lucky!” Pip yelled, running across the few feet between them.
Lucky bent and caught him in a hug. “Hi, sweetheart.”
“Tiloo said you were coming!” Using the traditional word for grandmother just showed how comfortable he was with Lucky, since he normally never used it in public, even around his parents, who didn’t care for tradition.
A throat cleared and Wynna tucked her phone into a bag hanging off her forearm. She was dressed elegantly, as always, in a smart black pantsuit with dark sunglasses she swept up to push back her hair, tied into a tight, intricate braid hanging over her shoulder.
“Tili.” Chase greeted his mother and kissed her cheek. She loved when he used the traditional omega language, calling her mother. “This is Lucky.”
“Lovely to meet you.” She shook his hand and raised an eyebrow at Ford. “King.”
“Boss.” He removed a packet of cigarettes from his hip pocket.
His mother positively brimmed with suspicion and amusement, a sight Chase hadn’t seen outside of her business dealings. “I see why you were eager to accept the bond,” she said, gently gathering Lucky’s long ponytail over his shoulder.
“Can I feel?”
Since he asked nicely, Chase stepped around his mother and lifted Pip to sit on his hip to touch Lucky’s hair.
“You’ll like this one, boss.” Ford took a drag of the smoke he’d lit. “He’s a feisty one. Let me shoot him before he knew I was ORT.”
Though Lucky blushed, Chase decided it was better to distract Pip from Ford’s inappropriate bragging by asking how he wanted to spend the day. To his horror, Ford recounted the entire experience of choosing to shoot Lucky to save him from the OX in his system only for Omha to save them.
“You cursed an alpha?” his mother asked, lips twitching in apparent approval.
Ford had gone the whole gamut and explained how Lincoln had gone into heat, something Ford was convinced proved that Lucky had cursed him through Omha’s will. Chase didn’t doubt the Goddess could curse an alpha, but found it hard to believe a shit like Lincoln deserved Her attention.
“Made me fucking proud.”
“Really, Ford. You are a strange creature. Go away.” Wynna Walker flicked her fingers at Ford in a clear sign to back up, which he obeyed without objection.
Slipping her arm through Lucky’s, his mother walked away and Lucky fell into step.
“Ignore him, sweetheart. Most of the ORTa are the same. All mouth and big egos.”
Lucky tittered a discreet laugh, though the look he shot Ford was all approval and admiration. Not that Chase could blame him.
When Pip demanded to go with Lucky, Chase set him on his feet.
Pip wedged between both omegas, who doted on him as he deserved, giving him all the affection and attention his parents couldn’t be arsed to.
Chase fell into step beside Ford, shaking his head at the man-child beside him.
“Of course you’d be chummy with my mother,” he complained, digging his hands into his pockets, not sure whether this was a bad omen or good news.
Ford lifted an arm around Chase’s shoulders with a cheeky grin. “Your mam is the Top Dog of the ORT. The agents may be alphas, but we’re just pups on a leash held by an omega.”
Lucky braved the question Chase didn’t dare ask. “Is that true, Mrs Walker? Are you the head of the ORT?”
Wynna cast a smirk at Ford, who saluted her.
“It was decided a long time ago that only an omega had the right to run the ORT. Each omega selects their own replacement.” She watched Lucky curiously, like a shark deciding whether to eat the fish or protect it.
“We don’t take part in the retrievals, but act as administrators.
We maintain the schedules, enforce the rules, keep track of therapy, training and certificates of validation for each agent.
We ensure the omegas we rescue have a safe, secure place to stay until they can be returned to their families or we help them begin a new life. ”
“I’m gonna be ORT when I’m bigger,” Pip insisted, swinging the hand clasped in Lucky’s.
“Not if your mother has any say,” Chase cautioned, not wanting to get his hopes up.
The last thing Hana wanted for Pip was to get involved in the ORT when there would be some cushy desk job waiting for him in the family firm.
There had been one set aside for every single Walker child, so he didn’t see why Pip should be any different, especially since Hana, like Cris, bought into the family superiority legacy.
Thank God Wynna had taught Chase to think for himself.
“Tough luck, kid. It’ll be all suits and champagne for you,” Ford teased, ruffling Pip’s hair, though he was lucky his hand survived the glare he got. If it wasn’t for Lucky smoothing his hair into place, Chase imagined they’d be on the road to a tantrum.
His mother hummed, pausing to eye a stall selling scarfs.
When she glanced at Lucky, it seemed almost an absent thought, but Chase knew his calculating mother better.
“I’m absolutely fascinated by these. Philip has been telling me about your sigils since you met,” she said, lifting Lucky’s hands to examine them.
Wynna glanced up with an intensity that worried him.
“It’s not often you find an omega who honours Omha.
Or who is willing to display that loyalty on their skin.
Those who do will choose hidden, secret places.
You are an anomaly, openly displaying your faith. ”
Lucky glanced away, clearly not sure whether to defend himself. Before Chase could step in to warn his mother off, she touched two fingers to Lucky’s chin and tilted his head up.
“Never be ashamed of your beliefs. There are enough people in the world who will shame you. Most of whom are spiteful and petty. Once you give them the power of making you feel ashamed, they have won.”
Lucky touched the markings on his throat and glanced at Chase. “Hana told Pip they were old-fashioned and outdated.”
Wynna brushed the back of her finger across Lucky’s cheek. “I’m sorry. My husband is many things, but he has never respected omegas or tradition. I’m afraid Hana is very much his daughter in that regard.”
Pip appeared between them, startling Chase with his decision to gently tug Ford’s hand. He didn’t even hesitate to lift Pip and settle him on his hip. The sight made Chase’s heart race.
“You’re too soft with him.” His mother shook her head at Ford with a secret smile. “He’s always too gentle and kind to the children, giving in to their whims. I once found him playing with six children in a ball pit, throwing the balls at other agents when they told him to leave.”
While Lucky’s laughter made him smile, Chase eyed Ford with renewed interest. “Seriously?”
Ford handed over his cigarette, no doubt to keep it from Pip. Chase accepted it and took a drag, since Pip was preoccupied by examining Ford’s badge. “I like kids.”
“You are a kid.” He didn’t expect the sexy smile those words inspired, or that Ford disregarded the situation―his mother, the random people walking past, and Pip―to kiss him. Chase shoved his side, but he was unrepentant. When he caught Pip staring, Ford held a finger to his lips and Pip nodded.
“You are the worst influence.”
Ford snorted and leaned in to nuzzle at the back of his ear, the gesture oddly intimate and unexpected. “On the kid or on you?”