Chapter 43 Pack Soto
Pack Soto
Acadia
Locke holds my hand, and it’s like a puzzle piece locking into place.
There are no thoughts in my head. I’m not thinking about how nuts it is that I don’t know anything about this person, aside from the fact he apparently likes pets and DJing.
It feels like I don’t need to know those things right now.
Those are future problems to face. It feels like, for now, things have at least started out on the right foot.
Things are going to be ok, now that I have Locke Soto next to me.
He’s tall, like most alphas. His naturally blonde hair has grown out to his chin.
He’s got a pointy chin and oval face. The first thing that I noticed about him are his million year-old eyes.
They look like he’s seen it all. I wondered if he and Mads are friends.
They both are weighed down by the world around them.
Burdened. But there’s a light hidden inside still burning. I can see it in fleeting moments.
He leads me to the atrium, and we open the glass doors and then stop at the top of the stairs, looking down at the space. It’s nice. I’ve been here for cocktail hours. But it’s no longer full of strangers. Three men look up at me.
Mads grins at me, and I grin back. It’s the first time I’ve seen him in a suit. He looks really sharp.
Next is Oscar. I cannot wait to make out with him again. He’s holding a present in his hands and a bouquet of lilac blossoms.
Then there’s Kol, who doesn’t have his muzzle. I take a sharp breath. My imagination did not do him justice. He’s a genuine hottie. A face fit for Superman with a cut jaw and pillowy lips. He looks like every celebrity crush I’ve ever had.
I cannot stop staring.
Locke leads me down the steps and down the middle of the room to meet them. It feels like a wedding. Like I’m the bride.
Oscar meets me first.
“Acadia,” he says.
“Cadi is fine,” I correct for the first time. Now that we are doing this, I’d prefer Cadi.
He dips his chin. “Cadi.”
“Are you doing ok?”
I laugh and hold onto Locke tighter.
“This is wild.”
Kol laughs, too. He looks great in his suit.
“I told them last night, and I’m not sure we all thought it was real until we got the call from Angeline.”
“I’m still not sure if I know this is real.”
“I’m going to hug you, and then we’ll talk.”
I nod, and Oscar hands the gift to Mads, then pulls me into a hug. I bury my face in the crook of his neck. He smells so good. Smells like home.
When he lets go, Kol is there to take over.
He’s so tall. I take the opportunity to rub my face on his for the first time, and then he takes the opportunity to scent me.
He rubs his neck and face against my neck and face.
Our scents mingle, and it’s euphoric. The omega in me loves it. She’s so happy.
Oscar pulls him away from me and then gestures for Mads to hug me next, taking the gift from him. Mads. My beta. I feel like I know him the least. And that thought nearly knocks me off my feet. I kiss him on the cheek as he pulls away.
“Come sit,” Oscar says, and we all take a seat at a round table. Oscar sets the gift in front of me.
It’s a purple bag with purple tissue paper. I pull them out and take out a live pothos plant.
I mean, I love it, but what a strange gift. I look to Oscar, who defers to Mads.
“I picked it out. In your profile pictures, you had lots of plants on the window. I wanted you to have a new plant. For your new…adventure.”
I finger the leaves and smile. I love the gifts.
“Thank you.”
Oscar is across the table from me, next to Kol. Locke is next to me, and Mads is on my other side.
This is it, huh? All boys. And me.
“We need to talk.”
“So you say.”
Oscar shakes his head and smiles.
“We are highly motivated to bond with you this week. I understand that’s soon. We intend to continue to court you for a long time, but this has to happen. Now. As soon as possible.”
“Why?”
Kol speaks up, “We each have our reasons. So, Oscar will tell you his first. Then mine. Then Locke. It’s a lot. So, we will be patient. React how you need to.”
I see how serious they all are suddenly. I look to Mads, who definitely knows what they are all going to say. He heard them out and bonded them, so maybe it’s not so bad?
Oscar unbuttons his suit jacket.
“I’ve been unable to secure a job here in Cash City, being an alpha with only male alphas in my pack. I know the omegas don’t mind, but the administration in the hospital I’d like to work in does. I’ll need to bond with an omega before I apply again.”
Ok, that’s fucking bullshit. I cannot believe they would openly discriminate against him like that! What am I thinking? I know firsthand how discriminatory businesses can be to alphas and omegas.
Kol leans forward on the table.
“I go into ruts. And they are getting worse. It used to be once or twice a year. Now it’s monthly. Weekly…Oscar has me on medication and treatment, but it’s not helping. I need an omega. Oscar is sure that if I don’t bond with an omega soon, I’ll become feral.”
That’s a huge concern. I look around to see if anyone from the Institute heard.
They wouldn’t let him even near the building if they heard that.
But I’ve met feral alphas before. I’ve worked with them during volunteer events.
People think they are so removed from them, but we are all so close to becoming feral, truly, no one wants to talk about it.
I’m three bad heats away from being feral, truly.
Kol dips his chin to Locke.
Oscar’s reason was understandable. Kol’s reason was serious and personal. What does Locke have to say?
“Cadi, I’m so sorry you’re coming into my life now. When things are so…fucked up. After hearing my story, you can walk away. I’ll do whatever I can to make that easy for you.”
My face pinches in confusion.
“Wait, hold on.” I put up my hand. “I have something to say first. Before Locke says his thing, if he thinks whatever he has to say is going to be a deal breaker, then I should say mine too.”
Mads puts his hand out on the table towards me.
“What do you have to say?”
I take his hand.
I’m looking at his nice face, his bleach blonde hair, and his sad eyes, and ask, “What’s your thing, Mads? Tell me yours first?”
“It’s too sad.”
“If they know…” I point to the alphas. “Then tell me.”
“But this doesn’t have to do with why they need to bond you so soon.”
“But you bonded them soon. You must have had your reasons.”
He sighs. “I did.”
“Then tell me.”
He takes his hand back and gently pats his cane.
“Ok, I’ll tell you. A year ago, I met an omega.
I’d never spent time with one or really ever talked with one before her.
She came up to me at the park while I was flying my drone.
Nancy was a small ball of light. We fed off each other’s energy.
We’d talk for hours: in person, over the phone, texting, sending photos.
I don’t think I slept more than a few hours during our entire quick relationship.
“It was a whirlwind. I took her on dates. She told me her alphas, two brothers, didn’t care.
That they were mean to her. They weren’t fun.
They were always so serious. But she said I was fun.
I thought they knew she was dating. I could have sworn she told me they knew about me.
But I didn’t actually ask. I didn’t check up.
“They had a big fight one night, and she told them about me.
She called me crying, begging, and pleading to come pick her up.
She gave me this crazy address in the old rundown part of the city, across a bridge.
She kept changing her location. Eventually, I had to park my car to walk to try to find her.
“I was so scared that she was hurt. She kept screaming at me over the phone, like I wasn’t doing all I could to find her. That’s when I found myself on a bridge with a giant, stupid truck barreling towards me.
“They chased me to the other side until they hit me with the corner of the bumper. I flew and landed on the road, but managed to roll off the edge, behind a concrete barrier. So they couldn’t hit me a second time.
Instead of giving up and leaving, they got out and beat me.
Kicked me. Hit me with a piece of rebar they found.
Stomped on my leg. I think Nancy watched from the cab of the truck.
I will never forget what they said to me while they did it.
Their words were put into me, and I’m not sure they’ll ever not be inside of me.
“I was in a medically induced coma for a while, so they could do all the surgeries. I sued them and settled, and I was supposed to get the money, a quarter of a million dollars, last week. I guess I did get the money…but first, my lawyer took his cut, and the insurance company took the rest. I didn’t get a penny.
I still owe medical bills. I lost my job.
My apartment. I’m in pain all the time. I no longer have insurance. Cadi, I’m miserable.”
Tears track down my face. I can’t hear this story. Holy shit. Mads. My Mads. He’s so closed off. His hands are in his lap. His shoulders curl in on himself. Oscar leans across the table to hand me a handkerchief to wipe my tears with.
But what about my beta? All three of his alphas are affected by his emotions. Before I can step in and do something, he continues.
“I am actually afraid of alphas.” He laughs and wipes his hand over his mouth.
“I can’t be around them. I applied to work for Kol, and he wouldn’t let me say no.
Locke spent the day with me, convincing me to join them, be one of them.
He showed me care and kindness. His focus on me was something I’ve never experienced. He trusted me with his secrets.
“Then Kol spent a day with me. He put up with my bad attitude all day, and not once lost his patience. And later, at the mansion, he was so good to you. He showed me that even a big, scary alpha can be tamed.
“Oscar gave me the best opportunity. He gave me the chance to stand up for someone who deserves it. Who would have thought revenge was what I needed?”
He sniffs and takes a deep breath. We are all so focused on him that we breathe in sync.
“I didn’t know what purpose a pack served until I met the Soto Pack.
They lean on each other. Accept one another, even flawed.
They make each other better. They provide a safe space.
If I could be part of that, for even a small amount of time, that would be worth more than a million dollars.
I was happy to be able to give back to them. ”
My mouth hangs open. And I’m just weeping. Locke comes off his chair to kneel next to me. He takes my hands. But I don’t need comfort, Mads does.
“I’m sorry. God, Mads. I didn’t know.”
“It’s ok. I know. I didn’t think it would be appropriate to tell the pretty omega who wanted to go on dates with all my trauma.”
I gasp. “That’s why you were so shocked when we met and I was an omega.”
“Yeah, I hadn’t planned on the first time I went out since the incident would be with an omega.”
“I kept it from you because I didn’t think it should matter. But it did. It does.”
“Oh, Cadi, it’s ok. You’re not in charge of my boundaries. I am. I decided to stay. I decided I wanted to get to know you.”
That’s a nice thought, but I shouldn’t have assumed why he was so shocked when he met me. It’s a good reminder for me to be more patient. I want to do it over again. I want to be more kind. More honest.
“Mads, you’ve been through a lot.”
He gives me a tight-lipped smile.
“It’s ok.”
I shake my head. It’s not ok.
“What happened to the alphas? To Nancy?”
“I don’t know. Nothing? The alphas served some jail time, but are already out. They were out before I even got out of the hospital the first time. As far as I know, they are still together. I like to imagine they don’t exist on the same planet as me. Let alone, Cash City.”
I turn to Oscar, and we seem to have the same thought, because he looks at Locke and Kol next. There will be retribution. One day.