Chapter 17 #2
It’s all such a delicate balance, like a house of cards. One shift of the wind can fuck it all up.
Ethan
“Don’t let go,” Nina says, eyes wide as she wobbles on her ice skates.
“Straighten your back and fix your feet,” I say calmly, moving behind her while continuing to hold her hand .
We are out skating with Pack Mayor, which is Silas’ pack. He’s very serious and intense, and I’m surprised this is what he decided to do with her. He just said she needed to have some fun because he could tell she seemed tense on the phone.
Vivian is unhappy with Nina apparently because none of the packs have asked for a formal commitment. It’s been about a month of courting, so I’m unsure why she’s so frustrated. However, she’s decided that Nina needs to speak to the alpha who runs each pack more.
Therefore, she’s scheduled to take a call every night with a different alpha. Everyone has been telling me that she tries to keep the calls light, but that the stress bleeds out into her voice.
I can tell why Silas suggested they take Nina skating, because they’re all ex-hockey players. He sidles up to us, a small smile on his lips.
“Alright, Nina. Let’s take this slower,” he suggests. “I teach kids to skate now, I can teach you.”
“Just let me know when to let her go,” I say, smirking when she squeezes my hand.
Nina’s still not sure what to think about me, or why I’m being invited to things, or how I just happened to be here today. I told her I felt like ice skating because I missed my workout today. That’s not necessarily a lie, I really did.
“Nina, you’re going to be a big girl and stand on your own two feet,” Silas says gruffly, making me stifle my laugh against my shoulder.
“Really, Silas?” she asks, making him smirk.
“Yes, really. Ellis, go away so you stop distracting her,” he says.
At this point, I can stop the fight and let her go so I can skate away as I laugh. He may be a hard ass, but he also won’t let her hurt herself.
Lyle skates up to me, and we’re silent for a bit as we skate next to each other .
“So how long are we going to keep this going?” he asks finally.
“She doesn’t remember me,” I remind him. “She has to fall in love with me all over again. Otherwise, it won’t work.”
Lyle growls under his breath, making me shrug. None of us are particularly happy to keep up the charade, but it’s the way things are.
“I give it another month, and then I’m going to have to insist on pivoting,” he says.
“Ominous,” I say, brow raised.
“College boy, just because I now work in a courtroom and not on the ice, doesn’t mean I don’t know how to pivot,” he says. “I can be just as devious as a lawyer. Just watch.”
“I think that’s what’s so scary. You watch, plan, and execute when the timing is perfect,” I say. “You’re right, though. Her mom isn’t going to let things slide for long.”
“No,” Lyle grunts. “None of us are willing to put forth a fake commitment unless it’s absolutely necessary. She would need to know it’s fake if we did. We don’t want to hurt her.”
“No we don’t,” I agree.
His other pack member joins us as we continue to skate, and I have a feeling some serious war planning is about to happen. Over the last month, I’ve gotten to know the different personalities in this pack, and right now, Silas is a distraction for more reasons than I originally thought.
“Ellis,” Easton says, amused. “Is Lyle talking your ear off about pivoting?”
“He is,” I admit. “We appear to be in a holding pattern with a very impatient omega’s mother.”
“The bitch,” Easton mutters under his breath.
“She is, but what’s more is that she’s dangerous,” Lyle says. “Somehow, she made herself her daughter’s medical proxy. It’s how she was able to get her committed, though there were a lot of illegal shenanigans there.”
“I’m sure,” I sigh .
We pass Nina as we loop around the rink, and she appears to be doing better on her skates. Her long hair is braided, her cheeks flushed with excitement and maybe a little terror.
I know from Riley that her hair can’t possibly be her own because of the way they shaved it obsessively. Not only was it a way to demean her, it also made it easier for the nurses to keep her clean. I fucking hate all of those assholes.
For now, she’s having fun, and I love seeing it. Her jeans mold to her ass, her long sleeved shirt meant to keep her warm since the ice rink is always freezing. Vivian is heavily against casual clothing, which means this is Pack Mayor’s doing.
“It does look as if you’re a good influence on the bitch,” I say once we’re far enough that my voice won’t carry.
“It’s our money that’s influential," Easton snorts. “She’s a bitter woman for doing all of this. You and your pack are just as wealthy, yet here we are.”
“So what do we do now?” I ask. “I’m all ears.”
“We continue to get Nina out of the house, building Vivian’s trust in us, and suggest taking her on a trip to get out of the city,” Lyle decides.
“You think she’ll go for that?” I ask, wondering where this is going.
“I know how to coerce her into things,” Lyle says. “The stranglehold she has can only go on for so long until we begin to ask why she’s so controlling. Vivian doesn’t want to disclose Nina’s supposed poor mental health.”
“We all know there’s nothing wrong outside of the effects of the things they did to her,” I growl. “She’s terrified of her mother.”
“We’ve noticed that as well,” Lyle says. “Go skate with Nina and be your charming self. We'll steal her away soon, though. It is our date, after all.”
“Maybe, but we know I’ll get the omega in the end,” I tease them with a wink as they grin .
Who would have thought that getting the girl would be a community wide effort?
“How is she doing?” I ask, coming to a stop beside Silas and Nina.
“I think she’s ready to skate,” he says, gently pushing her in my direction.
“Silas!” she gasps, but stays upright.
“You’re good. Just keep moving your feet and keep your knees bent,” he says, skating toward his pack.
“I didn’t realize alphas gossiped,” Nina mentions, gazing up at me.
The cold is messing with my sinuses, but I can still smell her scent. It surrounds me, and makes me want to kiss her. Holding out my hand for her to take, I clear my throat.
“More skating, Little Queen,” I say, enjoying the way she rolls her eyes at me.
Once we’re moving, I shrug. “We discuss things, we do not gossip, Nina.”
“Nope. I’m going to call bullshit on that,” she says, her fingers pressing against her lips in surprise.
“Cursing sounds good on you,” I tease her. “Besides, you’ve been to a baseball game with Pack Tremaine. They’re huge shit talkers and gossips. I don’t think you’re surprised at all.”
“Maybe,” she says with a grin. “How’s that boyfriend of yours?”
She’s changing the subject, and I let her.
“He wants to meet you,” I say nonchalantly. “As soon as he gets a free weekend actually.”
“Me?” she asks. “Why would he do that? I’m no one, and I think I’m taken.”
Oh? Does she?
Ironically, we’re about to skate by a ‘corner’ of the rink, and I wrap my arm around her waist and lift her as I skid to a stop. Depositing her against the boards, I lean forward, my arm over her head even as I continue to hold her hand .
“Are you?” I growl, my chest purring as I gaze down at her.
Swallowing hard, she squeezes her thighs together and fucking perfumes for me. How I’ve fucking missed this.
“You don’t smell taken, Little Queen,” I say, burrowing my face in her neck. “You have all the power here. Tell me to fuck off.”
“Why… don’t I want to?” she asks, her pulse wild against my lips as I kiss it.
“Maybe you should figure that out before you tell me you belong to someone else,” I suggest, smirking. I want to do so much to her. Suck on her pulse, kiss her lips, fuck.
Blowing out a breath, I enjoy the way she shivers slightly.
“No one tells me I have power,” she whispers, as if it’s a secret.
“Oh, Nina,” I murmur. Silas skates over to us, brow raised.
“Did she fall?” he asks.
“No, I was just teaching her a little lesson,” I say.
“Is that why she smells amazing right now?” Silas asks.
“Mmhmm. She seems to think she has no choices. I had to remind her of how much power she has,” I say.
“Interesting,” Silas says, playing along. “You’re staring really hard at his lips, Nina. I think you should kiss them.”
“I…what?” she asks, wide eyed as she looks between us.
“I can get behind that idea,” I say. “If you want a kiss, Little Queen, you should take it.”
“Isn’t that rude? Also, we discussed the nicknames, Ellis,” she says tartly.
No matter how sour she wants to be, it doesn’t change how sweet she smells.
“Nina,” Silas says, getting her attention. “For once, take what you want.”
It takes lightning fast moves for me to catch her as she wraps her arms around my neck and jumps up. Fuck, these runs have done wonders for her strength. Lifting her up with my arm under her ass, I give her a smug look. I got her first kiss, now I may just be getting her next.
“Your move, Little Queen,” I tease her.
Nina licks her lips as she gazes at me, while I inhale how damn delicious she is. There’s a daring look in her mismatched eyes, and I have to say that the devil may dare attitude is sexy.
She’s currently slightly higher than I am to give her some leverage, and her fingers toy with my hair before she lowers her lips to mine. It starts out tentative, but I lick her lips in return, loving her little shiver and moan.
Before I know it, she’s devouring my lips, taking what she wants. I let her do whatever she wants, content not to be driving this bus. It can swerve, bounce, and crash out all it wants. I used to crave control, and then I lost fucking everything.
While I may need it at certain points, and she may enjoy it, this part of our story will be written by her. I’m in no hurry.
I lose myself in her lips, suck on her tongue, let her bite my lip until there are whoops and clapping around us. Chuckling against her lips, I open my eyes to find her cheeks are aflame.
“Oh shit,” she whispers. “I pretty much tried to eat your face off.”
“He fucking loved it,” Lyle says with a chuckle.
This must be so confusing for her. Why is a pack she’s courting happy that she’s kissing me? While I can understand her plight, I’m loving the way her body feels against mine.
“There’s nothing wrong with taking what’s freely offered,” I murmur. “My boyfriend is going to want me to replay every second.”
Fuck, she smells even better now, and my eyes almost cross as my chest rumbles. It helps her stay calm and relaxed in a situation that could cause her anxiety. I love that she’s enjoying my purr. She’s the only omega I’ll ever do it for.
“Every second?” she stutters.
“Mmhmm,” I say, kissing her lips again before sliding her slowly down my body. Her squeak as she brushes over my very hard cock is adorable.
“Skate it off,” Silas says gruffly, and Nina looks at him as if through a haze. “You really are adorable, Nina. Come with me.”
She takes his offered hand and I watch her skate off with him. She’s a little wobbly, but gets her bearings again. Twisting to watch her, I hear Easton clear his throat.
“There are kids here,” he says, making me look down at my erection.
Wincing, I turn back toward the wall and adjust myself the best I can.
“Ugh, it’s definitely not going down anytime soon,” I groan, shrugging. “I should probably get going anyway.”
As I face them, I see Easton and Lyle watching Nina. She’s openly smiling and talking with Silas, looking more relaxed than ever. Don’t get me wrong, she’s still blushing furiously, but she’s happy.
“That’s why we’re doing this,” Lyle says as if reminding himself. “She deserves to be able to move within the world as herself. Protected, cherished, and fucking unapologetic. Every time she cringes, I want to punch her mother, and I’m not one for violence.”
“I have a feeling my father will have no problem getting rid of her as soon as she’s no longer pulling the puppet strings,” I murmur.
“How is he?” Lyle asks.
I don’t keep secrets from the packs that protect my girl.
“Still feral,” I grunt. “My father can process information, has a mind like a steel trap, but his impulse control is shit. I’m just glad that he hasn’t decided to just kill Vivian and be done with it.”
“Sometimes I think it would be easier,” Lyle mutters. “She had a birthday that wasn’t properly celebrated, right?”
“She did, in July. I doubt that her mother would have done anything for her, but calling her out on it would cause friction,” I admit.
“The only friction I would want around that woman is that of a match against a striker strip,” Easton grumbles. “Lighting her on fire would be very satisfying.”
“You’re lucky I’m your lawyer,” Lyle grunts. “Cassidy and Abbott have a call with Nina tonight, I’ll check in with the group chat to see how it goes. Vivian can be volatile.”
Cassidy is pushing into their call because she’s salty that she hasn’t seen her outside of their morning runs. Nina is touching so many lives. They all say they adore her, and want to be able to continue to see her once she’s settled into pack life.
I don’t see any reason why they can’t. Riley is settled into this new hospital well, and he’s enjoying it. Dad can teach from anywhere if that’s what he wants to do, and I can just transfer schools.
Savannah has been very welcoming, and it doesn’t snow very often here. I’m personally sold.
“Thanks,” I say, getting ready to go. “She’s having fun. I should still say goodbye, right?”
“Yeah,” Lyle and Easton say together, making me laugh.
“Heard loud and clear,” I reply, skating over to her. “I’m heading out, Nina. I’m glad I got to see you today.”
“Just a random bumping into each other, huh,” she says, a smile playing on her lips.
“Absolutely,” I agree, grinning. I smile so much more around her. I’m less of a surly bastard, it’s a very odd change to be honest.
So much so that even Riley teases me when he sees me. Speaking of which, I think his shift ends soon. Typically, he’s on rotation until the early morning hours.
“You keep telling yourself that, Ellis,” she says goodnaturedly.
“See ya around, Little Queen,” I murmur, skating off the ice .
It doesn’t matter how often she says she dislikes it, that’s what she is to me. The little queen to my heart.