Chapter 24 #2
“What… what just happened?” he asks, sounding as if he just got hit by a two by four.
Turning to face him, I see that his eyes are dark and intense, his teeth bared as he’s filled with my emotions.
“The shower cleared my sinuses,” I say shyly. “I can smell you and Ethan. The scent match clicked for me.”
“Thank God,” he growls. “Your senses may always have some issues, but no one can ever take this from you. You’re completely ours now.”
I feel as if I’m flying as he takes my hand and walks down to the kitchen with me.
“I just finished,” Riley says, placing my plate in front of me as I hop up onto the stool. Giants, I tell you.
He made an egg frittata that looks airy and delicious, and I inhale deeply.
“This looks really good,” I confess, picking up a fork and digging in.
Ethan walks in as I moan after the first bite, and he groans.
“My dick is apparently always going to stand at attention around you,” he says. “It’s sore, Nina.”
“Such is a mated alpha’s life,” Cooper snorts as he begins to eat.
“Yes,” Ethan says sheepishly. “I love that for me, but five days of fucking Nina non-stop wasn’t something I thought needed to be on that bingo card.”
Riley smirks as he sits down with us, shrugging .
“It was a very intense heat,” he admits.
“The suppressants likely had a lot to do with that, and they shouldn’t be an issue anymore.
Don’t take them. If your mom tells you to, flush the dose, Nina.
I don’t know if you’ll have monthly heats, or if they’ll have a wider gap between them. We’ll figure it out.”
Nodding at how matter of fact he is, I concentrate on my food. I am starving, and he hands me a banana afterward to take the edge off.
“Thank you,” I murmur, polishing that off as well. “I think I’m good now.”
“Let me know when you’re hungry again,” he says. “Seriously, I don’t care if it’s five minutes from now.”
They’re all so nice. It’s not that I haven’t been around good alphas, but my mother’s view of pack life is shutting the fuck up and doing what you’re told. I think her dim view of being mated may have something to do with the revolving door of husbands she’s had.
Those aren’t mates, they’re people to service her needs. It’s not the same.
Wanting to brush my teeth, I walk back upstairs to do that, and then realize I also need to empty my bladder. Riley finds me sitting on the edge of the bed putting on socks because my feet are cold, and I feel sadness through the bond.
“Is Silas here?” I ask, not having heard the door.
“We just got a text that he’s on his way,” he says, moving to fix my socks so they sit just right. “Your mother has been blowing him up, and threatened to get the Healthy Pack Organization involved.”
The organization is meant to protect omegas within a pack, but by the same standards will back my mother up if her daughter is “kidnapped.”
This is such bullshit.
“However,” Riley continues. “He texted us before he spoke to your mother to see how things were going. Ethan told him that you were bonded and bitten. ”
My teeth worry my bottom lip as I nod.
“What does that ultimately mean?” I whisper.
“It means that Silas told your mother that you have a pack and a decision has been made,” he says. “Your mother took that to mean that Pack Mayor had made a decision, which is completely on her to assume this. He told Vivian that you wouldn’t be living with her for long.”
“Okay,” I murmur, struggling to figure out why I have to go back at all as Riley puts my boots on.
“Your mother hurt you,” he says softly. “She’s going to have to pay for that. We’re going to be on a flight back today, as well, and you’ll be out of there by tonight. We have to pretend to abide by the law, even if our names are being entered as your pack instead of Silas’.”
“Okay,” I breathe.
Remembering the way Cassidy, Silas, and Cooper have talked about killing my mother, I can only imagine the type of justice that’ll be meted out. Do I feel badly about this?
Absolutely not. The hell she put me through more than warrants it. I want my life back, no matter what it takes.
“She’s always going to try to fuck with my life otherwise, won’t she?” I ask, watching as Riley zips up my boots.
“We aren’t exactly who she wants your pack to be,” he says, standing as he pulls me up. “Your mother doesn’t want Cooper and Ethan in your life at all.”
I can hear what he doesn’t say. It was one of the reasons I was at Weeping Willow.
“I want that place burned down,” I growl. “The hospital, Riley. I want it gone.”
“Cooper wants the same,” he says as we begin walking out of the bedroom. “It’s going to take some planning because there are so many ‘patients’ there.”
“I know,” I say. “A part of me still worries I’ll be sent back, and no one will be able to help me.”
“Never,” Riley snarls. “I swear it. You’ll never go back. ”
Those words ring in my ears as I sit and wait with my alphas to be picked up by Silas. My hands cramp from how hard I hold onto Cooper and Riley's hands, but neither complain. Instead, Cooper leans toward me, reminding me of how strong I am.
“I’m tired of being strong,” I whisper. “It’s exhausting.”
Cooper wilts as he nods, pulling his hand away to pick me up into his lap.
“It fucking sucks,” he agrees. “I hate that you have to go back, but if we don’t do things right, Vivian could throw a fit and fuck everything up. The Healthy Pack Organization could choose to block our claim. It’s a power play, but I’ve heard it happen.”
“We can’t let that happen,” Ethan says urgently, picking up the wig I haven’t had to wear in days. He winces as he sees my face, and I can tell that this doesn’t sit well for him either. “I’m burning these things as soon as I can, Nina. We’re going to have a giant bonfire.”
“We need a place to do that,” Riley adds. “Choose a city to live in, Nina. Savannah or Minneapolis?”
“Savannah,” I decide immediately. “I don’t think I’m built for the cold.”
“Do you want a porch?” he asks. Riley is serious.
“Ah, yes,” I say, confused. “What is this?”
“House hunting,” Ethan explains. “Riley has an incredible memory, and he’ll use your answers to help us find a house today.”
“Today?” I squeak.
“Mmhmm,” Cooper murmurs. “We have a pack that needs a home, Princess. We’ve waited a long time for you, and it would be wrong to not give you the space you need. If you hate it, we’ll sell it.”
I gape at them, because I think they broke me.
“Focus, Nina,” Riley says, smirking. “Bay window or casement? ”
“Are bay windows the ones that also become window seats?” I ask, frowning as I try to concentrate.
“Yes,” Cooper confirms, his cheek pressed against mine.
Talking about this is helping to distract me, but my skin feels too tight and my eyes are burning.
“Then yes,” I say, my voice cracking.
“You’re doing so good,” Ethan croons. “Do you want your nest in an attic or in a bedroom? The attic would have lower ceilings, and we could easily change out the glass in the windows so that they have a more filtered light coming in.”
“Oh,” I say, trying to decide. “I’ve never had a nest before. I don’t know anything about them.”
“We can design it together, I just need to know so I can ensure that the attic is usable,” Riley explains.
“Yes then,” I say. “I really like the columns that some of the porches have. It would be fun to have hanging plants and a swing too.”
“Good, good,” Cooper murmurs. “I need something to do. Give me shit to build, baby.”
A half laugh escapes that is strangely close to a sob, and he holds me tighter.
“What color do you want your house?” he asks.
“White with a navy blue door,” I rasp. “I want a separate bedroom where we can all sleep together that’ll fit a huge bed. I don’t want to sleep alone.”
“Never,” he promises. “How many bedrooms?”
Forcing myself to breathe, I whimper as it becomes difficult. “Six,” I squeak out.
“I kind of want to know why, but I can ask you later,” Riley grunts.
“There’s a house I saw that had all of this on the market.
I troll the real estate sites on my breaks believe it or not.
Do you want a garden, Nina? We’ll pay for someone to take care of it if you want, but this house has pretty paved walkways along a huge backyard with a garden. ”
“How did I get so lucky?” I sob, breaking. “You’re all so wonderful.”
“We’re wonderful to you, Princess,” Cooper corrects. “The rest of the world can burn for all I care.”
“Yeah it could,” Ethan sighs. “We’ll get working on the house?—”
A knock on the door cuts him off, and I shudder at the sound.
“It’s not for long,” Cooper whispers reassuringly. “You’ll be back with us before the clock strikes midnight, baby. Sooner depending on how long it takes for us to kill your cunt mother.”
Riley clears his throat while Cooper shrugs.
“I was married to the bitch,” he growls. “I can call her whatever I want. Okay. Breathe for me, Nina. Nice and deep. Do it.”
The last words have the power of an alpha bark, and I find the vise around my lungs loosens so I can breathe. I’m grateful for it, and I take several deep breaths for my alpha.
“Now dry your eyes for me,” he murmurs. Riley grabs the tissue box, and I blot at my eyes. I’m leaking all over the place. “Now put your wig on, and don’t let her get to you. Answer her questions, show off your bite marks, and tell her you’re tired, okay?”
Nodding, I take the wig woodenly from Ethan and put my wig on. Standing on autopilot, I check the mirror to make sure it’s on correctly, and it immediately feels as if I’m a different person.
I hate this fucking thing.
“ Think of it as armor, baby,” Cooper growls through the bond.
He’s right. Piece by piece, I’m putting myself back together to walk into her house. I can’t even say it’s mine anymore, because she’s ruined everything I loved about it.
Ethan stands to answer the door, and Riley helps me put on my coat, mittens, and knit hat.
“Nina,” Silas says from the door, his eyes tortured as I meet them. “I’m so sorry. If I could, I’d tell her to go fuck herself.”
“I know,” I whisper. I don’t trust my voice. Not because I care what my voice teacher would say, but because I’m afraid of breaking down again.
I can barely feel my feet as I walk over to him. My alphas gaze hungrily at me, but I’m too scared to say goodbye. I refuse to let this be the last time I see them. Saying the words feels like a bad omen.
“I love you,” I say instead, my body twitching as I wrap my arms around myself.
“We love you,” Cooper says, speaking for the pack. Riley and Ethan look devastated as they nod. “We’ll see you soon.”
“Soon,” I repeat, a tear escaping to run down my cheek. “Okay.”
“We should go,” Silas says. “The rest of my pack is in the car. We’re going to show a united front, Nina.”
I let myself memorize Riley’s tattoos, Ethan’s brilliant eyes, and Cooper’s unapologetic attitude. Pack Thornefield is mine.
Turning away when I can feel myself waver, I walk out the door with Silas behind me. I won’t be able to leave if I stay a second longer. Lyle and Easton are sitting in the backseat waiting for me, and they act as bookends on the way to the airport as I stare at nothing.
Lyle picks me up and cradles me in his arms to walk me onto the plane, rubbing my back as he sits down in the chair. He ignores the flight attendant as she asks that everyone sit in their seats, and I mourn the loss of my pack’s scents. Crying fucked everything up again due to the inflammation.
Sniffing, I close my eyes and let myself drift with my head pillowed on Lyle’s shoulder. I can hear them talking as I try to reach out to my alphas, but I’m too far away. The realization makes me start crying again, and I’m inconsolable until Lyle alpha barks me to go to sleep.
I don’t even blame him for it. Oblivion is better than this pain.