Chapter 28
It took far too long to convince the guys that I was ready to head back to the store today. They only relented when I promised them that I would rest and take it easy.
Of course, Jackson made me eat and even packed a lunch and snacks for me before he was satisfied.
Cy sat on the counter while I got ready, talking excitedly about the upcoming dances they were doing.
Even Griff was more relaxed this morning. He made me coffee and massaged my shoulders as I drank it.
It was different, but in the best way. I loved having them around in the morning more than I expected. My space felt empty now without them. Even in the moments when they were around but doing their own thing I couldn’t help but feel a little needy, wishing they were closer.
After I finished breakfast I went to the nest closet. It had some of my things I’d left last time, and all the clothes the guys bought me. Plus, a few new cute additions courtesy of my besties. Taryn and Bea had really proven I could rely on them during this heat.
Not that I didn’t already know that.
I slid on a cute, floral sundress. It fit like a glove and I spun in front of the mirror, my smile wide, skin glowing, as the fabric danced around my legs. It hugged my curves without being too much. It was perfect.
Not wanting to fuss with my hair, I tugged it into a curly ponytail.
I’d been gone long enough that I didn't know what I would be walking into or what I'd need to do, so I didn't want it in my way.
My girls knew what I expected but I was a bit intense and controlling when it came to the store front.
"Are you guys coming back to Willow Lake?" I called out as I swiped on some mascara and concealer.
Cy popped his head into the room, eyes raking over me before he answered. "Yes, we have camp and practice today. Don't worry about dinner, we still have some dishes leftover. If that works for you?"
"Sounds good. I have no issue with that at all. Will you please pick me up at the store tonight? We can walk to the cabins from there?" I questioned.
"That's the plan," he agreed as he slid into the room and wrapped his arms around my waist from behind me. His nose buried into my neck. Of course, he chose the side his mark was on.
Alphas were ridiculous. I loved it.
"You sure you don't want to stay with us for one more day?" he asked. “We could snuggle and watch movies… maybe spend some time in your nest again.”
"As much as I'd like to, if we did that, we'd never leave," I said with a groan. “You’re a bad influence.”
He sighed behind me in defeat. "Do you always have to be right?"
"Not always, but I like to be," I admitted, turning around in his arms to smile up at him.
Cy kissed me on the nose before pulling me into his chest and holding onto me tight, "I'm glad that we found you. You are everything we wanted and needed."
I pushed away from him just enough to look him in the eyes, "You know I just put mascara on right? No making me cry."
He just laughed and crushed me against him again.
"Call me cheesy, but I just wanted to make sure you knew. Every damn day we spend together."
Cy released me but kept one of my hands, leading me out into the living room where the other two were waiting for us.
Once they caught sight of me, Jackson and Griff both smiled as they took me in. My cheeks flushed at the way they lingered on my curves.
"Let's hit the road, before I change my mind," I told them before they could suggest the same things Cy did.
"I vote for changing your mind," Griff argued as his smile morphed from sweet to wicked.
"Not you, too," I said with an eye roll. "We always have tonight. We have to live our lives, still. Even bonded."
"She's not wrong," Jackson reminded them, albeit reluctantly. “Plus, we have the bond, so we’ll know she’s safe.”
Griff’s expression turned serious now. “Don’t block us out, gorgeous. It’s meant to be open.”
“I won’t,” I promised. Though, that was partly because I was starting to get addicted to the way they filled my chest with their presence.
The bell over the door jingled as I walked in. I stopped and took a deep breath as if this was the first time that I'd come in. It still smelt like home. Books, ink, and the mix of my best friends’ scents.
Mine was faint, but that’d be changing today.
"Yay, Dani is back," Taryn called from near the register. She was rocking Gem and Bea was next to her doing the same with Liam. It was a welcome sight.
"I think they've grown since I last saw them. How is that possible?" I asked my friends as I rushed over.
“They feel it, too,” Taryn joked as she adjusted the baby in her arms. “How was the heat?”
"You’re definitely glowing," Bea said with a wiggle of her eyebrows.
"It was amazing. The pack was incredible… but I'm also glad to be back," I said as I tucked my purse behind the counter. “Though, they didn’t agree. It took an insane amount of will power to come after all three were begging to stay another day.”
"And you didn’t want to stay with your three hotties longer?" Bea gasped, shaking her head. “You might be insane, girl.”
"We would have covered for you," Taryn offered up.
"I didn't want to keep the guys from the camp any longer. It's not fair to the kids," I admitted. “And from the sound of those voicemails, the coach was anxious to have them back.”
"Why do you always have to be so reasonable?" Bea rolled her eyes.
"Someone has to be. What did I miss and is there anything that I need to take care of?" I asked them, rubbing my hands together as I looked around. The desk looked the same, thankfully.
"No, we covered it all. I do have some book boxes you can pack at the register if you want to help with that?" Taryn asked. “We have another shipment going out soon.”
"Of course. No emails or socials?" I asked, turning towards Bea to look her in the eyes when she answered.
"I've taken care of it all," she said with a nod. I just hoped that meant it was all normal emails and not that she was fighting with bullies in the inbox.
"We’re going to lay these two down and I'll grab the supplies you'll need," Taryn told me before I could ask more questions.
"Perfect. I'm going to walk the shelves and make sure everything's in order and I'll meet you back here," I said as they headed to the room where the babies slept.
The store was in pristine condition. I must be rubbing off on them. They kept up with everything from dusting to organization, even the new books were tucked right where they belonged.
As I passed the last shelf, my eyes caught on a piece of paper that was sticking out, my skirt brushing it so it fluttered and caught my attention.
That’s strange.
Crouching down, I pulled the book from the shelf and flipped it open to where I could see the paper tucked inside.
The words were scribbled in, the pressure of the pen strong enough they were literally etched into the paper. The handwriting was sharp and angry… the words making my blood run cold.
No. Not again. Not yet.
You'll get what's coming to you bitch.
Both the book and note fell from my hands as I rushed back to the counter for my phone. Taryn just rounded the corner with her hands full. She dropped everything on the counter when she saw my face.
"Are you okay, Dani? What’s wrong?"
"Note, book, there," was all I could muster and pointed with one shaking finger. He’d been in the store without them noticing.
Or was working with someone else.
Why did it feel like every time I felt good and safe, he ruined it?
Taryn guided me to the stool behind the counter before she went to inspect what I was muttering about.
There was an audible gasp when she found it, then she was hissing into her phone as well.
"Matthias is going to go over the cameras and see who did this and Holt is sending one of his ranch hands to watch over us. Ash called the sheriff," she told me.
“I’m so sorry,” I whispered, trying to find my voice. It felt like every time I stepped foot into the store I was causing chaos. "I think I just overreacted. They don't have to go to all that trouble for me.”
My voice sounded strange and hollow even to me.
"Nonsense. If they keep this up I'm calling the grannies next. They will kick anyone's ass and no one would suspect them," she smiled at me with a wicked gleam in her eye. She definitely meant every word.
"I would feel better if they were here," I agreed, finally able to crack a smile.
She pulled me into an awkward hug and it took me a moment to really accept it. It helped a little, but wasn’t enough.
Reassurance flooded through the bond and I winced, knowing damn well the guys wouldn’t be far behind.
"Thank you. I didn't just get lucky finding my guys, but with you and Bea, too," I told her as she let me go. "Oh and the grannies."
We shared a smile but the tension was still thick in the air. This wasn’t okay and I knew deep down it wasn’t an overreaction. He was finding any way he could to remind me that I wasn’t truly safe.
"You need to call your guys. I don't want them hearing anything secondhand. I'm sure they’ll rush over, but Bea and I have your back, too. Plus, tell them that my guys are also on it,” she said.
"I will once my hands stop shaking." I really just didn’t want to ruin their day already. It was stupid, I knew, but I hated always having to disrupt their lives for mine.
"Here, we'll call them together," she said, holding my phone up to my face to unlock it before hitting Jackson's name on my call list. Before she even hit dial it was ringing, his face popping up on the video call.
"Hey, sweets. All okay?" he asked, already looking concerned.
When I couldn’t find the words, Taryn stepped in, turning the phone to her face.
"Hi, Jackson," she started with a quick, but strained smile. "Dani is fine. But we just found a note in a book that spooked her. I’ve already called my guys. Matthias is combing the camera feed and Holt is sending a guy to sit with us. Ash called the sheriff as well."
"We’re coming over now," he started, but my hand shot out, snatching the phone.
"No," I said firmly. "You finish up camp. It was just a note, he wasn’t here today, I’m sure. It’s just me being silly. Don't leave the kids. I'm fine. Really."
"I've got her. We’re going to pack book boxes at the counter while we wait for the Sheriff," Taryn told him, but my pack wasn’t having it. I could hear them walking, keys already jingling in someone’s hand.
"We are still coming over. I want to see you with my own eyes," Griff cut in.
“You’re more important. They’ll understand,” Cy agreed.
“We’re pack,” Jackson reminded me. “It’s our fault this is even a thing right now and we aren’t going to just leave you to deal with the fallout.”
I sighed. "Fine. Just make it fast and get back to the kids."
"Deal," he said before he hung up.
"There was never a chance to talk them out of coming, was there?" I asked my best friend.
"Never," she shot me a knowing smile. “That’s how packs are.”
Within fifteen minutes, it wasn’t just my pack showing up, but Taryn’s, too, and the Sheriff. My pack had me in their arms the moment they rushed through the door. Griff was angry, I could feel his frustration, but I could tell it wasn’t aimed at me.
The bond made it a whole lot easier to read them.
“I found it,” Mathias rushed out as he came running in, nearly slipping on the hardwood as he came to an abrupt halt at the desk. We all gathered around as he started the footage.
The store was busy, Bea helping someone in the back and Taryn at the front desk. A woman slipped in, her eyes flickering up to the camera with a smirk, tossing her blonde hair over her shoulder.
She wandered around for a few moments, as if looking for a book, before she tucked the paper in.
Then she sauntered out without a care in the world.
“This is insane. I haven’t done anything to anyone,” I whispered. Cy and Griff boxed me in, their scents helping as all three flared in the bond.
“Come down to the station with me, let’s run her face and see if we can get any hits,” the sheriff told Mathias, who easily agreed.
The guys stayed oddly quiet until they were gone, then Griff turned me to face him.
“Dani. I need you to stay here with Taryn and her pack,” he said. Something about his voice was off. Too calm.
Especially when fire burned in his eyes.
“You said we don’t cut off the bond,” I accused as I glared at him. “What are you planning?”
“Nothing,” he said a bit too quickly.
“If it was my omega, I’d be going to beat some answers out of a certain asshole,” Ash offered. Griff groaned, flashing the alpha his middle finger.
“Way to tell her the plan,” he groaned, then turned back to me. “I’m going to see if he will throw her under the bus, find out what it’s going to take to leave us alone.”
“We have restraining orders, Griff. You can’t,” I reminded him, my heart pounding at the thought of them being thrown in jail.
“Fuck the restraining orders. We gave the police a chance and I refuse to have my omega scared and taunted any longer. Anyone else in?”
“Wait, we don’t have restraining orders,” Ash grinned. “I’m in.”
“Fuck yeah, I’m in, too. I can take out the omega,” Bea said as she cracked her knuckles, her grin downright terrifying.
“I have the babies,” Taryn said, almost pouting. Holt stepped closer, giving her a squeeze.
“I’ll stay with her,” he promised Ash, who nodded once, gave her a kiss, then stalked out the door.
Bea raised an eyebrow at me, gesturing to the door. “You coming to kick some ass?”
“I’m in.”