Chapter 81
EIGHTY-ONE
FINCH
Laurel had vanished from the party. It seemed no one knew where she was, and she hadn’t responded to any of my texts. My phone buzzed, and I hoped it was finally her.
Laurel: ;)
That was very out of character. Was she all right? Kaos had said she was okay, but I needed to see for myself.
I went to head her off, striding through the gardens and waiting at the fork that led to our block of villas.
Only a few minutes passed before she was stumbling down the path.
Her feet were bare, and she was wearing a giant hoodie that swallowed her dress, and for some reason, a giant gift basket was clutched in her arms.
My jaw ticked.
Whose hoodie was that?
“Laurel? Where did you go?” I demanded.
She looked up, and my heart skipped a beat as she gave me a huge grin.
I just stared down at her.
I hadn’t seen her smile like that before, her usually somber face now transformed with light and life.
The world seemed to shrink, narrowed down to the soft curve of her nose, the way her eyes sparkled as she looked at me.
I blinked.
Actually, no, her cheeks were flushed and those sparkling eyes were slightly unfocused.
“Finch,” she said, rolling the word in her mouth and popping the ch. “Finchie-boy. I have a present for yooouuu.”
She teetered on her tiptoes and booped my nose before she dissolved into giggles.
Drunk.
She was very drunk.
“Let’s get you back to your villa,” I said.
I caught her as she almost fell over, putting her back on her feet.
“Oops,” she said, looking up at me with big, round eyes. There were cameras in the garden, so we had to act normal. I adjusted so I was supporting her and started to lead her to her gate.
“Nonono, no, wait,” she said, digging her heels in and pouting.
She shoved the basket into my chest.
I sighed and took it from her, getting a happy chirp that tugged painfully at my heart.
Who was this happy omega who was clinging to my arm and humming an indiscernible melody? Was this the person Laurel could have been if she’d escaped her father? My heart ached at the thought.
She caught me looking at her and smiled again, suddenly transporting me to another place, another time where I hadn’t messed everything up.
Our precious omega, who would light up our world with that smile.
The kind I’d dreamed of when I was younger.
I swallowed, my throat thick with grief.
We walked through her gate and reached her door. She just stood there, so I sighed again and reached for her pocket.
She slapped my hand away. “Tsk! Naughty,” she said, giggling.
“Laurel, your key card,” I said gently.
“Don’t have to be so bossy.” She sniffed, raising her nose at me while her eyelids slid closed. She teetered on her feet.
I took the key card and swiped it on the door, guiding her inside. It was dark, courtesy of Kaos, no doubt. I had to pry my arm out of hers.
“Not gonna stay, mister?” she asked, groping at me as I stepped back.
“Good night, Laurel,” I said firmly.
She gave me a mischievous look that made her eyes sparkle. I wanted to stay. I desperately wanted to stay, to sweep her off her feet and to her room. I wanted to devour her and make her mine as Kaos had done earlier today. But she was drunk, and she wasn’t mine to claim.
“You’re gonna change your mind once you open your present,” she said loftily. “But it’ll be too late, then. Maybe I’ll ask Kinch to send you a video. Oops, I meant Kaos.”
She dissolved into giggles again as I closed the door firmly and prayed that the interaction the security camera had caught had been acceptable.
Just an alpha helping a drunk omega after her engagement party.
I’d almost forgotten about the basket until I got back to my own villa.
My face burned as I pulled out the scent-marked blindfold, the same red strip of fabric that Ocean had brought home the other day.
Had she brought him one of these too? Complete with chocolates and this picture of her, barely clothed with hooded eyes, that I slammed down face-first on the table.
It took me a few minutes to control my breathing. I was so on edge right now—I better get some proper sleep tonight.
I pushed the basket away from me, but a folded piece of paper fell out and fluttered to the floor. I reached down and opened it up.
I accept your apology. But that doesn’t mean you can just scent-mark me!!! You’ll need to earn that.
P.S. You should smile more, it’s nice LOL
I felt my face heat at the words, hope blooming in my heart. I’d do anything to earn back her favour.