Chapter 26 Parker #2
A chorus of growls sounded from them before Sophie says fiercely, “Thea Fera, look at me!” Thea reluctantly does so before Sophie continues, “What happened to Connor were the actions of that sick asshole who’s stalking you. No one else is at fault. Only him. Do you understand me?”
Thea looks away, wiping at her face with her other hand.
Squeeze. Squeeze.
“If I didn’t attract this stalker or do whatever I did that made him find me, Connor would still be alive.
” Even I’m surprised to hear her blame herself so deeply.
I’m glad she’s saying this to his parents because I think they’d be the only ones to get it through to her that is one hundred percent false.
They all look at each other, probably thinking something similar to me.
Sophie is the one to speak. “Honey, you are not responsible for others’ actions or feelings about you or anything.
Didn’t you tell me once when you were dealing with a couple mean girls in college that what people think of you is none of your business.
Others’ opinions of you and resulting actions are not something you should be putting on your shoulders, especially in regards to this monster who took Connor from us. ”
Thea is looking more thoughtful at Sophie’s words. Honestly, I could use that viewpoint for myself too. I let what others, outside the pack, think of me bother me more often than I should.
“Okay,” Thea says softly.
“Okay…” Sophie parrots.
“I understand,” Thea finishes. Guess they really are like her own parents.
A throat clears and Sophie says suddenly, “Oh I’m sorry, Parker, we didn’t introduce ourselves.
I’m Sophie, and this big softy is Max.” She gestures to the big alpha before continuing, “This is Mateo, and James.” She motions to the others.
Thea lets out a small laugh at the big softy comment which Max definitely hears and just rolls his eyes, but with a small smile stretching his lips.
Keelan is similar. People assume things based on his size, but he’s, well, not a sweetheart but definitely not scary.
The next half hour is spent on them catching up, mostly with Thea listening to them. The topic of Connor comes back up as James says, “We actually have something for you, Thea. It’s a letter Connor wrote and left with his lawyer before he died.”
“We didn’t read it. He left one for us as well. Ours was from a few years ago with an added page from a couple weeks before he died. So, it might be a similar timeline for yours,” Mateo adds. Thea’s hand is back to a vise grip. Squeeze. Squeeze. The color has drained from her face.
“You won’t be able to mail it to her without a risk of the stalker finding out and tracking it back.
Can you take pictures of it? I can send you a secure link to send them to and we can print them out here.
” I step into the conversation for the first time.
They all look at me and I try not to shift uncomfortably in my seat at the sudden attention. Thea needs you, don’t let her down.
“Yes, I can do that,” James says before standing.
“Oh just make sure you take the pictures in a well-lit area and it’s not blurry so she can read it when printed,” I tell him, realizing it might be hard to read when printed.
I move closer to my desk and begin setting up the link and ask them for an email I can send it to.
It only takes a few minutes and we have the letter printed and in our hands.
Or rather my hand. Thea’s is still in my other hand and she hasn’t looked at the pages.
I put them in an envelope and seal it so she can read it when she’s ready.
When I hand the envelope to her, she hugs it to herself.
Connor’s parents don’t say anything for a while, giving Thea a moment. When Thea looks back at them Sophie asks, “Will we be able to talk again soon?” Thea looks to me questioningly.
“I can set this up again whenever you need it.” I meet her eyes.
“Will you guys be available this time next week then?” Thea asks.
The smiles that cross all of their faces are so bright. I can see how much they missed her. I can’t imagine this past year from their point of view. Losing their only son and the woman they viewed as a daughter running for her safety with no way to contact you.
Sophie and Thea say a tearful goodbye. I catch a glimpse of the alphas tearing up. Max surprises me when he says, “Thank you Parker, for setting up this call and looking after our girl.” Thea looks just as surprised.
I’m responding before my brain catches up.
“Always.” Squeeze. Squeeze. The three men are looking at me, not in a sizing-me-up way, but almost. Hopefully they think I’m good enough for her.
I wonder if they’ll compare me or any of us to Connor.
Maybe not. They’re a pack so they get it, but it’s got to be hard seeing Thea possibly moving on.
More goodbyes are exchanged and Thea once again stresses for them to not tell anyone they’ve been in contact with her and not to mention it over the phone or text. With the plan set for her to call them next week, we all hang up. Thea looks emotionally drained.
Squeeze. Squeeze.
That gets her attention, and she turns to look at me. Her eyes look like they’re glowing a little under the lights. She’s so beautiful. “Can I have a hug?” she asks tentatively.
“You don’t even need to ask.”
Before I can blink she’s rushing into my lap, wrapping her arms around me and nuzzling her face into my neck.
I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before but she’s got to be touch-starved.
It’s been a year since Connor passed and she hasn’t been with anyone since.
I’m guessing that she hadn’t felt any platonic touches since.
My arms squeeze her tight to me. Normally I’d be worried about her feeling my soft stomach but I don’t even care, I just want her in my arms and she doesn’t seem to mind.
I definitely don’t mind the feeling, the press of her belly against me.
Calm down, she doesn’t need you getting hard right now.
How her scent is simultaneously turning me on and relaxing me, I will never understand.
We stay like this for quite a while, as time passes, I can feel the tension she’s holding slowly fade away as she relaxes deeper into my hold.
She raises her head from the crook of my neck and examines my face, bringing up a hand to twirl the ends of my hair.
“Thank you, so much. That doesn’t even feel like big enough words to express how much I appreciate what you did for me today. ” Her eyes swim with emotion.
“You don’t have to thank me. I just wanted to help. I’ll always be here for you.”
She looks away, breaking our eye contact. I’m not someone who can hold eye contact with most people but there’s a sense of loss when she looks away. “You don’t even know me to promise something like that.”
I turn her so she’s looking at me again when I say, “You are my scent match. I know you are kind and you’ve been through hell the last year and a half but are still here fighting.
You’re so strong. Stronger than any man in this house, alpha or beta.
You’re beautiful, really a Goddess among men.
” She blushes at that. “You calm my racing mind in a way I never thought could be possible. I want to know you, know you as well as myself. I hope you give me—us a chance to show you how much we want to know you.”
“I’m not sure I deserve this. I don’t want a relationship, let alone seven. I can’t deny the scent match since I do feel it…” She looks at the envelope on the desk containing Connor’s letter.
“I’ve never loved someone like you clearly loved Connor.
I want to have that kind of love one day, hopefully with you—in whatever way that looks like.
I will never rush you. You control the pace of everything that happens,” I say, feeling a little like I just ripped my heart out of my chest and am holding it in the palm of my hand, waiting for her to take it gently or squash it.
“Okay. I think we need to talk with Liam about something. Together with the whole pack. You should know what you’re getting into.
I don’t want to hurt any of you, you don’t deserve that.
I just don’t know how to…” She trails off again, looking at the envelope.
How to let go of Connor. She doesn’t have to let him go.
He should’ve been part of our pack too. We wouldn’t try to erase him, but I don’t think she’ll really hear me if I say that now.
We’ll show her with our actions, prove to her she can have us all including Connor in her heart.