11. Zayden
Chapter eleven
Zayden
B elle finishes singing me a sweet song as she tries to console me, but I can’t rid the images of Opal from my mind.
Her amber eyes are all I can see lately, and in the end, I curl onto my side and face the wall.
I was more than happy to invite both Omegas inside, but honestly, I wish it were Opal in their place instead.
Not that I’m ungrateful for their company; Belle has a lovely singing voice.
“I’m sure things will work out, Zayden,” Belle says sweetly, and I shut my eyes, keeping my mouth shut.
I haven’t said a word since they both entered my nest.
I’m just so lost.
“Good news,” Ella announces next. “Brody’s on his way. When I told him how bad you were, Z, he wanted to come.”
I nod. “Okay."
“You want him to bring anything?” she asks.
I think now. “A lemon cupcake."
That's Opal's scent.
So, why stop at one?
" All the lemon cupcakes…"
“All right," Ella replies, typing a text to Brody. "He actually heard you. I have the bond wide open.”
Wow. Pretty surreal.
Brody will hear and see what Ella does now.
I hate this. I’m supposed to be a soldier. Strong. But this is just how Omegas get when they're depressed.
They need blankets, pillows, and cupcakes.
“He’s even going to bring the furbabies!” Ella cheers, and I perk up at that.
“ Fur babies?”
“Yes!”
I could do with the instant serotonin boost.
Cupcakes and furbabies… I’m feeling better already.
Some time passes by, but soon enough, Brody knocks on the door of the nest. After I give him permission to enter, Ella opens the door, and he steps inside, gazing around.
“Nice nest, Gold.”
I appreciate him for not commenting on my sorry appearance. None of them have.
They get it. They’re Omegas, too. The last thing they want is for me to burst into tears.
Or go on a rampage.
My first target: Reed.
“Let the furbabies go, Brody.”
Finally, Brody gets on his knees, and soon I'm attacked by the slobbery wet tongue of a red retriever puppy, and my mood boosts instantly.
Sweetpea! She's gotten big.
The cats are more skeptical of this new place as they investigate the nest carefully, but then Ella hands me 'Eggyolk', their latest addition to the pack, and now I hold the cuddly, purring kitten in my arms.
Wow. I’m hardly sad now, and I think I will ask the guys to get me a kitten.
“Told you it would work,” Ella says to Brody, and he rolls his eyes, picking up Sweetpea as he hands me my cupcakes.
“Here.”
Now all three of them just watch me eat cupcakes while holding a purring kitten.
Fuck. The cupcakes are good. But they will never compare to Opal.
She's the best cupcake of all…
Belle smiles at me. “Do you feel better now, Zayden?”
I glance at the Omega with a face full of cupcakes. She’s more Ella’s friend than mine, but it’s probably time I got her number, too.
I had to call her Omega, Rian, when Opal went missing.
“Yeah," I reply. "Thank you. All of you.”
Brody sits down next to Ella. “Don’t mention it, Z. We know what you're going through.”
None of us speak after his confession, and I suppose he's right. This world of ours really is small because it’s funny how all our packs have similar backgrounds.
“So, any advice?” I ask.
They take a moment to respond. Brody jerks his head around at Ella. “Don’t…”
I look at Ella, licking my cupcake wrapper. “Don’t what?”
Brody shakes his head at me, pushing his glasses up his nose. Ella's smirk only deepens.
Belle rolls her eyes next. “Let me guess. It has something to do with violence. ”
Brody grimaces. “You guessed it, Belle. What else?”
Ella shrugs, peering my way. “I’m just saying. If any of my Alphas tried to keep me away from Brody… well, again … I would get a little more than stabby…”
“Yeah, well, Zayden isn’t you, Ella. Stop being a bad influence on him!” Brody scolds.
Yet Ella cackles, directing her knife at me to make her point. “The choice is yours, Zayden. In the end, you're an Omega, and we all know that it's the Omegas who are really in charge of a pack.”
You know what? She's right. I am in charge.
Reed has no power over me. Not really.
If I gave the demand, he would heed my every command. I just never abused my position over him.
But he is being unreasonable. I don’t care if the governor gave him the authority; he is not going to keep me away from Opal.
That Omega… she's mine.
Mine.
Oh, he’s back.
Mr. Creepy, Possessive Omega has returned at long last.
I push aside my pillow fort and throw off my blankets.
Luckily, I’m dressed. Unluckily, I’m wearing my turtle PJs as I move across the nest, making my way to the one Alpha that is thwarting my happiness.
Ella cheers me on in the nest. “You go, Zayden. You go and show that Alpha who’s in charge!”
“Ella!” both Brody and Belle scold, but the Omega is relentless, cackling nonstop.
Oh, I am going to show him who is in charge all right.
And then, I am going to get my Omega back.
Opal will be mine once again.
Mine.