Chapter 29
Madi
All I fucking wanted was to come home and lie down alone in my nest for a little while. Now we’re fighting. I can understand they’re protective of me. It’s instinct, a biological drive they can’t control— but it’s too much right now.
Harper’s apartment is above her art gallery, on the second floor of a beautiful white building. Luxury shops line the bottom level, with a private entrance for residents. The inside has marble floors and fine art on the walls.
A beta security guard opens the front door for me, with two more in the lobby on each side of the overnight attendant watching us. It’s the exact place I know my alphas want me in. Top of the line security, constant supervision.
It’s probably where I should have been living since I presented, but there was never an issue like Jensen before. Now I have to move. Another thing to add to the list of upheavals in my current life.
My scent matches surround me. It’s both comforting and unnecessary.
Hunter's voice is gentle. “Please reach out if you need anything.”
I take a deep breath. “I’m sorry I called you guys. I didn’t mean to add all this chaos to your evening. I should have called the Omega Protection Services. I’ll do so in the morning to report him.”
“There’s a reason your first instinct was to call us, and you were right to follow that,” Hunter says in a devastated tone. “Fuck, Madi, all we want to do is protect you. You’re making that kinda hard right now.”
He takes a step closer to me, but I step back.
“Well, that’s what I’ve been trying to tell you all week, but you three are blinded by the fact that I smell good and we have fun fucking.
I’m not going to be an easy omega. Ever.
Which is why I wanted to be by myself. I can be as stubborn or selfish or stupid as I want to be when there’s no one to get hurt by it.
Things will always be difficult when it comes to me. ”
“But you’re worth the effort,” Zachary interjects. “We don’t need easy, we want you, in whatever way you will have us."
I want so badly to believe that.
The elevator door opens and a flustered Harper arrives in a fluffy yellow robe. Her red hair is in a loose braid, her sleep mask still on her head. The relief of seeing her is crushing and we collide in a hug in the middle of the lobby.
“What’s going on?” she demands, although I’m not sure if she wants answers from me or from them.
“She was attacked outside of her apartment by a former alpha,” Hunter answers for me. “Her place is no longer safe.”
Harper lets go of me and holds my face in her hands. “Are you okay?”
She has always hated my apartment, afraid of this exact situation for me. She’s offered to pay for me to live here with her before, but I know she would never say I told you so.
“Yeah.” Although my tear-streaked face is a more honest answer to that question.
“How long are you planning on staying here?” Alric asks.
Harper gives him a scrutinizing look. “As long as she needs it.”
He pulls his wallet from his pocket and hands me the black credit card I’d given back to him the night I’d walked out of the restaurant. “Madeline—”
“You don’t need to give me that.”
He pleads with me. “You’ll need a long-term plan.
Your stubbornness is as admirable as it is infuriating, but no matter what, you can’t return to staying at your old place.
We’ve been paying your rent for the last year, and I’ll continue to do so until you are somewhere safe.
Think about this when you’ve had time to rest and I know you’ll agree it’s the best option. ”
I mumble out a thank you, taking it because I don’t want to stress them out more. Plus, my wallet is at the bottom of the Aegean Sea. “Now, I think it’s best if you all leave.”
The three of them take a step forward, all ready to argue, but think better of it. They seem so defeated, which is exactly how I feel, even if the feeling comes from different places.
I stare at my shoes. “Thank you for coming when I called. I appreciate it, even if I’m not very good at showing it right now. I’ll keep you updated on the situation.”
Harper takes one of my bags from me and wraps her other arm around my shoulders, leading me back to the elevators.
When we finally get up to her place, I can hear Bellini’s little meows.
As soon as I’m through the door, I collapse onto the floor, scooping up my baby and holding her to my chest. “Mama’s back, my sweet girl. ”
She rubs her little face all over mine in greeting, purring away. I’ve missed her so much. Her soft noises bring me comfort, but it also reminds me of the guys’ purrs and how they made me feel safe and wanted, which only brings more guilt and confusion.
I finally stand up, still holding Bellini, and take her over to the couch with me, petting her and giving her her favorite chin scratches.
Harper puts on the electric kettle and pulls out two mugs for some chamomile tea.
She doesn’t ask any questions, letting me collect my thoughts while the tea steeps.
When it’s finally ready, she takes both mugs over to the couch, setting the tea down and patting her thigh.
With my head resting on her thigh, I curl myself into a little ball, Bellini tucked into my chest, and I tell Harper everything. The alphas, the rest of the trip, and Jensen—everything she has missed since I last spoke to her.
“I know they care about me. Besides you, no one has ever cared like they do, but I only know how to be independent and alone. It’s all I’ve ever known. It's why I have my sugar baby rules.”
“They sound like the type of alphas who might be worth breaking the rules for.”
They are.
When I don’t respond, she asks, “Are you done with them forever?”
My heart squeezes painfully, my stomach rolling with nausea at the thought of never seeing them again.
Could I live my life never feeling cherished by Zachary again? Go without feeling the safety of Alric’s arms, or never laugh at something Hunter said?
“No. I don’t want to be.”
I could never be done with them, not after the past week of them weaving themselves into my soul. No matter how I felt before, a lifetime without them would be empty.
My bottom lip wobbles. “But that doesn’t change the fact that I’m not going to be a good omega for them. For anyone. I chose to be a sugar baby because feelings were never meant to get involved.”
“Mads,” Harper says gently. “The rest of us are using it to find our packs. For most omegas in this, feelings are the whole point, besides being taken care of while we wait for our scent matches to show up.”
“I know, but for me, it was about getting what I wanted from alphas. This was about freedom, sex, and money. Now everything has been thrown into chaos.”
Pack life braids everyone’s existence together. It’s no longer about individuals, it’s about being a unit.
“Harper, what if I’m a terrible omega and they’re stuck with me forever?”
“You won’t be, and those guys seem like all they want to do is be glued to you. Sometimes life changes for the better. I know you’ve been hurt, Madi, but fate has a way of giving you what you need, not what you want. It might be time to have a little faith in that.”
“Fate can fuck off.”
She laughs, but gets serious again quickly.
“As your best friend, I think you’re perfect, but your parents kinda fucked you up.
You only knew one type of pack and it was a shitty one.
That sucked and you deserved so much better, but not all packs are like that.
You get to mold your pack into exactly what you want.
Those gentlemen standing in my lobby in the middle of the night didn’t seem like bad alphas. Are they?”
“No, of course not. Zachary is kind and tender. Hunter is a huge goofball with the best of intentions. Alric is”—I have to pause so I use the right words—“intense and maybe a little bit of an asshole, but I know what he feels for me is genuine.”
“They sound like great guys. Do you want to be in a pack with them?”
I nod. “I’m so scared everything will go wrong, but I think I want to try to be their friend to start.”
Fuck rule number nine. When I’m ready, I’ll tell them that.
I want them around, but I still need a few days to myself, so I can come back to them ready to compromise.
We’ll need to start slow. It won’t be easy to suddenly stop being a hyper-independent individual and become a packmate.
I don’t want to give up my apartment just yet.
But I want them to get to know me, and have a real friendship grow.
Tonight’s events catch up to me, and I fall asleep before my tea is ready.
Sunday
Iwake up miserable. Whether it’s from my heat starting in less than a week or my body’s desperate desire for my scent matches, it’s impossible to tell.
My whole body aches, shifting between freezing and a fever.
Harper insists I stay in bed and rest, but I give up after a few hours, not wanting to be alone.
Bellini never left my side, purring on my chest while I cried.
Harper’s office is below her apartment, attached to her art gallery.
I take up residence on her bright yellow couch for the day, miserably wrapped in my favorite blanket.
She’s on the other side of the office door, and I can hear every word of her flirting with an alpha who walked into her business.
She has him wrapped around her finger, encouraging him to buy her latest painting, a $3,000 piece.
She's wearing a light blue dress that matches her eyes and highlights her fantastic curves. The top can barely contain her impressive chest, the skirt clinging to her ample hips. I wouldn't be surprised if the alpha out there is drooling onto the marble floor.
Her fake laugh echoes around the space at whatever he says. “You are so funny! Once you complete your transaction, we can pop some champagne and really get to know each other. Cash or card?”
He foolishly thinks he has a chance, but eventually he’ll ask her out and she will decline—once payment has cleared, of course.
Harper doesn’t date. She’s only looking for her scent matches. Her heart is set on the pack of her dreams. She’s always been a self-proclaimed hopeless romantic.
She’s still happy to take the money from the alphas who approach her, even if she’ll be sending them on their way after a conversation.
Since she doesn’t wear scent blockers, she will know immediately whether someone is her match.
Alphas are too vain to wear blockers themselves, knowing their scents will lure in omegas and betas alike.
I know she’ll find them, whoever they are. She has alphas falling all over her every day, and her scent matches will show up one day and sweep her off her feet. Until then, she gets her money on her terms.
“Perfect,” I hear her say. “Thank you so much for supporting my art.”
Omegas gotta do what we need to.
That reminds me, I need to message Abby back and warn her about Jensen.
ShutterLife00:
Hey, have you heard from Jensen at all? He attacked me last night.
OmegaaahAbby:
OMG!! Are you ok??
Are you somewhere safe??
ShutterLife00:
Yeah, I’m staying with my friend. She’s in an omega protected building. I’m shaken up but safe. You may have seen her art, Harper June, so I’m okay. She will join us for dinner but I’ll need to postpone our meeting. My heat is scheduled for Saturday night and I’m already feeling crummy.
OmegaaahAbby:
What a night! Sorry hon.
YES! I adore her art! oommgg
Are you using Omega’s Comfort? I love them.
ShutterLife00:
Yeah, I’m getting picked up Saturday night, but I’ll let you know when I’m free again.
OmegaaahAbby:
Good luck! And I’m sorry Jensen attacked you, I’ll let all my omega friends know to beware of him!
I scroll mindlessly on my phone for a while. The door chimes on the entryway ding, hopefully announcing that alpha’s departure so Harper and I can order lunch. I could use some emotional support sushi today.
“Can you give this to her?”
Alric.
I fling myself from Harper’s couch. Is he really here? I stop in the doorframe. He’s about to hand her a letter but freezes, no doubt scenting me. Harper looks at me with a slightly panicked expression. Alric is haggard, still in the same clothes as last night, his black and gray hair ruffled.
I’m torn between demanding he leave and begging him to stay. A few deep breaths at the curve of his neck would make all my aches go away. We stare at each other, but neither of us moves. The emotions on his face shift from surprise to open longing before a mask of indifference slides into place.
I’m angry but I miss him, even if I can’t come to terms with the fact that fate destined us to be together. I want him to scoop me up and carry me back to the couch and just hold me.
He hands Harper the paper. “Please give this to her.”
She takes it from him and he turns, walking away without a second glance. My omega side recoils at the sting of rejection, but I know why he did it. He wants me to make the next move.
The door shuts behind him and Harper rushes over to give me the paper.
“Is now a bad time to mention he’s incredibly attractive?” Harper asks.
I snort at that, tearing open the letter. “That he is. It’s part of the problem.”
She comes around to see what it is. “Damn, so they are all hot and generous.”
My hand starts to shake. It’s a check for three million dollars.
Rule number one. Get paid and move on.
It’s the first rule of being a sugar baby.
The most important one. Take an alpha’s money and never look back.
Isn’t this what I always wanted? So why does it burn like acid?
It’s every penny I need to start my alpha-free life.
Is this their way of saying they are done with me? Have I ruined everything?
The memo has one word: Happiness.
Attached is a small note.
It was, and always will be, you. — Zachary, Hunter & Alric