Chapter 19
Hudson
“ O h my god! Oriana!” The woman rushing towards us was gorgeous. She also was familiar. It wasn’t until Ori called her by name that I realized this was another Whitaker.
Cameron’s sister.
“I’m so happy you’re back,” she gushed, hugging her tight. “You have to come meet your nephews and niece soon.”
“I promise I will. It’s killed me to not see them,” Ori admitted, her words ringing with truth. My mate had a big heart and I loved that about her. Especially, because she hadn’t let her past hold her back.
This was just another thing that bastard stole from her. I hated him more and more with every interaction.
Yet, I’d have to get over it.
He was her mate. That was clear and she was not over him by a long shot.
Lane, Tate, and I were all her mates, too, and holding grudges would only cause her more pain.
But if I punched him before it all was fixed, then who could really blame me, right?
“Come on, let’s grab a drink and say hi to my non-dumbass brothers,” Avery said, dragging our mate off. We followed behind, never letting them get far. Two men who looked like Cameron but were distinctly different in the way they carried themselves were behind the bar.
“Ori!” The smiling one greeted, coming around to give her a quick hug, giving us a smirk as we watched them.
The second did the same, his hug lingering for only a second before he stepped back and studied her.
“You alright as you can be? Holding up, okay? I’ll kill him myself, that offer still stands,” he rumbled in a gravelly tone that promised retribution.
Okay, nevermind. I liked this guy.
“No bloodshed, alpha,” another omega teased. She rolled her eyes before kissing his cheek then greeting Oriana.
“Hey, Sidney,” our girl greeted the new omega. She wasn’t as girly as Avery, in fact, she was wearing dirt coated jeans and boots and looked like she wasn’t afraid to throw down like her alpha.
“This town isn’t so bad,” Lane said, his voice barely a whisper. All I gave him was a nod, eyes too focused on Oriana. She was literally glowing now as she greeted everyone and they caught up. It settled something in my alpha to see her happy and open. It was a new side of her, on a night dragged down by pain.
I craved it for her, wanted to give it to her.
“Fuck, I’m gone for her. Tate better get his ass here,” Lane said. I couldn’t argue, we were in the same boat. And every day that passed, it felt worse and worse to lie to her. She deserved alphas who told her the truth.
“We need a round!” Sidney called out to the smiling triplet I now knew as Nash. He nodded at us and I shook my head, while the other two agreed. I’d already promised to drive so it would be water for me.
We snagged a big round table the moment it cleared, Roman and Lane joining right in as the omegas caught up and told stories. I watched, fascinated, at how animated Ori was around people she trusted.
I liked that we, as her pack, saw her softer side.
But this was everything. She was gorgeous and relaxed. And as the shots flowed, round after round, she was hilarious.
“Dance time!” Avery announced, snagging the other two omegas and dragging them out to the dance floor.
My eyes were locked on our omega’s ass as she danced around with them like she didn’t have a care in the world.
“How has she been?” Maverick asked, turning to us.
Lane and I let Roman take the lead. He was her first mate, the only one she knew she had at this point.
“Better now,” he admitted. “She was so closed off when we met. She didn’t trust me at first, tried to push me away, but I’m a persistent guy.”
“Good,” Mav grunted, sharing an exasperated look with Nash that clearly said they wished their brother had been.
“We’re still kind of new, though. From the stories, she was barely a person for years,” he finished, wanting to get them the cold, hard truth. “If he hurts her like that again…”
“He’s as good as dead,” Nash finished. “We’re in agreement. But, I don’t think he’d be stupid enough.”
“Let’s hope not,” I growled.
Laughter, loud enough to be heard over the music and crowd, had us looking back out as Sidney attempted to break dance and Avery and Ori had to hold each other up as they dissolved into laughter.
“She’s going to regret that tomorrow,” Maverick said as Nash pulled out his phone to document the moment.
“I’m going to get a round of waters,” I told Lane as I slipped toward the bar. Right after I snagged the bartender to order a pitcher of water and cups, my phone buzzed in my pocket.
Tate
I’m heading home in the morning.
Hudson
Good. Lane quit his blockers and so did I.
Tate
Damn.
Tate
Once I pack, I’ll head your way. I’m making no promises, though.
Hudson
You don’t have to. I know what it’s like to meet her. I have no worries.
As I tucked my phone away I couldn’t help but feel relieved. Tate was coming, and the lies would be at their end.
She would be able to smell us soon, especially when he showed up if he was the last of her mates. When a pack came together, it was generally a flurry of pheromones and intensity. It would chase away our blockers better than time would.
A mate bond was a powerful thing.
When I got back the girls were downing another shot. I didn’t hesitate to pour the waters and pass them around, earning a grumble until the other alphas got onto them.
“Don’t make me call your pack, Avery,” Nash threatened when she was the last to pick up her glass. She glared at him but took a sip. Then more as she realized she was hot and thirsty from dancing.
Seeing Oriana drink down the water at one single raise of my eyebrow sent a flood of pride through me. My alpha loved that she was so receptive to us.
When she finished she collapsed back into her chair, nearly falling off until I dragged her into my lap. I froze in shock as she turned in my lap, nuzzling into my chest and letting out a sigh.
She was so soft and warm in my arms, none of that earlier tension in her body now. Her nose nuzzled along my shirt and up to my neck, hands sliding under my jacket.
“I want to scent you,” she grumbled, words slurring slightly.
“Why is that?” I asked, voice low and just for her. She shivered at the heat there and squirmed in my lap. My cock was hard as stone but she didn’t seem to mind.
“Because I want you to be mine.”
Her confession lanced right through my heart. The longing there would have ended me if I hadn’t already known she was mine.
“More dancing!” Sidney announced.
Just like that my omega let out a squeal and climbed off my lap fast enough Roman and I both had to help her. They stumbled out there, Maverick following behind to avoid disaster.
He was like an angry bouncer, standing vigil out of the way of flailing limbs, arms crossed and scowling when anyone got too close.
“Shots are done,” I said, realizing it was nearly midnight now.
“Let’s drag them to the diner. Avery’s alpha is on his way now,” Nash said.
“I could go for a greasy burger and I only had three shots,” Lane said. His face was flushed and his eyes locked onto our girl.
Roman had less than Lane but nodded in agreement. He was also watching her like a hawk. Her presence was magnetic, drawing us to her with an awareness I was growing to love.
From time to time Roman eyeballed us like he suspected something was off about us, but he didn’t push it yet.
Getting three completely wasted omegas out of the bar was… an experience. They were laughing and slurring, but after two more glasses of water and the cold air outside, they were starting to sober up a little.
Thankfully, the diner was close and fairly empty. The waitress was an older woman and seemed amused more than anything at their constant joking and laughter.
Starlight diner itself was adorable. The nostalgia and the scent of food was enough to make me love it.
“I need a big cheeseburger. Oh! And cheese fries!” Ori said. “God, I’ve missed this place.”
“You have to let us show you around downtown again, see all the changes,” Avery gushed, the pride in her voice loud and clear.
The bell over the door rang and an alpha walked in. He was tall, dressed in slacks and a sweater. His golden-rimmed, round glasses fogged up and he tugged them off to clear them before spotting us and striding over.
“There’s my girl,” he said, leaning down and pressing a kiss to her head. “You guys smell like booze.”
That sent them into a fit of giggles and he looked at the rest of us with amused exasperation.
“Yeah, they got carried away. Sorry, Arden,” Nash admitted sheepishly. “Hudson made sure they had water and Mav watched over them.”
Arden relaxed at that and sat down, tugging his omega into his lap. Then he turned his attention to us.
“Nice to meet you guys. I’m Arden, one of Avery’s alphas. You are?”
“Lane, Roman, and Hudson,” Lane said, introducing us all.
“You guys sticking around?” Maverick asked. He’d been fairly quiet so far, but that seemed to just be his style.
“We are,” Oriana said, glancing at Roman only. The others didn’t seem to notice. If they did, they’d probably write it off as a tipsy mistake.
The conversation paused temporarily as our food arrived.
“So, what have I missed around town? Give me all the good gossip,” Ori said as she dug into her burger and fries, groaning at the taste.
My cock hadn’t been soft since she started dancing and that was definitely not helping. Especially since I would never touch her more than a cuddle while she was intoxicated.
But when our scents were no longer blocked and she knew? Then all bets were off. I wanted her more than anyone I’d ever met before. She had so quickly already become the center of my world and I couldn’t wait to see how much more intense that was when everything was out in the open.
The omegas might be more sober, but they were still tipsy enough to fight for a sleepover. However, we managed to talk them into planning one properly and dragged them off to their respective packs.
Ori was quiet on the way home, eventually asleep by the time we turned down the driveway. She was gorgeous and I hoped this was a turning point for her. She deserved to be home and find her peace in Rockwood Valley.
When the car stopped she blinked her eyes open and Roman helped her out. She sighed as she looked up at the house.
“It’s weird without Grandma here. At some point I considered opening an antique shop here, but I couldn’t bring myself to give it up,” she admitted. It was another piece of her she was offering and I held it close, considering it.
“Is that your dream job?” I asked. If so, how had she ended up in real estate?
“It was in my past life,” she huffed out a humorless laugh. “I went into real estate because it didn’t hurt as bad.”
“Now you’re home. You can make it happen. We’ll help,” Lane said.
“You’re leaving me, too, Lane,” she said in a quiet voice as she stumbled past us and into the house.
“You’re going to tell her, right? Before I have to?” Roman demanded, glaring at us both. “Don’t fucking lie to me and tell me that omega isn’t yours.”
“How?” Lane stuttered out in shock. His eyes were wide but I was merely impressed.
“No one treats an omega the way you do without it being a real connection. I’m assuming you’re waiting for the blockers to fade and this is the reason you stopped them?”
“Yes, and our other alpha isn’t here yet,” I agreed. “We didn’t want her to feel pressured until she could scent us herself.”
“She’s hurting and I won’t let that continue. Just tell her before she hates you for lying,” he said. “She’s fragile right now with trust, you break it and you might not get it back.”
With one last serious look our way, he hurried inside after her. Neither of us could follow right away. There was nothing we could do until she knew.
“Tate’s coming tomorrow,” I offered in the silence of the evening.
“Good. Because I’m ready to give in.”