Chapter 24
Tate
W e all stuck around to help Cameron clean up the gathering and put out the fire. It would have been easy to take her and run, leaving him to deal with it alone, but she deserved a pack… and he was part of that.
Not to mention, the guy was tortured enough. I’d had my own fair share to be able to easily recognize it. Even if I didn’t hear his story around the alpha camp fire.
He knew he’d fucked up and thought there was no coming back. They were so young and he’d been through a trauma that would break most people.
I was stunned that Cameron had done so much for her without knowing if she was ever going to see it. Those letters dated back years.
Her forgiveness wasn’t anyone else’s choice, but I thought the fact he did things to protect her without expecting anything in return, spoke volumes.
The fact he was willing to do the work meant that our pack might have hope yet.
Cameron was in a stunned trance, though he was a lot less combative and defensive than when I first walked in.
Lane and Hudson kept shooting me grins that felt a little too ‘I told you so’ but I just ignored them.
Roman was already trying to ease the melding of our group. He would crack a joke or redirect, it was like he could already read all of us and it was second nature.
He was also her rock. Oriana clung to his hand or he was brushing a touch across her skin any time they passed.
It was strange being around so many people after a few weeks of being on my own. The last job they did was with an omega so I’d sat that out, too.
Yet, this felt different.
Even though we were finding our way together and in a strange spot, we also had an easy camaraderie that was falling into place the more time that went on.
“Ride with me?” I asked my omega as we loaded the last of Cameron’s supplies into his truck bed.
She gave me a shy grin and smiled, putting her hand in mine. Fuck, who was I that such a simple gesture filled my entire body with warm satisfaction? My alpha was practically glowing with pride.
No one argued as I lifted her into my own truck and buckled her in. Her cheeks were an adorable pink and I had a feeling she’d been on her own a whole lot until now.
When I climbed in, I reached for the music, turning it down to just background noise.
“So, we’re mates,” I hedged as I followed the procession across town to her house.
“It seems so,” she said, letting out a chuckle that was a mix of shock and exasperation. “Funny, I came back home to confront Cameron and demand he either show me he could be my alpha, or I was giving up on him forever. Hiring you guys was just the petty side of me coming out to make him jealous. What are the chances.”
“Whatever fate was involved, I’m grateful for,” I admitted. “Until I saw you, breathed you in, I had sworn off omegas.”
“Because of the arranged marriage?” she asked gently. I’d given her the quick version, but she wanted to know more. I guess it was only fair. With her hiring us, I already knew a good chunk of her issues, and I’d gained a few more tonight. She deserved to know my bullshit, too.
“My family was all about society and prestige. They only cared about me as far as what my worth was to them. Even growing up I barely saw them until it was to show me off or present a united front at dinner parties and events. During a business deal, they arranged for me to marry the daughter of my alpha father’s business partner. They told me about it like it was just a simple demand. No compassion, no hearing me out.”
She gasped and reached out, her hand resting on my thigh.
“So, you never even knew it was coming? No asking, just telling?”
My answering laughter was hollow. “That wasn’t how it worked with them. I did as I was told, even after I was an adult. It was all about ‘the family’ like they had ever done anything for me other than put me through school.”
“It sounds so… cold,” she whispered, squeezing my leg again. “What was the woman like?”
“Uninterested. We were both only there because we had to be, but we’d both agreed. I figured it would be an obligation more than a marriage.” I paused, letting some of that anger build up and releasing it. I didn’t need to hold onto it any longer.
All of those choices led me right here. To her. I couldn’t be angry at that.
“The wedding day came and she left me at the altar. The problem was she did it in front of everyone, let it get that far, then told my parents I was too controlling to the point of omega abuse.”
“Oh my god! What a fucking bitch!” Ori gasped again, her anger making her scent burn around the edges. She’d said the same on the dock but now it was with a lot more emphasis.
“Yes,” I agreed. “After that my family disowned me. Said I’d embarrassed them. My father was a hypocrite, the way he spoke and handled my mother was far worse than the shit my ex was describing. In fact, we barely spoke. She simply found a pack and needed a good reason to break it off… at my expense.”
“She cost you everything,” she said, shaking her head. “I can’t imagine ever acting that way. Even after Cameron broke up with me, I would never have talked bad about him. Though, I easily could have.”
“That’s because you weren’t raised in a cold household. It makes you into a cold, desperate person,” I said.
“You’re not like that.” She sounded so sure, but I couldn’t agree.
“I’m pretty sure it did,” I countered. “I’ve skipped every interaction with omegas that I could, avoided jobs and left my pack to handle it. Then, I came here intending to prove them wrong or leave my pack so I didn’t hold them back.”
“But you didn’t. You met me and could recognize you were wrong. I mean, how could you resist my whiskey drinking greatness?” she teased, giving me a smug smile that had laughter barking out of me. Pride glistened in those gorgeous ocean eyes of hers.
“One hit of that scent, one look from those pretty blues, and I couldn’t remember why I’d been so mad,” I admitted. “It all just… melted away.”
She unbuckled, ignoring my protests, and scooted closer so she was pressed into my side.
Thank fuck I restored this old truck with its bench seat.
Her scent surrounded me, swelling with her happiness.
“Cameron destroyed me, there’s no kind way to say that. I could barely function. Yet, I had to get away. I moved a few hours away, found an apartment, and literally fell apart. Weeks turned into months, of me sobbing all day, barely eating, drifting in and out of sleep. I lost weight, was in constant pain, and just let that sorrow consume me.”
“What changed?” I asked gently when she trailed off and took a shaky breath. Now it was me who was holding her closer.
“My omega side hated the mess, hated being so vulnerable. I was a little more hardened and a whole lot more independent. Slowly over the next few weeks I cleaned my place and myself every day, started eating right, and figured out how to move forward. I eventually settled on real estate and took the classes and licensing tests I needed.”
“I heard something about antiques?” I questioned, confused now.
“Yeah, it was too close to my dreams I thought were shattered forever so I had to do something different. Honestly, the reason I settled on real estate was so stupid.”
Her dramatic groan had me grinning like a fool. I felt years younger in a single evening and I was quickly becoming addicted to how she affected me.
“Tell me,” I demanded as we pulled into a long driveway.
“When it got too quiet during my spirals, I’d put on those fixer-upper kind of shows. There was one where they showed them finding dream homes for the packs in the episodes. I wanted to help someone else find a piece of happiness even if I knew I’d never have it for myself.”
That last sentence hung in the air between us, dark and heavy, but as I parked, I couldn’t let it stay like that.
“I think that’s beautiful. You’re incredible for being able to survive all that, to find your place in the world and heal, without losing yourself in the process.”
She blinked back tears and swallowed hard.
“Thanks. I’m really proud of what I did, but I also lost a bit of myself. I had medicated heats until my last one. I had a lot of pain and bad reactions to the suppressors so I can’t take them anymore. Or birth control. They both do the same thing to me. After so long being strong and independent, as silly as it sounds, I’m ready to be able to have someone help take care of me, too.”
Oh, sweet omega.
“We’re going to take care of you, Oriana. I can promise you that,” I whispered, pulling her closer with my hand on her neck until our lips met.
Her lips were salty as a tear fell. The vulnerability we’d created here had her shaking slightly but it faded the longer our tongues danced together.
Her scent sweetened again and a moan escaped her kiss swollen lips as we pulled apart. The windows were fogging up and the other cars were all off. I could practically picture them inside, waiting in painfully awkward silence.
“Should we save them from themselves?” I asked as our breathing evened out. We both glanced at the house where only the foyer light was on. The door was open and three of the four were standing there.
She let out a soft laugh. “Poor Roman is trying to rein everyone in I bet.”
“Our pack is a bit of a mess.”
“You said ‘our’ pack,” she grinned, pure happiness on her face.
“It is,” I said with a shrug. “You’re mine, omega, I’m not going anywhere.”
“Then I guess we better get everyone settled in their rooms,” she said, leaning forward for one final kiss before opening her door. I tried to rush to her side and open it but she was already climbing down.
“Sorry,” she said. “Still getting used to having someone else around to do those kinds of things.”
Just like that, she knew exactly what I’d wanted to do. I was quickly realizing that finding a pack wasn’t just about scenting and lusting after each other, it was reading what the others wanted or needed. It was figuring out how to find commonalities and making sure everyone was included.
I’d never considered myself as a people person, but for her I was ready to wrangle this pack into shape. It needed someone not clouded by guilt to lead it and I knew damn well Hudson would want no part of that role.
I’ve always been our smaller pack’s leader, but now I wanted to make sure that everything was focused on my omega, that everyone was doing what they could to make sure she was happy.
Right now, that meant getting Cameron to keep groveling for her, to prove to her he was going nowhere ever again.
That also meant going in there and making sure this awkwardness faded. From what Lane and Hudson had updated, they got along well with Roman until he knew they were pack and told them to step up.
Then everything fell apart at the bonfire.
Though, it was cathartic in a way. We all had our secrets out in the open now, the only way to move now was forward.
Clear consciences and determination. That was a foundation for a lasting pack.
This sweet, independent omega who was slightly touch starved and vulnerable, deserved nothing less.
“Come on, let’s go save poor Roman,” I teased, leading her up the front steps and into the house.
They’d finally moved out of the foyer and had a fire going in the fireplace. Cameron and Roman were in the kitchen fumbling around for drinks and snacks, while Hudson and Lane created a cozy little nest in the corner for our omega.
“Oh, snacks!” she cheered. “Don’t forget the snack mix, Cam.”
“I’d never dream of it, Baby,” he promised as he added something to a bowl and shot her a wink. He was more relaxed now, less desperate. That was good. He’d stand a chance of fixing this if his emotions weren’t so high.
She shucked off her shoes and coat and snuggled into the spot in the corner, a happy, little grin on her face as they turned on the TV and handed her the remote. Her eyes met mine, amused, as she turned on one of the fixer-upper shows we talked about.
The silence wasn’t heavy as the others came over, setting the tray of snacks and drinks down and everyone finding a spot. Cameron made her a bowl and handed it over before dropping to the floor in front of her. I was already on one side, Lane dropping down next to me, while Roman and Hudson took the other side.
We made it through two episodes, everyone relaxing together until she fell asleep, slumped over on my lap.
“I should take her up to her bed,” Roman said but when she woke, her eyes locked on Cameron. There was a sleepy vulnerability there as she reached for him. “You want your alpha, too?”
She nodded at her beta, asking him with a single look if that was okay. I offered a smile, hoping to encourage him.
“You know I’ll give you whatever you need,” Roman promised, letting Cameron scoop her into his arms and heading upstairs together, leaving my original packmates by my side.
When the door closed softly upstairs, Lane finally broke the silence.
“So, I see you’re no longer against omegas.”
“Oh, I am, she’s just different,” I deadpanned as I stood to start picking up the mess.
Lane snorted but didn’t argue as they headed for the kitchen with me to clean up the dishes and Hudson got the coffee pot ready and set for the morning.
“I want to stay in Rockwood Valley,” Hudson said as he turned to us. “She’s here, so I’m here.”
“Couldn’t agree more,” Lane said, both of them turning toward me.
How did they not know that this was a non-issue? She was mine.
“Where she is, I am,” I said simply. “Now, where am I sleeping?”