Chapter 13
Grace
N ow that our scents were washed off and I had come more times than I could count, I walked out of my room to face the world.
Only to come face to face with my mother.
Her eyes were bloodshot and I just knew this was about to get dramatic. Especially since they lacked the puffiness of actual tears.
“I just don’t understand this behavior out of my girls,” she started with a sniffle, dabbing at her nose despite not a single tear falling.
“We are done being bullied and you letting it happen. Our mother should be the one defending us, not letting us get mistreated.”
She gasped. “I’m not letting you be mistreated, I’m teaching you how to turn the other cheek.”
“No. You’re letting us be attacked verbally and mistreated in the name of ‘keeping peace.’ Well, Mom, screw keeping the peace. I won’t stand aside and let them be nasty anymore. In fact, if you four are not on your best behavior, you’ll leave.”
She sputtered for a moment as she stared at me like I was the problem. I let out a defeated sigh.
“If you need to convince yourself that I’m the issue here, go ahead. But you better hope my narcissistic cousins will be there for you when you find yourself alone with two daughters that have gone no contact.”
With that I pushed past her and walked down the hall. I was getting hangry and simply done with the bullshit.
I knew this wouldn’t be the last of it, but I had resigned myself to not caring. My pack stood behind me, a show of silent support.
When we walked into the dining hall, Aunt Cassidy rushed over, eyes flaring with anger.
“You have a lot of nerve.”
“Let me cut you off right there. I am done with you and your daughters’ insane behavior.
You are bullies, manipulators, and downright awful people.
I mean every word of this and I won’t be apologizing, nor will Hailey.
I set her up with a spa day for a few days to relax before you all can ruin her fucking big day.
Be happy you aren’t kicked from this venue completely. ”
I shoved past her and continued on my war-path. No one was going to fucking ruin this and I’d just made up a reason for Hailey and Nolan’s absense on the fly. Apparently, I worked well under pressure.
“Hey, is everything alright?” Drew’s concerned voice stopped me in my path. Then his eyes widened as he breathed in again. “Your scent changed.”
“I washed off some of the blockers,” I admitted. “Sorry to be rude. Again. But I have to go deal with something.”
I was apologetic, but still practically ran into the kitchen needing to escape before I ran into someone else.
There was nothing cute about shoving my face full of food, but my mates didn’t mind.
In fact, they joined in, not one of us saying a word as I simmered through my anger until it dissipated.
Eventually, I shoved aside the container of fries I’d been nibbling on.
“So, when do we tell them?” Spencer asked gently.
“I’m not sure,” I admitted. “We could wait for the event, or the family brunch that’s in two days. Either way, the wedding planner is hosting a few things the next two days, none of which require us. Hailey put some spa days in on purpose.”
“Well, you said she was recovering. So, now, we can sneak off and ignore everyone and order in room service for dinner, right?” Beck suggested, his face a mask of indifference as he waited.
“That sounds perfect,” I admitted.
The moment we got back to the suite, they started to bundle me up on the couch. In minutes I had warm socks from Spencer, Cade’s oversized shirt, and Beck’s hoodie… along with just about every blanket and pillow we had in the suite.
“I think tonight calls for a movie night. I know we just ate, but I put in a snack and popcorn order to be sent up,” Beck said as he walked away to change, coming back in comfortable clothes as well.
Soon, we were all cozy and snuggled in together on the sectional.
“This feels so much better,” I sighed. “I’ve been staying with Hailey to help with the wedding instead of looking for a new place in Rockwood Valley.
My apartment was one giant nest before so I’ve missed my cozy living room and soft things everywhere.
This is a bit less pink than I’m used to, but it’ll do. ”
“Pink. Noted,” Cade said with a grin.
As much as I settled into the moment and the comedy movie Spencer put on, all I could think about was how we’d make things truly work.
Saying they would figure it out and come to my town, and actually doing it were two very different things.
“Hey, out of your head over there. I can practically feel you overthinking,” Cade accused playfully as he took my socked feet in his hands and started massaging my heels.
My head fell back and I groaned as he worked out the soreness I hadn’t realized was bothering me.
Then Spencer shifted me so I was in his lap, his hands working on my shoulders.
“This isn’t fair,” I laughed. “How can I overthink when you guys are turning me into putty?”
Spencer chuckled, the sound raspier than usual. “That’s the whole idea, freckles.”
Our attention slowly shifted back to the movie but they never stopped touching me. My omega soaked in the attention, taking in every brush of their hands or gentle rubbing as they massaged me into a relaxed puddle of omega.
At some point, I was so warm and cozy, full of snacks and feeling absolutely adored, that I drifted off to the most peaceful sleep of my life.
All the peace of the evening was washed away rather quickly thanks to the next morning spent avoiding everyone possible.
Every step out of the room was made with quiet, purposeful steps and looking around corners. The staff likely thought we were insane, but I needed to give my sister a chance to do things her way.
“There you are!” I groaned internally at my mother’s voice. She had a chair outside our room, just outside of view through the peephole.
“Hey, Mom,” I offered, plastering a smile on my face. “We have to stop meeting like this.”
Honestly, I was close to climbing out of our window at this point.
“Why are you hiding away?” Her voice was curt and her lips pinched as she stared me down. I was alone this time at least. Having my pack at my back would have only raised more questions.
“I’m busy helping run your daughter’s wedding,” I countered, keeping my voice even.
How had I not seen just how little she cared about us? She wasn’t pretending this time, all I could read on her face was selfishness and playing the victim. Like we’d done something to her .
For years we were punching bags, but the moment we strike back, all of that feeble, timid act falls away.
Her scowl deepened and she scoffed. “My missing daughter?”
“She’s not missing, she’s stepping back so her wedding isn’t tainted because you insisted on her having this huge affair and then proceeded to let them ruin it,” I countered, my voice rising in my annoyance until I was forced to take a few breaths.
“I’m all done holding back and watching out for your feelings, when you clearly never cared about ours. ”
She stood then and threw her hands up.
Cue the dramatics. I was wondering when we’d shift back to this.
“Oh, yes, because I was such a terrible mother,” she laughed in that mocking way that grated on my nerves. “A monster. How did you ever survive?”
“Yes. Not defending your daughter as your sister and her daughters sabotage her one and only wedding, does make you a bad mother. You should reflect on that. I don’t have time for this,” I said as I stormed off, ignoring her sputtering behind me.
I wasn’t falling into that trap again.
Now, I was more than ready for that call from Hailey to tell me that I could break the news to the masses. I couldn’t fucking wait to see their faces.
I’d never considered myself the angry, petty type. But maybe it was time to embrace that side.
At this rate, I was so ready for it all to be over that I couldn't even find it in me to be sad that I wasn’t there to witness it.
A door burst open and Spencer rushed out, eyes wide as he saw me. “Don’t go that way unless you want to blow our cover. Beck can handle himself.”
“What?” I started to protest, glancing back to make sure Mom didn’t hear, then realized what he meant. “It’s them, isn’t it?”
My cousins would set their sights on the richest men here, even though they have packs. They were only loyal to themselves.
His hand slipped through mine, his scent reassuring even as it was laced with nerves.
“Just how handsy did they get?”
He raised a brow. “Don’t ask for details you can’t hear right now, freckles. Let’s just say he’s about to hurt their feelings.”
I let my mate drag me away, even though my omega was calling for me to storm in and set them all straight.
“One more day at most,” he reminded me gently. “Then all the lies are over.”
Cade
A single sunflower rested on the bed. There was no scent to it, but I didn’t need one to know it was from Grace.
It was a small, beautiful reminder that she was ours and this secrecy was a small hurdle in our lives.
I hated having to see her stressed and wanted to throttle her family for stealing her smile and happiness. But that wasn’t my place and Grace was doing a good job on her own.
I brought the sunflower to my nose, taking a deep breath of the soft, floral scent before placing it on the table in our suite. I’d add water later, but for now, I needed to go find my girl.
The urge to hold her in my arms was strong enough that I was out the door in seconds. It didn’t take me long to find her, even without a scent. She was walking down the hall when I pulled her into a room, closing the door behind us.
Her squeak was muffled by the clunk of the door and I didn’t hesitate to glance around before throwing the lock.
A small storage room. Perfect.
“What are you doing?” she asked a small giggle escaping.
“I’ve missed this,” I groaned, holding her close and burying my face in her neck, pretending I could still scent her.
“We’re so close,” she promised, pulling me down and pressing her lips to mine. The kiss was languid and slow, as if she was committing this moment to memory just like I was.
My perfect, sweet omega.
Then a screeching voice echoed out, killing our moment.
“Where is Grace?! This is unacceptable!” I recognized it as Bianca’s voice. Talk about a boner killer.
“I have to go put out another fire,” she sighed, giving me one last kiss. “Wish me luck.”
She peeked out of the door then slipped out, following the screeching down the hall and away from me.
Just a few more days.