Chapter 14
Grace
“ H elp has arrived,” Sidney sang into the phone the moment I answered. I sprang off the couch and rushed out of the suite, startling the guys.
I could hear my best friend’s voice rising above the rest and I nearly crumbled at the sight of not just Sidney, but Avery, Wren, and Oriana standing beside her.
“What?” I gasped at the entire friend group being here. “You weren’t coming until later!”
They laughed at the shocked accusation and all pulled me into a hug.
“Girl, I heard you could use some backup.”
“Hailey?” I guessed. They all nodded and stepped back. It was nice to share the secret with a few more people. It felt less suffocating this way.
“Yes, and it sounds like you need to catch us up. The guys will check us in, lead the way to privacy,” Sidney ordered. She tucked her hair behind her ear and waved to the packs waiting patiently behind them before I was leading them back.
I hesitated outside the suite, but I figured at this rate, I may as well give them the full picture.
When I knocked, I heard a small gasp behind us.
“Now, we know Hailey isn’t here,” Avery hissed. “So, who is inside?”
The door swung open and Beck was waiting, his manicured eyebrow raised as he stepped back to let us in.
“Oh, and who might you be?” Wren gasped. “It seems Grace has some explaining to do.”
“Backup has arrived,” I announced as they piled in the room and Beck closed the door behind us. The girls all took the couches, Cade and Spencer moving off to make room for them. They were almost squirming under my friends’ attention and it would have been hilarious if I wasn’t so damn stressed.
“This room is nice,” Oriana commented as she looked around. “This whole venue is gorgeous. Which begs the question… why did she elope?”
“And who are they?” Avery asked again, not letting it go.
“Let me start from the top,” I said, glancing at the guys. Cade winked, a small grin playing on his lips. He seemed to love the drama. Spencer just smiled softly, giving me silent reassurance, while Beck rested against the wall, arms crossed in a total alpha move.
“So, I found my scent matches… at my sister’s wedding,” I admitted. “She knows now, but I tried to hide it because you know how my family is. And honestly, they’ve been ten times worse than we imagined.”
I gave them every detail from the drama, to the fitting, to Hailey making her escape.
“Okay wow, that’s a lot to unpack. But first, congratulations!” Avery said as she launched herself at me, squeezing me in a hug. “I’m so happy you found them.”
“Me, too,” I admitted in a whisper. There were times I would wonder if it would ever happen.
“So, when does Hailey officially tie the knot?” Wren asked as she curled up on the couch, her blonde hair cascading around her in waves. She looked so much happier and healthier now. Pack life suited her.
It made me wish for a moment I didn’t find my pack among all the chaos. Though, I didn’t regret them, and at least I knew they were supportive.
“She’s supposed to call me today,” I said as I found a spot and wedged myself between my friends. There were always rumors that omegas were jealous and petty, but I trusted these omegas and for a long time, they were my only real support outside of Hailey.
“We’re going to go grab food and drinks for you guys,” Spencer said as he dragged the others out, blowing me a kiss on the way out.
“Okay, shut up, how cute are you guys?!” Oriana gushed. “Tell us everything.”
“We showed up early to help settle the final details, and knew right away. I met Beck first, and I guess he called the others because they showed up later that day,” I said, a warmth settling in me as I talked about the men who’d shifted my life completely.
“They’ve been supportive and insanely perfect. ”
“So, one of them is Hailey’s new husband’s brother?” Wren asked.
I nodded. “Yes. Beck and Nolan are brothers.” For a second I worried they’d judge us for that, but all they wore were curious looks. I should have known better.
“What are they like?” Sidney asked. “I always pictured you with the sweetest men ever. Full golden retrievers.”
“Beck is kind of intense. He seems so serious most of the time but then he smiles and it literally makes my chest ache. He also helps calm me when anxiety hits. Then Spencer is sweet and reserved, he watches over the group of us and seems to always have things under control. Cade is the free spirit. He seems impulsive. It’s refreshing. ”
“Wow,” Sideny said. “Just hearing you talk about them is making you melt. That’s how you know it’s right.”
“Except we’re from two different worlds,” I sighed. “They run a huge scent company, and I live in Rockwood Valley and have zero desire to leave.”
Sidney’s eyes narrowed. “Did they say they wouldn’t move?”
“No,” I admitted, sheepishly. “They talked about opening up an office in Rockwood Valley and us just going in from time to time.”
“But you can’t shake the fear they’ll regret the change?” Wren asked gently.
Tears burned at my eyes as I nodded. “Exactly.”
“No, fuck that. There won’t be regrets, Grace. Packs have an innate need to provide for you, and that means making sure you are happy and settled,” Sidney argued.
“We all know that I had to fight for my pack, but yours aren’t kids, Grace. They want you and that includes everything about you.”
“God, I needed you guys in the worst way. I’m so fucking happy you’re here,” I said as I let my head fall back and blinked away the tears that had risen up.
Avery started to say something but my sister’s ringtone cut her off. Everyone sat up straighter as I answered, listening in.
“Hey, how is it going?”
“I’m officially married!” she squealed, earning a cheer from the entire group. Her laughter was so free and happy that I knew I made the right choice encouraging her to do this. This is the wedding she deserved.
“Congrats, guys,” I said, getting emotional all over again, though this time it was because I was so damn happy for her.
“And they didn’t ruin a thing,” she promised. “Seriously, Grace. Thank you. You’re an incredible sister for doing all of this for me and making sure it was our day.”
“I want all the details, but I’m sure you guys have plenty of plans to get to,” I said, blinking away the happy tears.
“We do. It’s so beautiful here. Thank Beck again for us, please. And you can freely break the news now.”
“I’ll tell him, and them, just send me a few pictures,” I said, before we said our goodbyes.
I turned to my best friends and let out a sigh. “It feels like I’m about to go to war.”
“With your family? You are. Good thing you have a whole army of allies now,” Sidney said. There was a glint in her eye now that gave me renewed strength.
“Family dinner tonight will be the perfect event,” I grinned back. “Should we go set up a slideshow? She’s sending us some pictures of them.”
“Oh, absolutely,” Wren grinned. “We can help set it all up.”
Two hours later, I was standing in front of the crowd, a remote in my hand as I waited for everyone to settle. The pictures had made me cry all over again and the slideshow was gorgeous.
“Thank you, everyone, for coming out. Nolan and Hailey are so happy they have all the support of the family. They apologize for their absence the last few days, but they have something to share.”
The quiet was torn away by whispers as they speculated about what I was going to show them.
I had a feeling not one of the strands of gossip were right.
Beck stepped up next to me, Cade and Spencer at my back. We didn’t bother to hide our closeness now as I relaxed, holding the remote toward the projector and pressing play.
Between me and my besties, we’d created an incredible slideshow with music and effects. Hailey was absolutely glowing in her satin, form fitting white dress and they both had pure adoration on their faces.
The gasps in the room were deafening and I nearly laughed.
Until my aunt stood up. Here we go.
“What is the meaning of this?” Aunt Cassidy demanded angrily.
“We actually have you and your daughters to thank,” I said in a sweet voice.
“All of our lives, we’ve struggled to feel like our events were truly just ours.
So, Hailey, after an unfortunate incident with the dress fitting.
..” I paused, glaring at her and my cousins, “decided to take her wedding into her own hands, not leaving a chance for anyone to take away from their happiness.”
“About time!” someone called out, letting out a whoop and cheers.
My Uncle Grady was grinning and clapping, completely gleeful at my aunt’s outrage. “I don’t even have to know the details to know this was your doing, Cassidy. You’ve always been after attention and now you’ve got it.”
A few more yells of frustration echoed out, all aimed at her. I’ve never seen her turn so red.
The screams of outrage rang out and it was soon a full on battle until Beck let out a loud whistle, quieting them down.
Okay, that whistle was kind of sexy. He gestured for me to continue and I couldn’t help but give him a sappy smile before turning to the crowd.
“With all that said, costs for the resort are already covered, and everyone is welcome to just enjoy the amenities, food, and activities around here. We hope you have a fun and relaxing week!” I raised my voice to cut off any protests and gave a quick wave before following the guys off-stage.
We somehow made it halfway down the hall before someone was calling out.
Though, it wasn’t who I expected.
“Grace, wait!” Drew was running toward us, looking like he’d seen a ghost. “Please.”
My guys stepped around me, as if protecting me from this unknown alpha.
“It’s fine, guys,” I reassured them. Maybe if I let him say what he needed to, he’d leave me alone.
I don’t know why I was feeling so angry toward him, but I couldn’t shake the annoyance that he’d never looked back again when he left me behind.
Which was exactly why I’d struggled with believing my pack would be happy with me in Rockwood Valley.
Because he hadn’t been.
I wasn’t enough for him. Plus, just like now, I was unwilling to compromise.
My stomach churned as I waited for Drew to speak. He was studying me, those sea glass green eyes wide as he read every emotion likely displayed on my face.
“Can we talk for a minute?”
Then he was close enough that my heart stopped. He was big, years of football making his muscles well honed. I had to tip my head back to take him in.
His scent wasn’t blocked anymore, either. It was also nothing like I remembered.
His once fruity and sweet scent had changed, shifted to something stronger and laced in spices that deepened it, turning it into something masculine and intoxicating.
“You can tell now, right?” he asked, almost desperate. This explains why he was so strange the last time he caught me. He’d seemed strange and stunned.
It was the same day I washed off my blockers.
Fuck.
My heart was pounding and palms sweaty, but my omega was dancing inside of me like she was a dragon finding her hoard… only it wasn’t treasure, it was mates.
“Want to fill us in, freckles?” Spencer asked. His voice was curious and cautious at the same time.
“She’s my scent-match,” Drew answered before I could. His eyes were hard, as if daring them to fight him.
“Wait, I thought you were friends, how did you not know?” Beck demanded. He seemed annoyed and suspicious.
“His scent has some of the same notes, but it’s changed,” I admitted.
“Yours, too,” he agreed, his face softening as he looked back at me. “We just came into our scents back then, I don’t think they were fully developed. God, I’m so fucking sorry, Grace. I should have known. I should have never left.”
The words I’d waited to hear before I gave up on that pipe dream hit me and I nearly folded. Even when I thought he was a chosen mate, it broke me when he left.
It still hurt, after all this time.
“Don’t say that,” I pleaded. Could he not tell that I was barely holding it together, here?
“We need to move this somewhere else,” Beck said, gently leading me down the hall like I was fragile. It felt like I was at the moment, too. My body was moving on autopilot and my mind lost in a fog.
I’d wanted a pack, but I never imagined the little bubble of happiness I found being shifted again.
“It’s going to be alright,” Beck promised, his voice gentle but I could see the frustration there.
Was this going to be the point of no return. The moment I become ‘too much’ for them to handle?
As if they could feel my stress, Spencer and Cade moved to my sides, touching me and erasing some of the fear.
Though, their support didn’t make it any less tense as the door closed behind us and the alphas faced off.