Chapter 33
Grace
“ I ’m finally free,” I sang out as Drew helped me out of the truck and onto the sidewalk. It felt like I was down for a lifetime, and while I was under strict orders to not push myself, I was allowed to live my life again.
The appointment with Doctor Clark went well and we both were confident there wouldn’t be a repeat.
If my body and this baby behaved, at least.
“We figured we’d finish what you started then grab a treat,” Drew said, gesturing to the baby boutique.
“They probably don’t want me back,” I winced.
“Yes, we do,” a woman said as she pushed open the door to let in the summer breeze. “I’m so glad to see you’re doing better. I was just sad your pretty sunflower died, I didn’t know how to reach you.”
It was apparently the same girl who saved me.
“Sorry for falling apart on you,” I said as she ushered us in. “Sunflower?”
“At least you have a pack to catch you if you feel faint this time,” she teased. “Oh, and someone else must have dropped it! There was a pretty sunflower left behind when the ambulance took you away.”
“Oh,” was all I could say. Though as my eyes bounced to Cade, he looked sick.
“I’ll be up front if you need me,” she said with a wave.
“There was a sunflower in the hotel room,” he said. “In our suite. I thought you left it.”
My eyebrows dipped down as those words sunk in.
“Do you think it’s related to the boxes?” Spencer asked the question I was too afraid to voice. My stomach churned. It was starting to sound like we had a full-on stalker, not just an angry one night stand.
Not that she couldn’t be both.
“Wait… I’m second guessing everything,” Spencer said. “Did you send us letters at work when we were wrapping things up to come here?”
I blinked at him. “Letters? No. We called and Face Timed and all that, but no letters. I was too busy freaking out that you weren’t coming.”
My teasing fell flat as they shared a look. “We got so many of them. Pink envelopes and all sharing little notes of how much you loved us.”
“It wasn’t me,” I admitted with a sigh. This was spiraling out of control too quickly for my liking.
I was fucking tired of things coming between me and my peace.
At this point, we had unassuming, but very creepy flowers, letters, a burned box of panties, and no real leads.
I knew I was safe, my labs and all the tests checked out fine. Our follow ups were just as vigilant.
“This can wait until after we shop. I refuse for anything else to take away from our special moments,” I said firmly. “We can deal with it when we finish. Go to the police, even. For now, let’s shop.”
“But,” Cade started but I held up a hand to stop him. I let them see the stress on my face, the need to have just this one fucking moment.
Beck eyed the door, then the employee, before looking back at me. It took willpower, but he eventually relaxed and gave me a warm smile.
“She’s right. Shopping first. But then, we deal with this,” he said, giving me a look that dared me to argue.
“It’s creepy. No fight from me.”
“Shopping it is,” Spencer said, letting some of his tension melt away and glancing around. The more their eyes scanned, the more they lit up.
This was our first time since doing our online registry that we were letting ourselves loose on a store like this.
Each of my men grabbed their own basket, Drew grabbing two, an extra for me. He stuck close while the others spread out with a grin on their faces.
I had a feeling they were about to have more fun than I was here.
Instead of clothes, I went for the decor section in the back, eyes landing on a sweet mobile. It was green and white, little leaves dancing and Totoro on top as if he were commanding it. The melody from the movie played when I twisted it and I knew it had to come home with us.
Drew grabbed the box, sliding one into my basket along with a few matching plushies.
It was already a success.
Soon, I had my basket full and his. He seemed content to shop with me, adding his own things here and there as he dutifully followed me around.
I stopped mid-step. A strange feeling danced over my skin and it felt like someone was watching me. Goosebumps dotted along my body as I turned, locking eyes with an omega.
“Drew,” I whispered, not moving my lips. She looked like a deer caught in headlights. Her tears flowed freely down her dirty cheeks, a sob escaping. The concerned worker started to approach but Cade snagged her, urging her to the back. Hopefully, to call the fucking cops.
“They were mine, you bitch. They treated me so sweet.”
Her voice was haunted. I wanted to look away, see their expressions for a flicker of recognition, but I couldn’t risk it.
“It was incredible. So attentive and caring for me. Even feeding me breakfast. I… I thought they’d call. Save me from my fate.”
This went far past a simple rejection and right into ‘mental health crisis’ territory.
She continued to babble, not moving an inch. There was no change in her when the cop car parked out front. I saw the cops moving in behind her.
They sent betas, it looked like. I hoped for her sake she didn’t fight it.
“There you are, Audrey,” the first cop said in a bright tone. “We’ve been looking for you.”
“You have?” she asked, looking at the guys, then frowning as she realized it wasn’t them who spoke.
“Who are you?” she demanded, glaring at the cop who was doing everything to soothe her.
“Just a friendly beta here to help you out. We know what happened to you, Audrey. We’re going to make sure no one tries to control you again,” he promised gently.
She perked up at that, her face shifting from confusion to adoration. “You’ve been looking for me?”
He nodded, holding out a hand. When she reached out, he gently took a knife I didn’t see before.
Oh god. If she was searching for them, that was for me…
My panic started to rise but my alpha was there, pressing into my back. The moment she was out the door the others rushed to my side.
“Did you recognize her?” I choked out, a second away from full-on tears.
“No,” they all said at once.
“We’re just as lost as you,” Beckett admitted, looking pale. His dark eyes were stark against it as he gazed out the window. “I’m going to see what’s happening. They seemed to know her or were simply damn good actors.”
“She’s in the car, come on,” Cade said.
“I’m going to buy all of this first,” Spencer said, collecting our baskets and taking them up front to pay.
When we stepped out, one of the cops was heading our way with a sad smile. “I guess you want some answers, huh?”
“Yes,” I said. “She’s been sending boxes of omega’s panties to us. Multiple omegas and multiple boxes.”
“There’s a huge state-wide alert out for her. She lost her pack, a not good one… it broke her. Her family tried to help but she kept slipping away. They found her the first few times but she’s been on the run for weeks.”
“Oh god,” I gasped. That kind of pain was unbearable. No wonder her mind was broken. And if it was forced like he implied, that would be even worse.
This poor girl. She was staring at us with wide, sad eyes. Her hair was matted, her clothes dirty, she needed help.
“What will happen to her?” I asked, needing to know she’d be taken care of.
“The family found a facility upstate. It’s an expensive program but made for both omegas and packs who have been through it.”
“I know you can’t give me sensitive information, but what’s her name and the facility. We’d like to help pay for it,” I said, knowing my pack would back me up.
“Audrey Walker,” he said, giving us the name of the facility. A branch of The Omega Network. That meant at least some government funding, but I knew it wouldn’t be enough.
The other cop walked up, a frown on his face and phone in his hand. It was cracked and abused, covered in grime. “This was strange.”
He held up the phone in his hand, the battered screen showing a video of Beckett, Spencer, and Cade. It was a fan-site of sorts, full of pictures and their achievements. It also had a whole thread up of how they imagined the guys would treat an omega.
“That’s how she found you,” I whispered in shock. “Just a big delusion that soothed her broken mind.”
“It’s possible. We may not know for a long time. For now, you shouldn’t have to worry about her. These programs can last from months to years,” the cop reassured us.
We were all shaken as they drove away. It was honestly a relief to my omega that they didn’t know her personally.
I pulled out my phone to update my best friends. They’d been helping search and no one had found a single lead.
Grace: We figured out who she was.
Hailey: Who? The stalker?
Grace: Yes.
I broke down everything we’d just learned, hands flying over the screen as I got it all out. The others were gently leading me to the truck, trying to get me home.
It was strange. I had no feelings outside of relief and heartbreak, but even they felt distance. As if I was protected by a bubble, nothing quite permeating it.
Sidney: Oh my god, that’s wild. I saw her on the news a few weeks ago. I never would have thought!
Wren: Wait, how did she know them?
Grace: She didn’t. They think she just found a video of them and her broken mind latched on. It’s not hard to find their addresses, though, I don’t know how they found us here.
“Okay, enough,” Beckett barked. I put my phone down, blinking up at him. They were all right there, concern flashing on their faces.
“We said your name so many times. I think you’re in shock, sweetheart,” Beck soothed, his voice far too careful now.
“I’m fine,” I said.
They clearly didn’t believe me. We made it home, the drive longer than ever with every one of them shifting their eyes to me constantly.
By the time I walked inside I was crawling out of my skin. I sought out the kittens, snatching up the one we named Star, snuggling her to my chest.
The guys settled around me, piling me in blankets and pillows.
“Guys, I’m not going to break any more than you are,” I said gently. They were all more concerned about me than how they felt about the whole situation.
“I’m shaken,” Drew admits. “That knife in her hand… I nearly tackled her myself.”
“Same,” Beckett sighed.
“I felt the same at the time. Then we talked to them and it all kind of fell away. She was scary and so was the threat, but knowing she had been through something so terrible killed me. It’s not her fault, not really. She’s getting help so that’s the important thing.”
“And our sweet, kind omega is going to make sure she can afford that help,” Spencer said, kissing my temple. “We all are.”
“I knew you’d back me up,” I said. “We can call up there soon to make sure her spot is safe.”
“What can we do for you ?” Cade asked gently.
“Hold me close and stay with me,” I said easily. “We can watch a movie, order in, and just remind ourselves that we’re safe now.”
“Done.”