Chapter Fourteen
My eyes widen as their astonished looks all land on me. I have absolutely no idea why everyone is suddenly looking at me or who the crazy ass man that barged in here is, but from the looks on everyone’s faces, I feel like I should know.
"What? Did I suddenly sprout horns?" I say jokingly.
That's great Sage, I internally scold myself, when completely in the dark about a situation that is obviously freaking other people out, of course the best thing to do is to say something completely nuts.
What's slightly worrying me though is that they don't reply to say I don't have horns or react in any way.
I strongly fight the urge to raise my hand to my head to see if I really have grown horns.
That really would be ridiculous.
"Micha, are you absolutely certain?" Mr. S asks the man that barged into the room, urgently.
The man, Micha, is still staring at me in shock along with my guys.
I decide to take the opportunity to study him in return.
Like when I first met Mr. S there's an overwhelming sense of familiarity but once again, I can't quite put my finger on why.
It's incredibly frustrating. Micha is taller than Mr. S by a few inches.
He has black hair, a similar shade to mine and he keeps it in a short buzz cut.
He's got strong features and is obviously someone who can take care of himself in a fight, as he has muscles on top of muscles.
Looking at his brown eyes I get the same sense of overwhelming sadness that I got from Mr. S.
I'd be willing to bet that these two men went through the same trauma together.
He breaks suddenly from what-ever was keeping him immobilised and starts towards me.
He doesn't get very far though, as suddenly, I'm behind a wall of backs again. I almost roll my eyes; I know that Micha won’t hurt me. I don’t know how I know that, but I do, it's instinctual.
"Get out of my way you idiots, I would never hurt her!" Micha says angrily.
The guys back’s all tense up and they refuse to back down.
"Calm down Micha, they have only just gotten the Soulmate Mark and they haven't completed the Bond yet.
You remember how it was before we had the ceremony.
" Mr. S admonishes, "They aren't going to let anyone near her who is not a part of their Soulmate Bond, especially since you've just come in the way you have.
I can't figure out which ones she shares the Soulmate Mark with though.” He looks at me inquisitively.
"All of us share the Soulmate Mark, Sir." Levi replies tensely, still not relaxing his protective stance in front of me and refusing to take his eyes off of Micha.
"Interesting . . ."
Before Mr. S can say anything more and expand on why me having the Soulmate Mark with all five of the guys is so interesting, he's once again interrupted by Micha.
"Stop this ridiculousness. We can discuss her Soulmate Bonds later. I have known you boys for a long time, but I swear if you do not move aside and let me hug my daughter, we are going to go back to your training days!"
What. The. Fuck.
Daughter!?
The threat obviously held some weight to it because reluctantly, the guys move out of the way.
They all make sure they are still standing as close as possible to me though.
I'm still trying to process Micha's daughter comment when I'm swept up into Micha's arms and I stiffen not used to strangers touching me.
I hadn't realised that I'd stopped tensing when the guy’s touched me, it's natural and comforting when they touch me.
I quickly relax as I realise Micha has absolutely no intention of harming me. I almost immediately tense back up though, as I'm suddenly bombarded by images of a past, I'd forgotten.
I see myself at maybe five or six running through a rose bush maze, in a giant garden giggling the most joyful sound I think I have ever made.
"No Papa Micha, not the tickle monster." Young me squeals in excitement.
"Alright pumpkin, no tickle monster but we need to get back. If we are late for dinner your momma will give Papa Thomas and Papa Joe dessert but not your Papa Micha.” He pulls an exaggerated sad face and young me giggles again.
"Race you Papa Micha!" I challenge still giggling as I run as fast as my little legs will take me.
I blink rapidly as the memory fades.
"Papa Micha?" I question, confused.
He pulls back from me his hands still on my shoulders, his eyes shine with happiness.
"Yes Pumpkin, you remember?"
"I remember you chasing me through a rose garden then worrying about not getting dessert." I chuckle quietly.
"That was the day before you were taken.” He tells me solemnly.
I suddenly remember the other name that was mentioned in the flashback and I step further away from Micha, it'd be way too odd to start calling him Papa Micha at least not yet, we don't know each other anymore.
I look around the room again before I spot Mr. S sat on the edge of his desk watching me apprehensively.
"Papa Thomas?" I ask wanting to make sure I'm right.
His eyes light up with happiness and he stands up opening his arms for me.
"Come here Little Ladybug."
I walk into his arms and he gives me a tight hug before pulling back.
"We thought we'd lost you forever.” He says quietly.
There is so much pain and sorrow in his eyes that it makes me realise the seriousness of the situation.
"I d-don't understand." I stutter, starting to feel incredibly overwhelmed.
"I know Little Ladybug, there is a lot of explaining to do about this and about the Soulmate Bond."
I'd almost forgotten that we were here about the Soulmate Bond, as several things are now fighting for dominance in my mind.
I can feel the beginnings of a panic attack start as everything starts to overwhelm me but before it can fully take hold and consume me, Hunter is there and taking me gently into his massive arms. The comforting touch instantly starts to soothe my ragged nerves.
"Is she okay?" Micha asks worriedly.
"She experiences panic attacks when she gets overwhelmed.” Hunter explains.
I feel the rest of the guys surround me, and my nerves calm even more.
"I'm okay." I state, taking a deep breath and happy that my voice is fairly steady.
"Maybe you would like to come over to the house for dinner?
" Mr. S, I mean Thomas says. "Your momma and Papa Joe will want to see you and we can explain more to you there without being worried that we are being overheard.
It'll give you a chance to absorb all of the information we've just given you, before we tell you even more.” He finishes.
So many thoughts and questions are bouncing around in my head that I can't focus on one for more than a second before another one is fighting to be at the forefront of my mind.
A reprieve would be good, I don't think I can wait too long to get some answers though.
The thought of seeing my mom and Papa Joe for the first time in years makes me nervous and fills my stomach with butterflies.
"Yes, that sounds good." I finally reply sending a small smile to Micha and Thomas.
"Are you sure Little Star?" Jax questions.
"Yes, I'm not the most patient person, so it'll drive me nuts to wait any longer than that to get answers but, I need to have a reprieve to get used to the information I've already been given.
" I smile gently up at Jax loving that he's concerned for me and I reach up on my tiptoes to kiss him on the cheek, silently saying thank you.
His cheeks tint in a light blush and I grin.
"It's settled then, we will see you at seven, let me know if you change your mind and you are not up to it Little Ladybug, we aren't going anywhere." Thomas smiles a distinctly fatherly smile at me and I nod.
I glance between him and Micha, I can sense how hard it is for them both to let me walk out the door right now but I appreciate that they aren’t making me stay, that really would send me into a panic attack.
I'm sent spiralling back into my pit of questions as they writhe around in a frenzied blob in my too crowded mind.
The journey from the office to the parking lot where the SUV is parked is a blur, the questions are still chasing each other around in circles.
I am, however, vaguely aware of the blonde bitch from reception, trying to get the guys attention again as we walk past but we just carry on walking without a backwards glance.
Without me having to say anything they know how close I am to the edge, dealing with her advances on them would not help me in the slightest.
Before I know it, we are back at the house and I'm sat on a large comfy U-shaped couch centred around an equally large stone fireplace.
I don't remember getting here at all.
"I'll make you a hot chocolate Titch." Mav offers giving me a soft kiss on the forehead before walking to the other end of the giant room, to the kitchen.
I'm in a daze.
I don't know how long I've sat here for, but I slowly start to become more aware of my surroundings.
Someone has placed a soft blanket over my legs and my hands are cradling an empty mug.
I must have drunk the hot chocolate Maverick made me, although I have no recollection of him actually giving it to me in the first place.
I blink my eyes into focus slowly and almost jump out of my skin.
Kai's nose is only a mere couple of inches away from my own. I raise my eyebrow at him in question.
Looking entirely serious, he exaggeratedly whispers loudly out the side of his mouth.
"Guys, I think she's back!"
I hear the other guys groan at his antics and Mav smacks him on the back of his head. Without taking his eyes off of me Kai reaches up and rubs the spot on his head where Maverick got him. I grin at him, my heart lightening at his antics.
My sweet Kai.
"That's better." Kai says quietly, tucking a stubborn piece of my black hair behind my ear.