17. Chapter 17
Elias
“Oh my gosh, this is all too much!” Arabella squealed as we brought her to the private table we’d booked.
This was our first date with the omega who we found out was our perfect match.
The one we’d been looking for - the omega who we’d scented at the ball.
No one other than our mate could have a perfume that intoxicating.
And it had been Arabella, all along. It surprised me, but I could see why.
We’d met omegas before who turned out to be different than we thought, and ultimately, I hadn't tried to get to know her that well.
Now that I knew she was our match, I could dedicate all my time to her.
The restaurant was beautiful - Hunter had reserved one of the private dining rooms overlooking the city, the floor-to-ceiling windows revealing the city's lights below. This was a beautiful beginning to the future we'd spent years hoping for.
“It’s not too much. Nothing will be too much to ask when it comes to us.” Hunter said reassuringly, and Arabella gave him a look that would melt even the strongest alpha.
I found myself studying Arabella. She was even more stunning tonight - her dress showing off her perfect figure, and her makeup emphasizing her omega features.
She laughed often, her hands frequently falling on the arm of the closest pack member, and she seemed to want to touch us all the time.
She asked plenty of questions and paid attention to our responses.
Objectively, she was doing everything right.
It wasn’t a huge surprise - I’d spent a little time with her during our work on the collaboration and knew how charming she was.
It was hard to resist an omega like her - even though I’d found myself drawn more toward Ivy.
But every time I was in their house, something felt right.
I was just surprised at which sister ended up being our match.
But as I looked around the table, it seemed to make sense. She looked like she fit with our pack.
Hunter looked pleased, and I could feel his contentment through the bond. Ronan seemed more protective than usual, taking his time to listen to Arabella and using a gentle tone around her. And yet… I felt strangely detached.
I wasn’t disappointed, necessarily. Arabella was as damn near perfect as you could get.
Her accomplishments were impressive - she’d come up with bestselling product ideas for her family’s company, she’d become semi-famous on her own via social media, and she was extremely family-oriented.
I just couldn't understand why I felt disconnected.
I watched Arabella smile at one of Hunter’s stories and immediately felt guilty. She was probably nervous. Most omegas would be. She'd gone from discovering we were a compatibility match to officially beginning courtship in less than two days.
I also had questions. The report had indicated significant trauma markers, and low self-security.
There was also the concerning history of emotional neglect.
Nothing about the way she acted indicated any of those traits.
Arabella was a puzzle to me - one I needed to figure out, and without pushing her away.
When there was a lull in the conversation, I turned toward her.
"How are you feeling about all this?" I asked.
"The date?" Arabella asked, and I shook my head.
“I mean the match. It can be a lot to take in. Normally, a courtship would give us time to connect more and see how our feelings develop. Knowing our compatibility ahead of time can make it feel rushed, and I want you to take as much time as you need. I don’t want you to feel any pressure, is what I mean. ”
Arabella looked at me shyly through her lashes. "Honestly? I’m not feeling rushed. I think I've felt this way since I met you all. It just… felt right." She admitted. I sat up straighter.
"You felt this way from the beginning?” I asked, rethinking every moment I’d spent with her.
She glanced around the table. "Yes. I've admired you all since we met, so finding out we're compatible felt natural somehow."
Hunter smiled. "And now we know that we fit together perfectly. No long courtship needed," he said, reaching for her hand.
I cleared my throat. “I’m glad then. I don’t want you to feel like you have to do anything just because of the results. I want you to know that we will go at your pace.” I said, and Arabella nodded.
“Thank you. But I feel like I’ve already known you forever. This just feels right.” She said, sighing as she looked around at us. I was pleased that she wasn’t feeling pressured in any way, but I had another concern.
If Arabella officially joined the pack, it would affect her family. We'd been spending a great deal of time in their home lately, and I’d also been growing close to Ivy. These two lived under the same roof, and would until Arabella inevitably moved in with us.
"Will things be awkward at home?" I asked. Arabella looked up sharply, her eyes narrowing a moment before turning back into the doe eyes that she wore all night.
"What do you mean?" She asked, smiling sweetly. I noted her responses - she was smoothing over the tension that we witnessed earlier.
"I mean, with Ivy." Something flickered across her face before disappearing. Then she sighed, looking down for a moment.
"I really hope not. But truthfully, Ivy can be... difficult sometimes." That wasn't a word I'd ever associated with Ivy. I felt the sharp jerk of concern from Ronan and Hunter pull through our bond.
"How so?" I asked, glancing at them quickly before leaning in toward Arabella. She traced a finger along the rim of her glass, then hesitated. I wondered what had her so reluctant to answer.
"She's very sensitive." Another sigh. "And she's always struggled when attention shifts away from her.
" My mind raced back over every moment with her - that didn't sound right.
Every interaction I'd ever had with Ivy suggested the exact opposite.
If anything, she actively avoided attention. Arabella continued.
"I love her, obviously. She's my sister.
But she gets attached very easily and sometimes takes things personally when people don't mean anything by it.
" My stomach tightened. I thought back to when we’d seen her earlier today - she looked miserable.
She wouldn't even look me in the eyes. Omegas were so sensitive, but Ivy was even more so.
Arabella let out a long breath, one that sounded more fatigued now.
"I've always had to be careful with her feelings. Sometimes it can be a lot. She has… well, I don’t want to say it…" Her face scrunched up, and she withdrew her hand from Hunter’s as she looked down. He immediately moved closer, concern on his face.
“Hey, you can tell us anything. If you feel like sharing.” Hunter said, his voice low and soothing. She looked up at him, her eyes big as she took in another breath.
“She has some emotional instability. She’s had issues in the past. I mean, you can’t blame her.
Losing her mom, then having to accept my mother into her family’s pack and me as her new stepsister.
I get that it was difficult. It was for me, too.
” Arabella said, looking down for a moment.
“But she never really accepted me. It’s been a struggle.
And I think with her being the original omega, and having me move in…
maybe she has always been a little jealous or competitive.
” Arabella's confession hit me like a brick.
Maybe this is where the trauma was from - family conflict.
But friction from a blended family still shouldn't cause the extreme markers that we’d seen in her match profile.
They were some of the worst I’d seen. Something severe and prolonged had happened to create those types of trauma marks.
Hunter moved toward her instinctually, a small purr emanating from his chest. She keened at the sound, leaning in toward him and touching his chest. I could feel his happiness through the bond.
Maybe if we could help her deal with the trauma, the connection would fall into place.
I suddenly felt awful for not having spent time with Arabella sooner.
I’d practically ignored my mate, and she needed support from her future pack.
“Things will smooth over eventually. You’re ours now, and Ivy will get used to it.
” Hunter said with an assurance that meant they'd smooth over whether Ivy wanted it to or not.
I worried about the small omega, who in my mind was still the smart, shy girl in a lab coat, her smile the best part of my day.
The Ivy I knew was kinder and smarter than anyone realized.
But then again, how much did I really know?
I only met her a few weeks ago. Arabella had lived with her for years.
Of course, her family would have a different experience than an outsider like me.
I suddenly felt uncomfortable as I wondered whether the version of Ivy I'd built in my head was real, or if I was just seeing what I wanted to see.
I looked at the omega in front of me. No matter what I’d had with Ivy in the past, this was my true match. I needed to start focusing on the future and let go of the past. Even if it felt like the last thing I wanted to do.