Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
TALLY
I roll over. And over and over. My bed is cold and empty, and the only reminder I have of last night with Keegan is the scent of him on my skin. It stings more than it should.
The scalding hot shower leaves me smelling more like myself, and as soon as I walk out of my bedroom and into a stream of sunlight, my mind is made up—I’m going for a run.
Until I remember the last time I checked the door and found it was still locked.
Regardless, I dress in yoga pants and a sports bra, pulling my shoes on as I open the door to my bedroom.
Finding my whole apartment empty isn’t what I was expecting, and the note on the kitchen island telling me back soon with breakfast is nice.
The lack of details sours my shitty mood some more, so my own note— back after a run, save me some breakfast —feels like a bitchy but necessary dose of their own medicine.
My mood improves when the door actually opens, and the elevator downstairs works too. As soon as I step outside, the hustle and bustle of living in a city sweeps away more of the shitty start to my day.
Leaning up against the wall, I stretch my quads out before doing a couple of upper body twists to test my side. It aches, but the twinges might also be residual soreness from Keegan’s visit last night.
I take off like my arse is on fire, but thinking of last night spikes my scent and has me growling under my breath. Each step I pound out is like a toothpick to a lock; it takes a while, but eventually, the reason I’m in Ireland takes center stage in my thoughts again.
Slowing my pace, I take the last couple of blocks at a walk, so by the time I’m standing in front of where I’m staying, my breathing has regulated. Clearly, I look like I’ve been working out—my face is warm and I can feel sweat beading down my back.
A group of pock-faced lads—they’re not yet men, that’s for sure—set their sights on me, speeding up. The waves rolling off them aren’t threatening, as such, but I still brace for their presence and whatever it is they’re going to say.
One of them steps ahead of the others. An Alpha, newly designated. They crowd around him. “We got a tenner for you, love. Let’s get you to work.”
I hold my hand up, stopping him, trying desperately not to laugh at his audacity. It’s nearly impossible, though, and my mouth pops open as I struggle to keep my composure.
He snaps a hold around my arm, tugging me towards him. “Wait till we at least get out of sight, ya dirty desperate hoor, opening your mouth already.”
I drop straight into a defensive stance, my laughter vanishing as I stare into his eyes. “Take your hands off me.”
“Nah, don't think I'll be doing that.” He gets in my face and barks, “Move.”
His grip tightens, hard enough I’m going to have bruises, and he literally starts to drag me away. His buddies spread around us, walling me away from people walking past.
Someone approaches, and one of the boys peels off and deals with the person, quickly returning to the group.
What the fuck? Who lets a kid threaten them?
“Ya new, aren’t ya? Or ya wouldn’t have the stupid effing look on your face, trying to figure us out.”
I don’t reply, instead dropping my weight and ripping my hand from his grip. He clearly doesn’t expect it, so when I round back around and go to shove him in the chest, I get close enough to see the freckles on his face.
But that’s where I come to a complete stop.
Fingers intertwine with mine, and the gentleness in the touch is the complete opposite to the hard grip the kid had me in.
I look behind me at the same time the group of lads do.
Tynan’s eyes search mine, and I fall headfirst into what I see in them. His fingers tighten, drawing us closer, as he steps next to me.
Goddamn, of all the things he could have done, I didn’t expect him to step up next to me, as my equal. His stance is purposeful, and as obvious as an Alpha, but he stands next to me as opposed to standing in front of me. I’m so used to Alphas shielding in their urge to protect.
“Would you like to explain why my wife has your foul stench on her?” Tynan’s voice is the polar opposite of the warmth I saw in his eyes.
Tynan’s hand blurs. His movement is so fast, you’d miss it if you blinked, but it’s also so controlled and restrained, it’s like watching waves rolling in, and knowing they can rise to a tsunami.
His hand locks around the kid’s throat, tipping his chin up at an awkward angle. It’s a message confirming who is in control right now. And it’s not the smart-arse Alpha. That’s for sure.
Some of the other kids start making moves, as if they’re about to run.
“Don’t you fucking dare run because all that will do is make this that much worse. We’d hunt you down before we beat your arses. Now, apologize to Mrs. O’Connor before I beat your sorry arses.” With that, his hand falls away from around the Alpha’s throat to point at where he wants them to stand.
Most of them fall into line, not all. But young Alphas are dumb, full of bravado and little else.
The first kid in the line is not the one who grabbed me. From him, I get a hurried apology before he dips his head and lowers his eyes. He steps to the side so the next person can get on with his apology.
I half listen to the apologies coming one after the other, but I’m equally distracted by the showdown still going on. The atmosphere shifts and a couple of the older Alphas are sizing Tynan up, ignoring the fact he’s stronger than either of them, and clearly ignoring the name he dropped.
Tynan’s hand flicks up and stops the kid currently mumbling his apology before we all turn to give our full attention to the source of the rising escalation.
Their stench of bravado is offensive, and I can’t help but sneeze, making Tynan laugh under his breath.
He waits a moment, dragging it out to make everyone feel uncomfortable but also giving them a chance to go if they still want to change their minds.
After a sigh of defeat, he addresses them. “Let’s hear it, then.” He’s still portraying the cool levelness I’ve come to expect from him, his hand on mine tightening as a reminder he’s right next to me.
My original attacker spits on the ground, inches from Tynan’s runners.
“You little gob-shite,” I scold. Honestly, spitting is disgusting.
The baby Alpha ignores me, but that’s to be expected.
Instead, he’s steadying his hate-filled glare at Tynan.
He reeks of adrenaline and cockiness. “Word on the street is the O’Connors are done for.
” His accent seems to have gotten thicker in his boldness, and his swagger has also levelled up.
Seriously, this kid’s got tickets on himself.
“My da, Des, said just that last night at dinner. We’s all heard him but. ”
Then I remember the last Des I met. Immediately, I can see the family resemblance in the arrogant smugness they share. This little upstart is a Kelly, and Des Kelly is the Alpha who gave me the creeps after I handed Walsh back his money.
Tynan lets them speak, not saying or doing much. The slow spreading smile on his face would have me more apprehensive, but these dipshits ignore his unspoken threat. Hardly surprising, since they’re itching for a fight now.
“Last chance for you to apologize to my darling wife, boys,” Tynan says without looking at them, all his focus on me.
The two of them start mouthing off.
Tynan puts his back to them, which, in the world of designations, is as offensive as it sounds.
It’s a clear indication Tynan isn’t intimidated by them at all.
I wish I had the know-how to tell him not to do this, just to walk away, but after another of his looks, I’m literally off my head, under his calming influence.
He twists back around to the pack being led by mini-Kelly, quickly silencing the noise. “You’re both legal, right? Pretty sure, Dessy Junior, you was only in nappies a few years ago.”
And the incredulous and furious expression on both their faces is proof enough they are legal, but it also speaks volumes that there’s going to be no peaceful walkway from this.
“Right, then,” Tynan says, nodding at them patronizingly before he swings back to me, his finger brushing the hair off my face, something he’s been doing a lot. “Before I thump some feckin’ sense into ya, I’ll be getting my good luck kiss from my bride.”
My face blazes again at his sweet but cocky move.
He doesn’t make a move any closer, leaving it up to me, like always.
“Aren’t you a surprise I never saw coming,” I whisper as the world falls away until it’s just Tynan and me.
My hands wrap around his face, and I’m struck by a sense of rightness in this moment, and even us as a couple and pack.
The smallest lift of his lips is proof he feels something similar.
My heart is pounding so hard in my chest, I feel like it’s about to cave in as his subtle energy and scent fills my lungs.
Lemon verbena, delicate and fresh, bringing energy to my soul like sunshine on a cloudy day. The distance between us disappears, his hands curling on my hips as he leans down to kiss me. His lips barely touch mine, but it feels like so much more.
He’s gone before we can do it again.
Then all I can do is stand and stare.
The two Alphas go at him in a rush of aggression and sound.
From the get-go, it’s easy to see they’re no match for him.
The spectacle is made worse because it’s clear they’ve had little to no fight training.
I don’t feel bad for them at all as Tynan overpowers them.
It’s humiliating, the way he controls the fight every step of the way, even going so far as to squeeze his hand around one of the Alphas, overpowering and turning the kid's own weapon to make a cut from his hairline all the way down his face to his chin.