Chapter 21
I was still fuming as we drove away from town. The groceries were in the back and the guys were practically beaming.
Me? I was still trying not to lose my shit.
I couldn’t get the image of her kissing Ash out of my mind. He had done everything right in that situation and all I wanted to do was claim him all over again.
“How about we go hang out at the shop later? I’d love to show you where we work,” Ash said gently.
It was an attempt to soothe me and I gave him a small smile.
“That sounds nice,” I admitted. I’d have plenty to edit this week. The shoot with Mathias went well, and I knew Ash on a motorcycle would do just as good.
The moment we pulled up to the packhouse I pointed at the stairs. “Go scrub that bitch’s scent off of you right now.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, sprinting up the stairs. I didn’t relax until the sound of his shower kicking on filled the silence.
“What can we do?”
They were acting like I was feral and would freak out again. My omega was fucking ecstatic her alphas defended her, and even more excited that we defended ourself.
That punch felt so fucking good and I didn’t even bruise my hand.
“How about you take your coffee and go read on the porch while we tackle dinner. We’ll send a clean Ash out to you once he’s done,” Mathias encouraged.
Part of me wanted to argue, but when he pressed my kindle into my hand and wrapped a fuzzy blanket over my shoulders, I didn’t resist.
The porch was becoming my favorite part of the packhouse. There was an old swing out here and I settled onto it, still wrapped in my warm blanket, and started to read.
Unfortunately, it couldn’t hold my attention. My omega needed to mark her alpha with a possessiveness that was impossible to ignore.
When the door opened, I jumped to my feet and rushed at my alpha. He’d left his shirt off and I took advantage, running my face and neck all over every inch of skin I could reach, starting at his abs, and moving up his chest to his own neck, then cheeks.
He was laughing, but it had a husky edge.
Finally, I gripped his face in my hands and slammed my mouth to his in a possessive, hungry kiss that was borderline feral.
“Princess, I’m yours, and only yours,” he reassured me as he kissed me back, words half-muffled by our mouths. “I like when our omega gets all territorial.”
As if he couldn’t help but ruin our fun, my other alpha had to interrupt.
“Don’t get too sexy out here,” Holt called as he walked out. “Dinner’s done.”
Ash slowed the kiss before pulling away. It felt like my body was on fire and a weird whimper escaped as he stepped back. Both of their brows dipped down in concern.
“You alright, princess?” Ash asked, stepping closer again, worry filtering through his scent as I deflated into his touch again.
“Yeah, sorry,” I muttered. “My omega isn’t happy about today, but she’ll be fine.”
It was a lie. This was a heat spike but it wasn’t hitting me full force yet. I had a few days if past experience meant anything.
There was a nagging in the back of my mind, reminding me that this was different. I was bonded now. At least to half of my pack.
Mathias was next. Something that had me following him back inside for dinner.
Maybe I could have my beta for dessert.
Though, that might not be a good idea this close to heat if I didn’t want to trigger another.
Ash playfully pulled me into the awaiting feast that Holt had set out.
A smile tugged at my lips before I looked at the beaming Alpha. "I wasn't sure what you'd like so I just made a few of my favorites."
"If you keep feeding me like this you're going to have to push me through door frames since I'll be as wide as them," I teased.
"And I'll love you the same," he smirked, looking proud of himself. It was such a different attitude than he had at the beginning.
Then again, mine was different, too. We changed each other, softened those hardened edges.
"Nah, I'm sure between the three of us, we can work it off," Ash winked as I glanced at him.
"Are you sure that you can handle me?" I countered.
"Darlin', that's why you were blessed with us. We will take anything you throw at us," Holt answered.
Shit, this was getting me hot and I was trying to keep from another heat spike.
I thought carefully before speaking again, "Good to know."
I wanted to facepalm myself for the stupid words that had left my mouth but I knew that they'd get on to me, even if I wasn't hurting myself. It was going to take some time to get used to all these new feelings and emotions. I've waited my whole life to be loved so completely.
"What are you thinking?" Mathias asked as he pulled out the chair in front of me.
"Just lost in thoughts," I muttered as I took a seat.
"I won't push but you know you can tell us anything, right?" he asked as he pushed me up to the table.
There was no hesitation in my answer. I did know I could trust them, but I was still trying to remind myself that I didn’t have to put a mask on for them. Only one other person had ever been that way for me, and it was my best friend.
My family certainly didn’t qualify.
"I do, I'm just adjusting to the fact that I actually have people in my life that care for me. It's all a little overwhelming, but I wouldn't change it for anything," I told him.
"Enough of this mushy talk, dig in," Holt commented after an awkward silence. “Truth or Dare, Taryn.”
That had me perking up. “Dare.”
“I dare you to drink all of your water, brat.”
I huffed, before chugging the whole glass with a defiance sparking within me. Damn, they already knew how to read me.
I turned to Mathias. “Truth or Dare.”
He grinned. “Truth.”
“What’s your favorite memory of your early days together?”
I already knew the worst one, but now I needed something lighter and happier. Something hopefully sweet enough to distract me from the fire building within me.
His answering look was soft and contemplative. “It’s not a very exciting memory.”
“I want to hear it no matter what,” I reassured him, knowing damn well it wouldn’t be silly.
“My parents were never home. Being an only child meant that I was alone a lot so I always ended up with Holt and Ash. Holt was the one of us with the most normal family. His parents were fairly strict, but fair, and they tried to keep him as humble as they could,” he said, shooting Holt a teasing look. “One summer they decided to surprise us all with this huge water slide down the hills in the back pasture. His dads brought out a long hose and a bunch of tarps. We were all always ‘on’ all the time, being perfect and putting on an act for society. Sailing down those hills, it was the most free I’d felt that far in my life.”
“Oh my god, we have to do that sometime,” I said. “You know stuff like that wasn’t lady-like enough for my mom.”
“Fuck that, we’ll do it the moment it’s nice out,” Ash grinned. “I remember that weekend. We had a cookout nearly every meal and it felt like one of those quintessential summer moments.”
“It really was,” Holt agreed. All three had matching faraway smiles on their faces and it felt like I was seeing a softer side of them again. I wanted to spend my life bringing out more memories like this.
We’d all had such different upbringings, yet we all had the same masks in place, the ones that protected us from expectations and far too many obligations. They might have had a more privileged life than me, but I was quickly realizing it came with its own set of downfalls.
“To be continued,” Mathias said, starting to clear the table.
"Oh, I don't think I can move," I complained as Ash pulled my chair away from the table. "I ate too much."
"Well, that's too bad. I promised you a video and a tour of my shop. You're not getting out of it. The others got to make their little movies for your books, it's my turn," Ash said, knowing damn well he was challenging the girl who didn’t back down from them.
"Fine, fine." I said, voice dripping in sarcasm. "It's going to be such torture to record you with your shirt off on a motorcycle. Whatever will I do with myself?"
I fake fanned myself, earning a chuckle from the three of them.
"And once you're done with Ash, I want to show you my work space," Mathias winked.
This time I wanted to fan myself for real. My beta was coming out of his shell and I was here for it.
Ash wrapped his arms around me possessively and growled a little at Mathias before he said, "My video first."
"Yes, I'm yours right now, but there is no need to remind him of that," I said, placing my hands on top of his arms.
He snuggled into my neck and muttered a sorry to Mathias.
"No worries." My sweet beta shrugged. “We all know an alpha is going to be overprotective of his mate from time to time."
"That he is, but I'm yours, too," I said, reaching out a hand toward him.
He took it and I pulled him toward us before Holt yelled out, "Group hug!" Within seconds, I was secured in all three of their arms. Their scents melded together into a mouthwatering mix and I soaked in the warmth of their bodies pressed against mine.
This was what being an omega was about. Safe. Protected. Loved.
My cell phone started to ding in my pocket but I couldn't move in their grasp to silence it when it started to ring.
"Darlin', do you need to get that?" Holt asked, voice low and gravelly.
"Nah, I'm good right here," I answered when my phone stopped making noise.
Or so I thought. Within seconds, it was going off again.
Why didn't I put it on ‘do not disturb?’
If it was my parents I'd want to throw it out into the pond out back, but I hadn't uploaded the videos of my guys yet.
Their hands released me and sadness swept over me from the loss of their touch but I had to get to my phone.
"Sorry," I muttered as I answered the call since it was Bea. If she was calling multiple times, it was serious "Hello?"
"Did you really break Sadie's nose? She posted a picture of you from college and captioned it 'this bitch here thinks she can steal my man and break my nose? Just look at this dumpster fire.’ It’s not a flattering picture, of course," Bea rambled on without taking a breath.
"I hope I broke it. I'll do it again if she lays a slimy paw on Ash again. Now which picture is it? Is it that bad?" I asked, but honestly, here this close to my mate I couldn't find it in me to care too much.
"I'll screenshot it and you better do some damage control. She tagged your business in the post," Bea informed me with a sigh.
"Thanks Bea, I'm on it," I said as we hung up and there was another ding with a picture attached.
Where the fuck did she get the picture of me in all my Carrie the movie glory? This photo was thanks to her and the bullying she and her friends did to me. I had gotten an invitation to a party and as soon as I walked out on the back patio, bam, she painted me red.
"That was you?" Ash asked, looking over my shoulder at the picture. "I remember when Sadie did this, but she said that the girl she was pranking had been causing trouble… though now I can’t remember what the reason was. She was always angry at someone."
"Well, not long before that was taken, I did let the professor know she was cheating. Though, she deserved it for trying to drag me down with her. I wouldn’t risk my scholarship on her account," I said flatly. "Seems she’s still petty. She tagged my business in this post. That’s low, even for her."
"Check the comments," Mathias told me. "Some are going to be brutal, but we need to see what your followers are saying to figure out a plan."
I sighed at that. He was right but I didn't know if I was ready for all of that. I opened the app and found the post, my jaw dropping at the first few.
brian1234: I’d do that dumpster fire. She makes that red look good.
atvman: You’re a fake ass bitch, you probably deserved it.
Bookmama2004: I don't believe she'd do that. And look at that, I just bought another two books from her.
Obessedwithbooks: She's a hottie and all you're doing is driving up her sales. Dumbass.
CallmeCasey: Did you think we’d support you? Ha. This just makes YOU look bad, not her. Bullying is never cute. Let’s blow up our girl’s page. Show your support, people!
Was I reading this right? They were defending me. Sure there were a few that agreed with Sadie, but most of them were on my side. The outliers were probably people she was trying to rally.
"I need to check my sales," I chuckled.
"Omega," Ash started. "Truth or Dare?"
I turned to look at him. "Dare."
He tapped a finger on his chin for a moment. "I dare you to be in one of the scenes of my video with me. Show the world you aren’t that girl."
"That will shut up Sadie for a while," I smirked at him, too petty to turn it down. “I’m in.”