Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
BELLE
L ight shines through the curtains that Angel opened after our showers last night, and I groan. I don’t think we have been asleep very long, but I know that if I dally any longer my father will come looking, and these guys don’t need my drama.
They have been incredible, and I am blessed that they took me in for one amazing, heat-filled night. I’m sad our time is about to end, but I know that one day they will make an omega so happy.
Too bad that can’t be me. I glance over my shoulder at the alpha who I thought hated me: Beckett. I guess it was the opposite. He’s holding me so tight as if he doesn’t want to let me go. I wish he wouldn’t.
If they’d ask, I would probably drop everything and run away with them, as long as we were far enough from my father’s reach. I thought NY was safe, but damn was I wrong.
Carefully I lift his arm off of me and place it between us. He grumbles something in his sleep, but his breathing is still heavy. I wasn’t the only one exhausted. I don’t want to just leave without saying goodbye, but it’s better this way.
Angel shifts on the other side of me before rolling onto his side and cuddling a spare pillow. I still can’t believe they made such a cozy nest out of nothing. Not only did they not make fun of my fear of the dark, they embraced it and made me feel safe.
Sighing, I sit up and climb to my feet, then very slowly move off the mattress over to the bedroom. I’m wearing a cropped gray sweatshirt and a pair of black panties. The guys' bodies run hot, so I kicked off my pants during our nap.
Picking them up off the floor, I step into them and pull them up my hips. A vase of red roses catches my eyes on the counter, and I smile. They weren’t there when I fell asleep. That was actually really sweet of whoever did that.
Walking into the bedroom, I quickly change my top and pack up my things. A pad of paper and pen on the desk catches my eye. I check over my shoulder, but the guys haven't moved.
Fuck it. Reaching for the pen, I scribble a quick note leaving my name and phone number. If they want to reach me, now the ball is in their court, so to speak.
Grabbing my bag and my boots, I walk back into the living room and place the note next to the flowers.
I can’t resist taking a rose. Glancing over my shoulder one last time, I take in the view, trying to save it to my memory.
I will also remember their kindness and the wild night we spent together. It will be my go-to fantasy for my heats, and if I end up in a miserable marriage like I’m destined to be in.
“Good-bye,” I whisper.
Sighing, I open the door and step outside into the hall, then shut the door behind me, being quiet as not to wake them.
Leaving the hotel, I thank the staff and pull up a car rental place on my phone. Looks like there is one inside the airport. Thank God, because though the storm is over it’s still freezing.
Taking the same path as earlier, I’m soon back in terminal five where I spent hours waiting on a flight that never came. Though it wasn’t all bad. I did meet the guys after all.
As I round a corner I bump into a not so friendly familiar face. “Ugh, what are you doing back here? Let me guess, the alphas you were with got tired of you,” Rissa, the stewardess from last night sneers.
Rolling my eyes, I shove past her. “Hey, I was talking to you, bitch, stop,” she barks, and I growl. I fucking hate alpha barks. My father used them on me growing up any chance he got.
“Seriously, I just need a rental car so I can make my way to LA. I have people waiting on me,” I reason, and she places her hands on her hips, giving me a once over.
She must find me lacking. Licking her blood-red-painted lips, she sighs, then waves her hand. “Whatever,” she says, then walks toward the covered path. Her heels clicking as she goes.
Yawning, I rub my eyes, then keep walking toward the front desk. I hope they have a car available. I don’t need anything fancy. “Oh, hi,” I say the minute I reach the man behind the desk. He gives me a smile.
“Good afternoon. How are you today? I hope you had time to rest.”
“Yes, thank you… I’m sorry I never got your name last night.”
“Brandon. I’m the head of the TSA, but they are short staffed today due to the storm and holidays, so I’m stepping in. What can I help you with?”
Brandon was the nice man who helped us last night. He also was the one who Leon punched, and though he tried to hide it, I can see a shadow on his cheek.
“I’d really like to rent a car, or anything you have. I need to get to LA as soon as possible.” I instantly know he can’t help me when he sighs and gives me a frown.
“I would love to help you, but we are completely out of rentals. I can’t even suggest another place, because they are all booked too. I’m very sorry, miss. But please here is my card. Let me know if there is anything else you need, and your cancelled flight has been refunded as well.”
“Okay, thanks.” I give him a smile, then walk off a ways down the hall. The Christmas tree is still standing proudly with all its decorations on view. It really is a gorgeous tree. Santa isn’t here right now and that’s okay.
Honestly this airport seems vacant. A few skeleton workers, probably getting an extra bonus or overtime just for coming in. Or maybe they never left. The storm was really bad. I didn’t even check to see if the hotel had power restored.
Taking a seat on a bench by the tree, I turn my phone on and make the dreaded call. I should just return to the Academy. I never even wanted to go home. I don’t know what could be so important anyway.
It doesn’t take long for him to answer.
“You better be calling to tell me that you bailed Leon out of jail and are on your way as we speak,” he snaps and I cringe. My shoulders hunch and I try to make myself smaller.
“I can’t get a rental. They are all out of inventory. I think I should just go back to the Academy.”
“NO!” he shouts and I jump even though he’s thousands of miles away right now. “You will find a way to get here in the next four days. I don’t care if you have to hitchhike or go to a car dealership and lease something. Get home, Belle.”
My eyebrows raise, and my mouth opens. Me? A new car? That’s like a dream. I have never owned anything. I had to use either the maids' vehicle or my sister, Kella’s after she inevitably smashed it.
“Okay.” He ends the call with a sigh, and I can’t help but feel he’s relieved. I hope I’m not walking into a trap.
BECKETT
I watch as Belle sneaks out of the hotel and sigh. I should have known she wouldn’t stay.
I thought she might have seen the flowers and waited longer than a few seconds before walking out the door.
I guess you could say I was testing her in a way and she failed. Just like they always do… Well besides the guys.
They have always stuck around for me, but everyone else leaves me in the end. I should be used to it by now.
Why did I think she would be different?
“She left, didn't she?” Tate mumbles into the back of my neck and I nod. Tears fill my eyes and my heart aches.
He squeezes me tighter and holds me as I take five minutes to be weak.
I wish I could be stronger. His equal, but he will always be the one to put my jagged, broken pieces back together.
“Do you regret not telling her?” he asks, pulling a way a little, so I can roll over and look him in the eye.
“No, I know this isn't how things normally go. I'm broken. I wanted her to fall for me without the bond, but instead I was an asshole, and in the end she decided I wasn't worth it.
Angel grunts from beside me and I look over my shoulder. His eyes are pinched, and he's frowning.
“Fuck it. Pack your shit and let's go get our omega.”
It doesn't take long for us to have our things ready. Tate calls Ken for a ride, and he is thankfully still in New York. he tried to head toward LA, but the traffic made him return.
He will just have to drive us to LA. As we walk toward the door I pause next to the vase of roses.
My note hasn't been opened yet, so Belle must not have seen it.
“Bring them,” Angel says, grabbing a piece of paper beside the flowers. He turns to me with a huge smile on his face.
“She gave us her phone number. She didn't just up and leave us. Last night meant more to her than you think, Beck.”
I take the note and read it one… two… three times, waiting for the words to change.
For her to be like thanks for the knot, have a great life…
Sadly, that's happened before. But no, her words are sweet and they make me feel better.
Beckett, Angel & Tate,
Thank you for last night. For showing me what it felt like to be with true alphas.
For giving me a memory to cherish.
I hope to see you all again one day.
If you'd like to message me I'll answer.
555-091-3475
Xo,
Belle
Tate opens the door and grabs my hand, pulling me. “If we don't hurry she could leave.”
“Yeah, I'm ready.”
Pushing my glasses up my nose, he gives me a quick kiss, then we race back into the airport.
As we enter Terminal five, there is someone waiting for us with fake smiles.
“Hi, I was hoping I'd get to see you all before you left,” Rissa, the attendant from last night says.
She's wearing something rather revealing for work, and her lips are a bold red color.
I don't know what she's hoping to get out of this, but she reminds me of the omega that destroyed Tate.
She's hungry, and doesn't care who she needs to step on to get what she wants.
“Yes, well we are headed out now. We have to get to LA for work,” Angel says, walking around her. Tate and I follow, and she huffs behind us.
“I always heard that Knotty Trip was nice to their fans,” she shouts loud enough for a few people to stop what they are doing and look over here.
Fuck, if they get recognized then we will never get out of here. Tate stops walking, squeezes my hand, then let's go and turns to face the pissy alpha.
“Well if we hadn't been stranded here because of a storm then we may have been a little nicer. We are tired, hungry, and have shit we need to do. So please cause a scene, because I would love to report you to your manager again,” he barks, and she cowers.
“I'm sorry, Sir,” she whispers, then walks off. She attempts to keep her head and shoulders tall, but her pace is hurried.
“Good job,” Angel remarks, smacking Tate on the shoulder, and he laughs.
That could have been bad, but thankfully this place isn't busy.
We continue through the airport and hop on one of the trains to take us to Terminal One.
I have a hunch Belle is trying to get a rental, but little does she know that I rented all the remaining cars, so that she couldn’t leave.
I may have been testing her, but it didn't mean I'd planned to let her get far.