Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
TATE
H ow the hell are we going to do this? I'll admit I still don't fully trust Belle, but I know Angel is ready to drop everything and make her his, and she's Beck's scent match.
Fuck! Everything is so damn complicated now.
Ken clears his throat, bringing me back to the present, and I groan.
“Something else is going on here,” Beck states, lifting his hand and squeezes my arm. My heart races, and I pull him by the hand into my chest.
I just need a hug from him right now. What if this omega does not accept our relationship?
“It will all be okay, Tate. I won't let anything get in the way of our future,” Beck says, running his hands along my back and purrs.
I start to calm, and Ken clears his throat, reminding us that we are now on a time schedule.
We have only a few days to get to LA, or my father may stop our tour and disappoint so many of our loyal fans. I won't allow that to happen… Even if it means I have to marry an omega I don't even know.
We stop at a rest stop in Tennessee, and Belle bursts out of the car, Angel following her. I guess she had to pee.
Beck hands me his tablet, and I see the list of pros and cons he's been making. I'd laugh if my head wasn't so fucked up right now.
“The con list is larger than the pro,” he warns me, but I can see that. “I think we need to tell Belle who I am,” he mutters, shocking me.
“Are you ready for that, baby? Don't rush things if you're not. She still can't scent you. You have more time.”
Shaking his head, he groans and removes his glasses, then rubs his temples.
This is a tick of his that shows me how affected he is by everything. “What if she rejects me, Tate. I never imagined we would get to spend this much time together, and the more we talk the more I like her, but…”
“She won't reject you, baby. If anything I think she will be excited. She's falling for us, Beck. I can tell. Which makes this so much more fucking complicated.”
Ken puts the partition window down and gives us a look. “I'm going to pick up Rich in the next hour. He's going to drive us through the night.”
“Rich is coming?” I say with a big grin. I've missed my friend and bodyguard. He's been quiet in our group chat, and I was worried he's been pissed off at us.
“Yes. He flew in this morning. LA flights are running on schedule, and the weather here is a lot better,” he says, then yawns, and I can see how tired he is.
“Sounds good, Ken, thank you for everything. Remind me to give you a raise,” I joke, and he cracks a smile. We already pay him well, and he never accepts a raise from us.
He lost his family in a fire about ten years ago, and he looks at us like his sons. He's family. Blood isn't always thicker.
“Since we are alone we need to discuss the event next week. Poppie is scheduled to sing three songs with you guys, then she asked if she could do an original with Angel. I guess she's wanting to branch out on her own.”
“Yeah, that's fine, but move her to the end. She can be our closer. I don't know how this omega meeting is going to go. We may have to increase security.”
Beck nods, taking his tablet and writing something down. He's always so proficient. Even if he wasn't pack, he would have had this job.
There is no one better.
Ken sighs, and I look over at him. He's frowning and looks genuinely upset. “Ken, is everything okay?” I ask, and he grunts.
“I think you should tell Miss Belle. I can see the way she's falling for you all, and if you're going to break her heart in the end she needs to know now, so she may decide whether to continue this trip with you. We can put her on a flight to LA at any time now.”
I didn't even think about that… Maybe we should all just fly back. I'm about to speak my thoughts when Beck growls.
“No, I’m not ready for her to go yet. We will continue the drive to LA. End of topic,” he snaps, then winces. “I'm sorry, Ken. But no, Belle stays until we reach her home.”
Ken nods, then turns back to face the windshield. Beck turns his tablet off and puts his glasses back on before sliding down in the seat.
“We better piss before we get back on the road,” he mumbles, and I nod, following him. I can see his shoulders are slumped, and this is weighing on him.
Angel has Belle in his arms, swinging her around as she laughs. Her cheeks pink from the windchill and her hair messy. She looks beautiful, and happy.
Beck freezes watching the same show and I can see how sad he is. Reaching for him, I take his hand. “I have to at least meet with this omega, but it doesn’t mean that you have to accept her. Belle is yours, Beck.”
“And you’re mine, Tate. I’ll be fine. I guess it’s a good thing that she doesn’t know who I am to her, huh?”
He lets me go and takes off for the bathroom, the long way, avoiding passing Angel and Belle. Reaching into my pocket, I pull out my phone and make a call. If I am going to be marrying someone then it’s not going to be a stranger.
BELLE
“What’s taking so long? I hope they aren’t sick,” I say as we wait for Tate and Beck to come back to the car. It’s been over an hour of us sitting here. I look at Angel, but he doesn’t seem bothered.
“They are probably fucking in the bathroom, Vixen.” My eyes widen and I have to squeeze my thighs together.
“In a public place?! Really? Wow,” I gasp, and he laughs at me. Pulling me into his arms, he presses a kiss onto my head and sighs.
“You are seriously so innocent, Belle. How did I get so lucky?” he mumbles and I laugh, pulling away from him.
The way he talks has me wishing for things that can never be. Ken clears his throat and I look his way.
“Is everything okay, Ken?” I ask and he nods, then rubs his eyes.
“Yes, Miss Belle. I’m just getting tired. I think I need to make a coffee run,” he says, then yawns and I frown.
“I really wish I could drive. This isn’t fair to you. You better be asking for a big raise after this,” I say and he laughs, shaking his head.
“Not necessary, honey. I would have done this for free.”
Angel leans forward and whispers something to Ken, but I can’t hear what. Doesn’t take long for me to find out though.
Christmas music begins to play and Angel takes my hand. “Sing with me, Vixen,” he says, then starts to sing and my jaw drops.
Holy fuck! He can sinngggg. He gives me a smirk, the cocky alpha. I join him, harmonizing on one of my favorite songs and he smiles wider. His voice is gritty, powerful and I can tell he’s had some form of training.
Fuck, he’s even hotter now. I’m dripping as the song ends and about ready to rip his clothes off when the door opens and Beck enters. His face is flushed and his hair messy.
I guess Angel was right about them having a moment in the bathroom. He looks around. “Where’s Tate?” he asks and my eyebrows raise.
“Wasn’t he with you?” I ask and his eyes widen as he shakes his head.
“No, I needed a few minutes to myself, so I went on a walk as I thought.”
“I’m sure he’s fine,” Angel says, taking out his phone and texting his cousin.
I am so fucking confused right now. Ken starts to sing a new song and Angel joins in, probably trying to change the tension in the car now. I hum and Beck lip syncs, staring out the window.
I move over to him and take his hand, startling him. He tangles our fingers together and I lean my head on his shoulder. Sighing, he relaxes a little and I preen. Ever since that night together I feel as if he’s avoiding me, even if we are only a few feet apart.
He’s distanced himself from me and I don’t know why. Angel stops singing and shows us his phone.
Tate: I’m on a call with my dad. I’ll be back in a few.
Beck stiffens and looks at Ken. I can see him staring back at him through the rearview mirror. They seem to have an unspoken conversation and when Ken shakes his head, Beck sighs and wraps his arm around my shoulders, holding me closer, relaxing once more.
I don’t know what’s going on, and honestly these alphas are still essentially strangers to me, but even as they keep their secrets, I don’t feel threatened. If anything they make me feel safe.
Shit! I’m totally falling for these three.
I must have dozed off again. I wake up wrapped tight in someone's arms, with a fluffy blanket wrapped around me. There is a beautiful voice singing and I don’t want to interrupt. Wait, is that Beck?
Tate stops the song and I sigh, snuggling deeper. “That’s good, but I think I like this better for the chorus,” Beck says quietly, then sings again.
Lies been told from birth to twenty-one
Life don’t stop we live on
Heaven help this fool erase a mistake or two, and help him to see he was wrong.
I need to get back to a time I felt like trying
Life doesn't stop, we keep on.
Time to pick myself up from off of the ground.
No more crying, or feeling like dying.
It’s time for us to move on.
“Yes, I like that,” Tate says and I can hear a scratching noise as if he’s jotting something down on a piece of paper.
Are they writing a song?
Angel joins in and sings the lyrics Beck just said and I get shivers down my spine. Wow, these men sound incredible together.
Opening my eyes, I watch Tate and Angel adding stuff to a notebook. “You guys should be in a band,” I mumble, my voice cracking a little. Beck stiffens and stops singing.
Angel leans forward, his blue eyes twinkling and laughs. “We should, huh?” he sasses and I sit up more.
“Yeah, you guys sounded incredible just now,” I mutter and he sighs, leaning back and crossing his arms. It looks like he wants to say more, but Tate interrupts.
“It’s just something we do to pass the time,” he says and then closes his notebook. I notice how weathered it is, like he’s had it a very long time.
Ken parks, and I look out the window. Oh, he’s at one of my favorite restaurants. I groan. “Please tell me this isn't a bathroom stop, because I would kill someone in cold blood right now for a burger.”
The guys all laugh at me. Crossing my arms, I pout. “I don't see what's so funny. I was being serious. Now feed your omega before she takes a bite out of one of you.”
Beck chokes on his sip of water and my eyes widen. Shit! I didn't mean to say I was theirs. Even though it feels like I am. I was completely joking.
“Come, Vixen, let's get you fed. I'm sure Ken would like a steak and we have to wait for Rich to get here,” he says and I take his hand when he offers.
“Wait, Rich, as in your best friend? Why is he coming here?”
Angel told me all about their friend and I have been curious about him.
“He works for our father's company. He has clearance to drive the limo, so he's coming to give Ken a break.”
“Oh, that's so nice. So we are driving through the night then?” I ask, stretching once we are out of the car.
“Yeah, we need to get to LA. Tomorrow we will stop for the night though. There is a place in Arizona that we need to go to…”
He trails off, then frowns. Beck and Tate are quiet as well and I worry that I'm missing something, but the moment the restaurant door opens for me and the smell of sizzling meat comes into contact with my scent deprived nose, I moan.
Damn my blockers are starting to wear off. Beck laughs and moves closer to me to kiss my forehead and I melt.
Right here into a puddle. Not to mention the slick filling my panties. But I can disclose that these new ones are the shit. They haven't worn off like that cheap pair, once.
He smells yummy, but it’s faint.
“Hi, welcome to Cheddars… Oh My Fucking God… you… your…” the hostess stammers until her eyes roll back and she faints.
Ken just manages to catch her before she hits the concrete floor.
Ummm… I look at the guys and everyone seems concerned, except Tate.
“She must know who our father is,” he mumbles with a sigh and Beck takes my hands, leading me to the bathrooms.
Angel waves someone over who looks like the manager and he talks to him for a few moments. They shake hands and then Angel turns to Tate as they speak. Beck pulls me around the corner to the restrooms and I stop, yanking my hand away.
Crossing my arms, I frown. “What is going on, Beckett?”
He groans and runs his fingers through his tangled dirty-blond hair. His eyes look worried.
“Belle, listen, I need to tell you something.” He moves closer and puts his hand around the back of my neck, pulling my lips to his. Kissing me hard until my head spins. “Mine,” he growls and my eyes widen as his scent hits me like a cloud of chocolate and coconut.
“Holy shit. Holy Shit,” I mumble, my eyes huge. He’s my… I’m his. Looking over my head, he smiles big at someone, but I never get to see who it is. Something hard smacks me in the back of the head, then total blackness.