Chapter 11
Sonnet couldn’t stop giggling as Jude charged at the car, throwing the door open and helping her unbuckle. He was smiling more than she was as he swooped her into his arms and spun her around.
“Welcome home!” He cheered.
“This is why I made him stay behind,” Zayden grumbled, slamming his door shut. “Jude, put her down and help us with her things. Jude!”
“Let him go,” Felix laughed as Sonnet was swept away. “He’s happy. And so is she.”
Am I happy?
Once inside, she looked at every ounce of the house, the entrance leading to the backyard and garage, holding not a single ounce of color or decor.
Jude carried her up the first staircase, where she was greeted by more dark colors, more emptiness, the hallway to the left leading to a bathroom, gym, soundproof music room, and to the right, the open concept kitchen, dining room, and living room, all of which were filled with the first sign of color she had seen.
The ceiling was covered in balloons, some tied to the couch's legs and dining table.
There were flower bouquets on the TV stand, the kitchen island, and the table next to the second staircase.
There was a banner over the second staircase that said Welcome Home!
and a freshly baked cake that said the same thing.
She looked at Jude and laughed.
I am happy.
“Welcome home,” he cheered, finally releasing her.
“This is amazing. Did you do all of this yourself?”
A slight flush brushed against Jude’s cheeks as he scratched the back of his neck bashfully. “Well, Felix made the cake, but yeah. I just really wanted to make sure you felt wanted. Because you are wanted. I’m happy you’re here with us, Sonnet.”
Her knees felt weak, like she was going to melt. Her scent engulfed the room. Felix and Zayden didn’t say anything, but their scents danced with hers. Jude puffed out his chest as a strong wave of Funfetti cake fought against the others. She laughed.
“You baked the cake?” She asked Felix. “Can we have some?”
Felix nodded and she couldn’t help but notice the faint graze of his fingers on her back as he walked past her into the kitchen. She followed, mouthwatering as she stood over it. She dipped her finger in the frosting and hummed.
“That’s incredible.”
A teasing smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “Should I cut you a slice, or do you want to eat the entire thing yourself?”
“I guess I can share, but” she took another swipe of the frosting, “you have to promise to make me another whenever I want.”
“Whenever?” Felix’s eyes sparkled. “Alright.”
“Can I get in on that deal?”
“Learn to bake your own cake, Jude.” Felix gently pushed him aside as he stood beside Sonnet and cut her a perfectly large slice of chocolate cake. Zayden and Jude received smaller pieces in comparison. “Be grateful and take a seat.”
“Greedy jerk,” Jude whined, leading Sonnet to the dining room table, but he didn’t get very far. Zayden took her hand, seating her right beside him. “Come on!”
“Don’t be rude,” Zayden chastised.
Sonnet felt dizzy. Being fought over by three hot alphas was more mouth-watering than her cake. It was hard to focus and make sense of what didn’t make sense at all.
They look way too hot right now.
Jude was wearing sweats and a white t-shirt; his soft brown hair slightly curled from a recent shower. Felix was wearing a loose-knitted sweater and slacks, something she could picture a professor wearing, and Zayden was dressed in dark jeans and a black hoodie.
They seemed so perfectly normal.
Felix sat down, right in front of Sonnet, before Jude could, and she covered her mouth to hold back a laugh as Jude tried his very best to hold back profanities.
“I did all this work for her. All you did was pick her up! It’s not right that you keep stealing her from me.” Jude slammed his plate on the table and pointed at each of them. Sonnet ate her cake, eyes wide, soaking in the drama. “After this, I get to spend time with her. Alone.”
“Scared you can’t win her affections with us around?”
“HA! You’ve never had a sense of humor before, Felix. Don’t try to make me laugh now.”
“You both are embarrassing yourselves,” Zayden huffed.
Sonnet couldn’t help it. She finally laughed. “I’m sorry. Really. It’s just…” She bit down on her bottom lip, trying not to smile. “It’s nice seeing how you guys interact. The tabloid's said you guys weren’t very close, but—”
Shoot!
Tabloids? Seriously, why would she bring that up?
She could see it in all their expressions, even Jude. Embarrassment, guilt, and resentment. She had practically scratched the surface of a fresh wound, but there it was. The truth. Something was going on in this pack, something that could affect everything and everyone involved, including her.
Did it have something to do with Juliana?
Her heart sank a little. She tried to force a smile. “You guys remind me of my sister. How she acts with me. I was really scared to move in and be a part of your lives, but I think if you are this sweet and this silly at least most of the time, I’ll be just fine.”
The wave of embarrassment faded, and Jude finally took a seat. A big, toothy grin splitting his lips. “Well, I’m the real winner here, Sonnet. I’ll make sure to prove it.”
“It’s not healthy to have favorites in this type of dynamic. Didn’t you read any of the pamphlets?”
Jude groaned and leaned far back into his chair. “Here he goes again about reading the pamphlets.”
Sonnet watched them interact playfully, Jude’s spirit high and childish, while Felix purposefully utilized large words and cunning jabs. It took her far too long to watch the two of them to realize Zayden was watching her.
She blushed and rubbed her hands along her cheeks. “Do I have frosting on my face?”
“No,” he hummed. “It’s just that you’re very beautiful. I wish I was as good with words as Felix to say it more romantically.”
“But aren’t you the writer of all the songs?”
“Learned that from another tabloid?”
Sonnet puffed out her chest, embarrassed by his tease. “No. You should know how beautiful your songs are, not just because of your instruments or voices, but because of how well written they are. That’s why I was a fan. Because every time I listened to the lyrics, I was completely enchanted.”
Footsteps down the staircase startled her, and she turned towards the smell of burning dark chocolate and cherry liquor.
Kai.
Somewhere inside her, her omega howled for him, but he looked at her like she was an intruder.
Every step he took was a gunshot to her heart, a reminder that she was not welcome.
By the last step, he looked at them all with an intense gaze that could only be described as the overwhelming shade of grief.
“Pathetic,” he scoffed, turning his nose up at them. “The three of you look like unbelievable fools. Is the new house rule to ignore all our work arrangements just to play babysitter?”
Jude’s jaw twitched. “The only baby I hear whining and throwing a tantrum is you.”
“Good one.”
“Enough.” Zayden stood up, his chair making a loud scrape against the floor. “Enough. Go wait for us in the car, Kai, if you’re not going to behave yourself in front of Sonnet. Do you understand me?”
Kai twitched, struggling under the dominance of their lead alpha. Even Sonnet struggled to keep still under Zayden’s powerful force as he exerted his dominance.
“Whatever you want, alpha.” Kai sneered.
Zayden placed his hands calmly on Sonnet’s shoulder, guilt etched into the dimples of his cheek and the furrow of his brows. Entire novels were woven inside him, but something was holding him back from what he really wanted to say.
He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry, Sonnet, but Kai is right. We have a meeting that we cannot cancel. We’ll have to leave you alone for a bit.”
“Do we have to?”
“Yes, Jude. We do.”
“That’s okay.” Sonnet stood up and put on her best smile. “Don’t worry. I didn’t assume all of you would give up all your duties just to keep me company. Besides, this gives me some time to relax. You guys are perfect, but you’re still new to me.”
She walked them to the front door, laughing at their jokes, promising not to run away or disappear by the time they returned. Before they all loaded into the car, Jude handed her one last thing.
“I can’t draw for the life of me,” he said with a disappointed sigh, “but I didn’t want you to feel lost in your own home. I did my best to draw you a layout of the house. That way, when you explore it, you feel like you know exactly where you’re going.”
She looked down at the pages scribbled with black ink and the terrible handwriting labeling each box of the layout. It was just what she needed.
She hugged him, which startled them both, but she didn’t let go like a coward. She let him wrap her up tightly and kiss her softly on the top of her head before promising he’d come back as soon as he could. Sooner, even.
She liked that. She liked knowing her mate didn’t want to be without her.
Felix and Zayden looked equally phased by having to leave, and she could feel it, too.
As she waved goodbye to them in the doorway of her new home, she felt a wave of relief and hope.
There were issues under the foundation of this house and baggage she had lulled inside, but maybe they had the tools to fix these problems together.
Maybe she could be the omega she always wanted to be, for them, but for her, too.