Chapter 39
The seaside sunshine had become the perfect alarm clock, waking Sonnet up in a bright and sunny kind of mood, and she enjoyed lingering in the bedsheets for as long as possible.
This morning, after saying goodbye to Jude and Zayden, she heard Felix and Kai bickering in the kitchen, which helped wake her up.
But nothing was as loud as her omega, who, in just a matter of days, had gone from annoyingly silent to never being quiet.
You were going to tell Kai about our mother. That’s a big step.
Sonnet sighed and dug her face into the pillows. I’m glad I didn’t. It was about Kai and his mother, not mine. Is it terrible that I’m happy about what he told me?
No. Because now we’re not alone. I knew our alphas would somehow help us. I could feel it. And so can you. That’s why you’re letting me in more.
I wish I knew how to put the wall up again. I never knew omegas could talk so much!
Don’t forget, I am a part of you, so WE talk too much.
Sonnet groaned, but she couldn’t help but smile.
Her omega was a chatter, but it was nice.
After years of having no one, not even herself, to talk to about things, she was thankful someone was finally around to help take care of her.
To know her truly. Like how each of her alphas would someday, especially once they all bonded and could feel each other's thoughts and emotions more intimately.
Dr. Avery said they could decide to go their separate ways. It would have deep consequences, but it was still a choice that only one of them would need to make. But Sonnet already knew her choice. Her alphas were complicated, deep, mysterious, and all she could want. All of them.
She felt a wet nose on her face and giggled. “Goose. I’m supposed to have ten more minutes!”
He barked and started tugging her pillow out from under her. For a two-month-old puppy, he was already too smart for his own good, and just as he finished stealing her pillow, the fire alarm in the kitchen went off.
“Let’s go see what the trouble is.” She finally got up and followed Goose, where the kitchen looked worse than when she had made breakfast.
Kai looked redder than the stove top burners. Steam was practically coming out of his ears like a train. He was holding two pans containing two different types of pancakes, all burned to a crisp, and a few failed ones at his feet, which even Goose didn’t want to snack on.
Felix didn’t look mad but was disappointed. And hot. Very hot. In a naughty professor kind of way, with his glasses pinched up his nose, and wearing nothing but low-hanging grey sweatpants.
Am I drooling?
No, but I am!
Felix sighed. “I told you—”
“Shut up! I know how to make a couple of damn pancakes!”
Felix scoffed. “Yeah? They all look very edible to me. Not so much the scrambled eggs, however. And here I thought these were the two easiest things for a person to make.”
“Toast and cereal are actually easier,” Sonnet laughed, stepping over the pancakes on the floor and hugging Kai around the waist. “Maybe we should just wait to have an early lunch with the others out in town.”
Kai kissed the top of her head and set down the hot pans. “I’m all for that plan.”
“Of course you would be. You’re the one who ruined this breakfast and my kitchen.” Felix grabbed Sonnet by the hips and pulled her into him. “At least have some fruit until we go out to eat. I don’t want you starving.”
Sonnet agreed and grabbed a banana just as her phone vibrated. “Oh, Scarlett is Face Timing me! Is it okay if I step outside while you guys clean up, or should I stay and help?”
Kai’s face scrunched up in disgust. “What? You think we’re going to make you clean up our mess?”
Sonnet rolled her eyes and headed out the porch with Goose. Right as she answered Scarlett’s FaceTime, she wasted no time in ranting, cigarette shifting between her lips and her hands as she talked rapidly and angrily.
“Can you believe this?” She threw off her bra and pants and quickly changed into something new. “They’re not renewing my lease. I’ve been here for two years, and they want to throw me out!”
“Did you write another article about their property?”
Scarlett held the phone closer to her face as she looked onto the screen to do her makeup. “No. I wrote a generalization of landlords and rent prices for young, desperate individuals. HEY! Is that Goose? Let me see the cutie!”
Sonnet giggled and flipped the camera around to show Goose in all his glory, pooping on a pile of rocks instead of the grass. “I can’t wait for you and Summer to meet him. We’ll have to take him to every park, and maybe we can take him camping with us when Summer forces us to go.”
“Ugh, he will make those stupid trips so much better! But he’s the only man allowed. Your alphas will have to stay home during girl time. How’s it going, anyway? I miss you.”
“I really miss you, too. I can’t wait to be back home and get into a normal routine.
” Sonnet sighed and sank into one of the comfortable chairs with the biggest grin on her face.
“I’ve had so much fun being here. I think these guys came into my life right when I needed them.
I can’t wait to see what it’s like back in the real world. ”
“Are you scared? You know, since they’re famous and all. That’s all Summer has been talking about.” Scarlett fell back onto her messy bed, all black except for one pink pillow she kept for the nights Sonnet stayed over.
“You talk to Summer?”
“Oh, no. She talks to me about you. I think all of us have been waiting and hoping for you to find your mates, but we’re all wondering what it’ll be like living in the spotlight.
You know, with rumors and paparazzi, and annoying fans.
Just to warn you, Summer is talking about getting you a personal bodyguard.
She asked me to do it, but you know how busy I am. ”
“Oh, I love you girls so much, but I don’t think I’ll need a bodyguard. My alphas have a strong sense of protecting me.”
Scarlett squealed. “You’re totally falling for them, aren’t you? My alphas. God, I’m so happy for you. But, but,” she sat up straight, lighting another cigarette. “Maybe you guys should have a talk about what life will look like once you’re back home. You know, out of the honeymoon phase.”
She was right. Things had been getting so good and so sweet, but none of this was realistic. This was a vacation. Sonnet had to remember that.
And yet, she wasn’t scared. As fun as the honeymoon phase really was, she couldn’t wait for the boring, mundane, terrible tasks of being in love in the real world.
She couldn’t wait to argue, share chores, have different schedules, and live separate lives together.
It was terrifying, being a pack in the real world with real problems, especially their fame.
It was going to be a huge adjustment, but with how strong their bond had grown, Sonnet felt confident that her pack would survive all that was to come, make the bond, and live happily ever after.
Scarlett stuck her fingers in her mouth and forced out a few gags. “You make me sick with your shit-eating, I’m so in love, smile. But I am so happy for you! And I’ll be even happier when you’re home, and I can see you again.”
“Me too. We’ll have to have a sleepover.”
“At the mansion?”
“Duh. You need to see how ugly their house is. At what point do you think it’s acceptable for me to start changing everything?”
“Literally the minute you get home.”
They both laughed, and for a moment, it felt like Scarlett was right here with her.
Scarlett sighed and checked the time on her watch.
“Dammit. I got some stuff I need to get done. Hey, just to make sure, since I know Summer will be messaging me again, you’re safe, right?
No crazy fans or paparazzi have found you, your alphas are gentlemen, and you’re completely happy and smitten? ”
“No, yes, and yes.”
Well, technically Sonnet had a few strange run ins with fans, but nothing dangerous or obnoxious yet. Just a few discrete signings and quick dismissals.
“Perfect! I love you, Sugar.”
“I love you too, Spice.”
The hang-up was bittersweet. Being on vacation, Sonnet forgot how much she missed her best friend, sister, and her parents. Her alphas numbed every negative feeling. They were too good at being good.
She turned around and watched as Felix and Kai playfully bullied each other while cleaning up their mess.
Seeing that they were still busy, Sonnet hooked Goose up to his leash and walked him down the long driveway, letting him play and bark at whatever he stumbled upon.
His paws seemed to grow quicker than the rest of him.
“I think you’ve peed on every bush and rock possible,” Sonnet laughed just as they reached the long end of the driveway, where a white Honda filled with girls was parked. A feeling of dread hit her stomach like an iron falling on top of her.
She tried to turn around with Goose, but one of the girls was already screaming at her.
“Can I help you, girls?” Sonnet asked, approaching the car and recognizing right away all the fan memorabilia of the Obsidian Alphas, and worst of all, pictures of them in the water.
“Sorry. We got word some of these famous singers were vacationing on the coast, and we’re trying to figure out where, but we got lost.”
“They’re like super-hot and famous! Seen them around?”
Sonnet’s grip on the leash tightened. “Sorry, but no.”
One of the other girls scoffed. “Does this chick look like she listens to this band?” She mumbled under her breath, making the others giggle.
Throat punch them.
What?
Sorry, sorry. I got ahead of myself.
Sonnet shook her head and forced a polite smile.
“If you turn around, you’ll head back into the town you just came from.
But if you keep going straight, you’ll reach the next town.
Maybe someone there will know about these famous singers of yours, since it looks like you guys don’t know where they are? ”
“Look, all we heard was that they were seen in the water. We’re just trying to have some summer fun, alright, lady?”
“Besides,” the girl in the back seat cut in, “there’s been rumors that this pack has been courting another omega, and we’ve got to know if it's true!”
Sonnet didn’t say much. Just let the four girls, who couldn’t have been more than seventeen, fan girl about her alphas before driving off and wishing them luck on their goose hunt.
Then, she just stood there, thinking about everything Scarlett had mentioned and what type of cruel humor the universe seemed to have.
Kai found her after a while, and when she told him what happened, he wasted no time hurrying her back inside the house.
She knew he was doing it to protect her, but then a strange, negative voice echoed in the back of her mind and told her he was trying to hide her because none of them were ready to accept her as their omega publicly.
After all, Sonnet didn’t live in the same world as they had with red carpets, lavish parties, and being friends with other famous people.
Maybe they were embarrassed to date a girl with pink hair.
Her omega whined, but even she didn’t try convincing her otherwise. These thoughts were deep and jagged, intended to hurt her as much as possible.
These thoughts belonged to her birth mother.