Chapter 51
Chapter Fifty-One
~Harlow~
It feels awkward, cold, and lonely in the Den by myself. I’m pretty relieved when I wake to the sound of Rhen coming down the steps. I had stashed my diary in my pillowcase and tucked the photo inside my bra for safekeeping. It isn’t like it can get any more crumpled.
“Zara,” Rhen speaks softly. I blink up at the high ceiling before turning my head to see him place a mug of steaming coffee on the side of the small drop-off into the Den. He has clothes hanging over his arm, and he moves to drape them on the back of a chair.
“Get dressed. We’re leaving soon. Thane ironed your clothes, so you just need to put them on. We have an important meeting this morning and can’t be late,” Rhen says before slipping out of the basement. I walk to the side of the sunken Den and haul myself out.
I can hear their voices upstairs as I change into the black slacks and a matching long-sleeve blouse. I try to pull the neckline of the top closed, but the zipper stops too low, creating a deep V when I can’t pull it high enough.
I’m showing way too much cleavage in this top. It’s hardly respectable workplace attire. Yet Thane chose it, and I wonder if he realized that when he picked it. Groaning, I look at my other top, which is all wrinkled and creased, and it still smells heavily of my pheromones.
Clutching the neckline closed, I grab the coffee from where Rhen left it and almost groan at the taste. I swear I can feel it warm my bones and awaken my soul from its dormant, numb state. I’m about to walk up the steps when I remember my diary is still tucked inside the pillowcase.
Sighing, I rush back to retrieve it. I need to get rid of it, even if I dread doing so.
I figure I can dispose of it at work. I’ll tear out the pages, shred them and dump them in the loading dock bins.
It’s not worth the risk, and I recognize how foolish I was to keep it.
Yet I like writing, and the small doodlings I have of people inside are the only way to remember their faces.
I despise time. It’s amazing how the memories of the people you love remain vivid, yet their faces eventually leave us.
Just like their touch and smell, their faces slowly slip away.
First, it’s small features that you can no longer picture, or if you can, there’s something else about them that’s missing.
I draw them so I can keep their faces, so I never forget.
But now I have to throw it away. This diary holds far too many secrets, far too many answers.
Tucking it under my arm, I climb the stairs with my coffee and wonder if Raidon has a hairbrush I can borrow.
My hair looks like a bird’s nest. I doubt Thane, Leon, or Rhen would have one.
They have no need to brush their hair since they keep it cropped short.
Raidon has long, thick locks I’m envious of, plus his equally beautiful eyelashes.
The door opens before I get the chance to grip the handle. Thane nearly plows into me as he goes to storm down the steps. He’s in an obvious rush to leave. Clearly, I am taking more time than he believes necessary.
He stops and glances over me. He growls when his eyes go to my messy hair before moving to the top that I am practically spilling out of.
His eyes linger longer than necessary before he shakes his head. “You’re not wearing that,” he growls.
“Well, duh, but I’m not walking up there shirtless,” I tell him.
“I wouldn’t have minded,” Leon purrs. He waves at me from the island, where he is eating toast. I roll my eyes at him as Thane walks off down the hall, muttering about my attitude under his breath. I look for Raidon, but he is nowhere to be seen.
“Where is Raidon?” I ask.
“Getting dressed upstairs,” Rhen answers. I nod, and Rhen turns around, mug in hand. He sips his coffee, watching me over the mug’s rim. He takes a mouthful before speaking.
“Last door on the right, upstairs,” he says, pointing to the ceiling. I swallow nervously. Am I allowed up there?
“Hurry up. We can’t be late, so finish getting ready,” Rhen says. I nod, gulping the rest of my coffee and setting the mug in the sink before moving toward the stairs. I pass Thane rummaging in the linen cupboard.
“Where are you going?” Thane asks. I stop with one foot on the stairs.
“To see if Raidon has a hairbrush. The one in the bathroom downstairs is gone,” I tell him, and he nods, waving me off and returning to whatever he’s doing.
Walking upstairs, I find a hallway with doors lining both sides. Walking to the end, I find the door Rhen spoke of. It’s the last door before another hallway, which opens up to the landing that overlooks the living room. I knock on the door, not wanting to walk in while he’s getting dressed.
When I get no answer, I twist the handle and open the door to find Raidon sitting on the edge of a massive bed, pulling his black, leather shoes on. The enormous bed covers an entire wall, and I gape at it.
Do they all share a bed? I try picturing them all in it but can’t. I know they are mates, but Thane appears to be the sort of person that likes his privacy.
Raidon looks up as he ties his laces. “Everything okay?” he asks, moving to do the other.
“Can I borrow your hairbrush?” I ask him, not wanting to step into the room. He points to a door, which I see is a bathroom. “Can I—?" I point to the door.
He nods. I quickly rush into the bathroom and find his hairbrush in the holder. I grab it and start ripping it through my hair.
“So, you all share a room?” I call out to him.
“No, this is Thane’s room. We all have our own, but we mostly sleep in here,” Raidon answers before I spot him in the mirror. He stands, walks toward the bathroom, and stares at me in the mirror.
“Thane’s letting you go to work like that?” he asks, his eyes fixed on my breasts.
“No, of course not,” Thane says, coming up behind him and answering before I can say anything.
“Try this one,” Thane says, handing me another blouse. This one is made of a clingy, stretch fabric. I take it from him, waiting for them to step out, but they don’t.
“What are you doing, Zara? Put it on,” Thane growls, snapping me out of my head. Okay, then, clearly, they are going to watch me change. I quickly unzip the blouse and tug it off. Thane takes it while I pull the other one on. This one fits like a second skin, but at least I’m covered.
“Better. And fix your hair,” Thane snaps, about to leave, but he stops, looking Raidon over. He clicks his tongue.
“Where is your tie?” he demands.
“Come on! I’m wearing the damn suit. I don’t need a strangulation device, too,” Raidon says. Thane shakes his head, moving toward the walk-in closet beside the bathroom. Thane presses his lips in a line before clicking his fingers at Raidon, but he just stands there.
“No,” Raidon growls as Thane wraps the tie he grabbed around his neck before using it to jerk him closer.
“Behave. I am not in the mood,” Thane growls, pecking his lips. Raidon rolls his eyes while Thane straightens the tie before walking out.
“Do your hair in the car. We’re going to be late,” Raidon says, grabbing my hand when he spots me watching them. He leads me downstairs and to the garage. I climb into the back seat, jammed tightly between Raidon and Leon.
“What time will he arrive?” Leon asks, glancing at his phone screen.
“At 10 a.m., and we still need to find the pack files,” Thane says, navigating his way through the streets.
“You have a meeting today?” I ask them, wondering who it’s with and if it’s the reason Thane is so irritable.
“Yes, and you will behave. No throwing yourself at his feet, Zara, and keep your damn pheromones in check. I do not feel like fighting this asshole because of your Omega instincts.” Thane states.
I blink, realizing I forgot to take my suppressants this morning. Thane’s eyes go to mine in the mirror, just as Leon sniffs me and licks his lips.
“She didn’t,” Thane growls.
“Yep, she forgot,” Leon declares, snitching on me.
“Fuck, we will be so damn late,” Thane snarls about to rip the car around.
“I’ll be fine. I’ve been around you lot for days. I should have some resistance, right?” I ask.
“Are you sure?”
I nod, and Rhen reminds him we have some de-scenter at the office.
“I mean it, Zara. If you act like a...”
“Omega?” Rhen cuts him off.
Sure, piece of cake. I’ll just switch off my DNA, not an issue! Asshole, I think to myself.
“Not a problem. I hate Alphas,” I say without thinking. I freeze. It’s just an off-hand comment. Stupid word vomit. I declare I hate Alphas, while sitting in a car full of them. Smart move.
Leon chuckles and nudges me.
“You really are trying to earn those brownie points today, aren’t you?” he taunts.
“I didn’t mean…” I shake my head, but don’t bother defending myself. It would be pointless.
“Is that your way of saying you like us?” Raidon asks. “Are we the exception?” he laughs.
“No, now you’re putting words in my mouth. You four are tolerable, barely!” I tell him. “Besides, if I can control myself around Thane, I’ll be fine. No Alpha in this city is as potent as he is,” I say, rummaging through my handbag for my name tag.
“He’s not from the city. He is from the Obsidian Pack, an Alpha-of-Alphas, so stick close and don’t piss him off,” Thane says. I almost throw up at his words.
“Obsidian Pack?” I squeak without meaning to.
“You’ll be fine. We won’t let him hurt you. Anyway, he’s in our territory. He wouldn’t dare,” Thane growls, thinking my fear is for the Alpha’s reputation. He can’t possibly realize my fear stems from the fact that I have this Alpha’s serum in my veins, along with Thane’s.
Thane’s serum should be stronger, since it was the second one I got, plus all the time I’ve spent around him. But how will I handle being between two Alphas-of-Alphas, both of whom my body has been wired to? Thane and his pack are hard enough.
But another thing dawns on me. This Alpha met my sister. My identical twin sister, minus the scarring. He’ll know who I am!