11. Warrick
Our breakfast location had been left up to me—not sure why they thought I would have the pulse on the restaurant industry.
Yeah, my family was a major player in this field, but I didn’t like the politics of it all.
Lucky for them, I did know of a few spots that would be perfect from doing my market research before opening the bar.
The Giddy Grill was known for their top-notch food and setting, making it the perfect place.
I called and asked if they had seating for all of us, knowing it was a smaller restaurant.
My hope was to get a table on the patio that looked out over the city community garden.
They promised to try, but no matter where we sat, the food would be killer.
“Our little kitten is perfect, yah?” Vili commented as he sat there smiling like a fool.
Perfect was an understatement. I’m not sure a more stunning woman could ever exist. Bailey-Rose was pure sunshine, and her smile was infectious to the point I’m not sure anyone could be upset around our Omega.
Of course, the fact she was a petite walking color explosion with her hair and choice in personal aesthetic all created such a vibrant life that I was itching to know better.
I wanted to learn everything there was to know about the Omega who has appeared in our lives.
“We are one damn lucky pack,” I agreed. “Shit, V-man, I don’t even know what to do with all the feelings that are happening right now.
All I want is to snuggle with her in bed all day, but then I also want to know everything she hasn’t done yet and check them off the list. Hell, if I could go on national television and tell the world that she’s ours, I would. ”
“Yes, I have big feeling too. She makes my heart explode,” Vili agreed, then turned to look at me with a worried expression. “Why would people say she is broken? I see nothing wrong with her.”
“I don’t know what it’s like in Numoland, but here in Preidon, people see anything less than perfect as wrong.
It sounds like the Matchers wouldn’t take her because they don’t want her birth defect to be passed on to any children she might have.
It’s sick and disgusting, but Preidon has always cared more about appearances and wealth than anything substantial,” I explained.
“You know, sometimes I question why we didn’t look at living in other countries. ”
Vili shifted in his seat as he started to fidget with the spinner ring on his finger. “Preidon, like all places, has bad things, but they are less than other countries.”
We learned pretty quickly that Vili didn’t like to talk much about life back in Numoland.
If we ever asked, he’d change the subject or give us basic answers that didn’t really tell us much.
From what I was gathering, he didn’t fit into the social circle his family lived and worked in, so they sent him away under the pretense of starting this international branch.
Well, it was their loss because Vili happened to be one of my favorite people.
I could always count on him to join me in having a bit of fun or exploring new places.
Windermere was the largest city in Preidon, providing us with lots to do.
Bailey-Rose’s family lived in the upper-crust part of town where gated communities or estates with large properties were.
It made it feel less city but kept them close to all the major corporations they ran.
The Giddy Grill was on the northern side of the city, so it took us longer than it should have, being a weekday, but that was the city life for you.
There wasn’t parking close to the restaurant, but the parking garage wasn’t too far, and it was such a lovely day, a walk would be nice.
Hell, anything would be nice if our cutie was doing it with us.
The sight of Bailey-Rose leaping out of Gareth’s Hummer and the owner of said Hummer rushing forward to catch her was priceless.
She would have been totally fine. It wasn’t that far to the ground, but the look on Gareth’s face—priceless.
With a grunt as she crashed into Gareth, the valiant knight kept our darling Omega safe from the perils of her exit strategy.
“What are you doing?” Gareth demanded as he placed her on her feet.
She looked up at him, perplexed, and I just watched and waited to see how this would go down. It could turn one of two ways. I was betting the reaction Gareth was about to receive wasn’t what he thought it would be.
“Getting out of the car,” she answered. “What did you think I was doing?”
Gareth rubbed a hand on the back of his neck as he studied her. “Leaping out of a car like that isn’t a smart choice, baby girl. What if oil had been on the ground, or you landed funny and twisted your ankle?”
“I’d pick myself up, dust off my ass, and remember to be more careful next time. Why are you making this seem like I almost stepped off a cliff?” Bailey-Rose challenged with hands on her hips.
It took everything in me to tell him to shut the hell up and not say what I’m sure he was about to say. Gareth always meant well, but many times what came out of his mouth made him sound like an asshole.
“Bailey, your safety and well-being are now at the top of my list of things to worry about. As one of your Alphas, it’s on me to keep you in one piece,” Gareth pointed out.
With a quiet groan, I palmed my face, knowing that statement was going to fly like a lead balloon.
“On you? Is that so?” Bailey-Rose snapped. “So the fact that I’ve been looking after myself for the past twenty-five years means nothing? That now I have you five, suddenly I’m a delicate flower too fragile to even be breathed on?”
“Bailey, tha—” Gareth started to speak, but our sweet, gentle Omega snapped out a hand, cutting him off.
“No, you listen. On second thought, all of you better listen up because I will only have this discussion with you once,” Bailey-Rose warned, looking each of us in the eye.
“I might have a heart defect that limits me in many areas of my life. However, what it doesn’t make me is a woman who needs five men to protect her from the world.
I’m well aware of my limitations… they get thrown in my face every day.
What I will not tolerate is the men I’m supposed to be living with for the rest of my life fearing every move I make.
So much life has been taken from me, don’t make me feel like you’re stealing more of it by trying to be overprotective. ”
Feeling it was the safest course of action, I raised my hand. Bailey-Rose shifted her mesmerizing dual-colored gaze to meet mine. She studied me for a moment, then let out a sigh, waving for me to speak.
“I agree with everything you just said, but I do have one question,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm even though panic was beginning to rise.
“You said the men you’re supposed to be spending the rest of your life with.
Are you telling us that if we can’t agree to get a handle on our protectiveness, you won’t be our Omega? ”
This had everyone snapping to attention, eyes fixed on the woman before us who held our fate in her petite hands.
Bailey-Rose dropped her gaze and wrapped her arms around herself like she was trying to keep from falling apart.
“I can’t live my life with people who only see me as broken, fragile, and sick.
There is more to me than a broken heart.
I deserve to be loved just like anyone else, and if my one scent match can’t do it, then I’ll make a life on my own in peace. ”
Pain ripped through my chest at the thought of her walking away.
It sounds crazy, seeing as we’ve only known the woman for half a day, but that is the power of finding your match.
She is the person who was meant to complete my, no, our life, to fill the void no one else ever could.
For her to think we wouldn’t be able to love her unendingly means either we fucked up or that behind the bright colors and smiles, our precious Omega has been tricked into believing she’s not worth loving.
Unable to simply stand there staring at her, I rushed forward, dropped to my knees, wrapped my arms around her waist, and buried my face against her stomach.
“No,” I rasped. “Don’t, don’t you dare give up on us that fast. Bailey-Rose, you are the most perfect being to walk this planet, and we aren’t worthy of you being our Omega.
Please, please give us a real chance to show you who we are and learn how to be a family together. ”
Her arms circled my head, returning my hug.
It gave me hope we hadn’t fucked this up too badly.
We took for granted how happy and joyful our sweet, tender-hearted Omega seemed and didn’t bother to question it.
She’d balked this morning when I carried her downstairs.
Gareth said the matter had been handled, so I didn’t question it, but I should have pressed him about what happened.
“You’re right, Warrick,” my sweet angel shared. “My fear of letting you guys get too close only to throw me away makes me lash out at you. While I do really fear being locked away in a glass cage, I shouldn’t just expect you guys to be the ones who will do it.”
“Rosie, being rejected or hidden away aren’t the only two realities you face,” Ulysses pointed out.
“As new as this is for you, it’s the same for us.
With the flip of a switch, you gained five Alphas, but we also gained an Omega.
Sure, it might seem we have the simple part of this, but there are five of us all feeling the possessive high that comes with finding your scent match.
It’s one of the reasons they give us courting leave.
This way, we have a chance to settle into a new way of life without having to deal with the normal chaos of life. ”