26. Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Six
Fox
The peel of the doorbell sends the hair on the back of my neck, shooting straight up. Vivi’s face drains of color, making her so pale that she might as well be a ghost. Confusion swirls within me, but my instincts shove me forward, ready to protect my precious mate at all costs.
“W-what did you do?” she whispers, her eyes wide as her mother re-enters the room with a huge smile plastered on her face. Before the words leave her lips, I tug her into my arms and drop my nose to her neck. Her cupcake scent is off, a clear sign of the turmoil roiling through her, but I’m humbled when she relaxes instantly against my chest.
“Oh, I just invited a friend,” her mother says briskly, shooting a look at Mr. Milone. “But you were supposed to come alone, Vivi. So, this is all your fault.”
She drops that vague little bomb and begins walking to the doorway.
What the ever-loving hell?
But before I even get a chance to voice my concern, Ty lets out a deep growl and steps straight into Mrs. Milone’s path.
“You will tell us who’s at the door before you open it,” he demands. Dominance rolls off him in waves, making her blanch. Tension swirls around the room as they stare one another down—Ty snarling and Mrs. Milone sneering.
“Gladly. It’s the man Vivi’s going to marry,” she says, holding her head high and taking another step forward to go around him. But there’s nowhere for her to pass because Dash has stepped forward to flank Ty. Hell, yes—teamwork, baby.
“That seems unlikely, since we’re all already inside,” Dash chuckles, crossing his thick arms over his chest. The protruding cords in his neck, along with the pulse ticking in his jaw, are the only outward signs that our pack Alpha is pissed.
My packmate’s scents turn bitter with rage, and Vivi lets out a little whimper of protest.
“Please, Mom, tell me you didn’t invite me here to ambush me with Marcel.” Vivi’s eyes fill with tears, and her body trembles at the thought. Had she come here alone, what could have happened?
That tiny weasel of an Alpha is no match for our pack. But a lone omega?
Ding. Dong. Ding.
The doorbell chimes again, and the anger in the room ratchets up another notch.
“Of course I invited him, Vivi,” she says, swinging around to confront the shaking omega in my arms. “You have to see that he’s the right choice. Marcel is a good man. He has a great job, and he’ll be a wonderful father. Not to mention, he’s already so in love with you.”
“Marcel’s not in love with me. He’s stalking me, Mom. That monster tried to force bond me during my heat,” Vivi sobs, a tear trickling down her cheek. Tugging her harder against my chest, I wrap both arms tightly around her, and Ty steps forward to rub the shiny trail from her skin.
“No tears, baby girl. We’ve got you,” he promises, moving forward to sandwich her between us.
“That is a ridiculous allegation!” Mr. Milone sputters. “We’ll settle this here and now and choose who my Vivi girl will marry. After all, it’s long past time for you to give up this ridiculous cheerleading thing and settle down. I want to be a grandpa before I’m dead.”
That can be arranged.
His joke falls flat, and a growl rumbles from deep in my chest. I take my gaze off Vivi for a moment to glare at him, but somehow, in all the confusion, he slipped past us. The stately Alpha grabs the door handle with a flourish and swings it open.
“No!” Vivi yells, but it’s way too late.
Marcel appears in the doorway. His smug smiling face makes me see red.
Die. Die. Die.
“Thank you so much for having me over,” his shitty voice bellows out, making Vivi squeak with terror. “I’m looking forward to putting this silly misunderstanding behind us. Get everything cleared up so Vivi and I can finally settle down together.”
He walks into the house like he owns it, clearly familiar with her parents. The smile falls from his face when he spots us. An angry sneer replaces it. But I can’t pay attention to his bullshit. Vivi’s heartbeat pounds against me, slamming like a jackhammer as fear takes over. Ty and Dash’s rage beat at me through the bonds. But I push them out of my head. None of that matters. My world narrows, blurring until she’s the only thing in it. Ignoring everyone else, I spin my little flier around and hoist her into my arms. Vivi crushes her face into my neck, breathing hard. She’s more fragile than I’ve ever seen her, and it tears me up inside.
These people don’t deserve her goodness. They don’t deserve another second in her presence.
“Fuck this,” I bark, jerking my head toward the door. Dash and Ty form a protective shield in front of me, shouldering Marcel aside. The smaller Alpha flies into the wall so hard that when he crumbles to the floor, there’s a large dent where his body hit it. He releases a growl from his new home on the ground, ordering us to let go of her.
“She’s my omega. You can’t take her,” Marcel whines like a crabby toddler throwing a tantrum. He kicks his leg out, trying to trip me, but I’m ready and step around his pathetic ass.
“Move an inch, and you won’t live to see tomorrow,” Ty promises, leaning down with a maniacal grin. “Please, just give me a reason…”
But we don’t stop until the crisp night air fans our skin.
“You’re okay, little flier. It’s all going to be all right,” I croon, heading straight for the SUV.
Her parents follow us outside, shouting for me to stop—but they can go to hell for all I care. As far as I’m concerned, they won’t ever see her again…unless she wants to.
“Wait. Fox. Put me down,” she requests, and I can’t deny her anything. My instincts are screaming to jump in the car and rush from this place. But I don’t do any of that. Though it takes all my control, I honor my omega’s request. Letting go of her is the hardest thing I’ve ever done.
As she slips from my grasp, Dash slings an arm around her waist, bolstering her. But she doesn’t need him. Her chin comes up, jaw clenching as she gathers her strength. Love fills me for this kickass woman.
“Mom. Dad. I have no idea why you want me with Marcel so badly. And honestly, I don’t care. But please hear me. I. Won’t. Ever. Marry him,” her voice rings clearly across the front lawn. And as each word lands, her mother absorbs it like a personal blow.
“Sweetheart, we only want what’s best for you,” her father answers, tugging his wife against him. “And cheer isn’t it. You’re too old for this—it’s time for you to put your degree to good use and settle down with a good Alpha. Being an athlete isn’t the right profession for an omega honey.”
“It was cute when you were in college. But it’s an embarrassment now. All of my friends’ children are married and having babies,” her mother pipes up.
Vivi folds in on herself for just a moment as her parents’ words hit their mark. And I’m so fucking done with this. Striding forward, I place myself between them. These assholes don’t deserve to see her.
All of my Alpha instincts surge to the surface, and a primal roar rips from my chest. Her parents’ eyes widen, and Mrs. Milone’s hand comes up to clutch the pearls hanging around her neck. If I weren’t irate, it would be funny.
“Shut the fuck up,” I snarl at them. “She’s your daughter, not your accessory. It’s not her job to give you grandchildren. It’s your job as parents to love her for who she is.”
Turning my back on them, I find my beautiful omega right behind me. Her silver-blue eyes scan my face, and she bites her lip.
“Let’s go, little flier. Please. Before I kill one of your parents,” I beg, holding my hand out. A sigh of relief gusts from me when she places her fingers in mine, locking them together like the missing pieces of a puzzle.
“Thank you,” she mouths silently before we walk hand in hand to the SUV. The further we get from her family, the more her usual, sweet cupcake scent returns. I just hope we can fix this.
Time to put this clusterfuck behind us.