8. Bea
Icould have throat-punched Taryn for getting involved and volunteering me to make food for the firehouse.
The other part of me was grateful.
I’d been working up the courage to message, and I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. It felt too monumental, like I was finally giving in and moving past my trauma, and that scared me too much.
Could it really be that easy? That I simply give in to these guys and everything would be fine?
No. It couldn’t be. I’d learned that the hard way.
Shaking the thoughts off, I sprinkled paprika over the top of the deviled eggs, then sealed the container. I’d finished the potato salad earlier this morning. I may have even gone the extra mile and made my best extra-fudgy brownies.
My hands shook as I applied my makeup and ran some curl cream through my still-wet hair from my shower. I dressed for myself more than them, putting on a cute outfit that made me feel confident before I faced the pack I had avoided.
With no more excuses, and knowing I needed to swing by to join Holt, I finally headed out.
When I reached the shop downtown, I instinctively went to grab my phone, only to find it missing. Shit. I’d left it in my apartment…because, of fucking course I had.
It was going to be one of those days.
Oh, well. I’d just have to run home and get it after this.
I forced myself to climb out of my car, gathering my containers as I did. Holt was parked in front of the shop already, cowboy hat on and arms crossed as he leaned against his truck.
The alpha raised an eyebrow at me as I approached. “Are you ready to deliver this?”
“No,” I grumbled. “Of course, not.”
“Where is that brave omega we all know?” he teased.
I shot him a look as he took my dishes and loaded them into the car. We drove across town in silence, but it was a short trip.
The large, brick building loomed ahead of us and I wanted to throw up. I was so nervous.
They must have been washing the trucks today. A river of water and suds streamed down toward the gutter, and my three scent-matches were washing it, shirts off, muscles on full display. Muscles I knew far better than I should.
“Oh, this is perfect. I can’t wait to watch you squirm,” Holt said in a low voice, chuckling to himself like this was one big show. “Get out of my truck.”
I huffed but climbed out. He gathered most of the food, waiting for me to take mine before walking up the driveway.
“You boys look like you’ve worked up an appetite,” he called out. “The welcoming committee has arrived.”
They all looked over, Corvin’s eyes locking on mine. His gaze trailed over me, not in a checking-me-out way, but more caretaking, making sure I was unharmed since the last time he’d seen me. I nodded once as if to reassure him, and he finally flashed me a smile.
I had a feeling those were rare with him, and my breath caught in response. Butterflies bloomed in my stomach. I swear my body was a traitor.
And he was far too attractive for his own good.
They all were.
“There’s my Goddess,” Apollo said as he came over, giving me a wink and retrieving the containers from my hands. “You cooked for me?”
“For all of you,” I corrected. “Holt did most of the heavy lifting. I just made these.”
His eyes lit up as he looked at the top container, which held the brownies. “You made my favorite dessert.”
“Mine, too,” I admitted. “I’m a sucker for anything chocolate. Add something fudgy like brownies, and it’s over.”
“Exactly,” he said. “My one true weakness.” He patted his perfectly sculpted abs. “The only carbs I allow.”
“Quit hogging our girl,” Ezra said, giving me a wink.
I swore they were trying to kill me.
“Thank you for bringing this. We appreciate it.”
“No problem,” Holt chimed in for me. “I’d be lying if I didn’t say I volunteered with ulterior motives, though,” he admitted. “Bea is family and I had to make sure you were upstanding citizens.”
The warning was clear in his tone. My scent-matches immediately sobered up.
“She may be new to us, but we would do anything in our power to protect her,” Corvin promised.
They shared a look that felt too long and far too weighted. Holt didn’t seem to mind, and the guys easily rose to the challenge. When they all finally looked away from each other, I could breathe again.
“Well? Did we pass?” Apollo asked Holt as he flashed me a wink.
“We’ll see,” Holt said before heading for the truck.
“That’s my ride,” I said quickly. “I should probably head back to my car. I forgot my phone at home.”
“You’re not going to stay and enjoy lunch with us?” Corvin asked. I hated how disappointed they all looked. “Looks like we have more than enough to share.”
“As much as I love Holt’s cooking, I can’t. I do have to work today,” I said.
I was running again. Fuck. Someone should smack me.
If my besties were here, they absolutely would.
Loud, blaring alarms started going off around us, forcing me to clamp my hands around my ears. Corvin cursed, closing his eyes in defeat for a breath before barking out orders.
“Suit up, boys!”
“I guess lunch will have to wait,” Apollo said. “You could join us back here after the call and we could eat then.”
This was my chance to prove that I was strong enough to stop hiding. I knew they were being patient, but would it really hurt to get to know them? We could take it slow. They were more than willing.
“Send me a message when you’re done, and I’ll be here,” I promised before I could second guess it.
Corvin leaned in, brushing a kiss over my temple before rushing to pull on his suit. That was my cue to leave.
I hurried back to the truck where Holt was waiting.
“Saved by the bell, huh?” he teased the moment I was in the car.
“Shut up,” I muttered.
His deep rumble of a chuckle echoed through the car before he put it in gear. Thankfully, his teasing stopped as we drove back to the shop.
I poked my head in long enough to call out to Dani, who was working the front desk for me. “I left my phone at home. I’m going to rush back and get it, then I’ll be here.”
“Sounds good,” she said, giving me a salute before turning back to the customer she was working with.
I couldn’t hide my smile as I headed back. I’d made actual plans and somehow they felt less scary now. I’d survived my first non-heat encounter with them. They were just as sweet and attentive, and the way Corvin made sure I was alright was comforting.
That was something Cameron had never done. It was never about me. Not truly.
I had to stop thinking of him and comparing them to him. They were different men in so many ways, and the idea of being in a pack was oddly comforting. They would keep each other accountable, and they’d keep me safe if I gave them the chance.
My bottom lip caught between my teeth as I thought about them, heading up the stairs to my apartment.
I froze at the top of the stairs, eye landing on two figures standing right outside my door.
One was smaller and hunched in on herself. The other was like looking in a mirror, or rather, a mirror into an alternate reality.
My sister was my opposite in almost every way. She was always a free spirit, her layered skirts and flowy tops giving her a boho vibe. She kept her hair much longer than mine, twisted into long dreadlocks that definitely needed better maintenance.
She looked tired.
“Dee?” I said out loud, more a question than a greeting.
Yes, our parents did name us Bea and Dee. To be fair, that might be why she started going by Divine, which to me sounded more like a stripper name than some divine grace she seemed to think she possessed… but who was I to judge?
Who was I kidding? I was always judging.
It was hard not to when she had been unreliable and expected me to fix her mistakes our entire lives.
Bracing myself for whatever she was here to ask for: money, a place to stay, who knows with her.
Standing right next to her was my niece. She was fourteen now, and just as beautiful as I imagined. My chest ached at the thought of all the years I’d missed out on, but unfortunately, I could never have stayed behind.
My life would’ve been raising this beautiful girl, and perhaps in many ways that would’ve been better for her. But when my parents spent their entire lives making excuses for Dee, what else could I do? She was always the one who needed them, and I was the one expected to stay strong.
“What are you doing here?” I demanded, my expression hard as stone as I stared down my twin.
Dee pouted like a child, her bottom lip jutting out. Her bronze skin was painted with too much heavy makeup for that to make any impact.
God, she looked rough.
My heart ached for her, too. For the sister I wished she would be. But I knew better than to let my walls fall.
“I tried to call,” she defended, “but I could hear it ringing inside.”
“That’s why I’m home,” I muttered. “I forgot it this morning. But calling while you’re already here is not exactly notice.”
“You’re right,” she said. “I just… can we talk inside?”
Knowing there was no easy way around this, I unlocked the door and gestured for them to follow me inside. I tried to smile at my niece, but she wouldn’t even look me in the eye.
She had a backpack on her back, but other than that, they had nothing else, which was at least reassuring.
“Why are you here?” I said again the moment the door closed behind us. “I have to get back to work.”
There was no way I was offering them drinks or anything else. All I needed was for her to tell me what she wanted.
“Well, you see, I got a job interview. It’s… it’s nearby,” she started to say. “I can’t exactly take her with me, now can I?”
“Why not?” I questioned. “Where is this interview?”
“Oh, silly me,” she said suddenly, as if I didn’t ask a question. “Apparently, you’re not the only forgetful one. I forgot my purse in the car. Just give me one second.”
She practically ran out of the room then, slamming the door behind her.
You’ve got to be kidding me.
Phoenix and I sat in silence for about thirty seconds before she turned to me, frown on her lips and defeat in her eyes.
“You know she’s not coming back, right?”