Chapter 93
The police showed up fairly quickly to talk to me and cart John off.
Not only is his pack banned from all omega centers, but between trespassing, falsifying their identities, and assault charges—which I am totally pressing—he won’t be going anywhere for a while.
The officers who took my statement kept glaring at him, and I hope they’re none too gentle when they do book him.
I also hope his holding cell has a really drunk guy that barfs on him… repeatedly.
A couple hours later, I’m finally celebrating my newfound freedom.
Leaving campus on a whim is a new thing for me, but that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy it.
What I don’t enjoy is for my first “unsupervised” outing to be meeting the family of my surly new pack leader for dinner.
I haven’t even met Moose’s family yet, and he actually likes me.
Though Josh and Billy were really nice, I have some hope that this entire group won’t have a stick up its ass.
From what Paul says, Al is the baby of the group, so they’ll all be Paul’s age or older.
Al puts his parents’ address into the GPS, but we take Greg’s minivan, because we can all fit in it easily, except for Spence, whose head is pressed to the ceiling, and the drive takes almost forty-five minutes, but then again, Los Angeles traffic sucks.
At least Greg is more used to driving in it, since both Paul and Al are white knuckling the oh-shit handles when we arrive.
Al told us that his mom and five dads all live outside the busy part of the city, and that his three brothers are currently staying with them.
When we pile out of the van, I’m expecting the tiny omega that comes flying down the stairs and practically tackles Al to the ground.
I am not expecting the five giant hotties that circle around them shortly afterwards, giving manly pats on the professor’s back, or the three that must be his brothers, one of whom is nearly as big as Moose.
It’s messed up that I thought they were all going to be basement dwelling Morlocks, but what else do you expect when you hear that men over thirty are living with their parents?
Instead, these guys look like they could bench press Al with one hand. What the actual hell?
The leanest of the three saunters around us, looking smug as fuck, and I kind of want to slap him just to wipe that smirk off his face.
I growl instead, stepping in front of Spence and Greg.
Nobody’s gonna look down on my guys, but Al’s related to them and Paul’s older than me, so he can fend for himself.
Instead of the scoff or laughter I’m expecting from the guy, he looks like he just saw the world’s cutest puppy, and he hunkers down in front of me.
It takes all of my considerable willpower not to push him over while he’s balanced on the balls of his feet like that.
“Oh my gosh, you are just the cutest little thing I’ve ever seen.
Hey Rob, Carson, get your asses over here, she’s adorable.
Holy shit, you’re jacked, it’s like my brother mated a little Hitmonchan!
” I’m expecting this guy to let out a squee of excitement if this keeps up.
Thankfully, the other two shuffle over immediately.
One of them actually looks really familiar, not because of his resemblance to Al, though that’s there too, but he has a big bushy beard as well.
And while Al’s nose is a little big, it’s also straight.
This guy looks like he’s been hit in the face several times.
The bearded one looks at me closely, a low rumbling growl coming from his chest. “What the hell happened, little bit? You look like you lost a fight. The other guy better be dead.” He glares between Paul and Spence, who steps forward protectively.
My voice comes out shaky and tired. “Scent match gone wrong. He’s not dead, but I probably managed to crack a couple of ribs after Spence threw him and Al kicked him in the head.
” The big rumbling alpha nods approvingly, looking between Spence and Al, who’s still surrounded by what I’m guessing are his parents.
Greg’s voice intrudes into my thoughts, breaking the tension.
“Hitmonchan is a guy, that species is always male. What the hell, man? I mean, you could have compared her to Bea, they have the same haircut.” And I’m lost. I got the original reference because of the old cartoon I watched, but now it’s spiraled into stupid territory.
I lean into Moose since he isn’t geeking out like my beta, only to find him shaking. I glance up at his face. He looks starstruck as he stares at the big bearded version of Al. In fact, they all have his dark hair and pale skin, just like the omega that tackled Teach earlier.
“You…You’re you!” Thank you, Moose, so eloquent.
What? His finger is pointing straight at the guy and the other alpha blushes, which is weird as fuck.
I look over at Al, but he’s still trapped in a circle of people that are probably his parents.
Paul just waves me over and we both stare as our big packmate practically trips over his own tongue trying to talk.
“Carson ‘the Runner’ Rodriguez. Oh my gosh, your touchdowns are amazing! You’re Al’s brother?
Janice’s son? How didn’t I know that?” My big alpha is fangirling over this poor man, and now I’m not sure which one I need to save.
The smirky one from before straightens and walks with Greg towards Paul and me with his other brother following closely behind.
He has the loose-limbed grace of a dancer, and I’m not sure what I’m expecting, because the arms that are exposed by his tank top sure don’t look like they’re for picking up ballerinas.
“Hey, sorry about that. I’m just excited for Al after…
everything. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Ben, Al’s oldest brother.
This is Rob, he’s next. The blushing idiot over there and second youngest is Carson. ”
Paul is staring between them with a critical eye like he recognizes them, but considering his line of work, I don’t think that’s a good thing.
Still, he holds his hand out, meeting each of their palms in turn for a quick shake.
The clean cut but bulky one watches Paul in turn before his head drops and he shuffles in place, casting a cautious eye over at Spencer who’s still making the other alpha blush like a schoolgirl.
“So, you ever watch rugby or fighting tournaments?”
He’s watching Paul closely, waiting for a reaction, but my oldest alpha just shakes his head.
“Nah, man. That’s my younger brother’s thing.
I’m not much of one for sports, or television in general.
Never played either, my long ass legs are good for running, but I’m not a huge fan of getting hit, and the idea of some big bastard nicknamed ‘the refrigerator’ chasin’ after me for a ball is pretty damned off-putting. ”
Spencer guffaws loudly, and I turn to see him staring at us now.
His voice booms across the space. “No, Paul won’t watch any sports stuff with me.
He’s more into camping and shit. Full-on outdoorsy, go live in the wild with the squirrels and nature and stuff.
I played football in college and his brother Josh never missed my games except when he was on his honeymoon, so that’s ok.
” My big guy is grinning at us as he scrutinizes the two alphas standing nearby.
“Lemme see.” He points at the stockier of the two.
“Clearly rugby, no offense.” The stocky alpha just smiles, and Spence turns to the other one.
“Fighting huh…shoulda guessed. You look built for it, like sho—Sarah, here. Plus the way you move…mixed martial arts? Your upper and lower body are pretty balanced; otherwise, I would have said kickboxing, but you definitely haven’t been skipping arm day.
” We all stare at my big himbo, confused at his observation.
Even Ben looks mildly impressed. Spence’s ears blush, and he reaches up to run a hand through his hair.
“Oh, I work at a gym…I mean, I already said I played football, and I got my teaching degree, but while I wait for a job to open, I also do personal training stuff…so…” The poor guy trails off under the intense stares of all three of Al’s brothers.
I guess I’ll have to be the one to ask the obvious.
“So…how did three sports guys with, let’s be honest, large-sized alpha fathers, end up with Al?
” I smile, pointing at the small alpha watching us.
“Was there a hospital mix-up or something?” Ben snorts while Al looks affronted.
“I’m just teasing you, Teach. You know I love you!
” He looks shocked for a moment and I have to replay my words in my head to realize what I just said and why he looks so awkward now.
The omega who got to Al first comes over and pulls Spence into a hug. “Oh, my dear, it’s so good to see you in person, finally. Thank you so much for keeping us updated on your lives. It’s so good to see Alistair so happy…even if he won’t talk to us himself.”
She throws a glare over her shoulder at her youngest son before making her way to Paul.
“And Paul, it’s nice to meet you, after all this time.
Thank you so much for taking care of my baby.
” Paul nods and blushes a little as the omega moves on, standing in front of Greg and me.
She’s taller than I am—full figured and really pretty with long, dark, silver-streaked hair pulled back in a braid.
Her alphas follow closely behind, forming a half circle around us.
“And you must be Sarah and Greg. Oh, it’s lovely to meet you both. You look like such a sweet girl.”
Greg chokes, trying to hold in his laughter, earning a head shake from Paul and a brief admonishment from Janice.
“Oh, come now, dear, all omegas look sweet. It’s part of the package that allows us to be tiny, vicious hell-raisers.
” She says it with such a straight face that even I choke a little at the statement as she turns her attention to the entire herd of alphas around us.
“Now, come inside my darlings, we have a late dinner ready, and news for Alistair’s pack.
Sarah, you must tell me all about you, Spencer has been so excited for the last few weeks, but I’m sure there’s a lot more you can tell me about yourself.
” She steps between Ben and me, her hand coming to hover a few inches over my shoulder and leading me inside.
“I’d be more than happy to hug you too my dear, but I don’t want to make you uncomfortable. ”
Well, what can I say? I appreciate both her honesty and tact.