Chapter Forty-One
Gwyn
T he ride on Carl’s motorcycle back to my café distracted me for a bit, the vibrations just as intense as I remembered, but the sight of the building brought back the jumble of thoughts and emotions I’d been trying to keep contained. The guys had done a good job painting over the graffiti, no sign of it left, but the memories were there.
Would I ever have something untainted by my past?
Carl waited for me to swing my leg over the back and stand before getting off himself. I’d tried to hide my wince, but I was still sore from him claiming me in his were-form, and I felt his concern even if he didn’t ask for the hundredth time if I was okay.
Surprisingly, David’s truck pulled in just moments after us, parking beside Carl’s bike. The smirk on Carl’s face and the way David grinned as he got out made me suspicious, but it wasn’t until I opened the door to the kitchen that I remembered I’d ordered my tables and counters to be delivered the day prior.
I gasped, my hand flying to my mouth at the shiny stainless-steel gleaming in the room that had been empty when I’d last left.
“What? How?”
Glancing between the two who had followed me inside, I saw David pull a familiar set of keys from his pocket.
“You left these and your phone when this beast hauled you away the other night. Luckily I was bringing in a delivery at The Hangout when a truck showed up, and I didn’t think you’d mind me letting them in.”
I bit my lower lip to fight the tears that wanted to come. There were still holes for the sink and appliances, but just the tiny step forward made the kitchen seem like it was ready.
“Oh, thank you so much! I can’t believe I forgot about the delivery.”
David’s eyes darted to Carl before coming back to me.
“You might have been a little distracted.”
I couldn’t help laughing as I moved forward to trail my fingers over the cool surface. They were so shiny and perfect, but I still couldn’t wait to see them covered in plates ready to serve.
“The tables?”
The counters came with installation, but the dining tables had to be assembled, so I knew they would have come in boxes. Instead of finding boxes though, when I walked into the front of the building at David’s direction, I found the tables already set up and placed against the wall, waiting to be put in their places. There were no chairs yet, but I could already picture people sitting around them, resting their arms on the pretty blue tops as they ate with one hand and held a book in the other.
“Who?”
I doubted the tables had been hard to put together, but David wouldn’t have had time to do it if he’d already been at The Hangout preparing to open when they were delivered.
“Blake and Jason drove by while these were being brought in and asked me about it when they came by last night. They convinced me it would be nice to have everything already assembled when you came back, and the whole group ended up pitching in to help.”
My chest ached with the way my heart swelled, the tears spilling over. I’d gone from fearing alphas and feeling alone in the world, to not only having a new mate, but having others who cared enough to step in and help just to do something nice.
Carl’s arms came around me, his chest warming my back and I blinked to stem the flow of tears.
“This is what pack’s for. We take care of each other, and you’re one of us now.”
He murmured the word next to my ear before placing a kiss on my neck, reminding me of the new marks there. I hadn’t wanted to cover them when I got dressed, but all I’d had at Carl’s house was the clothing I’d worn when he took me there.
“I need to go shopping.”
I felt his surprise before the soft chuckle vibrated into my back.
“They don’t need anything in return.”
I spun around, throwing my arms around his neck.
“Not for them. For me. For clothes, so I can show off your mark to the world. But I do need to say thank you tonight.”
His rumble and the nudge I felt against my belly told me exactly how he felt about my plan, and when his mouth descended on mine I forgot David was there until he cleared his throat. Jerking back, my cheeks heated.
“Well, I guess I’ll see you guys tonight. Or whenever. You’ve got your keys back so I’m going to go.”
He seemed as embarrassed as I felt, but Carl only laughed as David retreated back through the kitchen.
“We’ve got church tonight, so the guys will be late,” he called after the beta.
Carl had explained that church meant the club was having a meeting, and I’d figured it would happen at The Hangout, so I was confused when we pulled up at an actual church after having gone shopping and then back to his house for me to change. Of course, he hadn’t let me undress myself, which had led to other things that meant there was no time left to shower again before rushing out. I was self-conscious about the scent of sex on us, but it didn’t seem to bother him as he took my hand and pulled me through the door at the back of the little white building.
There had been a few other motorcycles outside already, their owners gathered in the pews at the end of a long, dark hall. I spotted the omega I’d seen at the bar with the alpha who had the scar across his throat, as well as Patch, the blond who’d followed me home what felt like a lifetime ago. There was a dark-haired alpha with a curvy female who could only be another omega based on the pink crescent scar on her neck, and the tiny bit of tension I’d felt along my spine eased knowing this was considered safe enough for other alphas to bring their mates.
“Are the others on their way?”
Carl kept me against his side as we closed the distance between us and the others. Anthony had hauled me out a few times in the early years to brag about having an omega, so I had to fight the urge to drag my feet and resist joining the group. The steady flow of support I felt in my chest helped me keep my chin up instead of dropping my gaze to the ground.
“Yeah. Just a small group since we have groups out on patrol.”
Carl nodded as we drew to a stop at the pew in front of the other pairs. Patch was farther away, which helped soothe my instincts since it was easy to scent that he was unattached.
“Everyone, this is my mate, Gwyn. Gwyn, this is Sebastian and his mate Brooke,” Carl said, gesturing toward the couple I recognized from the bar. Brooke gave me a smile as Sebastian dipped his chin. “Danger and Charity,” he moved on to the next pair, the curvy omega giving a little wave with her smile while her alpha murmured, “Pleased to meet you.” I was curious about his name, but Carl kept going, pointing to the big blond two rows away. “And our medic, Patch.”
I’d barely opened my mouth to say hello when voices echoed to us through the hallway we’d used, more alphas spilling into the church’s sanctuary. The way I stiffened and pressed into Carl’s side was instinctive, but I tried to remind myself Carl had said these people were pack. I didn’t quite grasp the concept since I was human, but it seemed to be the equivalent of extended family. It helped that they all showed our group a bit of deference, leaving space around us as they claimed empty spots at other pews.
After a few minutes it seemed that everyone who was coming had arrived, and the quiet talking that had been going on stopped when Sebastian rose.
“I’m sure you’re aware of the recent incursions by the Purists. The target is Carl’s mate, but even if it wasn’t one of ours, this is our community, and they can’t be allowed to come into our territory without consequence. Something has to be done to put a stop to it.”
I cringed, trying to make myself as small as possible at Carl’s side as I waited for the accusations to be hurled my way. It was my fault they were dealing with this, but no one even looked my way. Carl was trying to push reassurance through the bond, his arm around me as possessive and protective as ever, and after a while the tension slowly drained away.
“We should return the favor and take things to them. Bust the windows of a few of their houses, and scrawl filth on their walls.”
The young alpha who spoke was one I’d seen before, the fierce look on his face almost distracting me from the scars running down his arms from beneath his shirt. I knew that look, that uncompromising, burning hatred, and I wondered what had happened to leave that kind of damage on a shifter. His and Sebastian’s scars were obvious, but I couldn’t help wondering how many of these alphas bore wounds caused by men like the one I’d been tied to for so long.
Carl tensed beside me, leaning forward as if he was going to stand in response, but Sebastian beat him to it.
“We are better than that. We will defend ourselves and those too weak to defend themselves, but we will not retaliate in a way that could hurt innocents. We will not start a war that’s bound to spill into the streets.”
I swallowed hard, realizing how much was really at stake. Carl had already mentioned that they’d had issues with the Purists before, but I hadn’t considered that this problem would affect more than my son and I, and the few alphas he went to for help to get what he wanted. I should have known lives besides mine would be at risk, but I hadn’t had names and faces to put to that vague concept until that moment.
Looking around at the determined men scattered throughout the pews, I started shaking my head.
“This is too much. It’s too risky. Carl,” I turned to look up at him, my eyes pleading as I clutched his shirt in one fist. “I’m not worth this. The café isn’t worth this.”
His growl was a vibration bleeding into my side and the hand clinging to him. I felt his disapproval even before the frown on his face registered, but he moved too fast for me to flinch away. Instead of the slap instincts had prepared me for, his touch on my cheek was gentle.
“You are worth it. You deserve every moment of happiness, and if I have to take down every Purist in the city to bring you peace, I’ll do it.”
My whine was almost inaudible, leaving a throat tight with strain as I fought tears.
“You being in danger could never bring me peace. These men shouldn’t risk themselves for me either. We can do what you offered in the beginning and disappear. If I’m not here Adam has no reason to keep coming back.”
I saw the sadness on his face just as well as I could feel it inside. He shook his head before dipping it to brush a kiss to my lips.
“It’s too late for that. This is bigger than you and him, and it wouldn’t end even if we left.”
The first tear fell, and I knew more were coming, but I was distracted by the way Carl frowned before reaching into his pocket. He had to put a little space between us to maneuver his hand into the denim, sending a chill down my spine even before anger poured through the bond between us.
Motion around me made me realize others were checking their phones, some of the ones who’d been seated rising to their feet. My heart tripped over itself before taking off at a gallop, my breath frozen as I waited to find out what had happened.