Chapter Seven #2
He’s dressed casually, comfortable in dark jeans and a fitted gray Henley that stretches tight across his shoulders.
Violet trails after him, wrapped snugly in a soft black cardigan layered over leggings, fuzzy purple socks peeking out beneath.
Her short violet curls are wild around her face, eyes alert, sharpened by a combination of caffeine and adrenaline.
I straighten from where I’ve been leaning against the heavy oak table positioned in the center of the room—our makeshift war table. Violet had jokingly dubbed this sprawling library the “war room,” and honestly, it fits better than any other description.
The library itself is impressive—floor-to-ceiling shelves of dark mahogany lined with countless books, leather-bound classics mixed among tactical manuals and outdated maps.
The room smells faintly of aged paper, leather, and something comforting, almost nostalgic.
There’s a massive stone fireplace along one wall, flames flickering quietly, casting warm, shifting shadows across polished hardwood floors and plush velvet armchairs arranged neatly nearby.
Stacks of paperwork, laptops, maps, and scattered notes currently clutter the central table, evidence of how long we’ve all been digging into the ongoing threats around us.
Jex sits in one of the large leather chairs, elbows propped against the table, dressed similarly to Fox in dark pants, though his plain black T-shirt clings tightly to his massive frame.
He looks tired but focused, and the tension in his jaw is clear evidence of how badly he wants this resolved.
I exhale slowly, running a hand roughly through my messy black hair. “We’ve confirmed a definitive location for one of the auction houses,” I say, voice grim. “Romano got solid intel this morning. We’re finally making progress.”
Violet’s eyes widen slightly, but her expression remains steady as she slips into the chair beside Jex, curling her legs underneath her. Fox takes the seat directly across from me, his gaze sharp, wary.
“Good,” Fox murmurs, leaning forward and bracing his forearms on the table. “It’s about damn time.”
Jex nods, glancing over at Violet as if assessing her reaction. She meets his eyes briefly, a silent exchange passing between them before she turns back to me.
“And the rest?” she asks softly, a slight edge of tension in her voice.
She’s strong and stubborn as hell, but I know all of this is weighing heavily on her.
She’s barely slept since we brought her here, even after building the elaborate nest room.
Her worry for Fallon, Odette, and every omega caught up in this nightmare has only grown more intense.
I sigh, sliding one of Romano’s intel folders closer. “Our house is still secure for now. Completely off-grid, buried deep in shell corporations and fake identities. Nobody’s tracked us yet, so we’re safe here—at least for the moment.”
Fox nods thoughtfully, fingers tapping quietly against the polished tabletop. “And the kidnappings?”
I frown deeply, meeting his gaze. “The immediate kidnappings in our area seem to have been shut down, at least temporarily, thanks to Rosetti and Fallon raising hell. But the auctions themselves are still happening—likely using omegas brought in from other regions. It’s a temporary fix, nothing permanent. ”
Violet makes a frustrated noise in the back of her throat, leaning her head briefly on Jex’s shoulder. He instinctively wraps an arm around her, fingers gently threading through her curls in silent comfort.
“Fallon and Romano are moving forward quickly with renovating that apartment building for single omegas,” Jex says, voice low but firm. “They’ll have secure housing and a safe place to land—one less vulnerability for these bastards to exploit.”
Violet’s lips curve into a faint, grateful smile. “That’s good. Really good.”
“And,” I continue, feeling slightly more optimistic now that there’s tangible progress, “Congress is finally feeling the heat. They’re currently fighting to abolish the outdated guardian law—the one that says omegas can’t own anything without permission.
There are just too many omegas on their own these days for that to make sense. ”
Fox snorts softly, shaking his head. “About damn time. It’s insane that it took this long.”
“Still, it’s movement in the right direction,” I say quietly. “We’re gaining ground, even if it feels slow.”
The silence hangs heavy in the library for a moment, the crackling fire offering faint comfort. Violet exhales softly, shifting closer to Jex, her eyes distant with worry. I watch her closely, my chest tightening at the thought of how much stress she’s carrying.
“Hey,” I say gently, drawing her attention back to me. “We’ll get through this, Violet. One step at a time.”
Her gaze softens slightly, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “I know. It just feels like…like we’re running out of time.”
Fox’s expression darkens slightly, a familiar determination settling over him. “Then we move faster. We hit them harder.”
Jex nods, his jaw set with quiet resolve. “Agreed. Whatever it takes.”
The room settles into tense silence once more. We all know Fox is right—things are going to get worse before they get better.
But at this moment, surrounded by my mates and secure in our home, I find myself determined to do whatever is necessary to protect what’s ours.
No matter the cost.
Violet
May 25th
7:03 P.M
“So,” Fallon nudges me gently, her eyes gleaming mischievously as she wiggles her eyebrows, “tell me about you and your mates. Spill everything.”
We’re curled up together on one of the plush, overstuffed couches in her living room, sipping iced coffees while our alphas are off doing what Dare cryptically calls “recon.” According to Fallon, “recon” is actually code for them taking threats and problem assets to what she affectionately calls “The Pit.”
“You probably know as much about them as I do,” I sigh dramatically, swirling my straw through my coffee. “I mean, seriously, I met them for like half a second that night. Ever since then, I’ve been playing catch-up.”
Fallon snickers, nudging me playfully. Her midnight blue hair is piled messily on top of her head, and her green T-shirt and black leggings hug her slim figure.
The happiness radiating from her makes me smile, despite the chaos of our lives.
It’s nice to see her so deeply, ridiculously in love.
It gives me hope—well, mostly hope. Right now, it’s tinged with envy.
“Okay, but Vi—” she lowers her voice, conspiratorial “—I grilled Kingston. Grilled. Like, over-the-coals level interrogated him about your trio of alphas.”
I raise a brow, curiosity piqued. “And?”
She rolls her eyes dramatically. “He gave me nothing. He just said they were good men and trusted them with his life.”
I blink. “Wait. He actually said that?”
Fallon nods, solemn. “Swear on my last cinnamon roll.”
I whistle low. “Coming from Kingston, that’s basically the highest praise possible. He doesn’t trust anyone. I’m surprised he even trusts his own reflection.”
“Right?!” Fallon says, throwing her hands in the air. “So, naturally, now I need the real story. You’ve been living with them. Give me the tea.”
I sigh, shifting to sit cross-legged, my black jean shorts riding up a little as I fiddle with the edge of my oversized shirt. “They’re… amazing , Fallon. Like, unfairly hot, totally overprotective, and kind in ways that are terrifyingly genuine.”
Fallon leans in, her eyes sparkling.
“Dare’s probably the easiest to talk about.
He’s this mix of smooth and intense—like if a thunderstorm learned how to flirt.
His mom lives out in California, and she’s called him, like, every day since we moved in.
I’ve talked to her a few times. She’s sweet.
The kind of woman who already refers to me as my sweet girl, and ends every call with a promise to send cookies. ”
Fallon melts a little. “That’s so wholesome.”
“Right?” I grin. “Then there’s Jex.”
She perks up. “The one with the bedroom eyes and the tattoos?”
I laugh. “That would be him. His parents are... the exact opposite of Dare’s.
Total hippies. Last I heard, they were in Sedona doing mushroom ceremonies and advocating for free-range bees or something.
He loves them, I think, but he can’t keep up with their ‘let the wind guide your soul’ lifestyle. It’s adorable how exasperated he gets.”
Fallon chuckles. “And Fox?”
My smile falters, just slightly. “That’s... a little harder.” I exhale slowly, my voice lowering. “I haven’t gotten the whole story. I know his parents were terrible, Fallon. Like, sell-you-out-for-drug-money bad.
Fallon’s teasing fades immediately, her hand reaching out to squeeze mine gently.
“He’ll tell me eventually,” I murmur. “When he’s ready. I don’t want to push. But I see it in his eyes sometimes—like he’s waiting for the other shoe to drop. Like he still thinks he’s not allowed to have anything good. And that... kills me.”
Fallon squeezes my fingers tighter. “You’re good for him. For all of them.”
“I’m trying to be,” I whisper.
“You are. ” Her voice is fierce now. “They’re lucky to have you.”
I smile, warmth blooming low in my chest. “I think I’m the lucky one.”
Chapter Seven
Violet
May 25 th
7:32 P.M
She nudges me again, eyes sparkling wickedly. “Speaking of waiting…how’s the sex? Amazing, right? Three hot, protective alphas—gotta be mind-blowing.”
I groan dramatically, letting my head fall back against the couch cushions. “I’ve only had sex with Fox so far. Girl. That man has a dirty mouth and a fantastic cock.”
Her mouth literally drops open, her eyes widening comically. “Wait—are you serious right now?”
I shoot her an exasperated look. “Dead serious. It’s been weeks, and aside from Fox and one ridiculously hot kiss with Jex—which, to be fair, melted my fucking brain—nothing has happened. Like, literally nothing.”