Chapter 26
Iremembered next to nothing about putting together Cody’s birthday cake with Bryan’s help.
It filled the day until it was time to leave, and I zoned out for a good portion of the drive to Carter’s parents’ place.
Anxiety hung heavy on my shoulders the whole way, convinced someone would see us and we’d get arrested before ever making it there.
Bryan drove us, the kids in the back seat and me up front.
We’d practiced ducking so I could tell them to hide quickly if there were other vehicles on the road.
Carter and his alphas drove a second vehicle ahead of us and one of them waved out the back window whenever they saw a car ahead so we had time to react.
It was potentially overkill, but it made me feel more secure that everyone took my worries seriously.
Blessedly, we made it to the sprawling property Carter’s parents owned without incident, gliding straight into their garage.
I didn’t properly breathe again until the garage door closed behind us and Riley opened the door leading into the house.
She raced out, catching me in a hug as soon as I got out.
I melted into her arms, letting myself lean into the comfort of my older sister.
I hadn’t gotten this growing up. I’d had to be the older sister to everyone else, and I treasured the brief moments it felt like there was someone to take that burden from my shoulders.
“Come on, let’s get you all inside. They’ve got all the curtains and blinds shut and Levi’s cousin won’t be meeting us until after dinner. We’re just going to park in a driveway about twenty minutes from here, on a property that belongs to friends of Cash’s parents.”
I nodded stiffly and turned to get Nora out of her car seat.
Bryan had already gotten Cody and Paisley out of their boosters.
His anxiety tripped down the bond. Was this the first time he and Riley had seen each other?
I’d been so worried about everything else I hadn’t even taken a moment to consider how uncomfortable this might be for him.
Did he still love her? What a question to be asking after he and I had already bonded.
I knew what affection felt like in the bond from him, but not love.
All I felt was his anxious shame when he looked at Riley, which made me feel guilty, but also relieved that I didn’t have to navigate a situation where a bondmate was in love with my sister.
“Hey there, little lady,” Riley said to Nora. “You were sleeping the last time I saw you.”
Nora buried her face against me.
Riley only laughed. “I see she’s entered the wary-of-strangers phase of toddlerhood. That’s okay, you hang with your mama.”
Cody and Paisley watched us curiously.
I extended a hand to them. “Come meet your Auntie Riley.”
No sooner had Riley dropped to her knees did Paisley launch herself into Riley’s arms. “Auntie! Mom told us we’d get to meet you today!”
Cody was a little more tentative, but slipped himself under Riley’s arm when she opened one to him, my sister hugging both of my children. They had missed out on such a cool auntie growing up.
Bryan stood frozen, like he was waiting for Riley to notice him and unleash some punishment upon him.
I reached for him in the bond, trying to offer some modicum of comfort.
When she got to her feet, still holding Paisley, she finally saw him.
I studied her features, trying to figure out what she felt in this moment.
She looked surprised, but not upset. Even the microexpressions I had learned to read so well at the compound didn’t betray anything. “Bryan, hey.”
He waved back awkwardly.
“You look better,” she said matter-of-factly. “Being away from Bruce agrees with both of us, I guess.”
“It definitely does. I, um, I wanted to tell you before anyone else did, but Maisie and I…”
“We bonded,” I finished for him.
Riley whipped back to face me. “You what?”
“Bonded,” I said again, though I knew she heard me clearly the first time. “Don’t be mad at him. We’re scent matches, I had a heat flare, and he was very sweet and respectful.”
Riley scrutinized me, but whatever she saw in my eyes must have satisfied her. “Okay, I appreciate the heads up. We can talk about it later, but for now, let’s get everyone inside.”
We followed after her, Carter’s mom meeting us first, pulling everyone into a hug in turn. “Oh, honey, I’m so sorry for everything that’s going on.”
“Junie,” one of her alphas called from the other room, “You’d better come see this. Maisie, too, if that’s her who just arrived.”
“Go ahead,” Riley said. “I’ll watch the kids and introduce them to my pack.”
I followed June into the other room with Nora, Paisley and Cody still enamored with their new aunt. A news report was on their big screen TV and my blood ran cold at seeing Paul’s face.
He was crying.
“What message would you have for your omega if she were watching this?” the interviewer asked.
He turned his tear-streaked face to the camera, as if he knew I was watching him right now.
“Maisie, baby, you have to come home. You’re not well.
Don’t let this sickness keep you from your life.
Whatever you’ve done, we can get past it, just bring the children home safe.
Please don’t hurt them. We’ll get you the help you need. ”
I didn’t even realize I was growling until Carter looped his arm around my waist and the sound abruptly stopped.
“What a jackass,” Carter grumbled. “Trying to drum up sympathy by spouting lies.”
I had always hated Paul, but him insinuating to the world that I would hurt my children was more than I could handle. Furious tears slipped down my cheeks.
“What the fuck is wrong with this guy?” Colt asked. He stepped up behind me and I leaned against him, needing the extra support to remain upright.
“He’s way too smug in the bond,” Bryan said, his cheeks pale. “He knows exactly what he’s doing.”
The interviewer took over again. “I’m so sorry you’re going through this, Mr. Decker.
For those of you just tuning in, those words were from the father of the missing children and first bond of the alleged kidnapper.
Searches are underway for Maisie Decker and her three children.
By all accounts, she took the children to school and never returned home. ”
Images of myself and the children appeared on the screen, but I couldn’t bear to witness Paul dragging my name through the mud, so I spun around, burying my face against Colt’s chest.
June looked like she was ready to commit a murder on my behalf. “What a miserable human being. Well, he’s not going to get less miserable, so why don’t we enjoy the evening as best we can? A crisis is always handled better on a full stomach.”
I couldn’t argue with that, though I was probably too queasy to eat much.
Bryan leaned against my back, planting a kiss on top of my head.
The quiet comfort between two alphas was exactly what my nervous system needed.
Their combined scents filled my nose, amber, sandalwood, and honey steadying me with every breath.
“When are the girls’ birthdays?” June asked. “We can host their parties, too.”
“Not for months. Paisley is in August and Nora is in September.”
“Well, I’ll be sure to pick out presents worthy of my grandmother title when the time comes.” She beamed at me where I peeked at her over Colt’s arm.
Her son and I had chosen each other, and apparently that was all it took for her to adopt all of us.
Even before that, she had come through in ways I had never imagined someone might for an acquaintance and three little strangers.
She reminded me of my mother in some ways, in that they both carried the same core strength, except June had been raised in love and freedom.
Would my mother have turned out like her if she had never met my father?
Not for the first time did I wish my life had been simpler. Having a mother-in-law like June while I was navigating early adulthood would’ve been amazing.
We all went into the dining room where my oldest children were already perched on their chairs, Riley sitting next to Paisley and Cash on Cody’s other side, chattering away.
“Mama,” said Cody, “can I talk to Grandma or my aunties and uncles for my birthday?”
I chewed my lip, pressing a hand over the burner phone rested in my pocket. “We could call Uncle Theo, but we won’t be able to get in touch with the others right now.”
June sent us to one of the spare rooms so we could talk privately. I hadn’t talked to Theo since our first check-in and I knew Cody would be missing him. He and Paisley followed me up, and I carried Nora.
I dialed and he answered right away. “You okay?”
“We’re still good, minus the news report.”
“Yeah, we got the alert. Absolute bullshit.”
“Cody wanted to talk to you for his birthday if you have time.”
“Can’t deny the birthday boy. Put him on if he’s there with you.”
I put the phone on speaker, passed it to my son, and his face instantly brightened.
He got his birthday wishes and apologies that Theo wasn’t there to take him fishing.
Paisley and Cody chattered away at their uncle, telling him about the dogs and the horses, their new rooms, and the alphas we lived with.
They only talked for a few minutes before Theo had to cut things short.
Cody passed the phone back to me and I took it off speaker.
“I see you’ve been busy,” Theo said with a sweet laugh.
“Definitely busier than expected, but it’s been really good. We’re all happy here. I don’t think I’ve ever felt safe like this before.”
“You deserve it. Keep me posted when you find out more about the police bullshit, okay?”
“I will.” We exchanged “I love yous” and I had about two seconds to collect myself before the kids were pulling me toward the door to eat.
Nora didn’t shy away from June when she held out her arms. “We’ll take care of the kids while you eat. You need a little extra peace.”
I let her take my baby and get her set up in the high chair.
The dining table was full of food and it all smelled incredible.
Mashed potatoes, pork chops with mushroom sauce, grilled vegetables, and fresh salads.
It was completely surreal to see other people so instantly willing to care for my children.
They loaded up their plates, cut everything to size for them, and seemed to genuinely enjoy the interaction.
With nothing to do myself, I sat down across from them.
Riley introduced her alphas: Cash and Cooper, whom I had met before because they were attached to Riley at the hip in school.
Levi was the veterinarian Riley had told me about when she’d visited the compound, and the one whose cousin I would be meeting tonight.
Dakota was an equine therapist, which fit perfectly with the calm demeanor he exhibited.
This dinner had the same amount of people I was used to back on the compound, but the energy was so radically different.
Here, laughter and conversation were a constant.
At home, only the grown alphas really talked at meals, the rest of us expected to stay quiet.
My kids were already growing beyond that expectation thanks to Carter’s pack being so thoughtfully engaged with them.
It was a relief to know that while some things would always be carried, others could be shed so they could enjoy a normal life.
Riley’s alphas looked at her with so much adoration. I had known she was happy, but it was another thing entirely seeing it in action. She deserved to be loved fully.
The bond bubbled with soft affection. I glanced in Bryan’s direction. His gaze darted away from me. I thought he might be watching Riley like her alphas, but he was watching…me?
I slipped my hand into his out of sight, offering a soft smile. He gave me a tentative, nervous one in return.
His attention from me only strayed when Carter’s father started asking him for his opinion on some business matters.
He sounded so sure of himself when he answered, little whispers of pride flickering in the bond.
Good. He should be proud of his expertise.
Carter’s father obviously trusted Bryan’s skill, and I listened with half an ear, though I didn’t understand most of what they discussed.
Closer to the end of the meal, June excused herself from the table, crooking her finger to beckon me to follow her into the kitchen.
“How are you feeling, honey? You look a little more settled now.”
“I am. Thank you. Everyone has been so lovely.”
“I’m glad. We really want this space to be a sanctuary for you.” She pulled the cake Bryan and I had made out of the fridge and set it next to a package of birthday candles. “This looks wonderful.”
It didn’t really. I wasn’t a cake decorator by any stretch of the imagination, but I had tried to get the chocolate icing smooth and we had done our best to cut fresh strawberries into little star shapes to adorn the top.
Nerves picked up in my stomach. Dinner was nearly over, and this was one step closer to having to speak to the police.
June tucked nine candles into the surface, lighting each one, then gestured for me to carry it out, already loudly starting to sing happy birthday.
Everyone else joined in as we rounded the corner.
Cody’s eyes lit up. I set the cake down in front of him as the song ended, kissing his head and whispering another happy birthday in his ear.
He blew out the candles, a look of utter joy on his face. I wanted my babies to always look like that. If I could convince the police of the truth, then maybe my children would have a chance to grow up this blissful. If not…Well, it was better not to think about that part.