17. Lyra
Nothing about this meeting had turned out to be what I expected, and the looks on everyone’s faces told me they felt the same way. My mind was spinning with so many questions and trying to keep up with a situation I only understood half of.
“Would one of you like to tell us what the hell is going on?” Fawn demanded, crossing his arms and tapping his foot. “Don’t even try to tell me some crap about explaining it to us when we leave, because if I’m going to stand in front of the media next to that man, I want to know why.”
I was shocked to hear the irritation and harsh tone of Fawn’s words being directed at our Alphas. While I agreed they had some explaining to do, I wasn’t sure this was the best way to handle the situation.
“Fawn…” I started to say, but he rested a hand on my arm and shook his head.
“I’m sorry to put you in the middle of this, angel, but we both have the right to an explanation. This meeting might have started out about our pack having two Omegas, but it turned into something much bigger,” Fawn reasoned, giving me an apologetic look.
Eli rubbed a hand over his face with an irritated growl. “I should have expected this and waited for Jonathan to join us, but he had a court appearance and couldn’t get out of it. Fawn’s right, though. This is about a situation that has nothing to do with either of you. It’s my fault you were blindsided, and I should have told you the same day I told the others.”
“What?” I blurted, looking between Eli and Tanner. “Are you saying that Fawn and I are the only two who don’t know?”
Both men nodded, and Tanner looked incredibly uncomfortable with the whole matter.
“Apology accepted,” Fawn said, then gestured for Eli to continue. “Now hurry up and spill the tea so we don’t have to pretend we’re having an orgy to explain our absence.”
I wasn’t sure if I wanted to smack Fawn or laugh about the fact that was his go-to plan. However, the threat did the trick, and Eli gave us the basic breakdown of what happened with his sister. At one point, I had to cover my mouth to keep from gasping in shock at the revelation the ex-boyfriend’s mother was a Scent Matcher.
“The lawsuit I have against her is for harboring a fugitive and abuse of power for covering up what happened to the first Omega as well as with my sister,” Eli explained. “None of it was directed at the Scent Matcher organization as a whole, which is probably why I didn’t think they’d try to pull a stunt like this.”
“Let me get this straight. Mr. Noble wants us to join him for a press photo op to prove you’re not going after his company?” I questioned.
“In a nutshell, yes,” Eli confirmed. “His hope is that doing this will keep the public from turning on the Scent Matchers and see it was simply one bad egg out of the bunch.”
All of this was becoming too much, and I leaned against the sink, pressing my palm to my forehead. Memories of the days after my fathers died and the media frenzy that followed was not a time I wanted to remember or experience again. If we went out there and told the world we were a pack blessed with the rare situation of having two Omegas, they’d never leave us alone.
“I-I can’t do this,” I whispered.
Eli pulled me into his arms and started to purr, letting the sound offer me comfort that no words could. “I’m so sorry, Lyra. I never expected something like this to happen. It kills me that I got everyone involved when that was the last thing I wanted. Unfortunately, I’ve put our pack in a position where we’re stuck between a rock and a hard place. Either we do this press appearance and deal with unwanted attention for a little while, or we leave without saying a word. If we go with the latter choice, the media will hound our pack every waking moment until they get their pound of flesh. Doing this means we get to control the story instead of them digging into our pasts to find the story they’re looking for, even if it’s not true.”
Clinging to Eli, I tried to calm myself and stop the shaking. He was right. If we didn’t give them something, they would create a story that would sell paper. “Okay, but I don’t want to speak,” I said, accepting the lesser of two evils.
“That’s perfectly fine. I got us into this, so I’ll deal with them,” Eli assured me, pulling back so he could kiss me. “I’m so sorry, my petal. If it were anyone but my sister, I would pull the lawsuit and forget this ever happened.”
“No, I understand that, and I might not like them dragging us into this, but what that woman did was unforgivable,” I shared, nuzzling into his hand that rested on my cheek. “The way you protect those you love is one thing I admire about you.”
Eli’s whole expression softened, and I saw just how much it meant to him for me to say that. “How I deserve to be this lucky, I’ll never know, but I don’t plan to question it.” He kissed me again before turning to face the other two. “Shall we get this over with?”
With his arms wrapped around Tanner’s waist, Fawn watched us with a sappy expression and nodded. “I just have to say you two are so fucking cute together. God, I love seeing people I care about so in love,” Fawn said with a little sniff as Tanner nuzzled his face in his Omega’s curls.
“Don’t get all sappy. You know how easily you cry, and then you’ll have puffy eyes for the camera,” Tanner warned affectionately.
That had Fawn snapping out of his melancholy mood and rushing over to the bathroom mirror. “Oh, thank fuck I did a full beat today.” He then turned to me and unzipped a pouch I hadnt noticed him wearing. “Here, let me add a little more color to your cheeks and lips so you don’t look like the walking dead on camera.”
Before I could argue, Fawn was blending out a cream blush on my cheeks with his finger. With the same blush, he tapped it on my lips before taking out a clear gloss. Instead of putting it on me, he applied it to his lips, grinned, and cupped my face. Fawn dived in for a kiss, pressing our lips together for a moment, then pulled back with a dramatic-sounding muah.
“You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to try that with someone,” Fawn announced, chuckling to himself as he turned my head to face the mirror. “It really worked too.”
Sure enough, my lips were slightly glossed, my cheeks looked rosy pink, and then he pulled down my hair so it fell in soft waves over my shoulders.
“Perfect, now we don’t have to use the orgy excuse. No one could blame a person who wasn’t expecting to be on camera for a little primping,” Fawn pointed out.
“What about us?” Tanner asked, but his smirk told me he was kidding.
Fawn grabbed the man by his jacket and pulled him into a kiss with a lot more tongue than ours had been. “There, now you have some gloss too.”
Tanner burst out laughing as he cuddled Fawn to his chest, kissing his Omega breathlessly. “You sure about skipping the bathroom orgy, Fawnie?”
The Omega’s eyes were glazed over with pure enjoyment, but the question had him snapping back to reality. “Don’t tease. You know I have zero issues with public sex or getting caught, but we have to respect Eli and our angel. We’ve already been here too long.”
“All right then, let’s do this,” Eli decided, taking my hand and leading the way back to Mr. Noble.
When we arrived at the elevator, Duncan was back and looked none too pleased. “Is there anything else you require, or have you made Mr. Noble wait on you long enough?”
“Duncan,” Mr. Noble scolded. “My apologies. Duncan is rather overprotective for a Beta. However, if you’re ready, the press is waiting for us in the lobby.”
“After you,” Eli answered, gesturing for the man to proceed.
On the elevator, Eli tucked my arm through his, ensuring I was close by his side. Leaning down, he whispered. “If I have to step up and talk to the reporters about the lawsuit, I want you to go to Tanner. This is my fight, and I plan to keep it that way.”
I nodded, squeezed his arm, and braced myself as the doors opened. Flashes of light from the cameras and shouting hit us the moment we stepped into the lobby. A podium had been set up, and security was holding the press back from rushing us, but it was still overwhelming. Mr. Noble smiled warmly and waved, greeting the frenzied mass.
Without any sign of hesitation, Mr. Noble approached the podium. “I am so pleased to share this day with all of you. I’m sure you’re wondering why I called the press here today, and I’d like to start by saying it had nothing to do with one of our Scent Matchers being served with a lawsuit. I trust our legal system, and I don’t plan to stand in the way of getting to the bottom of this situation. If Mira Chambers is found guilty, then I will be the first person to thank Mr. Eli Thatcher for bringing light to this matter. However, that is not the reason for you being here.”
Mr. Noble turned and waved for us to come closer, a radiant smile plastered on his face. Eli positioned us so we were next to Mr. Noble, but Tanner and Fawn were behind us, keeping them out of reach. I’m sure the average person wouldn’t notice the distance we were keeping, but Mr. Noble did. A slight twitch appeared near Mr. Noble’s left eye, but his expression never faltered.
“Allow me to introduce you to the first pack in known history, which has two Omegas who are matched not only to each other but every member in their pack,” Mr. Noble announced and started to clap, which then had the reporters clapping excitedly. “My father always told me it was important to take the time to celebrate the magic found in the world around us. Regardless of what is happening in our lives or the views we might have, one thing we can all agree on is the joy of a happily matched pack. It’s through the hard work of good people and our organization that we can each experience this just as this pack has.”
The roar of people cheering and clapping at Mr. Noble’s words was deafening. I wanted to cover my ears and run, but I didn’t. Eli placed his hand over mine, stroking his thumb against my skin, giving me his full support. My mind tuned out what was being said as I tried to picture myself anywhere but here. I hadn’t realized Mr. Noble had called Eli forward until I was kissed on the temple, and Eli handed me off to Tanner.
Instead of keeping me by his side, Tanner pulled me to his chest, loosely clasping his hands in front of me. This allowed him to support and catch me if needed, but it looked like a loving, tender moment between Alpha and Omega to the audience. Fawn took my hand and kissed the back of it, giving me a wink as he wiped the gloss off he’d left behind. Having the two of them acting completely normal helped to bring my anxiety down to a more manageable level. I didn’t want to be here any longer than was necessary, but I wasn’t going to have a panic attack like I feared.
“Mr. Thatcher, is it true you’re filing this lawsuit on behalf of your sister?” a reporter asked.
“I am not permitted to speak about the lawsuit or those involved. However, that information will become public record if this matter is taken to trial. We will just have to see how Mrs. Chambers responds to the matter,” Eli answered, easily navigating the question. “Thank you, Mr. Noble, for taking the time to invite us here to celebrate this happy moment, but I’m sure you’ll all understand how eager our pack is for our courting leave.”
Taking the cue, Mr. Noble thanked us for sharing our blessing with the world and ended the conversation. The reporters erupted, desperate for someone to answer their questions about the lawsuit. None of them gave a shit about our pack having two Omegas. They wanted all the dirty details to twist into something more exciting for readers. With the help of security, we were escorted out the back, where our car was waiting. Never had I been more thankful to get into a vehicle than now.
I was utterly exhausted. Slumping in my seat, I groaned at the thought of returning to work and trying to get anything done. All I wanted was to curl up in bed and take a long-ass nap. I wouldn’t even argue if any of the guys wanted to join me for said nap—they probably needed it as well. Now I knew I was exhausted if I was dreaming about having an Alpha curled around me, their purring lulling me to sleep. Granted, it was a fantastic daydream, but I had a feeling they wouldn’t just assume they could be that forward, which meant I had to ask.
Why on earth did asking for something so simple feel equal to asking your boss for a raise?My therapist would tell me it was because I feared rejection. Well, doesn’t everyone?
“Starlight, are you okay?” Tanner asked, combing his finger through my hair.
I opened my eyes I hadn’t realized I’d closed to find Tanner squatting in front of me. “Yeah, just worn out. Today’s been a rollercoaster of emotions, and I’m drained.”
“I get that,” Tanner said with a smile. “Are you hungry? I know Fawn and I haven’t had any lunch. Do you think eating would help?”
A yawn hit me before I could answer, and it was one of those giant yawns that could make your jaw pop. Tanner chuckled. “So adorable,” he murmured, sliding his arms under my legs and back, scooping me up.
Tanner then took my seat, settled me in his lap, and tucked my head under his chin. I was going to argue and tell him he didn’t need to treat me like a child, but the second he started to purr, all protests were forgotten.
“Just rest, starlight. You’ll always be safe in my arms,” Tanner assured me as he rested his cheek on my head and held me as he purred.
With his warm, smoky, vanilla apple pie scent and the rumble deep in his chest, I didn’t stand a fighting chance. My eyes closed as my hand gripped his shirt as if I were afraid he’d leave me while I slept. It made me realize how badly I craved to trust this feeling I had around these men I was matched with. Even though I didn’t know them all that well, there was a sense of safety I’d never gotten from the men in my previous pack. Was it possible I’d never truly be happy if I hadn’t stumbled into their lives? Could an Omega feel their needs were met if it wasn’t from their pack? Had I forced myself to believe a lie that would leave me half alive and always searching?
Did any of that matter now that I’d found my pack?
No, my heart whispered like a gentle sigh of contentment.
I was right where I belonged.
When I woke,I knew I wasn’t in my home but in someone’s bed. The overwhelming sweetness of sugar-coated strawberries caused me to guess it was Fawn’s. I shifted, not willing to open my eyes just yet, but when I felt an arm nestled between my breasts tighten, my eyes snapped open.
Fawn was sleeping next to me with his hands holding mine against his cheek, looking so pure and sweet. Eli was wrapped around Fawn in such a protective manner it made my heart ache to see. The need to shield those he cared about was so strong he couldn’t even fight the urge as he slept. It was nice to see Eli with a relaxed expression as he lay there, his nose buried in Fawn’s pink curls. I reached out and brushed a lock of hair that had fallen forward from his normally perfect-looking hair.
Instantly, Eli’s gaze was locked on me, but the second he realized it was me, he relaxed and sighed as he lifted his head. “How are you feeling?” he asked in a low voice.
“Better. I really needed to recharge after everything,” I answered. “How did we end up here?”
The person behind me nuzzled past my hair to kiss my neck, letting his nose trail up the side of my neck to my ear. “You refused to let me go, starlight,” Tanner informed me. “We got back to Infinery, and I was going to pass you off to Eli, but you didn’t like that plan. So it was decided we would bring you back to our house so you could rest as long as you needed. Fawn was pretty wiped out as well, and one thing that always helps an Omega is to be close to their pack.”
“Lyra,” Eli said, his voice turning serious as he pushed up to see me better over Fawn. “I need you to be honest with me. Have you been dealing with withdrawal and not saying anything about it?”
Unable to hold Eli’s gaze, I focused on Fawn, reaching out to gently trace his features. “Yes,” I admitted.
I was abruptly pulled away from Fawn, flipped on my back, and Tanner loomed over me, his expression a mix of concern and anger. “Why?” he demanded. “Why would you risk your health by staying silent about something like that? Lyra, are you aware of what can happen if an Omega goes too long without being around their Alphas once the bonding process has started?”
Stunned at his reaction, I couldn’t speak right away. Tanner just waited, his chestnut gaze searing into mine as if he could read my mind if he tried hard enough.
“I-I was afraid,” I admitted.
Tanner’s brows snapped together. “Of us?”
“Yes… and no,” I said, trying to figure out how to explain things without having to rip open old wounds. “I’m terrified that if I let you in and we bond, I’ll end up a shattered mess that can never be fixed.”
“I’m sorry, starlight, I don’t understand. Why would one lead to the other?” Tanner pressed.
My voice froze as my throat tightened, thinking of the husk of a human my mother had been after losing my fathers. There had been no life left in her. She’d become a robot fueled by anger and pain. It had taken me a long time to forgive her for how she’d treated me and for leaving me behind to face the world on my own.
“Do you want me to tell him?” Fawn asked.
I turned to see Eli sitting with his back to the headboard and Fawn curled up in his lap as they watched. Both of these men knew parts of my story, Eli more so, but Fawn didn’t need to hear my pain to understand it. Fawn might have chosen to leave home at a young age, but it doesn’t mean his struggles were any less because of that difference.
“Fawnie, I know you’re trying to help, and I appreciate that, but I need Lyra to be the one to explain,” Tanner commented, not taking his eyes off me. “No matter what you say, starlight, it won’t change the fact you and I are a match. I know people argue if it’s real or just biology, some deep-buried instinct we’ve never evolved from. None of that means shit to me. Do you want to know why?”
Curious, I nodded.
Tanner leaned down and let his lips caress my neck, his warm breath making me shiver with need. I wanted to feel more of his touch, so I bared my throat to him and let out a soft whine as my hands reached for Tanner. He understood what I was looking for and yanked off his T-shirt, leaving his chest bare. My breath was shaky as I let my hands run along his chest, feeling the contours of his body.
“Tell me, starlight, do you really think biology is behind what you’re feeling right now?” Tanner murmured in my ear. “I refuse to believe that it’s by chance you were born with the perfect combinations of cells that resonate with mine. The way I feel right now, breathing in your scent and basking in your touch, tells me this was no accident. How else can you explain the instantaneous understanding that you’re mine and I am yours if not for a soul-deep connection?”
As Tanner spoke, I pulled him down so he was now covering my body with his. I even hitched a leg up to hook around his body, keeping him trapped against me. The only thing that could make me feel even better would be to have his cock buried deep in my pussy locked together by his knot. God, how I missed sex.
“Lyra, when was your last heat?” Tanner demanded, his sultry tone gone.
“Hmm?” I asked, my brain not comprehending his words.
Tanner pulled back and went so far as to get off the bed. “Lyra, you’re perfuming like crazy. Are you close to having a heat?”
Frowning, I pushed myself up so I could see Tanner better. “Where’s my phone? I need to look. I keep track of them on my calendar.”
Fawn scrambled out of Eli’s lap, presumably in search of my phone. Both Alphas watched me with heated looks, and finally, my brain snapped into focus. “Oh God, I shouldnt be going into heat. I have another month at least before it should start.”
“How many do you have a year?” Eli asked through gritted teeth.
“Three, sometimes four. It changed after my surgery,” I blurted, then slapped a hand over my mouth.
The room went still at my words, but the tension was broken as Fawn returned with Zachary and Pascal in tow.
“Hey, guys…” Zachary started to say, but his words tapered off so he could take an inhale. “Holy fuck, Lyra, are you going into heat?”
Fawn leaped onto the bed and offered me my phone. I quickly opened the app and discovered my calculations were off. My heat was due in two weeks, but I’d been warned as an Omega, meeting your scent matches can throw everything into chaos.
“I-I need to go,” I stammered and rolled off the bed.