Chapter Twenty-One
Ihate the thought that Vic has given Amity false hope.
I want to berate him. To yell at him for letting my three year old think that this place could be our forever home because how could it?
While I have said to both Cal and now Vic that I want to see where this thing goes between us, I am still holding out reservations.
I haven’t even had a proper conversation with Olis yet.
It feels like everything is moving too fast and I am still driving in the slow lane. I need it all just to stop for a moment.
A moment just to think about what the fuck I am doing with my life.
Am I really entertaining these Alphas for anything more than a lap dance when I have sworn off their entire designation for as long as I can remember?
I take a moment to question my sanity as I finish the meal in front of me.
It's impossible to not admit that Olis is a damn good cook. It's been a long time since I have had a meal that is as good as this.
While I have never let Amity or I go hungry, my cooking skills are far from that of even a diner chef.
I guess I do make a mean grilled sandwich if I am honest with myself.
Not like that's a necessarily hard thing to do.
A bit of ham, tomato and cheese on two slices of buttered bread. Maybe a bit of onion if you are feeling frisky and then you have a delicious savoury meal.
Well, Amity has never complained so I take it for the win that I think it is.
Once I finish my plate, I glance up to find Olis looking at me. There is this vulnerable but desperate expression on his face that surprises me.
I tilt my head to the side and give him a questioning look, one that earns an adorable smile in return.
God, he is fucking handsome.
“Did you enjoy your meal?”
The low timbre in his tone has a chill running down my spine. Instead of replying verbally, knowing that I can’t fully trust myself to speak, I nod. That earns me another smile I can’t help but savour.
Ugh, he isn’t playing fair. The worst part is, I don’t think he even realizes it.
None of them seem to.
A knock on the front door has Cal straightening, an excited look on his face. He doesn’t say anything, pushing himself away from the table and makes his way to the front door.
I look up at Olis, his eyes already on me and ready to give me the explanation I need.
“I hope this isn’t too soon but our sons and their Omega are here.”
My eyes bug out of my head and I shoot out of my seat. I race over to the kitchen sink, turning on the tap and immediately bringing some water to my face to wash it, terrified that some of my lunch may still be on my face.
I roll off what feels like a ridiculous amount of paper towel as I dry my face and hands. Throwing the rubbish in the bin, I straighten my clothes, frowning as I look at them.
Are these clothes okay?
God, I can’t believe they are springing me meeting their kids on me like this. These clothes are hardly suitable for meeting family. Especially now that I am sans panties.
Fuck, what am I doing here?
Hands land on my shoulders and I’m turned around to face one of the Alphas. Olis’ face is a mask as he gazes down at me.
“Breathe, sweetheart. In and Out.”
I nod and do what he says, the panic ebbing away from me before it can start.
“Olis, I’m not ready to meet your kids. Fuck, look at what I am wearing! I look like trash! I…”
Lips meet mine, cutting off anything I was about to say. My borderline hysteria is swallowed down as Olis claims me.
His cinnamon and apple scent invades my senses as though I had just stepped into a bakery. The warm and comforting taste has me melting further into his body, the hard planes of his chest welcoming me into him.
I groan as he pulls away from me, wishing I could just bring him back for more.
He doesn't deny me for long, resting his forehead against mine. I take shallow breaths as I allow myself to come back down to earth.
“I will only tell you this once, Valley. If I have to tell you twice, I will spank you until what I say sinks in.”
My breath hitches and I feel my panties moisten at the threat of punishment. It shouldn’t have elicited that kind of reaction out of me, but here we are I guess.
“You are so fucking beautiful, even the goddess of beauty herself is jealous of your perfection. Even if your clothes were threadbare and filth, you would still shine the brightest in the room.”
He brings a hand up to my face and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear.
“So. Fucking. Beautiful.”
His voice is a borderline growl as he accentuates each word. A shiver runs over my body as he continues to hold me against him.
“Do you hear me, Valentina? Or do I need to take you aside and punish you?”
I feel as my entire body reacts to yet another declaration from Olis. It feels as though my entire body lights up.
He steps away from me, chuckling quietly at my reaction to him.
I’m not given any kind of reprieve as Conall walks back in with three younger Alphas and a pretty little Omega with bright red hair.
All four of them look around my age, maybe a year or two younger if I was to really guess.
The Omegas eyes catch with mine, the beautiful green eyes seemingly to light, the kindness and excitement near-exploding as she walks towards me.
“Hi! I’m Kennedy. I’m so excited to meet you. Cal has told me so much about you.” She smiles, pulling me into her arms.
I hesitate for a moment but quickly relax into the embrace. Although, I do find Cal and lock eyes with him. He just shrugs his shoulders and looks at me with a not so innocent look.
The little Omega eventually pulls away from me before she steps back from her Alphas.
I startle as I look at the younger replicas of Cal, Vic and Olis.
They must be able to read the surprise on my face as they chuckle before Cal and Vic’s younger twin takes a step towards me. He holds his hand out in greeting.
“Hi Valentina, it's so lovely to meet you. I’m Theo and these are my pack brothers Jax and Ledger.”
I shake his hand hesitantly before he steps away. Jax and Ledger nod their hands at me but remain beside their Omega, unable to keep their hands off her—or each other it seems.
There is an awkward silence for a moment but we are shocked out of it as Amity walks up to Theo and taps him on the leg.
“You look like my grumpy cat; just not as old.”
I smack my hand over my mouth, a laugh threatens to break through my fingers. I look over at said ‘Grumpy Cat’ who just has an adoring look on his face looking down at my daughter.
It only lasts as long as the room is silent though as the once contained laughter overcomes us. Conall is bent over, clutching at his stomach as he looks up at his twin.
“Not only did Firefly call you grumpy, she also called you old,” he snorts.
Vic levels his brother with a warning look. “I wouldn’t hold any delusions that I am the only one that she thinks is old, Conall.”
Conall stands up straighter then, an almost concerned look on his face ignoring his sons who are still laughing at Vic’s expense.
“You don’t think I am old do you, Firefly?”
Amity looks up at the Alpha, assessing him for a moment before shrugging her shoulders. “You are a little bit old.”
Cal gapes at my three-year-old, a mixture of looks on his face. It only seems to set the younger pack off even more.
After each of us settle down, Vic leads us all to a sitting room where Amity squeals at an overflowing toy box one of the guys must have set up there for her.
I shake my head as I look at who I know is the offender.
“You know you don’t need to buy all these toys for her. She has enough.”
He just shrugs his shoulders, not bothering to answer me. I know that my complaints will just fall on deaf ears. That Alpha is stuck in his ways.
Even though the sitting room could easily fit my entire apartment inside of it, being the last one in the room, the only option to sit is right in between Olis and Vic.
I sigh as I make my way over to the spot on the couch and mentally brace myself as I sit between the two Alphas.
Even though I have slowly got used to being around Alphas, I still can’t help the spike of terror in my chest at being surrounded by them.
I try to take a few calming breaths but curse as I get a whiff of both Alphas together.
A mixture of Vic’s earthy scent with Olis’ cinnamon apple is a dangerous combination that has the Omega I have tried to keep under wraps, threatening to come out.
I close my eyes as I continue to breathe them in, praying that my suppressants don’t fail me now.
Eventually I reopen my eyes and come face to face with a concerned Cal.
“Are you okay, Little Devil?”
I nod but that doesn’t seem to convince him. This man may come across as carefree and a joker but there is more to him than meets the eye.
He is able to see right through me. To see that I am freaking out for a magnitude of reasons. That my post traumatic stress is rearing its head violently, threatening to unravel any kind of progress that I had made.
I yelp in surprise as Conall lifts me out from between his two pack mates—who both quickly protest—and walks over to the chair he must have vacated.
With little care for the multiple eyes on us, he sits down in the arm chair, settling me in his lap.
Turning my head, I look at the Alpha in surprise. He just shrugs his shoulders and turns his attention towards his sons.
“So boys, you mentioned that there was something that you needed to tell us?”
The entire room is silent, mirroring the shock I feel after what was an out of character moment for Cal. Eventually one of the younger Alphas clears his throat, drawing my attention.
It seems that these primal urges aren’t just limited to the man beneath me as I find Kennedy also sitting on her Alpha’s lap. It does something to settle me, seeing just how comfortable and clearly in love this pack is with each other.
It makes me want to know more about them and their story.