Chapter 47
Chapter
Forty-Seven
SIMONA
H endrix uses a hand under my chin to keep himself steady as he draws on my lip liner. I find it hard not to smile at his concentration. Every time my lip twitches, he gives me a mock glare. My Alpha is working overtime to keep things light and full of love.
I’ve spent a lot of time since speaking with Wren, soaking in the comfort my pack keeps providing. The little touches, packed with so much meaning, are combined with their encouragement. They’ve helped me remember what I am capable of.
“Mio,” Dominic calls out. “Is that Tristan?”
I freeze like a deer, not moving a muscle in case she looks this way. But even across the traffic I would recognise that wild mane of blonde hair. Except the woman in the car, who is clearly Tristan, lacks all the energy and vibrancy of my girl.
My mind is dragged immediately back to the memory of our recent Scorned Girls conversation. I knew something was up with Tris. I should have pushed her harder for answers, but I was so caught up in my own life. And now I’m looking at a pale imitation of my super-model bestie.
Then the strangest thing happens—her whole face transforms as a man who I have never seen crowds close, and he kisses her. And it’s no peck on the cheek, it’s one of those kisses you see in the movie that makes you whoop with delight. He pulls back, brushing the hair off her face, talking with her, and she’s agreeing with everything he says. Tristan’s arms go up, and his go around her whole body. She disappears from view.
“Holy shit,” I whisper. Shocked. With a growing list of questions I need answered.
“Sin!” Ryder laughs.
Ryder calling me out makes sense though, it usually means something when I swear.
“Let me finish your lipstick,” Hendrix growls impatiently, his eyes filling with heated challenge. “And then perhaps you should explain what the heck is going on now?”
It’s perfect—the way they distract me from the issue of Lawson by getting me to focus on my girlfriends, all while continuing to shower me in their care—Hendrix doing my makeup is a prime example, as is Dominic asking about Tristan.
We’re so close to Verdune though we barely have time for Hendrix to finish my lipstick and we’re pulling up behind Tristan’s SUV.
Hendrix and Ryder both reach for the doors to get out, and act like my security, but I stop them. “Please, wait. I want to see her interacting with them. They’re not just her security. I think they’re her pack.”
Hendrix runs his hand up my back and I know why, all this guilt I’ve been carrying about lying might strangely be the thing the four of us girls unwittingly share.
Two Alphas climb out of the SUV first. Both of them are pretty savage looking. They are definitely not Tristan's usual security team. When she gets out and a different Alpha pulls her close to him, the lines that should be between client and guard are further blurred when he speaks to her. I don’t need to hear the words; his concern is as obvious as the intimacy they share—it’s in the way he moves around her and touches her. Like when I saw her truck stopped at the lights, it’s apparent their conversation centres around making sure Tristan is okay.
Her head bobs up and down, and the Alpha in front of her taps his fingers to his chest then to hers before he leads her inside, the other Alpha coming up behind her. He turns at the last minute, and his face is vaguely familiar.
“You guys need to go,” Dominic says, pulling the truck into the spot Tristan’s just left. He turns, his eyes softening. “Amore Mio, enjoy this time with your girlfriend. We’re all here, nothing is getting through us.”
Ryder and Hendrix climb out, scanning the area quickly, once he’s happy I’m safe Hen lifts me out. The instant my feet are on the ground we become different people in a sense. Out here in the world, they become my protectors. We’re just hiding, but they’re also protecting my heart for a little longer.
Each step I take further inside Verdune only solidifies the certainty within me—I’m exactly where I’m meant to be. Tristan’s scent adds another layer of confirmation, reinforced by the smile and excited squeal she lets out when she sees me.
Before our arms even close around each other, I know, with every piece of me, that all the angst I’ve been dumping on myself has been for this. To be there for these times, and sometimes those times are going to be hard to face, but infinitely easier with my Scorned Girls’ support.
“Tris, what’s wrong?” I saw you. I know something happened, and it’s okay because something happened to me too. Because now I am this close, I can feel how close Tristan is to falling apart. And that is not her. She is one of the strongest people I know.
She lets her head rest on my shoulder, her arms banding stronger. Falling apart at the seams. Everything hurts so fucking bad. “I’m okay, I promise. I will be okay, Sim.” Please don’t ask me to explain, I just need to hold you.
Always, Tris. Always. I do what she asks of me and be there for her. If all Tristan can cope with is a cuddle or two, and a bit of telepathic communication (real or not), or a place to catch her breath, then I will show up and be what she needs.
We stay in our snuggle, simply absorbing the haven of our friendship. My mind drifts, teasing me with reminders that everyone has their own story—and sometimes, the right thing to do is not to ask questions.
I need this.
I do too. I fill up on her bubble-gum scent, trying to use mine as a Band-Aid over her obviously bruised heart.
We’re interrupted by the sound of a door opening behind us, revealing a woman who looks every bit the part of an assistant to a high-powered executive. Her first few words confirm my assumption.
“Ladies, I’m Gracey, Miss Holmes’ personal assistant…”
I only half pay attention. The other half of me watches as Hendrix and Ryder step closer to me because they’re not sure who she is. At the same time the two Alphas that came in with Tristan make it obvious they’re going wherever she goes. Except apparently that doesn’t apply to Heidi’s office.
Only Tristan and I get entrance to Heidi’s office and the door opens. Heidi’s apple scent rushes out and my excitement takes over. I pretty much jump on her, hugging her tightly, then taking a few steps back to let Tristan do the same.
Heidi looks incredible. She radiates, and it comes from a place inside her. She has found her happiness.
“I truly wondered if we’d get here,” Heidi admits in between giving us both hugs and kisses. Her joy is infectious, and I easily get caught up in her excitement.
Tristan doesn’t. Heidi notices, but she manages to move quickest, catching our unusually subdued bestie by the wrist. Instead of falling into Heidi’s affections, Tristan turns away. Her voice is loud, but it’s obvious she’s completely lost. “Now is not the time or place.”
My chest feels like it’s caving in under the pressure of Tristan’s distress, but she’s also clearly determined not to explain what is going on. I understand, and despite wanting to shake her senseless until she spills her secrets and gives me ways to make her fix her sadness, I don’t move an inch or say a word. Same with Heidi.
Tristan takes a small inhale before a fake smile lights up her face, and she diverts all her energy and focus to Heidi. “You need to dazzle the crap out of the crowd. What’s the general consensus out there, Ho?”
Being gratuitous in her deflection, she pulls her skirt up, flashing her panties as she sits on the edge of Heidi’s desk. It’s over the top, even for Tristan.
Heidi has no issue deflecting with her, teasing her flippantly. “Lucky you’re a supermodel…”
I’m with them. And then I’m so far away from them. Ripped away by the vibration of my phone in my pocket. I plunge into a different space where my thoughts lock on the endless possibilities as to why Wren is messaging now. If it is even her.
Am I too late? Is she saying I can’t come? Is Lawson sick? Is there some other drama that is going to rip me apart?
In front of me, Tristan’s yelling at Heidi, and the mood in Heidi’s office dips like a sudden drop in the temperature. I don’t know why, but I’m not sure I have the energy to figure out what’s going on either. And then Kai of all people rushes inside Heidi’s office.
But I wasn’t expecting to come face to face with an Alpha I haven’t properly met. My frantic state worsens, spurred on by memories of other Alphas. Of the things he did. Every instinct in me is screaming to get out of here in case it happens again.
When Tristan starts arguing with Kairo, and Heidi argues back, the room starts to shrink. My feet stick because part of me knows I’m safe with them, but the Alpha, he makes everything feel different. Wrong.
I slip into survival mode, straight back to the safe spot of conformation. My mind is in full protection mode, acting like I am back home at an event with Brody and the founding families. I detach, pretending to follow what’s happening around me while I focus on walling my defences. Eyes down. Don’t scent. Listen. Watch. Act the part. Upset no-one. Become smaller. Step away. Slow down. Smaller, be smaller. Wait.
They don’t notice, but I’m so good at being present in body and vacant in spirit that I exist in expectation. Another person appears. Not an Alpha though, thankfully.
Heidi’s assistant. I recognise her face. I can read her; she wants us gone. Thankfully. Knowing I’m about to get out of here, away from the Alpha, helps me navigate the situation. It gives me an edge and lets more of the new Simona back in. I get enough space to function past learned coping mechanisms.
As I hug Heidi, her apple scent squeezes past my barriers, slowly but surely leading me out of myself. Her Omega reaches mine. I don’t know how, but I drop my head on her shoulder, taking everything she offers like a sponge. She doesn’t call me out on my detachment, but our friendship doesn’t need defining or explanation. Especially now.
“I’m always here for you, Simona. Come stay with me,” she offers carefully.
She does know.
“No,” I answer softly. “I’m so proud of you. Love you more than you know, Heidi. We’ll talk soon. Until then don’t forget you’re everything to me.” A final hug from her, and I pull away. This is her day, not mine.
Tristan moves in, and I watch them closely from a spot in her office, as far away from the Alpha as possible. I focus on Tristan and Heidi, noticing more and more as I keep stealing bits of their intimacy to cut the chords on the memories that rattled me to my core. The appearance of the Alpha threw me, badly too. The farther we’re led away, the more of the fog lifts. My awareness is still tentative, a part of me still not feeling safe. But at least now I’m a participant and no longer just a spectator.
Like with Heidi, I find myself calmer when I hold on to Tristan. Her bubble-gum scent, so sweet and happy, is another reminder of how far I have come. I need to go. Okay?
Holy shit, you do? I need to go now. Her arms tighten, and I feel her whole body trembling. It’s a good reminder we all have battles, but we all sometimes need saving too.
Hendrix appears in my periphery. But inside me, it’s so much more impactful than a mere glimpse.
My Omega releases a huge sigh of release, and the first breath I’ve taken for a while rushes in my lungs chasing out the fear. I get lost in his eyes—or maybe it’s that I find myself within the sanctuary he offers. The need to run switches from a desperation to escape, to a sprint, racing as fast as I can to him.
I glance at Tristan, aware she’s watching me, and my interaction with Hendrix. I know she saw, but instead of questioning me, she lets it become a non-event, something we don’t need to talk about. I smile gratefully, brushing the hair off her pretty face while ignoring the bags under her haunted eyes. Returning the gesture. “Guess we both have secrets, eh?”
I lean close for a final inhale of her scent, trying to convey as much as I can without saying a single word. I love you so much, Tris, sorry I’m certifiably crazy today. Who knew packing would do that to me?
She smiles. I know she gets me. She always has. OMG You have no idea, like who the fuck was that Alpha? No. No. No. Anyway, I need to talk with you soon, probably not the others just yet. First, I have to deal, some huge fuck off things just happened and I really need to work through them to understand them. Love you. Go get yourself safe. Simona, who’s the Alpha looking at you like he wants to eat you?