23. Madly in Love
Madly in Love
Lucas
“Make sure they leave,” Cali says, staring at the exit.
I want nothing more than to run and hug Cali, to kiss her and make sure she’s okay, but Cali is right. I need to guarantee Pack Daines leaves. If her lawyer hadn’t told Ivy off, then I’d be torn about leaving Cali with a stranger.
“I’ll be right back. Stay with your lawyer.” I clench my jaw, glancing quickly at the lawyer, and head out the exit. Unfortunately, I hear voices nearby, so I can’t turn around and head back inside.
“You’re a bitch. I can’t believe you embarrassed me like that.
” The stern voice draws my attention to the alley next to the coffee shop.
I stroll close but stay out of view from Ivy and one of her many brothers.
Their former pack leader should’ve really fucking used a condom.
Am I a dick for saying that? I don’t give a fuck.
It was cruel for him to keep procreating, considering that Pack Daines can only have one omega and they have thirty-five biological Daines alphas.
They were trying to trick Cali into bonding with supposedly one, which is disgusting, considering the contract would immediately be contested and risk Cali having to satiate every single one of them.
I growl at the thought.
“Oh, shut up, Will. I’m trying to think,” Ivy says.
I couldn’t imagine what kind of life they live.
I bet they’re constantly fighting and plotting against each other instead of working together as they should.
I know my brothers and I sometimes fight, but it’s never something we can’t get over.
I was the one who chose to live a beta life.
They might have judged me for not wanting the same power that our dad had, and I’m okay with that.
They didn’t force me otherwise. I came back for the funeral with every intention of returning home.
At least, that was until Cali came into our parents’ bedroom and I saw just how broken we both were—maybe still are.
“Don’t tell me what to do, bitch.”
I peek around the corner to see Ivy and her brother facing each other.
Ivy taps away on her phone while Will glowers at her, his thin hair hanging in his face.
A part of me is glad that I watch Ivy and her brother fight.
They don’t even notice me. That’s their type.
They think that no one else in the world is worth a single second of their attention.
“You can call me a bitch all you want, but you can only blame yourself. I told you that Cali wouldn’t just accept you as an alpha.
She has standards. You’re not even her type.
You should have allowed one of our other brothers to come, because now we have lost a great opportunity.
She won’t even return to Nevada. I guarantee you that.
I have a lot of damage control to do now.
” Ivy jabs him in the chest with her long fingernail.
“You better hope I can fix things with Cali.”
I scratch my fingers across my neat beard, listening in on their conversation.
I knew from the beginning that Ivy had an ulterior motive.
She wouldn’t have hired Cali a lawyer out of the goodness of her heart.
She hired a lawyer who would have benefited Pack Daines.
Now I’m dying to know what kind of exchange went down that I missed.
“I don’t need you to fix anything. I’ll handle it. I’ll not allow her to shame us. She’s going to want—no, beg us—to bring her into our pack as our omega.” Ivy’s brother puffs out his chest yet still manages to look scrawny.
The bastard has a lot of nerve to assume he’s worthy of Cali.
It takes everything in me not to charge him and punch his ugly face.
I’m not a violent guy, usually. I don’t find joy in the physical pain of someone else, but the thought of pulverizing one of the Daines’ alphas scratches an itch I didn’t realize I had.
“Why am I so surprised by your audacity, brother? You really think highly of yourself, don’t you?
” Ivy shakes her head while rolling her eyes.
“I’ll let you have your way but only because I know you’ll prove me right.
You’ll only fuck things up more. At least then everyone will realize that you’re unworthy of even carrying our pack’s name. ”
Will grits his teeth and jerks his arm back swinging an inch above Ivy’s head.
She doesn’t duck or even flinch. She probably faces this type of behavior all the time.
Instead, she shoves her palm to his chest and pushes him away.
Her heels click against the pavement, and she storms toward the luxury vehicle waiting for her.
A driver opens the door, and she slides in.
With wide eyes, Will stares with his mouth agape.
The driver peels away from the curb as if the two of them are now on the run.
Will throws his hands up. “Ivy! You bitch!” Striding in the opposite direction, Will yells into his phone.
He’s so enraged that I can only make out a few words about picking him up.
I keep my distance, so he doesn’t realize I’m following him.
If a black SUV with dark tint didn’t pull up to the mouth of the alley on the other street, I’d ensure he walks his ass out of town.
I take out my phone and film Will getting into the vehicle, trying to see who hides behind the tinted windows inside.
I catch the license plate and take a screenshot to send to my brothers.
Cali: Can you come inside? Georgia wants to speak with you.
The text message pops up on screen, and I force myself to turn away from where the SUV drove off. It was suspicious as fuck that Will had someone to pick him up so quickly after Ivy left him behind.
I jog my way back to the café bookstore and find Cali sitting across from the lawyer. Turning in her seat, Cali glances my way. She holds an iced coffee without drinking it, her hand slightly shaking.
I want nothing more than to pull her onto my lap and twine my fingers through hers until her tremors vanish, but I force myself only to sit next to her. She immediately leans into me as if she wants to melt into my very being. I’d allow her to if it were a possibility.
“Mr. Kismet, firstly, I want to apologize personally to you. I had no idea that Cali wasn’t on board with signing a bonding contract to allow her to return to Nevada with the Daines.
” The lawyer huffs a breath and leans back.
Her apology seems to lift the weight of the situation off her shoulders.
“And secondly, Cali explained your situation to me. I’d like to assure you that Cali is my client.
Not the Daines. I do not and will not ever work for them.
My specialty is Omega Law. Usually, it’s ensuring omegas get the best out of their bonding contracts, but I also handle estate affairs.
Yours is a bit complicated, but I think we can work things out so your pack can live happily and maintain leadership. ”
“What about Cali’s stipulation, Miss…” I peek at Cali, knowing that her priority is what happens with her body and how it affects our future. It’s important to her, so it’s important to me.
“You can call me Georgia.” Georgia reaches into her bag and pulls out a business card.
Across the top reads Galloway Law. “And as for an Omega Sterilization…it’s not unheard of.
It could take a while and is quite costly, but with the right contracts and your cooperation, I think Cali can get what she desires. ”
“I can?” Cali bounces on the loveseat, her scent exuding from her in a strong wave of excitement. The sweet orange blossom and vanilla scent wafts to my very core. I wish I could savor it forever.
“Yes. There are just a few stipulations to ensure the courts approve everything for the transfer of the estate.” Georgia turns her attention to me. “I’d also like to read over the contract between your father and Cali’s mother.”
“That can be arranged,” I say, gathering my thoughts. I have questions about everything, and I’m sure my brothers will too.
“This is amazing. Thank you! Let’s proceed.” Cali doesn’t give me the chance to ask anything else; her excitement transfers to me, igniting my own. I don’t think I’ve ever seen and felt—smelt—her truly this happy, and I don’t want to ruin it.
“Great, get that contract to me and the one of your estate, and I’ll start right away,” Georgia says, getting to her feet. She offers her hand to me. “This will be a pleasant change for me. Everything will work out in your favor.”
“Promise?” Cali asks, hugging my arm beside me.
Georgia remains smiling. “Yes, of course.”
Why do I have a bad feeling about this? It all seems easy. Too easy.
I guess we’ll find out.
I just hope it doesn’t destroy Cali’s happiness. If it does, it’ll ruin mine too.
“There are too many fucking priorities. Can’t they wait a few hours?” Jensen crosses his arms, leaning against the doorframe.
“Only one of us needs to stay with Cali. The faster we take care of everything, the quicker we can put this all behind us. You think I want to confront those rejects? You know I can’t do it alone, but I don’t care who goes with me.
You guys can fight that out. You have five minutes.
” Nolan doesn’t give Jensen a chance to argue and pushes past him to enter Cali’s suite.
I catch sight of her sitting at the table with the contracts.
She insisted on looking at things first.
I crack my knuckles. “You heard him. You’re going to have to fight me to stay here.” The last thing I want to do is to leave Cali after our meeting with her lawyer and the Daines. I’m not even sure she’s had enough time to process everything yet.