26. Pack Approval
Pack Approval
Calista
Am I crazy or stupid? I don’t have the answer for that.
Mostly, I’m desperate to prove myself and my love.
I want all of Poppy Cove and Pack Kismet to see for themselves.
It’s been too long since they left. I can’t imagine a meeting with the whole pack for approval could take so long and be good.
I’m sure there might be arguing. I’m just so nervous they won’t unanimously agree to our bonding without the whole breeding stipulation.
The Kismet brothers can assure me all they want that we’ll get what we want, but I just—I’m not one to wait around. Not when it should be so easy.
That’s what my mom taught me. She actively sought alternatives to protect me from my bio dad. She wouldn’t judge me for going all in now and doing things for myself. She would probably encourage it.
Damn. I need to get out of my own head.
Dabbing the extra gloss from my lips, I ruffle my fingers through my curled hair and give myself another once-over. The Kismet brothers will drool over me. This dress is the perfect combination of sexy and sweet, the ideal persona of an omega. I just hope it works in my favor.
Because if Pack Kismet rejects my proposal to Nolan, Jensen, and Lucas…I don’t want to think about it.
Gathering my bravado, I head in the opposite direction of the main living area of the estate.
I know for a fact that Nolan has security personnel on watch.
They’re always around but never in the way.
They were probably commanded to keep an eye on me but have grown comfortable with me remaining in my room.
I’m supposed to be a good omega after all.
Instead of double-checking on them, I walk down the staff stairwell toward the garage.
I exit through it to the wrap-around driveway, where a driver waits for me.
“Heading to Main Street and Meadow Drive?” the driver asks, glancing at me in his rearview mirror.
“Yup. In front of City Hall, please.” I don’t speak for the rest of the ride, not engaging in his small talk until he gives up.
Pulling the car next to the curb, I hand him a twenty and exit without saying another word.
I don’t have time to mess around. I’m usually a lot friendlier, but what I’m about to do is important.
The golden sun setting turns the air dreamy, and the quiet of the park gives me privacy while I mentally prepare to propose to Nolan, Lucas, and Jensen in front of everyone.
I’m so nervous. Omegas usually don’t take on this responsibility, but I have to.
I want to control my life, so it’s up to me to control it.
What if the rest of Pack Kismet rejects me, though?
What if they say I have to breed or get the fuck out of Poppy Cove?
Maybe this is crazy. I should have just stayed at home.
Damn it. I can’t do this.
This is so incredibly stupid of me.
The Kismet brothers can handle this.
Shifting on my feet, I hesitate, staring at the wild poppy flowers scattering the edges of the grass. City Hall looms across the street. It would be so easy to sneak in and listen to what’s going on before I stand in front of everyone with my heart on my sleeve. I can better assess things if I do.
But what if—
A hand covers my mouth while an arm grips around my waist, pulling me flush against a body.
The familiar wretched scent slaps sense into me as my brain catches up with what’s happening.
Stomping my foot, I try my best to break free from Alexander.
The Pack Loomis reject was the last thing on my mind today.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Alexander breathes heavily against my throat, resting his chin on my shoulder. “Shh. Don’t make a scene. I don’t want to hurt you. If you remain calm, things will be okay for you. I don’t blame you for shit, okay? You’re just a fucking omega.”
I inhale through my nose, my mind racing. What do I do? Can I fight? Would I win? What happens if I can’t? Alexander’s words don’t make any sense. He should blame me. He should want to hurt me again. Why should I believe him?
“That’s it. Calm down. Relax. This isn’t about you.” Alexander loosens his hold around my waist but doesn’t let me go.
“Please,” I whisper against his hand, his palm moist against my mouth. How my body doesn’t wretch because of it is beyond me. It’s like my brain shuts down in an attempt to protect myself.
“I said be quiet. My brother is almost here. He would be upset with me if I tried anything stupid. I’m smarter now.
I don’t let my emotions get the best of me.
Losing my pack made me see the world differently.
I won’t make any mistakes again. I’m not going to risk my chance at joining another pack.
” Alexander forces me to walk back with him until we’re behind a large magnolia tree.
I blink my eyes, trying my best not to react to the hormones rushing through me.
Omegas don’t do well in stressful situations like this, and I really wish I could’ve already had my sterilization. That would’ve made things so easy.
But my life was never easy. It’ll always be hard, it seems.
What do I have to do with him joining another pack? My heart races despite my best effort to remain calm, breathing slowly in and out of my nose.
Minutes tick by, feeling like hours. The main street remains empty, everyone of importance now within the walls of City Hall.
“Where is he?” Alexander murmurs, standing rigid behind me. “He should be here by now.” I know he’s not asking me, but it makes me wonder as well. What is this all about?
“Just let me go,” I say, my voice muffled against the palm of his hand. “If you do, I won’t say anything to anyone. Whatever you’re planning… Please. Make a good choice. Just get out of here.”
Alexander releases a low growl, the noise reverberating across my earlobe. “If I have to tell you to shut up one more time—”
“Let the omega go.” The familiar voice grates on my nerves.
What is Will Daines doing here? Did Ivy send him back after our conversation?
Fuck. I shouldn’t have put it past her to do something like this.
She’s not used to not getting her way with things, especially when it comes to omegas at the Omega Resort.
But I’ve given that up. I don’t need her. I’ve never needed her.
“I’m not hurting her. She just got in the way. She knows me.” Alexander says, taking a step backward and pulling me with him. “My brother is coming shortly. He’ll handle this.”
“You can’t be serious. Why wait for your brother when I’m right here?
Louis doesn’t want this kind of dirty work and you know it.
Give me the omega. You have a job to do, remember?
Your pack counts on it.” Will remains standing in his spot, the sun glaring off his sweaty forehead, his hair stringing across it.
“She’s fine. I have things in control. Why are you here, anyway?
This was our test of loyalty. Ivy told you to remain out of the way.
This omega knows me. She’s not going to do shit.
Especially now that she knows I’m not going to hurt her even after everything.
” Alexander adjusts his arm, positioning me in such a way that he can lift me if he has to.
I struggle to comprehend what he just said.
My mind spins. My adrenaline puts me into fight or flight, and my whole body trembles because I don’t do anything yet.
I want to ask Will what the hell he’s doing here.
I know he won’t tell me, though, especially because he just mentioned Ivy.
I think Pack Daines were the ones to have gone through the trouble to get the rejects of Pack Loomis out of jail on bail.
I’m sure they paid a lot of money. They must’ve known I wouldn’t have given in so easily, but I know Ivy was hoping.
She thought that because she was my caretaker for so long that she had some sort of say in my life.
But that contract she put before me? It was horrendous.
Pack Daines is horrendous. And this proves it more than ever.
“Don’t be stupid, Alexander. Ivy is not in control right now. I am. Now give me Calista.” Will steps forward, reaching into his jacket.
I expect Alexander to push me forward toward the alpha, but he surprises me by stepping behind the tree, using it as a blockade.
“Stay back, asshole. You’re not taking her.
That was not part of the negotiations.” Alexander drags me around the tree.
It’s in this moment that I realize his alpha nature gets the best of him.
I’m not his omega, but the feral, deep-seated nature inside of him doesn’t know that.
He just sees a threat, and he’ll do what he can to fight against it, especially with me in the middle.
It’s the strangest thing. He had no problem shoving me off a boat. He had no problem watching me drown.
I shouldn’t be so fascinated.
“What the hell is going on? What are you two doing? I just finished getting shit ready. We need to move.” I spot Alexander’s brother a dozen feet away. I think he came from the direction of City Hall, but I can’t be certain.
“Louis, help me. This asshole is acting like a lunatic. I found Cali getting out of a car, and you know Ivy said to make sure she wasn’t nearby. I’m keeping her safe,” Alexander says, his voice raspy. His arms tighten even more around me, and pain cuts across my rib cage.
“What are you talking about?” Louis asks, peering around. I follow his gaze, realizing that Will isn’t standing where he was. “Who’s a lunatic?”
Louis’s eyebrows raise, his expression changing just enough to send fear through me. The world spins, and I can’t even scream before my back hits the grass, knocking the wind from me. Will snatches me from the ground before Alexander can catch his bearings.
“Louis, this wasn’t part of the plan. Ivy will ensure we’re not part of the pack now. She made it clear we had one job. Do something.” Alexander pushes from the ground, getting to his feet.
I take the distraction and elbow Will. He releases me, now focused on the fact that both Alexander and Louis surround him.
I never thought I would be thankful for them. I’m not even sure if I am. I just need to get out of here.
“As your leader, I command you to go get the car. If you don’t obey me, you’ll rot in jail. You can thank Alexander for that. This is your only chance.” Will glowers at Louis.
I can see the small shift in Louis’s expression. Even brothers sometimes won’t remain loyal to each other if it comes down to what the pack really wants. And it seems that I underestimated Ivy and Pack Daines. This was never really about me. This is about power. This is about pride.
Pack Kismet took something they thought belonged to them. They don’t even consider me a person. I’m just an omega. I’m a product that people can buy and make money on.
I gather my courage and scream.
Something knocks me in my head, and shadows swirl through my vision. I stumble but I don’t fall, and a hand grabs me. I smell Alexander before my panic seizes me, and I don’t fight him.
But it doesn’t matter.
We don’t even get a foot away before Will crashes into us, sandwiching me between them.
“You wouldn’t be in this position if you had just accepted my bonding contract, Calista.
You’re lucky that Ivy is fond of you. We’ll have to see if Pack Kismet is just as strong.
Bad omegas don’t get good packs, you know.
They send criminals to Omega Resorts as well.
But they’re not there for the same reason good ones are.
You’ll see.” Will grabs my hair and pulls me against him.
I scratch my nails into his neck, trying to fight him as Alexander hollers under me.
Something warm pools beneath me, and I gasp. Everything happens so fast that I can’t even react. I see the gleam of Will’s knife. I feel Alexander go limp. Silence fills the air.
“Get the car,” Will commands, his figure shifting off me.
My eyes blur, my head still pounding.
I open my mouth to scream only to have Will cover my lips. That’s when I feel the small pill fall on my tongue, the bitter taste making me swallow automatically to get rid of it.
“This is your fault. Remember it. You are a murderer. You killed Alexander.” Will shoves me hard, and dizziness clings to me.
I try to blink it away. I try to do anything. But I’ve been drugged.
Darkness swallows me whole.