Chapter Nineteen
Vanessa
After an exhausting morning filled with shopping and Mom talking my ear off, I was glad to be back home. Bat greeted us when we walked through the door, her little tail wagging. If Mason tried to take her back, I might actually cut a bitch. Scent match or not.
"Welcome home, ladies," Spencer says, giving Mom a kiss that is sweeter than I can deal with right now. I scoop up my new puppy and hug her tight. My emotional support Bat. "I was just about to take her out for a walk."
"I'll do it," I offer and grab her leash and harness from him before he can respond. Mason left a bunch of pet supplies when they were here last night. "I'll see you guys later!"
The Holiday Market is still up and running, and I think about grabbing something sweet to eat, but decide against it. The guys probably went back to the cabin to spend Christmas with Samantha and her family. Still, I wasn't going to risk running into them. Or her.
Fuck that.
Turning the opposite way, I curse my bad decision-making when I see Samantha walking my way.
She calls my name, hurrying forward, but I refuse to stick around and talk to her.
I try to hurry back to my house, I really do, but Bat can only go so fast, and when I stop to pick her up, Samantha is right there, trying to catch her breath.
"Jesus, woman. Didn't you see me or hear me calling?"
"I didn't really want to talk to you, Samantha." Dammit! I was just starting to feel better. Why did she have to come along and ruin it? I squeeze Bat tight, sucking in her new puppy smell to calm me down. Emotion support Bat indeed.
She cringes. "Yeah, I don't blame you. What I did was shitty. I love my brother more than anything, and I was so sure you would ruin things again. Leave again and break their hearts. It took them so long to get over losing you… Honestly, I don't think they ever did."
"I am so tired of feeling guilty about what happened six years ago.
" Bat starts squirming and yipping, so I place her on the ground.
"I never chose one of them over the other.
I made it crystal clear that I would never be able to choose just one of them.
I left because I knew how much they needed each other, and seeing them fighting broke my heart.
Guess what, Sammy? I never moved on from them.
I never stopped loving them and probably never will. But it's all ruined now."
"Nothing I said was true," she rushes to say.
"They did leave, but it was only to go pick up your Christmas present.
Zayne told me about it, and while they were out, I called with a fake emergency.
Of course, they rushed to come help me, but I was only five minutes away from the cabin and snuck in.
I got lucky when they had car trouble in the middle of nowhere with no phone signal.
I stole the note they left you and took apart your nest. It wasn't them.
" I can see the regret in her eyes. Did she feel bad about hurting me or for not getting away with it?
"Why are you even telling me this? You got what you wanted, Sammy."
"No, I didn't. All I've ever wanted was for my brother and his pack to be happy. They're miserable without you, Vanessa. Please take them back. I'm so sorry." Samantha's face shows how hard it was for her to utter those last few words. It looks like she ate something sour.
I fight back a laugh when I see Bat sniffing at her feet before squatting down and peeing all over her boots.
I needed to get out of here. "I forgive you, Sammy.
I'm not very good at holding grudges, but I'm going to need time getting over it.
I don't know what's going to happen with the guys and me.
I'm hurt. I need to get the puppy home; it's getting cold, and I think we both need a nap. Goodbye."
Was I ready to forgive the guys? My heart was screaming yes.
I love them. I love them so much it hurts.
They might have had good intentions, but they still left me all alone and vulnerable the morning after my heat.
I could forgive them for that, but what if they hurt me again?
They didn't bond me. Nothing was stopping them from waking up one morning and deciding I wasn't worth it.
But if I didn't try, didn't hear what they had to say, wouldn't I regret it for the rest of my life?
I turn on my phone for the first time that day and open up a new chat with Zayne, ignoring all the other notifications.
Vanessa
I'm ready to hear what the three of you have to say.
Vanessa
Leaving me alone after my heat was a shitty thing to do, but your sister explained what happened.
Vanessa
I don't know if I'm ready to be over it, but I love you guys. I'm willing to try.
I press send on the last message a second before I realize I just told Zayne that I loved them.
Over text! Before I can delete it, I see the read icon pop up and then…
nothing. I stand outside in the cold waiting for him to respond.
I wait long enough for Bat to start getting impatient and whining to go inside.
Zayne read my message and couldn't be bothered to respond.
With tears streaming down my face, I throw open the door to my parents' house and hurry inside. "I'm back, but I'm not doing so good, and men suck. I just want to be alone right now and drown in my grief. If you think you need me, you don't."
I'm halfway up the stairs when strong arms wrap around my waist. Smoky campfire. Mason. He doesn't say anything, just carries me down the stairs, into the living room, where Silas and Zayne are sitting across from my parents.
"What the fuck is going on?" I hiss out, trying to get off Mason's lap when he sits down between Silas and Zayne.
"I forgot how dramatic you are," Silas says, grinning at me.
Mom giggles. "She's the worst."
I gasp. "Why are you being nice to them, Mom? And the three of you." I glare at my dads, who at least look a little bit ashamed. "You're supposed to be on my side. You had no problem sending them away last night. What changed?"
"I'm on team grandbabies. I was giving you the night to get over it.
Really, Nessie, after you told me my only grandbaby would be a dog, did you really expect me to stay mad at them?
They clearly love you. Always have. Do you know how many nights I stayed up worrying about becoming a grandma before forty? "
"We didn't have sex when we were teenagers!"
She throws up her hands and looks at me like I'm the crazy one. "How was I supposed to know that? I was having tons of amazing sex by the time I was seventeen."
I stare up at the roof. "Please, lord, if you are real, make her go away."
Raymond stares at Mom like she just kicked his puppy. "You were having amazing sex before us?"
She waves him off. "I thought it was amazing back then, baby. I know better now," she practically purrs, wiggling her brows at him suggestively.
"Mom!"
Mom rolls her eyes at me. "Are you sure you aren't pregnant already, Nessie? You're being extra dramatic."
I manage to escape from Mason's lap and turn to glare down at the three of them. "Let's pretend my parents aren't here. What is happening? Why are the three of you here? Are you here to tell me it's over and you never want to see me again?"
Zayne raises a brow at me. "Never want to see you again? Why would you think that?"
I wave my arm like it's no big deal. "You guys left me after my heat, and I know it was for a good reason, but it still sucked.
My heart was broken, but after talking to Sammy, I realized I didn't want to let you go without giving us a chance.
But then Zayne didn't respond to my message when I told him I love the three of you.
I know you read it, Zayne. Don't even try to deny it. "
"I wasn't going to deny it," he says, smirking at me. I'm about to strangle this smug son of a bitch.
Mom gasps from behind me, and I see a flurry of movement as she flies up from her seat and slaps Zayne across the face. Okay, it was more like a pat. It's the thought that counts. "Why didn't you respond to Nessie?" She pulls me into her arms. "Do you need some chocolate, baby?"
"Mom, chocolates are for periods and when I'm sad. I'm more angry than sad."
"You just had a heat, Nessie. Usually, an omega starts their period right after. If yours hasn't started yet, it means you might be pregnant." She claps her hands excitedly, turning to face my dads, she says, "We're going to be grandparents!"
Daddy George beams up at us. "Congrat-"
"Nope! I am not dealing with this now. Is everyone just here because you think I might be pregnant? Is this a pregnancy intervention?"
Silas was shaking with how hard he was laughing, tears streaming down his face. It almost had me smiling. Almost. "Gorgeous, that's not why we're here."
Mason turns to give Zayne the stink eye. "She said she loves you, and you didn't bother responding? I would have said it back if she messaged me."
I roll my eyes, but I'm starting to feel hopeful. Without giving myself time to think about it, I say, "I said I love all three of you, not just Zayne. I love you guys so much, and being without you hurts. I'm so scared of losing you, and when I woke up with you gone and no bites, I thought I did."
Zayne pulls me closer, resting his chin on my stomach. He looks up at me with love shining in his eyes. "I didn't respond because I wanted to tell you I love you while holding you like this. I love you, baby girl. So much."
"You made me panic," I whimper, tears streaming down my face.
"Never again. I promise, Vanessa."
"I love you more." Silas chimes in, grabbing my hand and pulling me into his lap. "You're stuck with us forever."
Then Mason is there, kneeling in front of me. "I've loved you since I was old enough to understand what love means. I'm a stupid man. I've made stupid mistakes, but loving you will never be one of them. Please be mine forever."
"We should have made you ours during your heat, but I put a stop to it. We wanted your permission. If we didn't have an audience, I would sink my teeth into you right now," Zayne says, cupping my cheek.
"Good thing you're moving in with them today," Mom squeals, and I turn to face her with wide eyes.
"What?"
Papa Spencer groans. "Abbie!"
"Oops, I got excited," Mom says, not looking sorry at all.
"Well, since your mom ruined the surprise… Will you move in with us, Ness?" Zayne asks, looking nervous.
"You want me to move in with you?"
"More than anything, gorgeous," Silas says, squeezing me tight.
"You belong with us." Mason grins at me.
I look over at my parents. "You're okay with this?"
Mom nods emphatically. "As much as I love having you here, you have to go, Nessie. I have a very active sex life, and I miss being knotted without worrying about you."
I slap my hands over my face, trying very hard not to scream. "Mom! You can't say shit like that with other people around. You can't say shit like that with me around! Please, just stop talking."
Zayne winces as he pulls my hands away from my face. "I think we need to get out of here."
"You think?"
"Yay. I'm finally getting grandbabies! It's a Christmas miracle."
"Mom, if you don't learn to behave, you'll never meet your grandchildren." I'm glaring at her, but there's no heat in the look. When she winks at me, I can't stop the smile forming on my face. "I love you, Mom and Dads. I'll be back for my stuff."
Mason easily pushes Zayne out of the way and lifts me up bridal style. "Let's get out of here, baby. Your mom scares me."
"I've already started packing your things, Nessie. We'll bring it over tomorrow for Christmas lunch." She rubs her hands together. This can't be good. "I didn't mean to snoop, but I found something."
"If you found sex toys, they're not mine. Ew, Mom. Why do you have sex toys in my room?"
"Jesus, Nessie. All of mine are in my room. Why would I have them in yours?"
"All of them?" Zayne asks, looking pale. I don't blame him. I need to get them out of here before my mom makes them change their minds about us.
"What did you find?" Why did I ask that?
"Manuscripts."
I forget how to breathe.
Silas gives me a shit eating grin before turning to face Mom. "Will you show them to me?"
Mom screams loud enough to alert the bear back at the cabin. She runs to her bookshelf and pulls out one of my most recent releases. Throwing it at Silas, she screams, "I always knew Nessie, and I shared our kinky gene."