Chapter 32
thirty-two
Jo
Ihave to say, being bonded…it’s different than I thought it’d be.
My whole life, I thought bonding to an alpha would be the end of my freedom, a death sentence.
With Hayden, though? It’s like a layer of security.
We can always tell when something is wrong, but I have been working on blocking out the full force of my emotions.
I don’t want Hayden to think I always feel like there’s a ball of lead sitting on my chest, put there by the asshole-alpha who expects me to be at his beck and call after the matches tomorrow night.
Banesworth.
I might feel better if I had someone to talk to, but I haven’t told Kole or Hayden what happened. They can’t know…for their own safety. I’ll handle it, and then I’ll tell them all about it after and then they can fuck me at the same time again.
Alpha murder and double-dick sex all in one night?
It’ll be like fucking Christmas.
I’m sure that Hayden can tell something is up through the bond, but if he can, he hasn’t said anything yet.
He’s snuck into my room the last two nights since we “accidentally” bonded to cuddle me while we sleep, and I’ve had to shower long before anyone else gets up so nobody scents me before I can put that disgusting cream on.
Nobody can know that we’ve bypassed their designation nullification drug.
So far, we seem to be doing pretty well in keeping our secret, since we’re currently sitting in the dark courtyard on blankets for “movie night”, and Adela is adjacent to us in a lawn chair, completely unaware that she’s fraternizing with a bonded alpha-omega pair.
We’re supposed to watch some kind of zombie movie that came out thirty years ago. Which is ironic, considering the threat of Zombieland hanging over our heads. Knowing Brooks, that was his exact intention.
“Something is different,” she says suddenly, looking between the two of us.
Well, so much for that.
“What do you mean?” Hayden arches a brow, throwing an arm over my shoulder.
I shake my head at him, popping a handful of popcorn in my mouth. “Maybe it’s Hayden’s new hairstyle.”
He runs a hand through his golden strands that have definitely not changed in the last few days. “Aw, thanks Fireball. I didn’t think you noticed.”
Kole rolls his eyes at us, huffing out a mildly amused breath.
“You don’t sense it?” Addie asks, tilting her head.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Kole is all seriousness as he pops a single piece of popcorn in his mouth.
Suddenly her eyes dart to my neck, and her face pales. “Oh my gods, Jo, are those teeth?”
“Surprised it took you this long to notice.” I grin, hooking my thumb through the necklace, full of colorful beads and Lar’s two canines.
“What does ‘FAFO’ mean?” Adela frowns, leaning in closer to squint at the white beads with black letters stamped on—the ones that sit right between the teeth.
“Fuck around and find out,” Kole supplies helpfully, his eyes on the blank projector screen where Leslie Perez is shuffling around, tweaking a few last minute things. She looks a little frazzled, but I’m pretty sure it’s just because the projector is giving her a hard time.
Adela’s hand flies to her mouth, her eyes wide, as she tries to cover her laugh. “Holy shit. Where did you get fake teeth?”
“Who said they were fake?” I blink my eyes innocently.
Right then, I see Lars, Paige, and Tilly huddled together in the corner, sneaking glances at us every few seconds. Addie and Hayden turn to see what I’m looking at, and she gasps when she sees his missing canines. “Jo, you didn’t!”
“No, I did.” Kole sounds satisfied as hell. “She just turned it into a fashion statement.”
Paige comes marching over, and points a shaky finger at my neck. “Take it off, Trailer Trash.” Huh. I wonder when Paige and Lars got all cozy. Maybe it’s their shared unfounded hatred of me that bonds them together.
My men don’t react to Paige’s words. They know I can handle this myself.
Sighing, I get to my feet and step up to her. “Now, now, Paigey-Cakes, why would I do that?”
“Maybe because you have Lars’ fucking teeth hanging from your scrawny neck?!” She looks equally horrified and indignant.
I cross my arms, tapping my foot. “Lars shoulda’ known better than to threaten to bond me against my will. Naughty alphas get their teeth taken.” I shrug. “Justa’ fact of life.”
Paige scoffs. “Please. Who would want to bond you?”
“I, for one, would give my left nut to bond with Jo,” Hayden pipes up, still sitting on the ground as he flicks his lighter open and closed.
“Both if she asked. Actually, just one, because then we still have a shot at making some beautiful babies. But…my left nut and my pinky toe. That’s my final offer. ”
My heart flutters stupidly at the mention of kids. Do I even want kids? Shit, focus, Jo. This is all hypothetical anyway. I’m already bonded to Hayden.
“How did I not realize what a freak you are?” Tilly comes up next to Paige, her sneer firmly on Hayden.
Oh, hell no.
“Don’t talk to him like that,” I snap, my attention turning to her. “In fact, don’t even look at him.”
Lars, wisely, stays where he is and doesn’t dare venture closer. I’m sure he’s still terrified of Kole after what he did.
“Lisichka,” Kole warns me, most likely to let me know that my omega possessiveness is showing.
Paige all but confirms it when her eyes light up. “Oh, what do we have here? Are you fucking both of them?” Her smirk goes between my alphas and I can’t stop the omega growl that bursts out of me. Paige laughs in delight. “Oh, wow. That is very…” she leans in close, “pack-like of you.”
In the next instance, Kole is standing, and he towers over the two beta women as he comes to stand next to me.
I’m especially thankful for the alpha-gel that Nurse Helaena supplied me with right now, because with the dominance Kole is rolling out, I’m not sure my stomach would have been able to handle all the alpha scents and the smell of popcorn.
“Walk away.” He growls, an alpha bark lacing his tone. Betas aren’t nearly as susceptible to the barks as omegas are, but they’re still inclined to listen, sneers marring their features before they turn and all but run back to Lars.
“I had it handled,” I grumble, glaring at the Russian Giant.
“I know, Lisichka,” he runs a hand through his hair, “but she was threatening you. My instincts are already going haywire knowing that you’re mine but not being able to scent you.”
My jaw drops. His? Does that mean when we were all together in the craft room, his “mine” was literal? We’re true scent matches?
Before I can ask him to clarify, Leslie is coming up to us with a too-tight smile. “Are you guys ready for the movie?”
Kole and I exchange a look before we sit back down and I settle back against Hayden.
“We’re as ready as we’ll ever be, Les,” Hayden shoots her a million-dollar smile, and I again need to keep my omega instincts in check, even though I like Leslie.
“Tell me, in this zombie movie, are they like the super slow zombies that chant ‘brains’, or are they like the super fast ones that make me want to shit my pants?”
I laugh, smacking his chest. “That’s gross, Darlin’.”
“Guess you’ll have to find out.” Leslie shoots me a wink before she goes back up to the projection screen.
Everyone quiets down as she taps the microphone that’s hooked up to a little sound system.
“Good evening everyone!” She pauses, waiting for everyone to mumble “good evening” back to her.
“Thank you for coming to our monthly movie night! Just a few housekeeping rules before we start.” She gives us all a smile.
“As usual, the orderlies are stationed around the courtyard for everyone’s safety, but unlike times in the past when we’ve done this, there will be no leaving the movie early.
You will have to stay until the credits roll.
There have been too many patients wandering around without proper supervision.
We appreciate your understanding, and hope you enjoy the movie! ”
“What if we have to take a piss?” someone shouts out, and the other inmates grumble their agreement.
Leslie’s smile falters for half a second before she lifts the mic back to her mouth. “If you need to use the facilities, Mr. Wright will be happy to escort you.” I glance back at Sam, who looks like he would like very much to strangle the perky patient director who just volunteered his services.
With that, the floodlights dim, and the projector starts running the movie.
It’s in black and white, so it must be even older than I thought.
Despite all the concern about people needing to pee, Adela is the only one who needs to use the restroom during the movie, all the while grumbling about the baby sitting on her bladder.
I sit tucked into Hayden’s side, and Kole has his pinky looped through mine. The movie is about halfway over, the hero and heroine having escaped a horde of zombies-which, lucky for Hayden’s briefs, are the super slow ones- and are now stuck in an abandoned warehouse together.
Of course, that’s when my bladder tells me that I need to go.
“I gotta go powder my nose,” I whisper to Hayden, and he gives me a funny look before understanding passes over his features and he nods.
Disentangling myself from his hold, I stand and find Sam standing against the nearby wall. I try to avoid the way Banesworth’s gaze burns into me from the other side of the yard. Sam wordlessly turns as I approach, and I follow him into the dorm building to use the restroom.
He’s silent as we walk, and doesn’t even look at me when I disappear into the bathroom.
I do my business quickly, trying to ignore the hurt that pangs in my chest at Sam’s harsh treatment.
It must be my omega nature emerging. I wash my hands, and when I open the door, he’s standing in front of me, arms crossed with an indecipherable look on his face.
“What?” I snap. “Were you timin’ me or something?”