Chapter 30 Jo
thirty
Jo
Ascream wakes me out of a dead sleep, and before I know what’s happening, I’m bolting out of bed.
The guys call out in panic after me, but I can’t hear what they’re saying.
My heart is pounding, my blood roaring in my ears as I take the stairs two at a time, rip the front door open, and sprint in the direction of where the scream is coming from.
The omega housing.
What could be happening? For a split second, I’m worried that West’s parents betrayed us as soon as they left dinner last night, but quickly dismiss the idea. Nobody can get on the property without Aidan knowing about it, so where is the threat coming from?
The screams turn to shouting.
“Get away from me!” she sobs, and my eyes widen when I see Mabel on her knees in the front yard, wearing nothing but one of Rory’s hoodies and a pair of sweatpants. The two guards that had been on duty are standing nearby with weapons at the ready to dispel the threat.
Declan is standing a healthy distance away from her, hair rumpled and only a pair of sleep pants on, while Rory is backing away further by the second, hands raised. “How did I get out here?” Mabel cries, her hands coming up to cover her face.
Off-duty guards are starting to trickle out of the guard house, including Ozzy. The omegas we rescued, plus Adela’s daddy, gather on their front porch, concerned looks on their faces.
My eyes dart between Declan and Rory, my lip lifting in a snarl. “What the fuck—”
“Jo!” She’s on her feet in an instant, her tear-stained face red with distress as she comes over to me. “I don’t know what happened. I went to bed, and then I woke up out here, and Rory—”
“Rory, what?” I snap, my glare cutting to him. I swear, if he did something…
“Let me explain,” he pleads, his eyes wide. “I saw her coming out of the house, and she had this slack look on her face, like she was sleepwalking. All I did was try to wake her up, I swear.”
Shit. I’m really glad Doctor McFadden is finally coming tomorrow so we can get her medication sorted out.
Rustling from behind tells me that my pack has joined me on our little late-night adventure.
I look over at Declan, who is watching Mabel with a broken expression. “What were you doin’?”
“I heard the scream and came out. Rory really was just trying to wake her up—I saw it.”
Nolan and Aidan appear on the front porch, brows furrowed.
“What were you doin’ out here so late?” Mabel whips around to question Rory, who goes pale. “And why are you fully dressed?”
Shit.
“Everybody, go back inside,” Declan barks at his guards, and glances at the omegas. “You guys too. There’s nothing to see out here.”
“You’re not answerin’ me,” Mabel insists, her voice going louder. “What were you doin’ out here so late?”
Rory’s mouth gapes open for a second. “I was…doing a perimeter check.”
“I may be blonde and Southern, but I ain’t stupid.” She looks pointedly at the guards who are now walking back to the property gate.
Rory glances at me helplessly.
Mabel does not miss it.
“Why are you lookin’ at her?” she demands, before turning to me. “Jo…?” Her expression is hurt and confused, and I can’t even blame her.
Did I make a massive mistake?
“Rory was out this late because he was doing what he does every night—which is watching over you,” Aidan says flatly. I shouldn’t be surprised, really. Of course he uses his cameras to keep track of everything that happens on the compound.
Declan curses under his breath, and Rory has the decency to look a little guilty.
Mabel’s eyes go wide. “I…what? Why…why would…?”
Declan turns to me, something lighting up in his eyes. Mabel doesn’t miss that either. “Jo? Why do they keep lookin’ at you? Why is Rory watchin’ me? What’s goin’ on?”
My heart pounds in my ears as I feel someone’s fingers twine through mine from behind. My mouth opens to speak, but no words come out. What if I’ve ruined everything? What if, in trying to protect Mabel, I’ve taken her autonomy away from her?
Does that make me just as bad as Thornfield?
“Well…” I trail off helplessly. I really have dug my own grave here. Do I come clean? If I do, she’s more likely to cut and run than she is to sit and listen. I can’t lose her again. But if I introduce it as a suspicion…“There’s a slight possibility—”
“More than slight,” Declan cuts in, glaring at me. “I feel it. We all do, on some level, and I’m done hiding it.”
Mabel takes a step back. “Hidin’…what?”
My jaw goes tight. “Declan James Gallagher, don’t you dare—”
He ignores me, taking a step forward. “You’re our true scent match.”
Well, shit.
A small gasp leaves Mabel as her hand flies up to cover her mouth. “There’s no way…I’m basically a beta. I can’t scent a single thing, and I know you can’t scent me.”
My eyes shoot to Nolan and Aidan, who look about as shocked as Mabel does.
“Even with the serum they gave you, true scent matches can detect each other, just the smallest bit.” Declan looks at me. “Isn’t that right, Jo?”
Mabel looks at me, hurt in her eyes. “Is that true?”
“I…” I shake my head. “We don’t know if we got the same injections or not. It’s impossible to know for sure.”
“Your scent…” Aidan speaks, his voice calm. “Is it similar to…chocolate cream pie?”
Mabel’s face goes white. “Who…who told you that?” She turns to me. “Did you tell them?”
I shake my head. “No, I—”
“I caught a scent the other day,” Aidan tilts his head. “Though at the time I passed it off as dinner preparation.”
“This is impossible,” Mabel shakes her head. “A mistake. I can’t scent any of you.”
“You haven’t been close enough,” Declan says softly, his demeanor turning gentle in an attempt to salvage the conversation. “Maybe if you just—”
“No,” she snaps, shaking her head again.
“All of you…you’re not my scent matches.
You’re just lookin’ for an easy target. Someone who doesn’t know any better.
And I’ll tell you what, I do know better.
You’re liars, all of you. Just like the ones I was with before.
Jo was right not to say anythin’. I’m just mad she didn’t tell me y’all were a bunch of manipulative, untrustworthy snakes. ”
Rory looks like she slapped him. Aidan’s expression hardens. Nolan is unreadable.
Declan…looks pissed.
“I need to leave.” She starts stalking to the omega house. “I gotta get outta here.”
“Mabel—” I start, but she cuts me off.
“Whatever you’re gonna say, don’t. I know he's your brother, and right now y'all are workin' on shuttin' down Thornfield, so I won’t make you choose. But I’m leavin’, Jo. I can’t stay here any longer.”
“You can’t leave,” Declan snaps, taking another step forward. “It’s not safe until Thornfield is shut down for good.”
She pauses, and then looks back at me.
Kole puts a hand on my shoulder in question, and I nod.
“Sestronkya,” my Russian giant rumbles, approaching her. “Declan is right. It is not safe. But once Thornfield is taken care of, I promise we will relocate you, yes? You know your sister will not let you go so easily.”
“If that’s what you want, we’ll make it happen,” Sam adds. “Remember what I told you? Nobody is taking away your decisions ever again.”
“Plus,” Hayden adds, his signature smirk on his face, “we need to have a place to visit when this is over, right?”
Mabel looks between us, her lip wobbling before she runs to me, wrapping her arms around my neck and squeezing tight.
Rory’s angry voice filters through. “You can’t just—”
“We will do whatever she decides,” Sam growls.
“Remember that whole little speech you gave me while holding a gun to my head, spouting off about how you’re on Declan’s team—Jo’s team?
Well, we’re on Jo’s team too. And Mabel’s.
She’s our sister now, so you can fuck right off. She doesn’t want to see you.”
I wince at his harsh words, but he has a point. They can’t keep her here, no matter how much they might want to. They don’t have ownership over her just because she could be their true scent match.
Footsteps have me looking over her shoulder just in time to see Declan and Rory disappearing inside the house, shoulders slumped.
They have nobody to blame but themselves. I told them what would happen if they came on too strong.
“I’m sorry, Mabel-cakes,” I sniff. “I shoulda warned you. But I thought that worryin’ about the possibility of a scent match was too much to bear after everythin’ you went through.”
She lets out a teary laugh. “Scent match. Who do they think they’re playin’? I don’t even have a scent anymore.”
“Mabel…” I sigh, pulling back and looking at her. “It is a real possibility, you know that, right? The guys and I got whiffs of each other back when I was at Thornfield, even if it was just the tiniest bit.”
She shakes her head. “They aren’t. I haven’t gotten a hint of any of them. I can’t even smell dinner when it’s cookin’.” I frown, looking down at her sweatshirt. Or, should I say, Rory’s sweatshirt. The one that’s saturated in his desert rain scent.
“Do you scent anythin’ off that?” I ask carefully.
She shakes her head. “No? Do you think Rory’s scent would be on it? He was holding onto my arms when I woke up in the front yard.”
I open my mouth to tell the truth—really, I swear I’m about to tell her just whose sweatshirt she’s wearing.
But then I remember that whether or not they’re really scent matches, Rory’s scent was helping her somehow.
If I tell her that it’s his, she won’t wear it anymore. And then she won’t keep getting better.
“Just curious,” I answer instead, shrugging. It wouldn’t do anyone any good now to bring up everything that’s been happening the last two weeks. “Let’s get you back inside. I have Doctor McFadden comin’ tomorrow, okay? That should make sure this doesn't happen again.”
She sniffs, nodding once. “Okay. I’m gonna go to bed now, okay?”
I find myself shaking my head. “You can’t go by yourself.”
“I have to, Jo.” She gives me a sad smile.
“Nope.” I shake my head again. “Come on. You and I can sleep in the guest room, and the guys will just have to cuddle each other.” Not that I don’t love my sister, but I don’t exactly want another omega where my guys sleep—even if they aren’t there at the time.
Her protests are half-hearted as I pull her toward the house with me, my guys forming a sweet, but unnecessary circle of protection around us. That is, until Hayden breaks away from formation, running into the house and shouting, “I call being the little spoon!”
Mabel’s smile doesn’t meet her eyes. “You sure you wanna sleep with me? You’ll miss out on bein’ Hayden’s big spoon.”
I snort.
“Please, Mabel-cakes. The boys could use some male-bondin’ time.”
Hayden chuckles as we enter the house.
“Grow up, Hayden.” Sam rolls his eyes. “She didn’t mean that kind of male-bonding.”
“You wish, Daddy-O,” Hayden winks before cackling and running up the stairs.
Mabel and I exchange a look before giggling, following him up the stairs and branching off to the guest room.
She snuggles right into my side like when we were kids, and I hope I help her get a good night’s sleep.