Chapter 16
CHAPTER
SIXTEEN
ALISA
“Here’s a smoothie with protein powder in it,” East says, placing it in front of me at the kitchen table. “It’s not chalky, I swear. Silas also made you a piece of toast with cream cheese and strawberries.”
“This feels like a lot of food,” I admit, glancing up at him.
“Eat what you can,” he shrugs. “Make sure there’s something in your stomach before you call your brothers, please.”
I managed to fall asleep on his chest last night after the game and stayed there until five in the morning. That’s about the time I woke up in a panic, though I don’t remember what pulled me out of my sleep. I found Lyle and Silas lightly snoring in armchairs and Easton underneath me as a pillow.
The three of them opened their eyes as soon as I moved and I knew we’d all be up for the day. They’re all very keyed into my energy.
“Thank you,” I say, taking a small sip of the drink. My eyes widen as I find it tastes really good, and East simply smirks as he fills another glass with water for me and places it on the table beside me.
“Lyle is in his office talking to clients down the hall and Silas will be trying not to join me in pacing when you call,” he says. “We’re trying really hard not to hover.”
“I know you are,” I say, taking in his tight shoulders and lines pinched at the corners of his eyes. “I’m so nervous. I don’t know how they’re going to react. My brothers have always been paranoid. They may not believe it’s me.”
“I’ll step in to help them believe you if necessary,” he says, sliding his phone across the table.
It’s already open to a contact with Caleb’s name on it.
“He also knows the Five Packs have been looking for you. I think they may be scared to accept that their search is over. From what I understand, they’ve been close to finding you before. ”
My eyes unfocus slightly as I remember the rescue at Slick Dreams and how close I was to being free. Maybe they heard about it from close connections. I vaguely remember someone telling me as we got into the vehicle that we were headed to Minneapolis.
What are the chances any of the people who broke into Slick Dreams to save us knows my brothers? If they’re mafia, the way Pack Mayor told me, then it’s possible.
What was it like to come so close to finding me, only to have it slip away?
I’m still very in the dark about too many things. They’re not super important in the long run, but they’re like pockets of emptiness about the people closest to me I’d like to have.
Pull on your big girl panties, girl. The only way to dig myself out of the hole others have placed me in is to do it myself. Pack Mayor is wonderful, but they can’t give me back my life. I need to do it myself.
“Alisa?”
“Yeah. I’m here,” I breathe, closing my eyes as I shake my head. Sometimes, the only way to shift your thoughts is to physically force yourself to.
At least, that’s how it works for me.
“I know it’s a lot,” East says gently.
“I was just thinking about how much I don’t know. I suppose I should work on that,” I sigh, glancing back down at the phone.
“Eat a little, please. I can hear your stomach grumbling.”
“I’ll come in there and watch you eat!” Silas calls out.
“It’s creepy,” Easton snorts. “I highly suggest taking a bite of your toast to avoid it.”
I can’t help the smile on my face as I pick up the toast and take a bite. The flavors burst over my tongue as I moan, and find myself continuing to eat until it disappears entirely.
“Toast was a hit, the smoothie not so much. Got it,” he chuckles, picking up my plate to take to the sink. “How do you feel?”
“My head is much better, and my stomach is happy,” I report, taking a sip of water. “Sorry about the smoothie. It’s really good, I just don’t know if there’s any more room for it.”
“I knew this would end up being an either/or situation while Silas and I were making it,” he shrugs. “We’re trying really hard to give you privacy, but we suck at it.”
“You’re not perfect?” I gasp teasingly.
Easton’s smile is devastating as he walks over and presses on my chin to tilt my head back.
“Not even close,” he murmurs, bending down to brush my lips with his. My gasp is audible and he nips my bottom lip with his teeth before straightening up. “I’m very bad, and I wasn’t supposed to do that.”
“Don’t be sorry,” I whisper, licking my lips.
“Oh, I’m definitely not,” he growls.
“That’s the first kiss I’m counting.”
“Then we will happily rewrite all of your firsts, Alisa. We don’t want to pressure you, which means we’re all going to work at a snail’s pace. If you need more, you’re going to need to hit us over the head for it. I’m afraid you’re scent matched to gentlemen.”
“There’s nothing wrong with that,” I grin. His kiss is perfect, and I’ll keep his warning close to my heart. They definitely want me and I love this for me.
I need to figure out what I want, but first there’s a call to make.
“Hmm. We’ll see,” East says, easing backward as if he’s forcing his legs to move. “Remember. We’ll be right outside.”
“I know.” I watch as he leaves the room and I take a deep breath. A part of me wants to ask him to stay…
Picking up the phone, I press the phone icon, hoping that’ll get the call to connect. I haven’t held a cell phone in a long time.
I blink as it shows the phone is ringing, and press the little icon to put it on speaker. I don’t need complete privacy, despite the way East left the room.
“Answer,” I whisper. “Please.”
“Hello? Who is this?”
My brother’s voice is gruff and curious, and I feel my heart stutter in my chest. I guess someone gave Easton his number so I could call and that’s why he doesn’t recognize it.
“Hello? I fucking hate scam calls,” he grumbles.
“Wait!” I shriek, scared he’s about to hang up. His patience isn’t great when it comes to phone calls. Ugh, maybe this was a mistake. “Caleb, please…just wait.”
“Who is this?” he growls.
My brother hasn’t heard my voice in eleven years, and it’s changed a lot. It’s more throaty than it used to be, and it cracks a lot if I speak for longer than a few minutes.
“It’s Alisa. I’m in Savannah.”
“Who’s phone number is this?” he asks. I can hear him walking, and I wonder what he’s doing.
“It’s Easton Mayor’s phone. I’m sitting in his kitchen, Caleb,” I reply. Maybe if I give him enough details, he’ll realize I’m not a fake person calling. “I’m sorry to call you like this…”
“You’re sorry?” he asks. “Lars and I have been looking for you for ages. Don’t be sorry. I need to know everything. Let me run upstairs to get Lars. He’s with Nova.”
“Who’s Nova?” I ask, blinking. My brain is short circuiting. Do I know who that is?
“Hollis’ twin sister. She’s our scent match. Can you believe that?”
He’s talking to me as if I’m a normal person and tears prick my eyes. When am I going to start feeling as if I belong in the world?
“Wow,” I murmur, listening as he knocks on the door.
“It’s Alisa. Open up,” Caleb grunts.
I hear someone fall onto the ground and my lips twitch as someone gasps. Ugh, my brothers are such a mess.
“Okay, almost ready,” Caleb says. I hear the door open and hit the wall, and then Caleb barks out a laugh “Lars, hurry the fuck up. Are you crawling?”
“It takes too long for me to get up, asshole.” Lars’ deep growl as he snarls back at my brother simply makes the tears come faster. I sniff as I listen to them, filled with wonder.
“I can’t believe I’m talking to you,” I whisper.
“Where are you?” Lars asks, coming closer.
“Pack Mayor’s house. I’m staying with them,” I explain. “They found me.”
“Where have you been?” Caleb asks. “We asked Quinn about you. She said you were at Slick Dreams with her.”
“Who?” I ask, frowning.
“Quinn and Linus,” Lars grunts.
“Ah. Yes.” I know her by another name but I hold those words back.
“They didn’t know anything and Aisling told us you weren’t at Omega’s Haven with the other omegas who were rescued. I swear, we pissed off half the city with our questions, but what else were we supposed to do?” Caleb asks. “After years of not having any leads, we finally had something.”
“We found out Clara may have taken you to Savannah, and we followed you there,” Lars says. “Hi, by the way.”
“Hi,” I whisper, my voice drifting to nothing. “Things have kind of sucked on this side of things.”
“I want to know everything, but I also understand I can’t push,” Caleb sighs. “Lars and I have a problem of stomping in and making things worse. How did Pack Mayor find you?”
“I passed out in their warehouse,” I state. “It’s honestly kind of ridiculous that I managed to escape Clara’s auction house, only to get kidnapped while living on the street. I was running away from that pack and went looking for a safe place to hide.”
“We’ve spent more time with Cassidy and her pack than Pack Mayor,” Lars admits. “I’ll get someone to watch the coffee shop so we can come out to see you.”
“A coffee shop?” I ask. I remember the way he’d make pastries at Hollis’ apartment when she moved out of her parents’ home to help brighten the small area up. It was such a big deal and I remember my father ranting about how I better not get any ideas.
I fully planned to live at home until I found my scent matches or decided what to do with my life. In too many ways, I was a people pleaser growing up.
“I opened up a coffee shop where I make my own pastries and bread,” Lars explains. Mmm. I bet he cleans up doing this. I miss his baking. “I don’t work for dad anymore. I didn’t want to be his enforcer once you were gone. The only reason I agreed to it was to keep our family safe.”
Fuck. I’ve thought so many times about how no one kept me safe when I was kidnapped, but that wasn’t fair.
“Dad is kind of an asshole,” Caleb sighs. “I own a bar in Minneapolis, Alisa. We try to keep our distance from him.”
“Oh.” Should I have an opinion about this? If my father wasn’t lecturing me, then he was leaving me to my own devices. “I don’t know how to feel about that.”
“We’re rambling and trying to keep ourselves from sticking our feet in our mouths,” he admits. “What’s it like to be at Pack Mayer’s house?”