Chapter 47 #3
I get the feeling he’ll refuse the money.
While my pack shut down in the face of our own personal nightmare, our allies had to sit with the inability to help us.
The impotence to assist an ally is also a hard thing to sit with.
I think we’re going to be reminded of this for a long time and they’re going to maneuver themselves into positions where we have to accept the help.
“Aster? Aster!”
“It really sucks when people tell you exactly who they are and you believe they’re bluffing, huh?” Hollis asks above Tina’s screaming. “Stop fucking with my family. Alisa is mine. If you know Emilia, then you know who I am, Tina.”
“Bye now.” I hang up with an eye roll, because I really am petty enough to need the last word. I wrap my arm around Alisa and push her hand holding the gun down as she sucks in a shaky breath.
“I could have been Aster,” she whispers.
Troy stands and walks slowly toward us, being careful of the blood and brain matter.
“You’re so damn mean to yourself,” he says. “Stop it.”
“The amount of delusion Aster lived in is insane,” Hollis says. “You’ve always known the difference between right and wrong. Sometimes, you had to bend it to fit your survival. You could never be Aster, honey. Do you regret what you did?”
“No. It almost feels like a little piece of evil just died,” Alisa admits. “I made a huge mess though.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Niall chuckles. “I’m impressed by the mess if I’m being honest. Trouble seems to follow you though. I think you need a permanent body guard, Alisa.”
“Ah man,” she groans.
“He’s not wrong,” Lyle sighs. “Since I’m officially running for mayor now, I think it’s a good idea. I’ll reach out to the security office, Niall.”
“Pablo is running our emails for the moment. The reason I mentioned it is because I’m offering, Lyle. No,” Niall holds up his hand as my entire pack and I open our mouths to protest. “I insist.”
“I rarely leave the house,” Alisa says weakly.
“But you should,” Abbott says. “My omegas are homebodies by choice but they’re always doing something.
Cassidy and Winter are planning to attend Baby and Me classes.
They have a guard and he drives them around.
We’ve always had people because the world isn’t safe, Alisa. It doesn’t mean you stop living.”
This is a very odd conversation to be having while a body cools nearby, but we also haven’t been very available recently. I’m sure everyone will have something to say when we get together.
“I’m entering retirement, and I get stir crazy,” Troy announces. “Even now, I’m tired of being laid up in bed.”
“I suggested a stroll in the garden,” Doc drawls, making me snort-laugh. Alisa giggles, and then we’re all fucking lost to stress-filled laughter. Abbott hides a smile as he watches us and Lyle is the first to get it together.
“Thank you, Niall,” Lyle says, lips pressing together to keep himself from laughing again. “I don’t want Alisa to become a prisoner of our home. Writing in a coffee shop that’s safe might be nice.”
“You’re writing?” Abbott asks, surprised.
“Alisa is amazing,” Hollis says. Oh yeah, I forgot she was still there. “I love you, girl. I’ll call you later?”
“Love you too,” Alisa says, glancing at the phone Lyle is still holding.
“She’s gone,” he murmurs, tucking the phone away. “How are you doing?”
“I’m kind of tired,” she admits. “Between the event and murder, I’m hitting my wall.”
“Murder can do that to you,” Abbott says, amused. “Are you going to be at our meeting in a couple of days?”
“Me?” Alisa asks. “Oh, I don’t think so.”
“You could if you wanted to,” I say, kissing her hair. I don’t even care that there may be some blood in it. “It’s up to you.”
“We can’t get to know her if she always disappears,” Abbott says. I put the safety on Alisa’s weapon and drop it in my pocket before I pick her up. I don’t really care if she has two good feet and can walk. If I want to carry my omega around, I will.
“Or, you can find a way to get to know her in ways that aren’t stressful for her,” Troy says. “Don’t be an asshole, Abbott.”
“Respectfully,” Silas adds.
Abbott rolls his eyes as we begin moving toward the front door, and I think it would have been better if Silas hadn’t said anything. However, Troy is right. Alisa doesn’t enjoy people.
“I’ll see how I feel,” Alisa says, burying her nose in my throat as she closes her eyes. “You’re going to be discussing business, and none of that has anything to do with me.”
My pack and I walk out of the house with our omega, ready to go home after a long day made even longer.
“They’re trying so hard,” she whispers.
“It’s not your responsibility to make it easier to connect with you,” I reply.
It may seem harsh, but my pack and I have a lot of commitments in this city.
Our friends are used to easy conversations with us and southern hospitality.
Alisa shouldn’t need to offer the same after everything she’s gone through.
No one is forcing Troy to do anything, and I think that speaks volumes.
My omega dances to no one’s tune but her own.