Chapter 48
CHAPTER
FORTY-EIGHT
ALISA
Voices carry across the garden as I glide my legs through the water of the pond.
I went for a walk with my pack and Troy earlier today to get out of the house for a little while, knowing the Five Packs would be getting together.
A couple of other packs will be joining them as well, and it sounds like more people than I’m comfortable being around.
I close my eyes as I hear footsteps walking toward me, knowing it’s Troy. We didn’t have a chance to have our fun after I killed Aster, because my soul was tired. I don’t regret what I did. The world does feel as if it's brighter after her death.
I can’t explain it, but that’s how I feel.
“Hey, baby.”
“Hi.” I open my eyes as he sits down heavily beside me and he pulls me into a hug.
“I’m a terrible patient,” he grumbles.
“I’ve noticed,” I laugh. “I heard yelling earlier from the peanut gallery.”
“Yeah, they’re working through their shit. I got tired of it,” he shrugs. “Will you come with me somewhere tomorrow? We’ll have Niall come with us. I’m chatting with a real estate agent about a property I saw.”
“I’ll come,” I promise. “Do you think I’m being a brat about not wanting to say hello?”
“No. Your presence isn’t going to change what they’re discussing. I promise. They’re…a lot. If you want to go over to get a plate of food, I’ll come with you. Lyle and Silas want you to eat.”
I sigh heavily as my stomach rumbles, knowing they can tell I’m hungry. Shit.
“Okay…”
“To the firing squad we go,” he laughs.
“The ground isn’t an appropriate place to sit for you,” Doc says, stalking toward us. “You all remind me of what it’s like to chase my kids.”
“Still blows my mind that you have children,” Troy says, allowing Doc to help him up.
“Their mom divorced my ass very quickly. I’m married to my job, and she disliked my late hours.”
“Being a mafia doctor will do that,” I state, taking Doc’s hand when he offers it to me. There are leaves sticking to my bare feet and legs, and I definitely am not fit for company.
It’s really warm today, but I came outside to escape having to stay in all day. Once people started arriving, I knew I wouldn’t want to walk past them for some air. I’ve been daydreaming my way through a scene, and I think I’m almost ready to begin writing it.
My dress has shorts and a bra built into it, and I think I want to live in clothing like this. Easton insisted on getting me new identification, a credit card, and other big girl shit. I told him this felt silly and he merely dropped a kiss on my lips before tickling me until I screamed for mercy.
He promised he could show me silliness, and that our pack wanted me to be able to buy things without ever having to ask for them. That being said, I think my first purchase will be buying more of these dresses in as many shades of purple as possible.
“Alisa,” Troy says, pulling me back into the present.
“Mmhmm?” We are walking as slow as humanly possible, probably because we are both adverse to joining the chaos ahead of us. Doc has already disappeared back into his cottage, leaving us to our own devices.
“I’ve been thinking about this a lot. I really want to complete our bond. I want to know when you’re hungry and be able to anticipate your needs when I can’t see you. I need you to be completely mine.”
I don’t want to ask my doctor every time I want to complete a bond with my alphas. It’s been getting better each time, I think it’ll be fine.
“Yes, please.”
“Food first,” he grins, squeezing my hand as we walk.
“I hate that you all keep insisting cum isn’t food,” I grumble under my breath.
It gets very quiet as we step onto the patio, and my cheeks heat with embarrassment. Ugh, I wasn’t very loud. Did they hear me? Fuck it.
“Decided you were hungry, huh?” Lyle asks, raising his hand for me to come see him.
“Starving,” I admit, releasing Troy to walk over to Lyle.
“I’ll make you a plate,” Silas says, standing.
Lyle pulls me into his lap, and his lips press against my ear. “We all heard, baby.”
“Fuck,” I hiss.
He chuckles as he holds me and the conversation picks back up. Cassidy hides a smile as she shifts in her seat, and I see Abbott is wearing the baby as he sways and listens. It’s nice to see what a good dad he is as he rubs the baby’s back.
“Alisa,” Carter says, leaning toward the center of our group. “My sister recently opened a cafe, and she has different events there. One of them is a silent writing meet up. Would that be something you’d be interested in?”
My lips part in surprise and Lyle takes the plate Silas passes to him.
“We’ve been talking about you,” he chuckles.
“You couldn’t hear us?” Silas asks, smirking.
“I was daydreaming,” I confess.
“Nothing wrong with that,” Lyle says.
“I actually think I would be interested,” I tell Carter. “I’m hanging up my social networking hat after everything that’s happened recently.”
“Lyle was telling us about Tina,” Carter says. “Fucking vile human being. Myra has a bouncer at her door despite it being a cafe, and tries hard to provide a safe environment.”
“She’d still go with me,” Niall grunts. “If you leave the house for more than a simple walk with your alphas, I’m your shadow.”
“I’d love to be able to say that’s overkill, but it’s not,” Lyle sighs.
“I don’t go anywhere anymore without my alphas,” Rosalia says. She’s sitting tall in her chair and her alphas surround her. I also see another male omega easily following the conversation, and I wonder what it would be like to be this comfortable with other people. “Avery is not to be played with.”
“Fucking bitch,” Cassidy mutters. “I hate that she has help now.”
“Thank you for the offer, Niall. We’ll accept. The cafe may be a nice place to write,” Easton says, ignoring Cassidy. It’ll only lead to a tirade, and no one likes Avery.
I nod as I pick up a sliced strawberry and slide it past my lips. Chewing slowly, I listen to them talk, finding I can handle this as long as I don’t need to talk. My social battery doesn’t ever have much charge.
“What is your book about?” a growly voice asks, making me blink slowly. “I’m Cooper by the way. We haven’t met yet.”
His dark hair is wild in a way that says he doesn’t much care what it does, and his voice definitely sounds as if there’s gravel in it.
“It’s… dark romance with a dash of horror,” I reply. “They say to write what you know, but my life has mostly been really sad. I think it may be why it feels as if I haven’t been able to write much.”
“It sounds like great therapy,” Cooper shrugs. “I know some great editors when you’re ready for that stage. Nina writes rage filled pieces about what’s happening in Savannah.”
“It started when I first heard a podcast Emilia Richardson does. I was so angry as I listened. She encourages parents to treat their children like shit to fit a certain model for omegas.” The woman speaking has white-blonde hair with pink tips and two different colors of eyes.
“I’m Nina. Don’t listen to the podcast unless you want to scream and hit things. ”
“I think Hollis told me about this,” I muse. “Is the podcast really still airing if Emilia is supposed to have gone underground?”
“Yes.” The complaint is said by one of Rosalia’s alphas, and he grimaces as I glance over. “I’m Nico. There’s a lot of us here. My cousin is still doing her damn podcast, which is partly how we know she’s still alive. The signal is hidden and encrypted, making it impossible to find her.”
“Tina is hiding her.” People stare at me as Lyle picks up a bite sized piece of sandwich and I allow him to feed me. “What?”
“We forgot to mention that, Little Fighter.”
“Oops,” I mumble.
“What a wicked web this bitch weaves,” Rosa sighs.
“She may be worse now that her sister is dead,” I state. I’m apparently feeling talkative as I eat.
“We can’t control what they do,” Easton says. “Let’s remain focused on the rest.”
I nod as I eat, watching as everyone interacts. The packs are all so different, yet it’s clear they care about each other. It’s such an interesting alliance of people.
“Want any more?” Lyle asks as I eat the last thing on the plate.
“I’m good, thank you. I think I’m going to go inside with Troy.”
I can feel Lyle’s smile through our bond as he kisses me. “Remember he’s still healing,” he whispers.
“He won’t do any work,” I say with a wink, standing. I awkwardly wave goodbye to everyone, and Troy steals me away.
“Did you announce that we’re going to have sex,” he teases me.
“I hate you,” I frown. “I totally did. I am terrible with people.”
“You’re adorable. No one cares,” he chuckles. “I love the fact that you nonchalantly were done with the outside world. Can I do a little bit of the work?”
Fuck, he was on the other side of the patio and heard me. Kill me now.
“No. I’m going to ride your cock and you can lay there,” I pout.
His laughter is pure and loud as he leads me upstairs. We should stay downstairs, but he’s been feeling better.
“Yes, ma’am.”
I giggle as he salutes me in the most ridiculous way. I can’t even pretend to be upset. If everyone heard me announce that I was going to fuck my alpha, then they did. I don’t care.
Troy pulls his shirt off with one hand, and my eyes greedily move over him. He’s going to have a nasty scar on his side, but he’s alive. Scars tell the story of the things you’ve survived. Some just lay on the inside instead.
Pulling the straps of my dress off my shoulders, I wiggle out of it until it hits the floor. Troy’s jaw practically unhinges as he realizes I’m not wearing panties.
“Fuck me,” he whispers.
“That’s the plan. Can I help you with your pants?”
“Yes. I want to feel the heat of your mouth while you swallow my cock. Erase everyone else from my skin.”
I can do that. I unbutton his shorts and pull them down, dropping to my knees as I gaze up at him. I should close the door to our pack room, but I don’t want to get up. Later.