Chapter 36 #3
There’s a flurry of activity as Callum serves Isolde a small pancake and Jed places maple syrup and honey next to it.
“Wow,” Isolde says, watching everyone.
“We’re a lot,” Morris says, sighing. “Most of us do know what it’s like to have our autonomy stripped, Isolde. Rock and Ophelia worked hand in hand to destroy lives.”
“Rock scared the shit out of me,” Isolde says. “Ophelia used to threaten to leave me with his pack in order to punish me. Most omegas didn’t survive the time they spent with him.”
Jed looks sick as he shakes his head. “My father kept us in line by threatening to sell us,” he says.
“I’m the oldest, I’m responsible for keeping my brothers safe, you know?
I did a lot of fucked up things to make that happen.
If he told me to dance, I would, until I realized how heinous my actions were. ”
Adira squeezes his hand and Jed hugs her to his side. I have a feeling that Rock and his pack fucked over a lot of people with their intimidation tactics.
“I had no idea the old man had any other kids,” Damon mutters. “She’s like maybe nineteen? Ophelia has been hiding her for a long time.”
“I had never seen her before,” Isolde says, looking at her plate.
“Let me help,” I suggest, moving over to begin cutting up her food.
“Shit, I suck,” Jed sighs. “The baby looks so happy with you.”
“She woke me up from my nightmare,” Isolde says. “I couldn’t shake myself from it.”
“It’s clear you’re her mama,” Quinn says. “Blood isn’t always as thick as the world makes people believe. Don’t let anyone let you think otherwise.”
Isolde smiles at her before giving me her attention and obediently opening her mouth as I feed her a bite of her pancake.
I took a chance and used a little honey to sweeten it with.
“Mmm,” she sighs, nodding.
Linus loads the blender with cut up fruit, puts the top on it, and then walks out of the kitchen with it. Isolde looks after him, confused, and Adira chuckles.
“There’s not a chance in this world he’s going to turn a blender on around a sleeping baby,” she says. “Linus is a doll.”
“Mine,” Quinn snickers as Adira grins easily. “He’s the sweetest. There’s no rules that say you can only run a blender in the kitchen either.”
Linus returns a couple of minutes later, looking triumphant with the blender in hand. Isolde smiles at his antics, and I can see that even if she is a little uncomfortable being surrounded by so many people, she’s also enjoying it.
These are good people, and I’m glad she’s able to spend some time with the packs that have been working tirelessly to find her.
Isolde finishes her pancake and I help her get settled into a chair so she can drink her smoothie.
“Are you going to insist on holding her?” I ask, knowing she is going to have to balance a floppy, sleepy back as she also tries to drink her smoothie.
“Do you baby wear, Isolde?” Kane asks, pulling off the sling that he’s wearing.
Adira smirks as he gives her the baby doll that he had inside it, stuffing it down her shirt with a shrug.
She makes sure its head is out enough to keep Kane happy, and I’m filled with a sense of amusement that this is her normal.
She's always very patient with him too.
“I do,” she says. “I’m still new at it, and can’t get her into a sling if I’m holding her.”
“Will your mates or you stab me if I come over and help?” Kane asks tentatively.
“We may be the most even tempered alphas here,” Oliver chuckles. I roll my eyes at his words, because I murdered Leila’s biological mother without blinking an eye. He can speak for himself.
“I promise to keep my guns to myself,” I smirk.
Duncan snorts, shaking his head as he moves to help Callum finish cooking. Food is piling up around us, and plates are passed so that we can all serve ourselves.
“I guess that’ll have to do,” Kane says, letting slack out through the ring.
Walking behind Isolde, he asks her to stand and fixes the sling, while Isolde adjusts Leila so she’s comfortable. Not once does Kane touch her inappropriately. In fact, he apologizes when he has to loosen the sling around Leila’s legs before tightening it again.
I actually think his apology was more to the sleeping baby than to Isolde, and that sums up who Kane truly is.
“Hands free,” he crows softly. “How does it feel?”
“This is better than I can get her seat,” Isolde praises sitting again to take a triumphant sip of her smoothie. It’s her first and she looks surprised by the taste.
“Did I put something bad in it?” Linus asks worriedly.
“No. I really like the way the lemon balances it. I just wasn’t expecting it. It’s perfect, thank you,” Isolde says, taking another sip to prove it.
The conversation is easy as we all eat, but I can feel things shift as Adira takes a moment to collect herself.
“I understand that Ophelia has hurt you in ways that can never be undone,” she says. “How long were you at the Jefferson Auction the first time?”
“Almost three years,” Isolde replies. “I spent a lot of that time under a false heat, so my memories can be hazy at times.”
“A false…”
“She’d medically force it,” she explains. “Ophelia’s ability to create things in her lab blows my mind. That’s how she broke my bonds with my alphas.”
“I take it back,” Quinn whispers. “We can’t ask her this. It’s not fair.”
“Ask me what?” Isolde asks, waiting.
She’s so matter of fact about this, as if it’s not one of the most horrific things you could do to an omega. My soul is still screaming, even though our bond is half formed again.
Oliver, Lucas, and Alesso rub their past bite marks, which also disappeared when Ophelia broke our bonds. I can’t explain the mystical parts of this, but it felt like someone ripped a piece of my soul from me.
And I still haven’t gotten it back.
“Whatever it is, it’s Isolde’s decision if she accepts it or not,” Lucas says. “She’s the most fair person I know.”
“That’s why we can’t ask her if we can join her in killing Ophelia,” Quinn says, rubbing her arms as if she’s cold.
Duncan scoops her into his arms and takes her seat so he can deposit her in his lap. Quinn sits rigidly there instead of accepting any comfort, and I lean forward to see where this is going to go.
Isolde is the best person I know. I’ll accept whatever decision she makes.