Chapter Eighteen
Elias
I was scheduled to work the next day but had made a few phone calls before I went to bed, and managed to shift with another healer so I could be here when our omega got up.
It was going to be a challenge leaving her anytime, I could tell.
And the same for the other guys. Fortunately, we were responsible males and wouldn’t just sit around at our omega’s feet until all our savings and Carter’s trust ran out.
We wanted to support our female. If she saw fit to stay and be ours. It was not by any means sure yet.
With ice cream off the table at least until midmorning, we would need to feed her something healthful and tasty. Which would be…
“What are you up to?” Jayden came cruising in and went right to the coffeepot. “Thanks for making this.”
“Sure. I am trying to come up with something for our mate’s breakfast.”
“Good. I had the same idea. It should be a good source of protein and healthy carbs so she will have lasting energy. Maybe an omelet and some whole-grain toast.”
“Or bacon. Doesn’t everyone like bacon?” Carter joined us. “I think we have some in the refrigerator.”
“But Anathea has a real sweet tooth,” I shared my observation. “She might like a yogurt parfait.”
“That’s a great idea.” Jayden stepped over to the refrigerator and dug in the crisper drawer. “We have strawberries and blueberries.” He handed them to Carter and reached way to the back. “I think…yes…here’s the yogurt. Do we have granola?”
We all went to work making the parfaits and, when they were ready, set them back in the refrigerator and made omelets, bacon, and toast as well.
Just to be sure she had something she’d enjoy.
We put the hot food in the oven to keep warm and sat down with our coffee to wait. Not long afterward, the stairs creaked.
“We need to fix that,” Carter murmured, but we were all facing the kitchen doorway, excited to see our omega coming downstairs in her borrowed nightwear.
“Or not,” I disagreed. “It isn’t a bad thing to know our omega will soon be with us.”
“True.” Carter chuckled, rising to his feet. “Good morning, Anathea.”
But all our smiles dimmed at her expression.
I was at her side in two seconds. “What’s wrong? Are you well?”
She held out her phone. “My sister texted. Here. You can see for yourself.”
I took the device but handed it off to Carter at his gesture.
He read the screen, frowning. “They’re threatening your sister. Do you think she’d come here?”
She shrugged. “I asked her if you look up the text chain. She says she’s afraid to leave Mom and Dad on their own. But this can’t go on. Maybe I do need to go and let them claim me before they hurt my family, and you. Everyone I care about.”
Under other circumstances, I’d have been thrilled to be included in people our mate cared about, and I would be, later. For now, we had to take action to protect our mate and the others she cared about.
“Okay, we’ve got this, Anathea. First, don’t worry. I’m going to speak with my attorney and explain what’s going on. We need advice on how to handle the harassment as well as the contract. Do you have a copy of it?”
“No. I left with almost nothing, and I was certainly never provided with the documentation.”
“Maybe your sister can get hold of it? Do you mind if I give her contact info to the attorney?”
“Give me the phone and I’ll ask her.” She took the device back and typed into the screen. Waited a moment. “She says go ahead. This is affecting the whole family now, so there’s no trying to hide it.”
“Why don’t you go shower and dress and relax while I call? Breakfast is keeping warm, and after you eat, we’ll plan our day together.”
“I’m supposed to work,” she protested.
“I’m sure you can get the day off.” Carter was already on his own phone. “Let me speak to Bob please.”
“Pushy much?” she muttered then shrugged. “I probably wouldn’t be much good at the shop today anyway. I’ll call Morgana upstairs.”
She left us and headed for the omega suite while Carter spoke in low tones to his attorney and finally disconnected.
“All right. He’s going to speak to Anathea’s sister and do some research.
Her parents as well if they are willing to talk.
Right now, he advises us to keep her under our watchful eye until we get the word otherwise. ”
“Well, that’s no trial.” I set out plates and silverware in anticipation of sitting down to eat together.
“Let’s just hope he can help us to make all this go away so we can consider our life together without that being a factor in our omega’s decision.
Yes, we want her to be safe, but we would rather spend our time loving her than fending off the Vex pack. ”
When Anathea came downstairs, we all ate and made plans for a day together, trying to put all our worries out of our minds while we just did whatever sounded fun.
Too full from breakfast to contemplate lunch, we shopped and walked and talked and finally went out to dinner before returning home to watch a movie together.
It didn’t matter what we did as long as she was with us. And by the time we got in the car to go home, her scent was intensified, at least to me. Heady. It was going to be awfully hard to stay cool until she was ready for us.
If she ever was.
Please let her be.