Chapter 32
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
shay
Lyon’s fingers weave expertly through my hair, the heat from his body behind me warming me in ways it shouldn’t considering we just spent close to six days fucking.
“How are you so good at this?”
“Questioning my skills?”
“You’re surrounded by dudes. So, yeah, I’m gonna question how and where you learned to braid hair.”
His hands still, and when I look over my shoulder, there’s a light blush on his cheeks. “It’s silly.”
“Lyon, I want to know everything about you—the good, the bad, and the ugly. You all know my history, so it’s only fair I know yours.”
He swallows, then turns his eyes back to my hair and continues weaving the strands together.
“When I first went to live with Ridge, I was a mess. Barely functioning. Not talking. Flinching whenever someone moved too fast. Then one day, Ridge’s mother was braiding her hair as she walked into the room, talking to us boys.
I became hyperfocused on it. When she realized it, she asked if I wanted to learn. ”
He shrugs like it’s no big deal, but I know better. That’s the most words I’ve ever heard the man say. I kind of want to find Ridge’s mom and give her the biggest hug ever right now for loving this gentle man so much she gave him an outlet for what he was struggling with.
“That’s really sweet of her. Did it help?”
“It did. Whenever I was having a particularly bad day, she’d sit on the floor and let me braid her hair as many times as I needed until I could get my thoughts in order.”
My heart pangs for the sad little boy who’s turned into this incredible man. “You seem to have a good relationship with all of the guys’ parents.”
An unexpected hint of jealousy stabs my heart, knowing the guys have these loving parental figures and have gotten to spend a lifetime with them, whereas I have absolutely no one.
A renewed ache blooms in my chest as I think about my foster parents, and even the vague memories I have of my birth mother.
Longing rushes up for something I’ve never had. A family to call my own.
“I do. I am who I am today because of them.” He secures the bottom of the braid with an elastic tie. “All set.”
I hear a soft shuffling, and when I turn around, he’s holding out a small jewelry box.
“What’s this for?”
His eyes meet mine, and an almost boyish smirk curves his lips. “Just because.”
Even though I know we all still have to sit down and have some serious discussions, there’s a lightness in my heart that I’m not sure has ever truly been there. Taking the box, I slip the lid off and stare down at the diamond-studded cactus charm that hangs from a small white-gold chain.
“Lyon…”
His large hand grips the side of my face. “It suits you.”
I bite my bottom lip, trying to avoid the girlie grin that wants to break free. “Big man, are you insinuating I’m prickly?”
“Are you saying you’re not?”
My lips press against his lightly as I chuckle softly. “It’s pretty accurate, actually.”
His kiss is tender and loving, making my heart beat faster. I can’t deny that they all have that effect on me. They make me feel cared for and safe in a way I haven’t in years. The almost decade of loneliness has come to an end because I found men worthy of my love.
He pulls back, brushing back wisps of my hair that escaped the braid. “Ridge is waiting.”
“Go. I know the meeting with the supplier was put off because of my heat. Take care of business.”
“August said he’ll be back in a little bit and will get dinner started.”
“That’s fine. I’m going to run by the Slick, then I’m meeting up with Jules and Iris. When I get home, it’s time for that talk.”
“We’ll be waiting.” He kisses my forehead before pushing off the bed. “Be good, baby girl.”
I smirk. “Always.”
He walks out, and I sit there for a moment, soaking up the quiet.
Dropping back on the bed, I stare up at the ceiling, a little in awe of how quickly life can turn on a dime.
From empty to full. From lonely to happy.
From being all alone to surrounded by a pack that makes me forget the meaning of the word.
My cell rings, and I reach for it without looking at the screen.
“Hello?”
“I’m assuming this means I don’t get to go all kick-a-dick on the Young Pack?”
My laughter rings through the room. “No, Jules. I have become pretty attached to their dicks and would like them to be fully functioning for the foreseeable future.”
“Honestly, I’m glad. You deserve good men to love you. Now, we just have to gang up on Iris and get her packed up too.”
“I’ll leave the matchmaking to you. I’m just gonna bask in my happy little glow for a bit over here.”
“Does this mean you’re coming to book club tonight?”
“Yes, though I’ll admit I haven’t read shit. I was preoccupied with real sex.”
“Ah, to be young and in love. I can’t wait for Ronnie and Ash to start hounding you for babies again.”
I groan. “Oh god. Don’t remind me.”
When I quickly detail their absolutely horrifying guest appearance via phone at the beginning of my heat, Jules just cackles on the other end of the line.
“You know, I lucked out in the lack-of-mother-in-law-give-me-babies department. Beck and Wyatt’s mom, Selma, is the sweetest woman on the planet.
She’s just so happy Beck finally found me and that we all became pack, that she showers us with love any chance she gets.
She writes us letters, handsews us couple’s Halloween costumes, and always brings homemade goodies for Charlotte whenever we get to see her.
Of course, Gran is more than capable of driving me to drink on her own with all her pleas for more great grandbabies. ”
“When you have a kid as adorable as Charlotte, I can’t even blame her.”
We talk for a few more minutes, getting all caught up on the latest gossip.
When I hear the sound of a truck through the window, I force myself to get up. Peeking out the blinds, I see the delivery driver walk something up to the porch then head back out to his truck.
Heading out of my room, I switch the phone to my other hand. “I can’t believe Griffin’s baby mama showed up out of the blue and made a big scene right in front of the Feral Flavors ice cream parlor. How did he handle it?”
“He didn’t have to. Ronnie and Ash happened to be there at the same time, and they tore that ridiculous woman down five pegs. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Griff more relieved in my life.”
God, those women are powerhouses. I’m so glad I’m on their good side.
Opening the front door, I grab the box and walk back inside. “Poor Gavin. That little cutie deserves a mama to love all up on him.”
“No kidding. He’s such a sweetie pie.”
Absent-mindedly, I look down, but the label on the package stops me in my tracks. “Hey, Jules, I should probably clean up a little before I have to head out to meet up with you.”
“Okay. Then I’ll see you in a couple hours.”
“Sounds good.”
We hang up, and as I walk toward the kitchen with the box in my hand, something catches my eye in the lounge. A piece of cardboard is sticking out from a drawer in the coffee table. Switching gears, I head over to the sofa and sit down. Once again, I read the label.
Eden Foxx
c/o August Young
555 State Road 65
Darling, AZ 86004
I swear I read it at least five times, but it makes no more sense now than it did a few minutes ago. Eden Foxx is the author of the book we’re reading at Smut Club. Why would she be getting mail at the pack’s house, and why would it be in care of Aug?
My curiosity goes into overdrive when I take another peek at the cardboard sticking out of the drawer. I pull the metal handle and stare down at the contents in shock. Box by box by box, I empty their contents onto the table.
Sex toys.
Lube.
Figures crocheted into not-safe-for-work poses—a woman is riding one guy’s dick reverse cowgirl while another very anatomically impossible dick is shoved down her throat to the point where if he thrusts forward, it’ll probably hit her stomach.
What the actual fuck?
When I check all of the labels, they’re addressed the same way. What is August’s connection with Eden Foxx? Do the other guys know about this? Is this what they’re hiding? Is she important to him? Is that why Ronnie is such a big fan? Are they in a relationship?
Holy shit. Am I the other woman?
Panic tries to set in—my instincts screaming at me that they were right all along. That we should get the hell away from here and never look back. But where would I go? Darling is my home. I just purchased a business.
Taking a deep breath in, I exhale. I need to get myself under control before I do something stupid.
Calm down, Bennett. You’ve never seen August with another woman, and his mother and aunt seem very pleased that you’re settling down with his pack. They wouldn’t be asking you for babies if he was with someone else, would they?
But then what the hell else could it be?
Are they somehow related? Does he have a sister?
The fact that I know so little about these guys makes me feel like shit.
I’ve been so closed off for so long, and it’s all been such a whirlwind, that I haven’t dove much past surface level with any of them.
Especially August, who I admittedly know the least since he hasn’t lived in Darling long.
Jules’ words from days earlier repeat in my mind.
They’d never do anything to intentionally hurt me.
Focusing on that thought, and the fact that they’ve told me they love me—that has to mean something—I look across the table scattered with handcuffs, anal beads, a blindfold, and other kinky shit.
I’m pretty sure my lunch is about to make a reappearance despite my attempts to calm my nerves.
Sharing this type of stuff indicates a level of intimacy I’m not at all okay with, no matter who she is.
Don’t even ask what my Omega thinks about it all.
If she could, she’d be a thousand miles away right now.
However it’s all connected, I deserve an explanation and they deserve the chance to explain. I’m just not sure I’m ready to let them do that. It’s all too raw, especially coming off my heat. I had been so sure that this was what I wanted—that they were what I wanted.
We were supposed to talk tonight, but I’m not sure I can be a mature, rational, adult woman and hold it together right now. I need some time to think before I head over to meet Jules.
Oh yeah, Bennett. And you…what? Think you can go to Smut Club and act totally normal with Ronnie and Ash when what you really want to do is interrogate them until you find out what the hell they know about Eden Foxx and August. No problem at all.
Fuck me.
I scan the table again. I should probably shove all of this back into the drawer like I wasn’t snooping through their shit, but my petty little Omega heart wants to get at least one dig in before she’s forced to adult.
So, I stand up, grab my helmet, and walk out the front door, leaving it all there for them to find when they get home.
What’s a little panic attack when they’re hiding something like this from the woman they claim to want to bond?
Serves them right for keeping shit from me—whatever that may be.
And if I find out there really is another woman…
Well, let’s just say it won’t be a happy ending for them. Revenge and I are old friends.
Right now, some fresh air is in order before I figure out how to handle this shit storm.