Chapter 23
Wren
Well, that was…unexpected. As soon as we shut the door behind them and listen to the cruiser leave the front of the house, we let out a collective sigh of relief.
We’re so damn lucky.
Or…they knew exactly who I was, but saw that I’m happy and not in any danger. Regardless, we’re in the clear for now.
“First thing I’m doing is making you an actual ID for Sylvia Bloom,” Ethan mutters, running a hand through his hair as we all plop back onto the couches. “Would have saved me from seeing Teddy’s thirst trap.”
My hand flies up to cover my mouth as I suppress a giggle. “Aw, are you jealous? Do you want a thirst trap too?”
“You know ‘e does, Dove,” Teddy grins, wrapping an arm around my shoulder and pulling me to him. “In fact, I’d bet all your guys do.”
“Song Bird can paint me as much as she wants,” Brennan says, stretching his arms above him, “but after we figure out how to get her parents to call off this whole thing.”
“Speaking of calling…” Maverick looks at Ethan. “Did you get her phone set up?”
“My phone?” My brows shoot up, looking between Ethan and Maverick.
“Yeah, one sec.” Ethan disappears and I look at Maverick questioningly.
“When did you have time to get me a phone?”
“I ran out while you were at the lake,” he shrugs like it’s no big deal, “then I had Ethan make it untraceable and unhackable.”
Ethan returns, placing the sleek device in my hand. “I’ve programmed all our numbers into it, and no matter who you call, nobody will be able to trace it.”
“So…would we use it to contact my parents when we’re ready?”
Maverick frowns. “Are you sure you want to do that?”
I stare at the phone in my hand. A window to the outside world that I’ve been denied for so long, now handed to me as if it’s nothing.
“I’m not sure. I think…I don’t know if they’re even really worried about me, or if they just want another paycheck.
But…it would really stick it to them if they heard how happy I am. ”
Teddy grins. “Atta girl, Dove. Rub their faces in it.”
Ethan smiles at me. “I’m almost done compiling everything needed to back them into a corner.
I managed to find the shipment you told Maverick about, and by going through your dad’s emails, managed to discern who the shipment will be sent to.
An anonymous tip has been sent to the DEA, and we should see them on the news by tomorrow. ”
“Right.” I nod, something in me settling at his words.
That’s the first step. Get them scared. All we need to do is keep following the plan, and in no time at all, my parents will announce that I’ve been found, alive and well by the pack that saved me from Pack Caruso and I’m going to live happily ever after in Starbrook City with them.
…Starbrook City.
Wait.
We haven’t talked about anything that comes after all this…living arrangements, if they even want to be an official pack. I haven’t even asked Maverick or Ethan if they watched my first interaction with Teddy like Brennan did. Well, I know that Maverick watched, but did he care?
It shouldn’t matter. I mean, really, it doesn’t. But…if I don’t ask, the question of—“Are they only with me because of the scent match?”—will always be in my mind.
“What do you guys think of pizza for dinner?” Maverick asks, stretching as he stands. “I can order some from this pizza shop I saw when I was in town earlier.”
I frown. I’ve never been allowed to have pizza.
But I’ve always wanted to try it.
“Oh my gods,” I moan as I chew the cheesy, delicious heaven that is pepperoni pizza. “This is amazing.”
“You didn’t say you’d never had pizza before,” Ethan frowns. “I’m seriously debating the merits of murder right now.”
Is it messed up that the words don’t bother me?
Probably, but I'm not willing to examine that too closely at the moment, so I deflect.
“Can I ask you guys something?” I adjust myself in my chair.
“Anything, Baby Girl.” Maverick gives me a soft smile, and my heart flutters.
“What happens…after? After we get my parents to back off, after my heat…where do we go?”
“Well, do you still want to go to Starbrook City?” Teddy asks, tilting his head.
“Starbrook City?” Brennan’s brows raise.
“I mean…” I bite my lip, looking around the table. “It’s always been my dream to live there some day. Back when we were planning my getaway from my parents, that’s where I was going.”
Brennan glances at Maverick, who nods, and Teddy gets a huge grin on his face as Ethan shrugs. “I can think of worse places to live.”
My jaw drops. “What? Just like…that?”
Maverick nods. “Just like that. It’s what our omega wants.”
“But…but you have jobs. A life…why would you just pick up and move for me?”
Brennan takes my hand. “Song Bird, first and foremost, believe me when I say we would do anything for you. Secondly, we’d have to at least move houses anyway, considering we’ll need a pack house and we all live separately at the moment—besides Ethan and Teddy.
And thirdly, we can do our job from anywhere.
There are always people in bad situations anywhere you go.
We can operate out of Starbrook City just as easily as Hope Springs. ”
“But…I don’t need to be in Starbrook City. If you can do your job from anywhere, so can I.”
I’m about to tell them how I’m so not worth picking up an entire life and business for, when a hand grips my chin, turning my face up to look at him.
Ethan.
“Little Bird…” he murmurs, looking between my eyes and my lips.
“How many different ways do we have to say it for you to understand that whatever you want is what we want? None of us have any particular attachment to this place. We’ve all just sort of been…
skating by, the last few years. You give us a purpose again.
So please…don’t take away our means of proving how much you mean to us. ”
“That’s the thing, though.” My bottom lip juts out slightly. “You don’t have to prove anything.”
“Then let me rephrase it.” Ethan arches a brow. “Don’t take away the privilege of showing you how much you mean to us. You may know how we feel, but that doesn’t mean that we stop showing it.”
His words sink in, leaving goosebumps along my skin. I’ve never felt like this before. So…seen. So cherished.
My voice is soft. “I don’t know what to say,” I admit, breaking eye contact and looking down at my plate.
“How about, ‘look at this house I found’?” Ethan smirks. “We can use my computer after dinner and look at houses for sale in the area. What do you think?”
My mouth gapes open as I look around the table, wanting to see what everyone else thinks about that suggestion. To my complete surprise, they’re all nodding. “That’s an excellent idea,” Maverick agrees before tilting his head at Ethan. “You know all our finances.”
Ethan shifts in his seat, sounding a little sheepish. “I…uh…I’ve already run the numbers, actually.”
Maverick only grins. “I know.”
I know I didn’t balk before, when Brennan mentioned a “pack house”, but as soon as the mention of money comes up, it suddenly feels much more…real.
We aren’t even bonded yet, and we’re going to buy a house?
It’s not the thought of moving in together that scares me. I want them. But…what if they get tired of me? What if we don’t bond, but I pick out this house and make them move, and then they come to their senses? What if—
“Dove? Wots goin’ through that pre’ty ‘ead of yours?” Teddy’s curious voice snaps me out of my thoughts.
I’m shaking my head before I even realize I’m doing it. “Nothing,” I squeak out, trying to keep the tears at bay.
“No.” Maverick’s stern voice has me looking up at him. “Don’t lie to us, Baby Girl. Tell us what’s wrong. Are we moving too fast?”
“I just…” I choke on the words. The stupid words that are clawing at my throat. “If I help pick out this house…what happens if you get tired of me? We aren’t bonded, and I’d have to leave the perfect house I picked out, and you—”
Every single alpha at the table stiffens, their eyes falling on me with stares hot enough to burn.
Multiple voices start to speak out in protest—but it’s Maverick that continues.
“Baby Girl,” Maverick’s voice is nearly a growl as he takes my face between his gentle hands.
His thumb wipes away a stray tear as I try to avoid his gaze.
“Look at me,” he commands softly, but there’s not a hint of bark in his tone, “please?” Swallowing, I look up, meeting his gaze.
“We have been holding back so we don’t scare you off.
I don’t think you realize that we’ve all been lost to you since before we stormed into Pack Caruso’s home.
” He sighs, closing his eyes like he’s debating on whether or not he should continue speaking.
Then they open, hard with determination.
“The night you met Teddy, he didn’t turn off his camera—”
“I know,” I say quietly, catching Maverick by surprise. “Brennan told me earlier.”
He huffs, letting out a small chuckle, before shaking his head.
“Then you know,” Maverick kisses another tear that had been rolling down my cheek, “that Brennan looked you up multiple times a week, and that Ethan screened all the packs that wanted to court you to make sure no sleaze balls got through—”
“What?” I gasp, looking up at Ethan as he stiffens.
His face is flushed, and he gives Maverick an incredulous look. “How the fuck did you know that?”
“I know everything,” Maverick grins before looking at me again. “The nosy bastard would delete any emails out of your piece-of-shit dad’s inbox if the pack looked even a little bit shady.”
Mav releases my face as I look back to Ethan, who is about as red as a tomato, giving Maverick an absolute death glare. “Why…why would you do that for me? You didn’t even know me.”