24. Storm
Chapter 24
Storm
I follow Fox down a well-worn path, Frankie close behind us. After a moment's hesitation, I reach back and grab Frankie's hand, tugging him forward until he's walking beside me. His fingers intertwine with mine naturally, his palm warm against my skin.
"I still can't believe we're here," he says quietly, squeezing my hand.
"It feels like a dream." I say. It really does.
Fox calls out, pointing to a flash of red in a nearby tree.
"Cardinal," he says, his face lighting up with simple joy. "We get quite a few up here. Follow me, I'll show you where they nest."
We veer off the main path, following Fox into the shade of the forest. The ground grows uneven. I'd forgotten how much I love this.
"How big is this place, really?" I ask, ducking under a low-hanging branch.
"Thirty acres, like Alex said," Fox answers. "But it feels bigger because of how it's situated. The mountains create natural boundaries, and there's no one else for miles."
"No neighbors?" Frankie sounds surprised.
Fox shakes his head. "Not close enough to matter. Elena—my mom—goes into town for supplies every few weeks, but otherwise, we're pretty isolated."
"And that's how you've stayed hidden all this time," I muse, understanding dawning. "No one to notice a male omega. And you get to come out here and have adventures. Must be so nice."
Fox nods, a shadow passing over his face. "It wasn't always this way. The first two years after they rescued me, I didn't leave my room. It took me a long time to venture outside into the fresh air. But once I did, I felt like I could finally begin to heal."
"Oh Fox, I'm so sorry. Last night's a bit of a blur—I shouldn't have said anything."
"No, it's okay," Fox reassures me. "It's something I've been working through. We were both in the Omega House, after all. Only I was living beneath you, not with you. I'm sure we would have become instant friends."
My mouth drops open. "What? You were under the Omega House?" The words tumble out before I can stop them. His eyes dart away and I instantly regret my outburst. "Oh god, Fox, I'm sorry. You don't have to answer that. I just think out loud sometimes." I reach for his hand, squeezing it gently.
"I was there until four years ago when they came for me. Reed, Jonathan, and Alex. I knew they’d come. They're the youngest alphas ever to run the Omega House. Did you know that?" His words leave me stunned.
"They got the job there to find you?" Holy shit. And all those years. I fucked with Jonathan. I was a bitch. And he was just there to save Fox.
Fox's expression softens as Frankie rubs my back. I hadn't even realized I'd started crying.
"Yes, Storm. They risked everything to find me and when they did, they brought me here."
"But... but I was there for weeks before they came." My throat tightens, making it hard to swallow. Fox gently wipes away my tears as he smiles down at me.
"You couldn't have done anything to help me," he says.
His answer rings true, but it still doesn't sit right with me. I fall silent, processing this new perspective. Jonathan Kingsley, the grumpy cold alpha. Reed, the silent deadly alpha and Alex, the sweet protective one, risked everything to save their male omega.
"Hey," Frankie says, squeezing my hand. "It’s not your fault. I didn’t know either. I worked there and had no idea there was another level."
I shake off the sadness, forcing a smile. "Yeah. Just... thinking."
"Dangerous hobby," he teases, nudging me with his shoulder.
His playfulness breaks through my thoughts, and I find myself grinning. "Watch it, beta boy. I know where you sleep now." A flush creeps up his neck, making me laugh.
Fox squeezes my hand. “I can show you where I sleep later.” He winks and now I’m the one blushing.
I release his hand to dart ahead, feeling suddenly light and mischievous. "Race you to that big oak!" I call over my shoulder, already breaking into a run.
I hear Frankie chuckle, then the sounds of footsteps as they give chase. The forest blurs around me as I run, my heart pounding with exhilaration. I haven't run like this in years. My muscles burn with the effort, my lungs burning in the best possible way.
I reach the oak tree seconds before the guys, slapping my palm against the rough bark with a triumphant laugh. "I win!"
Frankie arrives a moment later, breathing hard. "You cheated," he accuses, bending over to catch his breath. "Head start."
Fox is way behind, smiling at us.
"Excuses, excuses," I tease Frankie, hopping from one foot to the other, too energized to stand still. "Want a rematch? I'll even give you a head start this time."
Frankie straightens, a gleam entering his eyes. "You're on. To that fallen log over there." He points to a massive tree trunk about fifty yards away.
"On your mark," I say, settling into a starting position.
"Get set," he continues, crouching slightly.
"Go!" we shout in unison, both lunging forward at the same time.
The forest becomes a blur of green and gold as we race, weaving between trees, leaping over roots and rocks. Frankie is faster than I expected, his longer legs giving him an advantage. But I'm quick and agile, able to navigate the uneven terrain with more grace.
We reach the log almost simultaneously, both of us reaching out to touch it. Our hands land on top of each other, his larger one covering mine completely. We collapse against the log, laughing and breathless.
"Tie," he gasps, his chest heaving.
"No way," I argue, though I'm too out of breath to sound convincing. "I totally beat you."
Frankie just laughs, the sound deep and genuine. His face is flushed, eyes bright with joy. In this moment, he looks younger, carefree—so different from the nervous, reserved beta I knew at the Omega House.
"I don't think I've ever heard you laugh like that," I say, the words slipping out before I can stop myself.
His smile softens. "Haven't had much to laugh about until now."
The simple honesty of his words catches me off guard. I look away, suddenly self-conscious. "Where's Fox?" I ask, noticing his absence.
Frankie glances around. "Not sure. Maybe he went ahead?"
As if summoned by his name, Fox appears from around a bend in the path, Alexander at his side. They're holding hands. Something in my chest tightens at the sight.
"There you are," Alexander calls, his voice warm with amusement. "We heard the commotion and figured you two were having fun without us."
"Just racing," I explain, pushing away from the log to meet them. "Frankie thinks he can keep up with me."
"I did keep up," Frankie protests, following me. "It was a tie."
"Whatever helps you sleep at night, beta boy," I tease, dancing away when he tries to nudge me in retaliation.
Alexander watches our exchange with an expression I can't quite read. I know it was Jonathan who said I could touch Frankie. But this is Alex. I have a feeling he is more understanding. Fox leans against him, their bodies fitting together like two pieces of a puzzle.
"We're heading to the stream," Fox says, tugging Alexander's hand. "Want to join us?"
"Absolutely," I nod eagerly, already moving to follow them. "Lead the way."
Fox guides us deeper into the forest, the path growing narrower and wilder. Alexander walks beside him, while Frankie and I follow a few steps behind. After a moment's hesitation, Frankie's hand finds mine again, his touch hesitant but deliberate.
"Is this okay?" he asks quietly.
I answer by intertwining our fingers more securely, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. "More than okay."
The tension drains from his shoulders, and he smiles down at me—that soft, shy smile that's always made something flutter in my chest, even back in the Omega House when I tried so hard to deny it.
"I still can't believe we're here," he says, echoing his earlier sentiment. "Part of me keeps waiting to wake up back in that place."
"I know what you mean," I admit. "Four years in there... it changes how you see the world. Makes freedom feel like a dream that could slip away at any moment."
Frankie's expression turns solemn. "Do you think they're looking for us? Their fathers?"
The question sends a chill through me, despite the warm sunlight filtering through the trees. "Probably," I answer honestly. "Jonathan doesn't seem willing to give me up, which is strange when you think about it." I pause, trying to make sense of it myself. "He could have ended all of this by handing me over. He claims to hate me, so why protect me? And Reed—why did either of them save me in the first place?"
"I think there's more to Jonathan than he shows," Frankie says quietly. "He's not as bad as he wants everyone to believe."
We walk in silence for a moment, both lost in our own thoughts. Then, on impulse, I tug him to a stop, rising on my tiptoes to press a quick kiss to his lips.
He blinks down at me in surprise. "What was that for?"
"Because I can," I answer with a grin, already pulling away to skip ahead. "Because we're free, and because you smell like cinnamon rolls, and because I've wanted to do that since we left the house."
"Really?" Frankie repeats, his voice rising in disbelief as he hurries to catch up. "You've wanted to kiss me since we left the house and you're just now getting around to it?"
"Better late than never," I call over my shoulder, laughing at his stunned expression. "Besides, I wasn't supposed to touch the beta guard, remember? I forget I can kiss you anytime I want now."
He chuckles as he follows me.
"New rules here beta boy. You can kiss me always."
Frankie catches up to me, his longer stride easily matching my pace now. "Always?" he asks, his voice dropping to a husky whisper.
Before I can answer, his lips are on mine. His arms wrap around my waist, pulling me against him as his other hand slides up under my hair, cradling the nape of my neck. I melt into him, surprised by the heat that instantly flares between us. His kiss is nothing like this morning. This kiss expresses everything he’s feeling.
My hands find their way to his chest, feeling his heartbeat racing beneath my fingertips. His scent envelops me, that warm cinnamon intensifying with desire, making my head swim and the slick pool. I rise on my tiptoes, pressing closer, desperate to eliminate any space between us.
He moans, and it sends a shiver down my spine. His lips move against mine with increasing urgency, coaxing them apart. When his tongue traces the seam of my mouth, I open for him without hesitation.
All I can think of is his taste, his touch, the warmth of his body against mine. My fingers tangle in his hair, tugging gently, drawing another of those delicious sounds from him. His hand at my waist slips beneath the hem of my shirt, his palm scorching against the bare skin of my lower back.
When we finally break apart, we're both breathing hard. Frankie rests his forehead against mine, his eyes dark and dazed. His thumb traces gentle circles at the nape of my neck, sending little sparks of pleasure down my spine.
"I've been wanting to do that since the first day I saw you," he confesses, his voice rough with emotion.
I smile up at him, feeling lighter than I have in years. "Worth the wait?"
In answer, he dips his head and kisses me again, softer this time, but no less intense. "More than you know," he murmurs against my lips.
I hear the crunch of leaves underfoot and turn to see Fox and Alex standing there with matching smiles.
"That was hot," Fox gives a low whistle, his hazel eyes dancing with mischief.
“Maybe don’t do that directly in front of Reed. He’s a little possessive of you, Storm. And a kiss like that might just send him over the edge and snap Frankie’s neck. And none of us want that.”
Fox slaps Alex’s chest. “Don’t say that. Reed wouldn’t hurt him.” He looks at me to tell me he won’t do that.
“Reed scent marked me earlier.” I blurt out. But the way Alex nods at me, maybe he was giving me a warning that was a little too late. He knew. Of course, I smell like him.
“Let’s forget about Reed and let’s go find some fishes.” Fox reaches out to my hand and tugs me forward. After a few moments, Alex and Fox fall into easy banter.
It makes me smile and forget what Alex said about Reed… just a little.
The sound of running water reaches us before we see the stream, a gentle babbling that grows louder as we approach. Fox leads us around a final bend in the path, and suddenly the forest opens to reveal a small clearing with a crystal-clear stream. The water tumbles over smooth rocks, creating miniature rapids and pools as it winds its way through the woods.
"It's beautiful," I breathe, taking in the serene scene. Sunlight dances on the water's surface, creating patterns that shift and change with every ripple. The banks are soft with moss and fallen leaves of vibrant autumn colors.
"This is my favorite spot on the property," Fox says, his expression softening as he gazes at the stream. "When I first came here, I used to spend hours just sitting by the water, listening to it flow. It helped... after everything."
There's a weight to his words that hints at the trauma he's endured, the horror of being a male omega in a system that views him as an abomination. I feel a surge of protectiveness toward him, this man who understands what it means to be treated as less than human because of his designation.
"It's perfect," I say, squeezing his hand briefly. "Thank you for sharing it with us."
Fox smiles, the gesture transforming his face. "That's what pack does," he says simply.
Pack. The word still feels strange. In the Omega House, "pack" was always presented as something to be happy about. Yet it gave me nothing but fear. I still remember being told I had the right to arrange flowers now with my future pack. As if that’s something to look forward to. But here… it’s different. Not that I’ve been allowed to arrange flowers. But I have a feeling that with this pack, I could be allowed to do so much more.
Alexander and Fox settle on a large, flat rock near the water's edge, their bodies angled toward each other in easy intimacy. Alexander's arm drapes around Fox's shoulders, his fingers absently tracing patterns on his omega's arm. There's a tenderness in their interaction that makes my chest ache with something like envy.
Frankie and I find a spot a little farther downstream, where a fallen tree creates a natural bench overlooking a deeper pool. The water here is perfectly clear, revealing smooth stones and darting minnows below the surface. I kick off Elena’s borrowed boots and dip my toes in, gasping at the cold.
"It's freezing!" I laugh, splashing a bit of water in Frankie's direction.
He dodges, chuckling. "What did you expect? It comes straight down from the mountains."
"I haven't felt cold water like this in years," I admit, wiggling my toes in the stream. "Everything at the Omega House was perfectly temperature controlled. Nothing too hot, nothing too cold."
Frankie's expression grows serious as he watches me. "You really hated it there, didn't you?"
"Every minute of every day," I confirm, staring down at the rippling water. "It was like being buried alive. White walls, white floors, white everything. No real air, no real food, no real life." I glance up at him. "How did you stand working there?"
He shrugs, picking up a small pebble and rolling it between his fingers. "Didn't have much choice, at first. Needed the money for my mom's treatments." His voice drops lower. "Then, after she passed... I stayed because of you."
The simple confession sends warmth spreading through my chest. "Because of me?"
Frankie nods, not quite meeting my eyes. "I couldn't leave you there alone. And in a weird way, I was afraid of what would happen if I wasn't there. Like maybe you'd try something really dangerous, and I wouldn't be around to help."
"I probably would have," I admit with a rueful smile. "I did my fair share of stupid things, even with you there."
"Like rigging the lottery to pull Kingsley's name?" Frankie's tone is teasing.
I groan, flopping back against the trunk of the fallen tree. "Don't remind me. Biggest mistake of my life."
"Not from where I'm sitting," Frankie says quietly. "If you hadn't done that, we wouldn't be here right now. Together. Free."
I turn my head to look at him, surprised by his perspective. "You really think that? Even after everything that happened?" The fathers, the rebellion I accidentally evoked.
He meets my gaze steadily. "I think that sometimes the wrong choices take us to the right places." A small smile curves his lips. "Or the right people."