Prologue II. #3
I’m alone when I wake up, my eyes swollen and head pounding. I pull on one of Liam’s sweaters, pressing my nose to the fabric and inhaling his sage scent. I can hear the shower running, meaning I haven’t slept in long enough to miss our morning routine.
I head barefoot to the kitchen, turning the coffee machine on.
It’s become such a part of muscle memory I almost feel like everything’s normal, like I didn’t mess up yesterday.
When the pack emerges from their rooms though, Ian walks right past me.
He efficiently knots his own tie in the hallway mirror, not sparing me a glance.
“Ian,” my voice breaks as I pleadingly call his name.
“I’ve got it,” he says without looking at me. He makes his way to the elevator, ignoring the cup of coffee and breakfast I’ve plated for him.
Liam and Cole look at me pitifully but follow Ian’s lead, tying their own ties in silence. No one gives me their usual goodbye kiss. Cole lifts a hand to wave and quickly lowers it at Ian’s reproachful look. The elevator dings, opens, and then they’re gone without a word.
I abandon my breakfast, appetite gone. Instead, I sink onto the couch and start crying again. The apartment feels bigger and emptier than ever. My sobs ring out into the room.
That’s where Cole finds me an hour later. I don’t hear the elevator’s arrival over my tears, but his scent strengthens when he enters the room, making me look up.
“Hey,” he says softly, sitting beside me and pulling me into his arms. “What’s wrong?”
“Ian won’t talk to me,” I sob into his chest. “He won’t let me tie his tie. He hates me.”
“He doesn’t hate you.” Cole strokes my hair, his scent warm and comforting. “He’s just… you really embarrassed him last night, Ariana.”
“I didn’t mean to.”
“I know you didn’t. But you have to understand, he spent weeks setting up that dinner. He coached you on what to say, how to act.” His voice is gentle, understanding. Cole always gets me. “Then you brought up working, right after he told you why that’s not possible. And then the wine…”
“I’m so stupid,” I whisper.
“You’re not stupid.” He pulls back to look at me, wiping my tears away.
“But if you had just listened when he tried to help you beforehand, this wouldn’t have happened.
He wouldn’t have to give you the silent treatment if you’d just done what he told you to.
This hurts him just as much as it hurts you. ”
The words hang over me like a weight. If I had done things right, if I had just listened.
“I just want him to forgive me,” I whisper.
“He will. Just give him time. Show him you understand.” He kisses my forehead, and I lean into the tender touch, desperate for it. “You’re still learning how to be part of this pack, we know that. But you have to try harder, okay?”
I nod, clinging to him. “Okay.” I press my forehead against his, repeating the words to myself like a mantra. I just have to try harder.
He holds me until the sobs have mostly stopped wracking my body, then heads back to work. I spend the rest of the day cleaning the already pristine apartment, trying to be useful in ways they’d like.
The sky outside has already grown dark when I hear the arrival of the elevator in our foyer.
I’ve changed into one of my cutest outfits and spent an absurd amount of time trying to follow a makeup tutorial I found online.
I twirl a lock of my brown hair anxiously, then hurriedly try to pat it down before I make the curls revert back into my signature frizz.
All three of them walk in, making me rise off the couch. Ian’s pale eyes find mine immediately. For a moment, the four of us stand looking at each other, no one moving a muscle. Then Ian crosses the room, pulling me into his arms.
I melt into the embrace, squeaking into his chest. “I’m sorry.”
He presses his lips to the top of my head, the warm touch flooding me with relief. “I know you are.”
Liam and Cole join us, surrounding me with their scents. The bond hums in my chest, my omega instincts finally settling after a day stripped away from their comfort.
“We’re not angry anymore,” Liam murmurs, planting his own kiss to my temple.
“We know you didn’t mean to make a mistake,” Cole adds, his hand rubbing soothing circles on my back.
“But you understand now, don’t you?” Ian tilts my chin up to look at him. His pale eyes are serious, searching. “You understand your role?”
“Yes, alpha.” I whisper. “I understand.”
“Good.” He kisses me, deep and possessive, like he’s trying to claim me for the first time all over again. “We love you. We’re still yours and you’re still ours.”
They all spend that night in my room. Instead of their preferred rough manner, they make love to me tenderly.
Afterward, wrapped between them, Ian’s hand stroking my hair, Liam’s arm around my waist, Cole’s arm stretched out under my head, I feel safe again.
Loved once more. The omega part of me that was screaming under the weight of their displeasure has dissipated.
“We’ll always take care of you,” Ian murmurs into the darkness. “But you have to trust us. That means listening to what we say.”
“I trust you,” I whisper back.
And I mean it. They’re my pack, my scent matches, my soulmates. They were meant for me. I’m supposed to trust them.
The punishment is already fading in my memory, senses intoxicated by having their scents wrapped around me. They were right to be upset, I did embarrass Ian. I should have listened better.
I just have to try harder, I think to myself once more. Warm and content in their embraces, I curl deeper into their arms and drift to sleep.
When they leave for work the next day, I’m given deeper kisses and sweeter goodbyes than before. They bring me back bouquets of flowers and boxes of chocolate. That weekend, they buy me new jewelry and take me out to see a movie.
And the next time I mess up? Well, I should have listened better.
Ian’s right, they only want what’s best for me.
Liam makes a point, my old clothes made me look like a country bumpkin.
I shouldn’t be upset when I go into my closet and find them thrown out.
Dressing like that would have made the pack look bad.
Cole’s just concerned about my health, I shouldn’t be having second portions at breakfast. It’s only natural I don’t have lunch or dinner after.
I’d be crazy to be ungrateful. That would make me selfish.
I have everything any omega could ever want.
My prince charming alphas, the luxurious apartment that’s just like a castle.
Three handsome, tall men who love me more than anything in the world.
Every relationship has its ups and downs.
They always follow our downs with ups high enough to touch the sky.
They take such good care of me, everyone says. I’m truly privileged to be their omega.