Chapter 12 #2
I linger after the two of them have left, hesitating. “Thank you,” I shouldn’t be grateful for honesty, but she could have easily let me take the blame.
She smiles at me softly. “No worries. I should’ve listened and let you handle the coffee.”
“I would love to have a cup of yours sometime.” It’s an olive branch, the first extended between us. It doesn’t come completely unstrained, but it’s a step forward.
There’s still a territorial omega part of me offended by Liam’s anger for her. A year ago, his first instinct would have been to check if I’d been hurt by the glass. Today, it was to accuse me of purposely hurting her.
As we all sit for breakfast though, I feel like something’s shifted positively. There’s a sense of camaraderie between the two of us. Once the pack leaves for work, we may not make conversation, but neither immediately retreats to their bedroom.
We’re both sitting on the couch watching television when the elevator chimes.
“They’re early!” Amy excitedly sits up straight.
I look at her, then turn back to the TV. “It’s only seven. It’s probably one of the assistants dropping something off.” She’s still new here. She’ll know not to get her hopes up soon enough.
Except, to my surprise, the pack does file into the room, their scents bright with delight. I hardly have time to register their appearance or ask what the good news is before Liam’s rushing forward, cupping my face in his hands.
“That’s our girl!” He kneels and presses kiss against my lips. At the touch, I can feel him smiling. Infectiously, his elation seeps into the bond in my chest, raising my spirits alongside his. He shuffles back, making way for Ian.
“Well done, Ariana.” My pack lead holds out an enormous bouquet of red roses with one hand, half purring the praise.
I stand, taking the flowers from him. Hands now free, Ian pulls me against his chest and tilts my head up for a kiss. I’m not going to say no to the touch or praise, but I wish I knew what it was for.
Normally, the flowers would be a substitute for the apology Liam never gave me. They wouldn’t be given with the look of sheer affection he’s giving me now, though. Neither would there be such immense satisfaction in Ian’s whiskey scent.
It’s only once Ian’s had his fill of hungry kisses that I can ask the question of the hour. “What did I do?”
Ian pets my hair affectionately. Dog feeling be damned, I lean into it. His strictness of late has left me starved for this kind of fond touch out of the bedroom.
“Whatever you said to the Coates pack? Perfect. That’s our smart girl.” Liam is almost bouncing with excitement. “They specified talking to you sealed the deal. They’re in for more funding than we asked.”
“It sets a precedent. Everyone will be curious about Viewer’s potential too since Coates Industries is so invested. We can use that as leverage in the future.” Ian purrs into my neck, sending heat down my body from his vibrations against the skin.
“How’d you convince them?” Cole joins the other two alphas, surrounding me. Through the cracks in their formation, I can make out Amy holding a smaller bouquet, presumably from Cole. She doesn’t seem nearly as pleased as the rest of the pack, frowning at the pink flowers.
Then Cole shifts, and she disappears from my vision. Forget thinking about Amy, I need to think about their question. They want to know how I persuaded them?
Well, truthfully, so do I. The Coates pack and I never spoke about Viewer at the ball. “I don’t know,” I answer honestly.
“Who cares? Brilliant, brilliant girl. I need to figure out how I want to publish this,” Liam tilts my head to place a kiss on the mating mark on my neck, making me stiffen.
The alpha doesn’t seem to notice, the tune of his whistle sounding out behind him as he walks off in the direction of his office.
Cole laughs, watching him leave. “He forgot that wasn’t all.” He fishes in his pocket, then pulls out a small box. He extends it towards me, but Ian grabs it first.
My pack lead opens it slowly, revealing a gold ring studded with diamonds. Ian lifts the ring tenderly from its maroon velvet cushion, making it catch the sunlight flowing through our windows.
He examines it for a moment, then takes my hand in a possessive hold. “This is what I like to see from you. Well done,” he swipes his thumb across my knuckles with a hint of pride before slowly sliding the ring onto my finger.
“Thank you,” it’s heavy, but the weight of it is pleasant. It’s like a physical piece of recognition after feeling like an afterthought to the pack recently.
He nods, looking at the ring in satisfaction. “I need to make some calls. We’ll have to coordinate the press release.” Ian jerks his head to Cole, pulling out his phone and leaving after Liam.
Cole presses a kiss to my cheek before he follows behind him, leaving Amy and I alone. She’s still seated, holding her bouquet in her lap. Now that my pack isn’t surrounding me, her scent seems thicker. Our eyes meet, before hers flicker down to the ring on my finger.
With our newfound friendliness, I consider making a joke. She rises to her feet before I get the chance to think of one.
“I’m going to get started on dinner,” she’s gone before I can ask if she wants help. My temptation to follow behind her and ask regardless dies at the loud slam of a kitchen cabinet.
Maybe I’ll give her space instead. On my way to my bedroom, I pass by the open door of Ian’s office.
The three of them have congregated and are deep in conversation, but they still smile at me as I walk past. Liam blows me a kiss, which I pretend to catch and put in the nonexistent pocket of my skirt.
I pass the time with a book instead. With their schedules, a late dinner is the norm for us. Once it becomes too dark for me to read, I check the time on my phone. Ten pm. Even for us, it’s delayed.
Springing to my feet, I’m not sure who to go to first. My pack might have gotten too wrapped up in work and forgotten to eat. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to remind them, though they might be irritated at being disturbed if that’s the case.
Or I could check on Amy, see how she’s doing. Her cut may have been small and the coffee not too hot, but she only put an ice pack on her foot. Maybe I should’ve insisted on helping her with dinner.
I have to pass by Ian’s office on my way to the kitchen regardless, but that doesn’t mean I have to choose. When I peek into the doorway, Amy’s already here. She sits surrounded by my pack, on the same chair I did the other night, when Ian was telling me the truth of her role here.
I raise my hand to playfully knock, but quickly lower it at the sound of sobs.
“And I didn’t want to say anything, but it’s been hurting all day. I can’t keep pretending it doesn’t,” Amy clutches her wrist close to her chest.
“Are you alright?” I recoil as four sets of eyes snap to me, their scents ranging from serious to a familiar accusatory. Is it that weird for me to be concerned?
Instead of answering my question, Amy begins to bawl louder.
“Ariana,” Ian runs his hands over his face, like he’s tired. “Amy’s been telling us what really happened this morning.” I have a bad feeling about this.
“I’m sorry, Ariana. I didn’t realize the coffee would make you so mad,” Amy looks up at me tearfully. “But you didn’t have to break the mugs over it.” She wipes her eyes, sniffling.
Really?
“What? Amy, you admitted yourself you knocked them over. What do I even get out of breaking them?” I’m already exhausted from this conversation, and I just got here. From the dirty way Liam’s looking at me, you’d think I’d thrown a boiling kettle over him personally.
“You get possessive over things. Do you want us to pretend we didn’t smell you all over the walls before she arrived?” Heat rises to my cheeks, making my face burn at Liam’s reminder of my perfuming the house. I hadn’t consciously done it. It just happened.
“Possessive doesn’t mean I would hurt her.” And they’ve hardly allowed me to be possessive verbally, why would I take it even further?
“But you did.” She sniffles again. “My foot’s still swollen. I can barely put any weight on it.”
My mouth falls open. “I was home with you the entire day. You were walking around just fine. Why’re you lying?”
“I’m not lying! You’re lying,” she whimpers. “That’s why I was on the couch when you guys got home. It hurt too bad to walk to the elevator.”
“Why are we acting like this is some mystery too hard to figure out? Any of you could just bark at us and see who’s lying.”
“Enough. You’re both adults. Act like it.” Ian’s stern voice silences the rest of the rebuttal on the tip of my tongue. “Show me your arm, Amy.”
She extends it away from her chest slowly, as if scared he might break it. Ian’s fingers are gentle as he turns her wrist, tilting it up under the office light. My stomach sinks at the light blue and purple marks patterning the pale skin.
Liam’s scent flares with displeasure. Ian stares at me unblinking, waiting for an answer. Even Cole’s face flickers with doubt. Amy clenches her wrist in her other hand and shrinks towards Liam, like I might charge forward and bruise the other one at any time.
“I’m sorry. I really didn’t mean to hurt you.” I’m half pleading with the other omega at this point, flooded with a mix of guilt and being unable to take the room’s accusatory stares. “I didn’t do it on purpose. I was trying to help you. You know that, don’t you?”
Liam snorts with derision. “You call that helping?”
“If I wanted her to get hurt, why would I have pulled her away from the glass? Does that make sense to you guys?” The words tumble out of my mouth desperately.
“Think about it, Ian.” I look at my pack lead, begging him to see the logic.
“If I was so mad I was knocking things over, I would’ve done it close to her.
I wouldn’t need to tug her around anywhere. ”