Chapter 40
Ariana
One by one, they filter in clutching their blankets and pillows. The alphas drop them atop the bed, settling into it with me.
Eagerly reaching for the pile of items, I mentally map out their placements in the nest before I get to work. Nico holds out a chocolate brown hoodie towards me.
“I thought it would look good on you,” he says as I accept it happily. Humming as I breathe in its pistachio scent, I set it amongst the blankets.
The pack joins me in the nest, fluffing pillows as they settle in. I end in the middle, delightedly surrounded by alphas. They’ve made themselves comfortable, but the light is still on. They were supposed to be coming in to prepare for bed.
Sebastian shifts in his spot next to me, turning to face me. He stares at me wordlessly, examining my face intently. Running a hand down my arm, he takes a hold of my hand, lacing our fingers together.
Raising the joined hands to his mouth, he presses a kiss against my knuckles. “There’s something we have to tell you, Ariana.”
Despite my trust in the man, my blood turns cold. The last time the leader of a pack had something to share with me, Ian was announcing Amy’s arrival. “Okay,” I say carefully.
The four alphas exchange glances, communicating silently. Sebastian rubs his thumb over my hand. “It’s about the Hale pack.”
My heart beat begins to quicken. “I’m listening.”
“Since before you even came here, for a long time really, we’ve been working on something. We’ve been gathering evidence on your pack.” He doesn’t break his state away from me, studying my reaction.
“Evidence meaning?” I contemplate the word, mind racing.
Jason reaches out and rubs my knee. “Would you like to know exactly? It may be uncomfortable.”
“Tell me,” I answer immediately. Those alphas slept next to me for almost ten years, now is not the time to withhold information for feelings’ sake.
“Corporate espionage. Embezzlement. Tax evasion and offshore accounts, covered up HR nightmares, bribery, insider trading, discriminatory hiring practices, and labor law violations,” Jason lists off quickly. “To name a few.”
We sit silence for a moment after, all four alphas staring at me intently.
“You’re not surprised,” Nico notes.
Troublingly, the most unexpected part is none of this comes as a shock to me. Despite being unaware of their practices, each action listed sounds exactly like the type of thing my scent matches wouldn’t object to.
“What did you call yourself once?” I look at Sebastian, frowning as I try to recall.
“A dragon sitting on a bunch of gold coins? That’s Ian and Liam.
They’re obsessed with money and appearances.
And Cole goes along with everything they say.
He’s desperate for their approval.” The words pour out of my mouth, years of festering resentment bubbling to the surface.
There’s no playfulness or humor in Evan as he speaks. “We thought you would be upset,” he says carefully.
Considering his words, I lean back against the pillows, crossing my arms. “I am. All that bullshit about reputation and acting morally superior just for them to be playing dirty. They treated me like a toddler. Have I ever told you they used to control what I ate for breakfast and dinner too? I’m a grown woman! ”
The rant leaves me breathless, thinking back on the years of treatment I endured. But I had to learn how to be perfect. I’m the one who had to shove myself into a role for them.
Ian used to be irritated by dealing with female alphas for work. So bribery is fine, but being around women with equal standing to him was where he drew the line? I could almost laugh. I might have, if Sebastian didn’t begin talking.
“There’s more.” His green eyes bore into mine intensely, framed by his dark eyebrows. “The three of them have been trying to demand your return. Legally, they do have the right to demand a bonded omega be returned to their mated alphas.”
“I’m aware of what the law says,” I point out, bitterly.
He smiles ruefully at that. “We’ve been in touch with the Office of Omega Affairs and blocking their efforts. The OOA’s been made aware of the situation and hasn’t told Ian your location. We made sure of that.”
“You’ve been protecting me.”
“Of course we have,” Nico says softly. He looks at Sebastian and doesn’t continue, waiting for the dark haired man to finish.
The pack lead stills his thumb’s ministrations on my hand, still focused on my face. “Ariana, we can break your bond with them.”
The air rushes out of my lungs. I’ve been bound to the Hale pack for nearly ten years, fantasizing about a way out. Now, these four alphas have offered it to me as a reality, not just a dream.
“It would have to go to court. Everything they’ve done would make it simple to get them incarcerated,” Jason pushes his glasses up with one hand. “We’ll submit a petition for your bond at the same time. They’ll never be able to hurt you again.”
“You could be free,” Evan says fondly. “You can go wherever, do whatever, be whoever you want.”
“We wanted to be sure with you before we started the process. We have all the information needed. All we need from you is your signature. If you give us your approval, we’ll proceed accordingly,” Sebastian caresses the back of my hand with his thumb again.
“I know it may be a difficult process or the things they’ve done may be hard for you to hear, but we’ll be here for you every step of the way. ”
Living with them for ten years was difficult. Making this decision is easy. “Do it.”
“Consider it done, then.” Sebastian smiles at me. “It may take time, but until everything’s wrapped up, we’ll make sure you don’t have to go back to them.”
The realization crashes into me. After ten, long years, the leash is finally coming off. My mind returns to the park, the fleeting image of a poodle running freely, its fur blowing in the wind. Like they said, I could go wherever I want. Only, a walk in the park is adventurous for me.
“What’s wrong, pretty girl?” Nico asks, voice laced with worry.
My answer comes out in a whisper. “I don’t know where I would go.” I stare at my lap, somberly contemplating my options. I have no money to my name, and next to no skills to show for the last nine years.
“Wherever you want.” Evan offers simply.
Sebastian’s voice is loud and clear. “You could stay here.” He rests his other hand over mine. “We don’t want to pressure you, Ariana. But this has been growing inside of us.”
“The very first time we met, I thought it was biology talking. You were a tear stricken omega alone in the rain, and we were alphas. We couldn’t help but worry. Then again, over dinner, you were downcast as the weather.”
He meets my eyes, smiling softly. “And then we saw you again at the ball, and I couldn’t take my eyes off you.
When we danced for the first time,” he raises my hand to his mouth, placing a kiss over it, “you came alive. It was like watching the sun come out from the clouds on a rainy day. You were radiant.”
“I can still remember how your body felt in my hands that night.” Nico chimes in. “After we finished dancing, they’d never felt so empty before.” The alpha curls his hands into a fist, then opens his hand again, spreading the fingers out. Frowning down at the hand, he moves it back to my knee.
“I remember,” I murmur, echoing his words. The four alphas breathe quietly, leaning in, hanging off my every word. “You guys fanned me that day, with your business cards. When I said I was hot from dancing so much.”
Nico smiles at that. “We looked ridiculous, didn’t we?”
“No. I liked it.”
“We looked like idiots,” Evan disagrees, “but I didn’t mind. Turning into a fool to make you laugh was worth it. I would do it all over again.”
Sebastian nods. “That short time we spent with you, we looked complete. Our pack felt whole, you were the sun and we were finally in the light with you. But then we were reminded you were mated to other people. Watching you walk away,” his look turns distant, “it was painful.”
“And you left with someone that sent you back into your shell,” Evan murmurs, brushing my hair behind my ear. “It felt unfair. We would never have treated you that way, but we couldn’t have you.”
“Knowing you weren’t ours didn’t get you off our minds.” Jason looks at me over his glasses. “Every waking hour, you were the only thing we thought about. After the ball, we were restless. We had to help you in some way.”
“That’s where the investment came from,” Sebastian reveals. “There had to be a way to tie you to us. Any reason to see you would do, even if the connection was feeble.”
There I had been, laying alone the night of the ball. Wishing someone was concerned for me. Unbeknownst to me, four people were all along. The origins of the mysterious investment with my name on it were born of care.
“It felt like a sign, running into you in the park with Clementine and then seeing you again after. We couldn’t get enough. I started looking for you everywhere, in everything. I would watch a movie and wonder if you would like it, or imagine watching it together with you.” Evan recounts quietly.
Nico continues where the blond alpha left off. “Running into you the first time was fate, but none of it after was coincidence. All our walks quickly turned into searches for you.”
“We told ourselves it was because we cared about you, and we do. But diminishing this,” Jason gestures towards the room, “to simple care would be insincere.”
The four focus on me earnestly, scents bursting with their sincerity.
“It’s much more than that. Maybe it’s always been.
” Sebastian concludes. “We’ve fallen in love with you, Ariana.
What did we say, back at your birthday? We would choose you.
” He squeezes my hand in his. “We would be honored if you chose us as well.” He smiles.
“But we would never force you. If you’d be happy somewhere else, we’ll help you. No matter what it is.”
I hadn’t dared considering that, scared of having their affection ripped out of my hands by making assumptions. My heartbeat quickens, hopes rising.
“I’m not perfect,” I tell them honestly.
“You don’t have to be. We love you regardless.” Sebastian reassures me.
Tears begin clouding my vision. I spent the last ten years proving myself worthy of love, only to fail. Now the alphas I’ve been longing for have placed it in front of me without stipulations, simply for existing as I am.
I study each of them.
Nico, resting his hand on my knee, looking at me patiently.
Sebastian, with my hand in both of his, his powerful gaze softened.
Jason, with his composure cracking and scars similar to mine.
Evan, shoulder pressed against mine, gentle touch still lingering in my hair.
They’re not rushing my answer or pressuring me.
“I want to stay,” I whisper. “Here.” My lips break into a smile. “With you.”
There’s a flurry of movement so quick it barely registers. An arm wrapping itself around me, hands squeezing mine, cupping my face, kisses pressed to my temple, my cheeks, my lips. Sandalwood, pistachio, wine and aloe mix with my tea, the four alphas’ scents alight with joy.