Chapter 24
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Crew
One Month Later
“Why are you so nervous, Kiki?” I frown, watching her pace across the living room where we’ve gathered as we wait for Pack Owens to arrive.
She shrugs but continues to pace. “I have no idea. I mean, this is a big deal, right? We’re a bonded pack now, and this is the first time I’m seeing my dad since that happened. I think part of me still thinks they will not accept this.”
“Kiki, come here.” Mason frowns when she ignores him. “Kiara Kennedy, do not ignore your alpha.”
She spins on her heel, narrowing her eyes at him. “Don’t think you can tell me what to do just because you’re my alpha, Mason.”
I snicker, trying to hide my laughter behind my hand, but she just turns her glare on me.
“Don’t start, Crew.”
I hold up my hands. “Kiki, I’m not going to lie. You’re acting kind of crazy.”
“Ope, he’s done it now.” Davis widens his eyes, glancing between us. “You never tell a woman she’s acting crazy. That also applies to omegas.”
I wave him off. “Baby, go see Mace.”
For a moment, I think she’s going to argue with me just for the sake of arguing, but her shoulders slouch before she walks toward him.
Mason pulls her into his lap, kissing her gently. “Our parents love us, and they’re happy for us. Everyone is happy for us.”
“Except that bitch at work,” she mutters. “She keeps telling everyone I packed up with my brother.”
I scoff. “That’s because Dawn is jealous that she’s an omega, who’s older than us, and no one wants her ass in their pack.
Everyone knows she’s just trying to stir up shit.
All I had to do was set one person straight about the fact that you and Mason are stepsiblings, who met for the first time as teenagers. No one believes her lies.”
“And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with your relationship with Mason,” Alexander assures her, reaching over to squeeze her leg. “Don’t let people’s stupidity and small minds make you doubt yourself and this pack.”
She sighs, laying her head on Mason’s shoulder. “I know I’m being stupid.”
“What you feel and think is never stupid. I don’t ever want to hear you say that again. Do you understand?” Davis sounds an awful lot like an alpha as he stares at Kiara.
“Yes,” she says, voice small. “I don’t know why I get like this.”
“Because you’re human. We all have doubts and worries. Not to mention, our minds can be our worst enemy. When this happens, just remember you have an entire pack to lean on.” I blow her a kiss as the front door swings open.
Ren comes running into the living room and heads straight for Kiara and Mason. “Kiki!!!”
Kiara laughs as he throws himself at her, Mason steadying them both. “I missed you, too, Ren.”
“What about me, kiddo? Did you miss me?” Mason lifts his eyebrow as his little brother wrinkles his nose.
“I guess. I mean, I saw you before we left. I haven’t seen Kiki in forever.” He slides out of her lap and turns to me. “I don’t know you.”
I shrug. “We’ve chatted on video many times, so I find it hard to believe you don’t know who I am.”
The nine-year-old snickers. “Well, I’ve never met you in person.”
“Right you are, good sir.” I slide to my knees and offer him my hand. “I’m Crew Kennedy. I’m Kiki and Mason’s omega.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Crew. I’m Ren.” He shakes my hand, and if it isn’t the cutest damn thing, I don’t know what is.
Delilah sweeps into the room, her blonde hair pulled up as she grins. “Are you being a pain in the ass already, Ren?”
“Ohhhh, you said ass. I’m telling Mom!”
“But you just said it too, so if you tell her I said it, I’ll tell her you said it too.”
Ren narrows his eyes. “I hate you.”
“That’s okay, buddy, because I love you.”
“Where’s my girl?” Akira nudges past Delilah, and Kiara launches herself off Mason’s lap and into his arms. “There she is.”
He hugs her close as the remainder of Pack Owens joins us. I push to my feet and introduce myself to Evelyn, Adan, and Dylan officially. Hugs and well wishes are passed around before Evelyn and Delilah grab Kiara.
“Sorry, boys. We need to steal Kiara for some bonding ceremony planning,” Evelyn calls as they march her out of the room.
“Umm…shouldn’t Crew join us for that?” she asks, eyes wide as she glances over her shoulder at me.
“Absolutely not. You’re on your own for this one, Kiki.” I grin when she sticks her tongue out.
I don’t know why she’s acting like it’s such a chore to go off with Evelyn and Delilah—she adores them both.
Actually, it probably has more to do with the bonding ceremony talk. We’ve been handling most of it, but the guys have been helping when they can.
“Well, gentlemen, it seems it’s time for us to have a conversation.” Adan lifts his eyebrows, nodding toward the kitchen. “But I think it’s one best had over beers.”
Mason throws his arm around his dad. “Is this the part where you threaten us not to hurt your girl?”
Akira clears his throat. “Actually, that’s my job, and it applies to both Kiara and Crew.”
“You have nothing to worry about there, Akira,” Alexander assures him. “We’d never do anything to hurt them.”
“Oh, I know.” Akira chuckles. “And if you did, they’d hand you your asses.”
Davis and Alexander follow Adan and Mason out of the room, but Akira stops me. “How are you doing, Crew?”
“I’m great, Akira. Why do you ask?”
He gestures to the couch. “Sit with me for a minute?”
I shrug, settling beside him as he considers me.
“The last couple of months have been a lot of big changes for you. First, moving to Champagne Falls. Then meeting your scent matches. Bonding with Kiki and the guys. It’s a lot for anyone. I just want to check in with you to see how you’re handling things.”
And this is why I love Akira. He and Kiara’s mom, Reina, were like a second set of parents to me. Just as my parents were for Kiara. For the last few years, a lot of the parenting has fallen on my parents since we lived so close to them, but now it’s Akira’s turn.
“I really am doing great. Things were a little bumpy at first since Kiara didn’t react so well to finding out they were scent matches.”
Akira snorts. “It wouldn’t have mattered who your scent matches were, she would’ve freaked out no matter what. I’m glad it was them.”
“Me too. I was already planning to see if they might be the pack for us before I found out they were my scent matches. That just cemented everything. At least once Kiki calmed down. Everything happened fast, yes, but it felt right. It was as if they were what we had been waiting for. Everything just seemed to slot into place.”
“I know just what you mean. I felt the same way when I met Evelyn and Adam, and eventually Dylan.” He hesitates for a moment. “I loved Reina so much, and she gave me Kiara, but I don’t know what I would’ve done if I’d met Pack Owens while she was still alive. Scent matches are…”
“Everything. I know.” I bite my tongue, reminding myself I don’t need to tell Akira about how often I fucked his daughter because of meeting my scent matches.
That would be way too much information. “But you would’ve figured it out.
Reina loved you and Kiara. She would’ve wanted you to be happy, and Pack Owens would’ve wanted the same thing.
But I’ve realized recently that fate knows what she’s doing when it comes to scent matches.
“You were meant to meet Reina and fall in love with her. To have Kiara and to become best friends with my parents. It was part of your journey. And as much as I hate to say it, Reina died when she was meant to. You had to learn how to be on your own so you would appreciate Pack Owens when you met them.” I blink away the tears threatening to fall.
Fuck being an omega and dealing with these overwhelming emotions.
“Because you were meant to find your happily ever after with them. But if you hadn’t met Reina, you wouldn’t have had Kiara.
Without Kiara, I wouldn’t have even met Alexander, Mason, and Davis.
I never would've known this love that’s so damn important to me.
Honestly, without Kiara, none of us would be who we are. ”
A tear slips down Akira’s cheek, but he doesn’t bother to wipe it away. “Thank you, Crew. I didn’t know I needed to hear that.”
He pulls me into a hug, and I happily return it.
“I love you, Crew, and I’m so damn happy my girl has you in her life.”
“You and me both, Akira.” I sniffle as I pull back. “Now, how about we go grab that beer and join the others?”
He grins. “Oh, yes. Let’s do that. I’m so looking forward to putting the fear of my alphas into those men again.”
“Again?” I question.
“Do you really think this is the first time we’ve had a conversation with the three of them about Kiara?” He laughs. “Now, we just get to include you in the threats.”
I snort. “Okay, this I have to see. Lead the way.”
Because there’s no way I’m missing Akira, who doesn’t have a mean bone in his body, threatening my mates. I’m going to enjoy this way more than I should.