Chapter 50

Chapter Fifty

RONAN

I t's a new day.

The first day at our new house. A temporary house, I think. Except, I kind of hope it can be permanent.

There's enough room and space to build a family. Babies... kids. That's a topic for further down the road, but it's something I imagine in this little town with my pack.

Plus, it feels like we're on the edge of the world here. Flying in the dark didn't give me much of a view of the small town, but based on the lights, the peninsula immediately gave me a sense of seclusion. A safe place to enjoy a peaceful life with my new family.

I can't wait to explore the area and watch Freya take in our new home.

Thinking of Freya wandering the Victorian style streets I've seen online reminds me of her prominent cheekbones.

Motivation to feed my omega gets me out of bed in time with the rise of the sun. I take a few minutes to myself for a shower and run through my usual morning routine. The safe house is stocked with the essentials, but we will all need to do some shopping.

Not that I don't think we appreciate the donated soaps, basic clothing, food, and toiletries, but I think I can speak for the others when I say they deserve to have the shit they want now. If Elliott needs something to oil up all his muscles, shit I'll buy it for him if it makes the big guy happy.

Tossing on a pair of grey sweatpants and a white T-shirt, I dry my dripping hair with a towel quickly before I deem myself presentable and comfortable.

I'm really going to have to get used to living with five other people. Especially a pack. We are only going to get closer from here on out, which probably means seeing every one of them naked at some point, too.

Barefoot, I step into the hallway, not bothering to close my bedroom door behind me. I don't fight my urge to check on my omega first and take the few steps to her door.

Not wanting to risk disrupting her sleep, I grip the door handle and turn it slowly. Meaning to just peek my head in, I keep the door as closed as possible to fit my head through the crack.

The first thing I notice is her white, thick comforter folded in the corner of her room along with four of the five pillows that decorated the mattress last night.

Rumpled sheets and one pillow are strewn haphazardly on the bed in the early morning light and warmth of her lamp. Did she leave it on all night?

I'm surprised to see my girl isn't in bed, and even more fucking confused when the light in her ensuite bathroom is off.

"Freya?" I call out, letting myself into her space.

With each moment I don't have eyes on her, the more my heart beats erratically. I don't touch her sheets, knowing how omegas can be about their nests and their safe spaces.

I do look under her bed, in the closet and even the fucking tub in her bathroom, though.

Nothing .

"Freya!" I shout, stomping out of her room and throwing Luke's door open without care.

"The fuck?" my brother grumbles, covering his eyes with his forearm.

Seeing no signs of Freya or her scent in his room, I rush to Elliott and Casey's. They offer me similar grumbles, but I yell for everyone to get the fuck up, projecting my voice through the hallway, so Lucas gets his ass out of bed too.

Every door I pass gets busted down and sniff checked to no avail. She's not in the office, the living room, basement, or the goddamn kitchen.

Slamming my hands on the grey marble island in the kitchen, I squeeze my eyes shut and focus on the bonds in my chest that are rising with anxiety.

I should have been working to strengthen the tethers instead of enjoying the peace without the constant aching tug to save them from the hell we were held captive in.

"Fuck!" I roar, hanging my head. "Focus," I mumble to myself.

Weaving through the tethers buzzing through my ribs and soul, I grit my teeth and push the guys away, only to find absolutely fucking nothing from Freya.

"Not nothing," Lucas informs me as he struts into the kitchen. "Hold her tether, brother. She isn't silent."

I must have spoken my woes out loud. Taking his advice, I grab onto the bond with my omega, feeling the bite mark on my neck throb with pleasure the more I coax her toward me.

There you are .

Wonderment fills me as I feel her soft bond flowing gently through the others.

"She's..." I start, but can't find the words to describe it.

Lucas smiles and nods at the large window over the sink. "Our sweet girl is content."

Then I see her. Sitting crisscross on the garden swing, Freya relaxes in the fenced in back yard. Platinum locks in a messy bun, little wisps of hair flying about in the breeze, her head is tipped to the orange sky.

I can't see her expression or what she's wearing, giving my anxiety ammo to still sizzle beneath the surface.

"Let's go see what she's up to," Lucas says to me and starts for the patio door.

Casey and Elliott settle on the outdoor couch on our little porch and let me know they'll wait there for us. It's a good move, one that is selfless. I can feel how much they want to check on her. Eli more so because Casey still needs to be fully bonded into the pack, but their worry is there too.

I smile when Casey all but falls into his alpha's arm for snuggles. I'm happy for them, truly. We all had worries while trapped in those cells, and their relationship was one I wasn't sure of after all the trauma.

Instead, they seem similar to when I met them at the academy. Elliott looks a bit more relaxed, actually.

A choked gasp from further into the yard where the small garden rests along the white fence snaps me back to the present.

"Sorry, sweetheart," I hear Lucas apologize sheepishly as I finally follow my brother down the porch steps. "Scooch over."

She does as he asks, putting him on her left side. Making sure to approach on her left side instead of her right like Lucas, Freya hears me and gives me a beautiful smile as I come around in front of them.

It's not a large yard by any means. Just enough for a descent sized porch to eat dinner on, a small garden with a swing, a shed and some space for a swing-set some day.

Lucas takes a seat beside Freya, who is just releasing her throat with a relieved breath.

"It's fine. You just snuck up on me," she explains, settling back again.

Lucas smirks, draping an arm around her shoulders. "Maybe I'll put in a rock border around the garden so my steps are louder."

Freya rolls her eyes, and I think my shoulders release eight fucking tons of tension. "You can't do that. It's not our place to make changes to."

I lean against the tree beside them, enjoying their banter even though she scared the shit out of me.

"I can do whatever I want," Luke sasses.

Freya waves an arm. "Be my guest. Maybe we'll get to see Remy kick your ass. He's got muscle."

I don't know what brought this side back out in our girl, but I'm so fucking here for it. It's like getting a glimpse of the fire we used to see back on campus before those assholes tried to destroy her.

"HEY!" Elliott roars way too fucking loud for the morning, causing Freya to twist to the left in her seat. "The only muscles you should ever talk about are mine, capishe?!"

She twists back around, looking between my brother and me before whispering, "Is he pouting?"

"Probably," Lucas responds. "I didn't hear sex noises coming from our shared wall, so he's probably just cranky."

"Have you guys forgotten about alpha hearing?!" Elliott yells out, making me cringe at his volume. "Luke, forget about Remy, I'll kick your ass."

Freya stifles a snort, and Casey's laughter carries from their position across the yard too. This. This is our future .

"Star, why are you out here so early? You scared the shit out of me when I went to check on you."

She stiffens slightly at my inquiry. "Am I not allowed to be out here?"

I frown. "Of course you're allowed out here. You can go wherever you want now, Freya. It's just, as your alpha, my instincts scream for me to know where you are at all times."

"Talk about a red flag, am I right?" Lucas mumbles out of the corner of his mouth, leaning into Freya slightly.

Scowling at him, I push away from the tree and kneel at my girl's feet. "I don't mean it as a controlling thing, but so I can always make sure you are safe and happy."

"Oh," she says with a crease between her brows when I take her dainty little hands in mine.

I blow out a breath. "I admit Luke had to help me read you in the bond. He knew where you were and that you were content because he's put the effort into building your connection. I promise I will devote myself to our bond and learning all there is to know about it, okay?"

Freya's lips twist, confusing me while she gathers her thoughts. "I–I don't know how to do the bond thing, either. With Lucas, it just happened." She gives him a sad smile. "And with Elliott, he established it for the both of us."

I hum and tuck an unruly flyaway behind her ear. "How 'bout we both promise to... reach?" I ask Lucas for clarification on how he's worded it in the past. He nods with a proud smile. "Let's promise to reach for each other and our bond will strengthen how it's meant to," I suggest with a little anxiety making me uncomfortable.

I'm putting myself out there, and if my mate rejects the opportunity to further our connection, I don't know how I'll take it.

Freya smiles, lifting my sinking stomach back into place. "That sounds good."

Taking a chance, I kiss her hand and breathe in her vanilla almond bark scent, reminding me I still need to feed her.

"What do you want for breakfast?"

I would have assumed the previous conversation would have upset her more than my simple offer to let her choose what we eat. Freya's hunched shoulders and immediate dropping of her gaze remind me of the room fiasco last night.

"I—" she begins, only for that one word to wobble and her teeth to take hold of her bottom lip.

I think through every interaction we've had since she woke up in the hospital. She wouldn't wear anything besides the robe I told her to use until Casey physically handed her an outfit and requested she wear it for the plane ride. Then there's the water and food which I've noticed she will only have when we suggest she eat or drink. And last night with the rooms, she couldn't make a decision. It's like with every choice presented to her, she freezes.

"Freya," I start, but her eyes are flitting about, and a tremble has started up in her hands. "Omega," I rumble.

Immediately, her attention snaps to me, her scent spiking right along with the focusing of her eyes. It wasn't my intention to draw her instinctual side to the surface, but maybe that's best for this conversation.

"Tell me the truth, my beautiful omega," I begin, rubbing my thumb along the inside of her wrist as a gentle purr vibrates my words. "Are you uncomfortable making decisions?"

I watch in fascination as her pupils expand, then shrink to pinpoints again. I have only seen this physical representation of a designation coming forth in Beckett. It's incredible and intriguing.

"Yes," my omega whispers, tucking her chin to her chest. I want to encourage her to look at me, but she huffs out a breath that sounds like a hiss and snaps her head back up.

"They took all my choices. My aunt and uncle, then the academy. Ken ," she growls, baring her little fangs. "I don't know how to decide things because I don't know what I want or like."

I nod and bring her wrist to my mouth. I give her a gentle peck as a thank you to my girl and drag my canines along her pulse point in praise for my omega.

"Good girl. Now," I allow my alpha to flash, showing my mate my dominance, "would you like me to make these choices for you while you figure out what you like and want?"

A tear drops from her striking blue eyes as she nods. "Please."

"Such a sweet omega, aren't you? Letting your alpha take care of you," Lucas praises, trailing his nose along her shoulder.

I growl slightly when her slick scent twirls in the breeze between the three of us. "Pancakes and bacon are for breakfast, then."

Her pupils return to a normal size. She then licks her lips, making Lucas chuckle and my pants tighten.

Fuck, I'll happily guide my little omega. Especially if she keeps looking at me like she wants to eat me more than bacon.

Which is a fucking flex for any man.