Chapter 53

Chapter Fifty-Three

LUCAS

I t's been a week since we moved into the new house, and I feel like I'm forgetting something.

For sure not my parents, they can go fuck themselves. Aside from using me and Ronan to continue their pity party with their friends, they've only reached out to their eldest. I didn't expect much, so at least they shipped all my shit when Ronan asked them to.

I wish there was a way for the OPS to put all the rumors of the academy under wraps, but when you have a bunch of rich parents finding out their betas and alphas have to undergo an entire year of reteaching to negate the brainwashing of the academy, you get a lot of people gossiping.

At least we're off in a little town, surrounded by three sides of water with a community that hasn't busted our doors down or taken sneaky photos while the guys and I have been out running errands.

I couldn't care less about what people think, but I want to take my girl on trips around the world. We'll just have to wait for this all to blow over before we adventure outside of our nice beach town.

It shouldn't be a problem. While Freya is already making strides and building confidence, she still doesn't want to leave the house and often needs us to remind her to take care of herself. Showers aren't an issue with her. They actually seem to be her safe space, so at least she doesn't need us reminding her about hygiene.

No, my omega smells fucking delicious all the damn time. My cock aches almost constantly, especially now that her confidence comes with sexy little lip bites while she checks us out.

Fuck .

I have to adjust my dick when Freya bends over in the dirt across the yard. She and Casey spend a lot of quiet time out there together, and often pick the pesky weeds that threaten her flowers.

Elliott does crunches and pushups near them in the grass. I roll my eyes, not at all jealous about the way his dark chest and abs drip with sweat in the afternoon sun. God forbid he loses even the slightest muscle.

Not like he doesn't already have two damn mates.

Then I notice Freya gawking at the fucking alpha and drooling all over the poor yellow flower beneath her.

Maybe I should start working out again.

"Ding dong, dick!"

"Fuck yes!" Ronan shouts, jumping from his patio chair and running into the house at the sound of Remy's voice.

Frowning, I stand to follow and notice the other three doing the same with confused looks as well.

Then I hear the oddest fucking sound coming from my brother hunched over the coffee table in the living room. It's the deepest fucking squeal I've ever heard. A grown man should never squeal, especially not an alpha whose voice range never breaks baritone.

"The fuck are you doing?" I ask, a little icked out by his behavior.

Remy snorts and turns away. Letting himself out the front door, he hollers, "See ya later, Butts!"

Butts?

Freya squeals next, probably giving herself another headache. She's on the ground beside Ronan in a flash.

"Meow!"

"Oh my hell, she's adorable !"

So, I love my omega for all her emotional layers, ranging from prickly brat to her quiet, unsure side. But I have never heard her coo like she's doing to the puff of white shedding on our table.

"What the hell is that?" I ask, pretty sure this is what I forgot.

Ronan scowls at me. "Butters. My cat. Remember?"

"Ah yes." I don't hold my snort back and neither does Elliott. "An alpha with a wittle kitty," I tease.

Ronan opens his mouth, probably to defend the little beastie, but Freya huffs and gathers the cat to her chest. "Come on little miss. Let's go get a snack. Boys are mean, huh?" she grumbles, perfectly ignoring us all on her way to the pantry. Even Casey who didn't say shit.

We watch, baffled, when she comes out carrying two granola bars and sits on the counter. My eyes widen when she takes a big bite of her snack that she sought out and chose on her own.

It wouldn't seem like much to the outside eye, but this is progress . So much progress!

"Is she feeding the feline?" Elliott asks quietly.

Looking closer, I notice that she is, in fact, breaking off little bits of her granola bars and giving them to the cat.

"Maybe we should start thinking about a shopping trip," I suggest, awe lacing my words.

If she's feeding herself what she wants when she wants, then maybe she's ready to find her fashion style too.

Hope . I think the little beastie just brought us hope.