Chapter 8

Mom, Aubrey, and I rode to their new apartment, mostly in silence, with Aubrey's bodyguard driving. I hadn't been ready for another tension-filled drive with Trevor or having to deal with a completely different type of tension if I'd gone with my brother. Aubrey sat with me in the back seat of Daniels' SUV and we both spent the ride looking out our windows, lost in thought.

"We're here."

I leaned over to look out Aubrey's window at the beautiful high-rise building. It was a stunning blend of historic cinder block, which made me think of a stately courthouse, but then after several floors the design blended into a modern high-rise. As we got out of the car, I found myself reaching for my phone to take a photo of the ornate carvings around the large windows so I could ask Miles what they were called. I blushed thinking about curling into him on the couch while his deep voice explained all the details to me.

"Why are you blushing, E? Is there a dick in those carvings or something?"

Ladies and gentlemen, my baby sister.

"No, Aubs. It's pretty and I was going to ask Miles about it."

Aubrey opened her mouth, no doubt to tease me about the blush creeping up my cheeks, but I was saved by Daniels' rumbling voice drawing her attention away.

"Mrs. West let"s get you all inside please. I am aware of the situation surrounding Mr. West and Pack Owens and I would rather not have you all on the street for long."

Mom nodded and took the arm that Daniels offered her as they turned to walk. Aubrey looked at me and the mischievous sparkle was back in her eye. I gave her a silly little bow and extended my arm for her in the same way. She giggled and looped her arm through mine, leaning her head on my shoulder as we went through the automatic sliding doors to the lobby area. The large space had the elegant feel of a grand hotel's lobby with two seating areas on either side of the doors and a manned desk in front of a bank of elevators. Trevor and Nate came in the revolving doors while we stood there, unsure of where to go or what to do next. Nate walked past and waved for us to follow. We all moved after him with Trevor bringing up the rear, hands in his pockets, looking a little unsure of himself. Ignoring my Omega urge to soothe him, I focused on what my brother was saying.

"We're up on the tenth floor. The apartments use keys but there are security fobs that are the only way to access the elevator and stair access doors to get to the resident levels. Visitors will have to be called in ahead of time and met at the lobby unless they have a pass. There is a doorman and a security guard here, twenty-four seven. It's one of the best buildings for unbonded Omegas."

"It's lovely, Nathan."

Nate smiled at Mom's words and pressed the button to call the elevator. When we were younger, he'd always been a nervous talker and it made me smile knowing that this, at least, hadn't changed. Once we were all inside, he hovered a fob on his keyring over the panel and pressed the button for the tenth floor. The silence lasted about ten seconds before Nate started talking again.

"There are only three apartments on the floor. Yours has four bedrooms and great views of the park on Broadway."

"Nate, stop acting like a realtor."

Nate shifted uncomfortably and Mom shot Aubrey a look that had both of us ducking our heads.

"I just meant that I'm sure it's amazing. The downstairs was so pretty and… don't stress so much, okay?"

The lift stopped and the doors opened into a wide hallway that had large windows at either end. There were two apartment doors on the right side and only one on the left. Nate walked to the door on the left and turned a key in the lock at the same time he tapped the fob on a square above the handle. It was like a hotel key card lock that made you use a real key as well.

"The door makes you use both to get in but there is also a deadbolt that only locks from the inside. We can get another sliding lock as well if you feel more comfortable with that, just say the word."

He opened the door and stepped inside, holding it for the rest of us to enter and… wow. There was a small foyer area that opened to what would have been called a great room in a house. There was a dining area to the left of the foyer and a beautiful kitchen with an island and seating to the right. But it was the wall of windows in the living room that really took my breath away. Aubrey, Mom, and I all walked in a trance-like state into that space to take it all in. What I thought were floor to ceiling windows at first glance were actually sliding glass doors that led to a balcony that had outdoor chairs with plush, overstuffed cushions. Beyond the balcony was a view of one of the downtown parks and the skyline around it. It was incredible. I looked over at Mom who was standing with her hands clasped to her chest, a small smile on her face, and tears welling in her eyes.

"I know it's not as big as the house and you won't be able to garden really but there's a rooftop green space and, with the park, it might make up for that? Also, I can return any of the furniture that you don't like, I didn't pick out any bedding or anything so we can go to a store with a nesting department, whatever you need. I—oof."

Aubrey had launched herself at him in what was nearly a tackle and had her arms wrapped around his waist, pressing her face into his chest. Mom turned to him, her smile widening.

"It's perfect, mi vida. Thank you."

Nate wrapped his big arms around Aubrey and leaned his cheek down to the top of her head, squeezing her tightly for a moment.

"Mom's suite is on this side of the apartment and the other three rooms are on the opposite side. One of the rooms was intended to be an office but I had a Murphy bed put in so it could be another guest room. Aubs, you want to go pick which room you want between the other two?"

"Say no more."

She took off down the short hallway past the dining room, making us all smile. I caught Trevor's eye, and he gave me a crooked grin so similar to Theo's that my heart skipped a beat. He tapped Daniels on the shoulder and said they would ask the front desk about luggage trolleys to bring the boxes up. As they left, Mom went to explore her suite, off the kitchen, leaving Nate and I alone for the first time since I could remember. We stood there for an awkward moment before both speaking at the same time.

"This place is really fan?—"

"About what happened at that pa?—"

He pushed his hands into his pockets and chuckled but I caught his slight grimace.

"What I said at the party. I never got to explain, but when I said to play along, I just meant that night. I had the apartment lined up and I was going to tell you to move in and that we'd get Aubrey out too, but it all went to shit. Then I heard your Alpha talking to the dads and I knew you were alright." His throat bobbed with a hard swallow. "I know I've had to keep my distance to keep up appearances but, I swear, I would never have let anything happen to you two or Mom. I—I know about you working with Haven."

I was surprised my neck hadn't cracked with how quickly I looked around to make sure Mom wasn't listening.

"How do you know about Haven or about me working for them?"

"I went to college with Seph, er, Persephone. They were a few years older than me, but we became friends and I helped, financially, however I could. When I started to worry that I'd need a back-up plan last year, I reached out to them. Didn't realize they'd go and recruit you, but they said you were happy and that you were really helping them, so I just stayed quiet, as usual."

It struck me how isolated Nate must have been all these years. Having to pretend and distance himself from Aubrey and me, thinking that he was doing it to keep us safe, only to find out that it had all been for nothing. I moved toward him and put one arm over his shoulder and the other around his ribs, pulling him in for a hug.

"I wish you'd told me, but it doesn't matter now. No more doing things alone. We're in this together. All of us."

The tension bled out of his shoulders as his arms came around me and his forehead dropped to my shoulder.

"Deal. I missed you, E."

"Missed you too, Nate."

We released each other, pulling away at the sound of feet coming into the room. Aubs ran to stick her head between our chests and wrap her arms around our backs, forcing us together again.

"The gang's all together again. But better this time because I'm not ten!"

Wheels knocked gently over the threshold, and I turned to see a scowling Daniels pushing a trolley full of boxes into the apartment.

"The building is safe enough from non-residents but we have no idea who lives across the hall. You shouldn't leave the door open with the Omegas here."

Aubrey's back was to Daniels so she looked up at us and gave an exaggerated eye roll while sticking her tongue out before schooling her features and turning to face him.

"Less talking and more manual labor, Guardzilla. I'll show you where to put the boxes."

Aubrey flounced off toward her room, a trail of vanilla pound cake scent followed her, broadcasting that the anxiety and fear she felt had been left at the house. That she was happy here. Daniels started to follow her with a bemused smile on his face before he shook his head slightly and smoothed his features into his trademark frown. The sound of more wheels heralded Trevor's arrival and Mom came out of her room.

"Trevor, is it?" At his nod, she continued. "Those boxes can just be left on the island for now. We can sort it out as we go."

He ducked his head but stayed quiet before wheeling the cart into the kitchen and unloading the boxes, with Nate's help. After a few minutes, Daniels came back out with an empty cart and they both went down to the truck to load them up again. Mom and I opened box after box as they came up and I helped move them into the appropriate rooms for her and Aubrey to unpack when they could.

After a couple hours, we'd unloaded everything from the truck. Trevor and I offered to stay and help unpack but Mom waved us off making me promise to bring the pack over soon so she could meet them all properly. I went to find Nate and Aubrey to let them know we were leaving. Nate was in the room with the Murphy bed that also doubled as an office. He was keeping his apartment, but he wanted to stay here while Mom and Aubrey settled in.

"Hey, we're going to head back to the pack house. The truck is empty, and Mom won't let us stay to help."

"Okay. Hey, would…" He looked down at the floor, shifting from one foot to the other, then looked back up at me. "Would you want to get a beer sometime? I haven't played a video game in years, so you'd kick my ass if we played but… I'd like to hang out."

"Definitely, though things are really crazy right now. We just got Shae back, but Theo's in the hospital, and I'm trying to catch up with school and everything."

Nate pasted a fake smile on before nodding but there was no disguising how he deflated or the raw notes of sadness in his scent. I pulled away from the doorway and wrapped him in a tight hug again.

"I'm not rejecting you, idiot. I'm trying to explain that things aren't exactly safe for my pack and my schedule is insane. I'll make it work as soon as I can. But, if you wanted to, you could come over to my pack's house. We could game one night and get pizza? You could meet the rest of the pack?"

He pulled back and this time there was a genuine grin on his face, making me smile in return.

"Yeah, I'd really like that. I need to check that Daniels will stay here while I take the truck back but let me know when and I'll be there."

Nate went across the hall to talk to Aubrey's bodyguard, and I started to walk along the hall to the living room. I got as far as the end of the hall, when I heard the low murmur of Trevor's voice, and I paused, still out of sight. Peeking out of my hiding spot, I saw Trevor and my mom standing together. Trevor was in front of her with his head bowed and his eyes closed, almost like he was in pain. Mom held one of his giant hands in hers and her other hand was pressed to his cheek. Trevor's scent had taken on the damp forest notes that I learned to associate with him being sad or ashamed. The scene tugged hard at something inside me, calling for me to go and comfort him, but I still didn't know if he would be comfortable with that.

"Come and talk to me sometime, yes?"

Trevor nodded at my mom's words, and I was even more confused than I'd been a moment before. Mom dropped her hands and I stepped out from my hiding spot. She met me halfway to give me a hug.

"I'll try to come visit tomorrow. I know Nate is here, but I'll ask Jade if there's a way to work out another bodyguard for when you're outside the apartment or?—"

"I already called Jade." My head snapped around to Trevor as he spoke. "Daniels is staying until the night security measures are in place and he will remain Aubrey's security when she's outside the building. We will also get someone assigned for Marisol's protection, that she can approve or reject, until she finds someone she is comfortable with."

"Thank you, dear. That does go a long way to help my peace of mind."

Mom subtly nudged my ribs, and I closed my mouth which had been hanging open, again. I'd thought Trevor was just politely helping, because he felt like he couldn't say no after our shit-show of family drama. Making sure my mother and sister had protection, and coordinating it, was something that I would have expected from Theo or Jade, but not him. Clearing my throat, I parroted my mom's thanks and could have sworn I saw a blush start to shade Trevor's cheeks before he turned to leave the apartment with me trailing after him.