17. Belle

Chapter seventeen

Belle

R ian and Leo lead me to the garage at the back of the yard, and I take a deep breath, trying not to think of the days I spent there alone during Rian's heat.

When Rian tugs me into the building, the first thing I find is the lonely cot with the yellowed bedsheets and pillows.

It was the best choice back then.

I couldn't stay in the house.

The guys were unprepared, and as a result, they would have become highly unpredictable.

Their Omega was in pain, and I had to make myself scarce.

I would have been deemed a threat.

I couldn't risk getting killed.

Troy, especially, would have taken great pleasure in ridding me from this world if he had gotten his hands on me, and I push the thought aside, trying to focus on the present.

Things are different now. They accept me.

I am their Omega.

Or so I hope.

They came for me at the prison. That means they care about me.

They want me.

Well, all except for Troy.

I look at Rian, wondering what it was that he wanted to show me.

He smiles knowingly, then looks at Leo. "Should I tell her?"

The Alpha nods and now Rian takes my hands. "Belle, you mean a lot to us now, and… well… we have decided to give you a gift."

I gaze around the garage again, wondering where my gift is.

"I just hope it isn't insensitive. This place must be an awful reminder of that night."

I know the night.

But I would take on that rapist again and again if it kept him away from Rian.

He needed to be protected, and that's where I came in.

I'm quite good with a rock after all.

Rian massages my hands, running his thumb over the tattoo on my wrist.

A ghost of Jeremy's lips still lingers, and once again, I shudder.

"Belle, we are going to build you a nest. Convert this hideous garage into something beautiful."

My heart thuds and I can't speak.

The words fail to escape, and it finally hits me.

No one has ever given me something before.

Not like this.

Francis used to buy me pretty things, but never anything this grand.

Nothing with meaning.

I can tell that Rian is still guilty about that night, but it wasn't his fault.

His heat came out of nowhere, despite all his best efforts to keep it at bay.

I'm sure if he could go back, he would do things differently.

I suppose we all would.

If I could be six again, I never would have left my elder brother's side and been captured in the first place.

There's no point in having regrets.

"So, what do you think? It doesn't have to be the garage. We can build your nest in the house, but it would be far smaller."

I shake my head. "No. It's perfect. Thank you."

The smile that takes over his face is enough to light up the world, and now they both step closer, throwing their arms around me.

Once again, I fight back tears.

"You get to be the one who designs it, Belle. All you. No one else," Rian continues.

I squeeze my eyes shut, too overwhelmed, and now when I cast my gaze around, I no longer see a lonely, cold place of isolation.

Now I see hope.

Hope for the future.

I already know where my bookshelf and my reading nook are going to be, and my heart thrums with excitement.

I can't wait.

The pack takes me out later to go nest shopping and to say I was terrified would be an understatement.

It will be my first time out in the world in years.

I've spent most of my life in captivity.

To have such freedom again is truly frightening, but I take it all in stride.

My guys were right by my side the whole time, and when we stepped into the big store, Rian took my hand, and Leo the other.

It's all so overwhelming…

The shop is huge. And I am spoiled for choice.

I pick out a variety of things. All in bold color choices like red, orange, and magenta.

Anything that would make Francis's eyes bleed.

I try not to think of that Beta now.

Because every time I do, I think he is just around the corner watching me.

I am safe now…

Gryphon assured the pack that he would protect us. Jeremy is an old friend of his, and he will see to it that no harm will come our way.

I should thank Gryphon properly if I ever see him again.

We really did get off on the wrong foot.

To my disbelief, Troy came along on the shopping trip.

Just maybe he doesn't hate me after all and he wants to be a part of my life.

However, I have a feeling that it was Jeremy who convinced him to come.

Leo was not happy in the slightest, and now he and Rian take me far away from the Alpha and into the heart of the shop.

Leo grabs every blanket he can find, and I rub my face against them, much to the chagrin of an irate shop assistant.

"Relax, Karen," Leo growls, and the Beta store assistant shakes her head, pretending to keep herself busy by stacking some shelves.

The Alpha pulls me away from the woman, and I glance at her from over my shoulder.

I've barely spent time around other females these last three years, so I feel some solidarity with Karen.

Yet the vicious look she tosses my way tells me that she is not a girl's girl or a people person for that matter.

Leo snaps his teeth at her when he catches her evil glare, and the Beta woman continues to stack her shelf, lips pinched tight with a frown.

I sigh. "I didn't mean to offend Karen…"

Rian snorts. "Belle… Karen isn't her name..."

I look at him. "Then why did Leo call her Karen?"

The Omega has no response to give and now he glances at Leo.

The Alpha chuckles, pulling me in for a hug as he kisses my head. "You really are too cute, kitty cat. Come on. Let's get you some food."

I perk up at that, forgetting all about the uncomfortable encounter with Karen, even though that isn't her name. "Food?"

"Of course. After a big day of shopping, you're going to need some sustenance," Rian replies.

Just as they lead me toward the food court, Jeremy approaches with Troy by his side.

Leo pulls me toward him protectively.

"You two go," Jeremy says. "Troy and I can take care of Belle while you get the food."

Leo is hesitant. He keeps throwing vicious glances at Troy until he finally concedes, leaving with Rian.

"All right. But if he does anything to her while we're away, then poor Karen over there will be cleaning his blood off the floor."

Leo points at Karen in question.

Jeremy raises his brows. "Duly noted."

Leo and Rian leave at last, and now it's just me, Jeremy, and Troy.

It's a little awkward. Jeremy and I are close, but Troy is a stranger...

Jeremy smiles at me. "So, I take it you liked the surprise?"

I hug myself, too aware of Troy's presence.

He doesn't look as if he wanted to come today.

He looks as miserable as Karen.

I meet Jeremy's storm cloud eyes. "Yes."

Jeremy's grin widens. "Good. Because it was my idea to convert the garage."

I blink, unable to stop my own smile. "It was?"

He nods, and now a blush takes over my face.

"It's my house after all. Inherited from my grandparents."

"Well, thank you. I appreciate it."

Jeremy eyes me up and down, and I wonder what he's thinking about.

His phone rings, and he looks at Troy. "It's Miles. Do you think you can keep an eye on her for a moment?"

My heart pounds, and before I can protest, Jeremy leaves.

Now it's just me and Troy.

I shrink even lower.

At least Troy doesn't feel the need to break the silence with awkward small talk.

To distract myself, I pretend to look at some candles, and I feel his gaze on my back the whole time.

I realize too late that I'm sniffing a coffee-scented candle, tossing it back onto the shelf quickly.

That's Troy's scent.

Unfortunately, I drop the candle, and it smashes on the floor.

Karen looks as if she wants to murder me, but when she looks behind my shoulder, her face whitens, and then she runs out of the aisle.

She bumps into a stack of perfumes on her way, not even bothering to pick them up, and I peer behind my shoulder.

I gasp.

Troy.

His electric blue eyes spark like lightning and no wonder Karen shuffled away like a toy poodle.

Those eyes shoot toward me, and I pretend to look at more candles, my body trembling.

He still terrifies me, and I don't think I will ever see him as anything other than a threat.

When he speaks, I freeze.

"Why didn't you tell them?"

My palms sweat, and I almost drop my second candle.

I lick my lips. "T-tell them what?"

He steps closer. "About Francis?"

I have no idea what to say. I'm aware he has met Francis.

He came home with his papery scent on his shirt, but I know now that he wasn't working for him.

"There wasn't anything to tell…"

Troy remains silent as I look at more candles, reading their scents.

What is petrichor?

"He followed me home from the bar. That was how he found you…"

I squeeze my eyes, and honestly, I'm glad.

Glad to know that he didn't betray me on purpose.

Not that he had any reason to be loyal to me in the first place.

"Belle?"

My heart seizes when he whispers my name, and I peer over my shoulder.

It's the first time he has ever addressed me by name.

He hovers in the corner of my eye, and I clear my throat. "Yes?"

"With your permission, I am going to kill him one day. And give you his head."

I shiver, dropping another candle, and he captures this one and places it back on the shelf.

Now he stands right beside me, and I am too afraid to look at him.

"Just give me your word and I will do it. And all your troubles will be over…"

I have no idea what comes over me next.

One moment, I'm standing, and the next, I'm falling into Troy's arms.

The last thing I recall is his soothing purr, and I pass out to the scent of rich coffee.

A candle could never compare.