37. Belle

Chapter thirty-seven

Belle

T he doctors deemed me fit enough to go home several days later.

Luckily, they got the poison out of me, but I need to take things easy for a while.

So, no extraneous activity. I must remain on bed rest until I'm fit and healthy again.

The pack remained by my bedside.

Several times, Jeremy left to go to the capital to speak with Gryphon.

Upon his return, he would update us all.

They arrested Lavender, and in the end, she revealed her plans to kill Gryphon and take full control of the government.

An Alpha will occupy her seat for the time being, and the Beta population is not pleased.

There were riots on the streets and Gryphon had to deploy some peacekeepers to keep the peace.

Beta protesters are being arrested left, right, and center. Many are even being questioned.

I wonder what it means for the future.

It's not worth thinking about. The real enemy is still out there after all.

The warden.

I never did get his face or name; he will always remain a shadowed silhouette.

My fingers curl on my lap as Leo wheels me out of the hospital in a wheelchair towards a waiting car.

I don't recognize the car and when I turn to meet Leo's brown eyes, he shrugs. "Courtesy of the governor."

My heart thumps, and I sit back in my seat again, biting my lip.

I guess we are family now.

Gryphon is my brother so to speak. As well as Barret and Lachlan.

And Mila is my sister.

How strange that I went from having no family at all to two in the span of a few weeks.

I haven't heard from Oliver but the guys told me that he checked in often while I was at the hospital.

I'm glad; I wouldn't want our reunion to be in a hospital bed.

It should be somewhere special.

Rian and Leo lift me out of the wheelchair and then settle me in the back seat.

Troy takes the wheelchair back inside, and when he returns, he nestles in beside me and Rian.

Leo doesn't protest and it seems that all is forgiven.

Troy is no longer an outcast in his own pack.

Jeremy sits in the front seat, and I smile when he turns around.

"You look good, Belle."

The compliment makes me blush, and I peer down at my lap, brushing my hair behind my ear.

Rian brought my favorite red dress and my makeup bag too.

He never said why, but he told me it was for a special occasion.

"Where are we going?" I ask.

The doctor said I must go straight home and get some rest, but it seems the guys are taking me on a detour.

"You'll see," Jeremy says, smiling at the driver next.

I finally recognize him.

That's Barret. Jeremy's cousin.

And my brother's Alpha.

The Alpha peers over his shoulder with a wide grin on his face. "It's nice to finally meet you, Belle. I'm Barret. Jay's cousin."

I return his smile, taking his outstretched hand. His grip is gentle.

"I've heard so much about you…" I reply, meeting his dark eyes.

My brother is one lucky Omega.

Barret is handsome.

So is Gryphon, too, for that matter, but he's a little too serious for my liking.

I have yet to meet Lachlan, but from what I saw on the night of the ball, he was handsome too. Like a Fae Prince from another land.

An insane Fae Prince.

And then there's Mila. Blonde and freckled with green eyes.

My brother has it all.

As do I now.

We're both so blessed.

Barret chuckles. "Lachlan will be pissed that I got to meet you first. But I drew the longest straw in the end, so he can kiss my—"

"Just start the car, Barret," Jeremy sighs, cutting him off.

Barret scoffs, starting the engine as requested. "All right. No need to be an ass ."

I stifle a laugh.

At least he got to say ass in the end.

The Alpha drives away from the hospital at last, and my heart thumps in my ears.

I think I have a very good idea of where they intend to take me, and I squeeze Rian's hand as my nerves get the better of me.

We've technically already met, but this will be our first official reunion.

I just hope Oliver likes me.

The car pulls up outside the house and I take several deep breaths.

Jeremy and Barret get out of the car. Leo joins their side, and now the three Alphas talk amongst themselves.

Troy remains with me and Rian.

The Alpha never left my side once. He even slept by my bedside as I was recovering, and to say I was touched would be an understatement.

Troy is making up for lost time, but we've got forever now.

The Alpha was willing to die for me. He accepted his grim fate and merely closed his eyes as I raised that knife and the memory will haunt me forever.

They never told me what they did with Francis's body.

I don't want to know.

But the sight of his frozen pale blue eyes will be imprinted on my mind forever.

I'm a killer after all, and I hope I'm not a disappointment to my brother.

"You ready, Belle?" Rian asks beside me, and I meet his green eyes.

He grins, helping me out of the car.

I still can't walk properly, so Troy ends up carrying me toward the governor's house in the end.

Leo doesn't growl or snatch me away from him, and it seems they really are friends again.

When we reach the house, Troy places me down on my feet, and now we wait.

I hear muffled voices beyond the door and it sounds like someone is arguing.

But then the door finally opens, and I meet those familiar ocean-blue eyes.

The world stops, and I have no idea what to say.

I can't believe this is real, and for a moment, it feels like another dream.

But we're not on a hilltop anymore…

His strong honeycomb scent hits me next, and I have no idea what comes over me.

He really is real…

"Isabelle…" he whispers, tears pooling in his eyes.

My own eyes pour, but I try to remain strong.

I will not fall apart.

Oliver corrects himself then. "Sorry, Belle… But you will always be Isabelle to me."

I smile. "Isabelle is perfectly fine."

I meet his ocean eyes again.

Now they're completely overflowing with tears. "I missed you so much. I haven't stopped thinking about you. Not once…"

"I missed you too. And I never stopped thinking about you either, Oliver."

No more words are exchanged between us. We embrace at last, and now my brother holds me up instead of my Alphas.

Then he helps me inside the house, and I finally meet his pack.

My second family.

We spent hours at Pack Hart's house. We even had dinner, and it turns out that the pack isn't the best of cooks.

Well, according to my brother.

Lachlan and Barret made me spaghetti with cut-up hot dogs, and it was something... Their specialty they called it.

Mila apologized on my brother's behalf.

With permission from my Alphas, Lachlan hugged me tight and never let me go, telling me that the pack was finally complete now that I was here.

It turned out they were all missing me.

Pack Hart shares a bond after all. So they feel what Oliver feels, and his grief has been weighing him down for years.

And his regret.

Oliver blames himself for letting me go, but it was not his fault.

The only person I blame is the warden, and I swear he will pay one day.

But for now, I am going to live my life and be grateful for what I have.

The guys have a surprise waiting for me when we get back to the house.

When they lead me to the garage, my heart thrums with excitement.

Rian counts down the seconds, and then he pushes the door open, letting me see inside.

My jaw hits the floor.

The garage has been completely transformed.

The cot has gone, and the walls have been given a new fresh coat of paint.

All in colors like red, orange, and magenta.

It looks like the inside of a tent, and when I step inside, gazing up at the canopy ceiling, I turn dizzy.

Luckily, Leo catches me in his arms, and it seems I'm still a bit woozy from the hospital.

The Alpha nestles me down on a pile of cushions. All in the same red and orange.

Everything I pointed out in the store is here.

"So, do you like it?" Rian asks.

"I love it. I can't wait for my next heat!"

I can't believe it. A nest of my very own.

"Wait until you see this…"

Confused, my eyes follow the Omega as he steps toward a set of red curtains.

He pulls them apart, and my hand flies to my mouth when I spy a bookshelf. There are beanbag chairs too and a mini fridge with snacks.

My very own reading nook!

It beats the one I had at Francis's old apartment.

That's when I recognize the little tomato plant on one of the shelves. "Jerry!"

Rian grins, picking up the plant pot. "That's right."

"H-how?"

Jeremy speaks for him. "We found Francis's apartment. Unfortunately, we found nothing there that could lead us to his boss."

I'm not surprised.

Francis was always very cryptic.

I hope they burned the apartment to the ground.

There was nothing I loved in that apartment. Well, apart from Jerry and a few books.

Francis threw those old books away, but at least Jerry made it out alive.

Rian hands me the little plant pot, and now I cry happy tears as I gaze down at the tomato.

It's silly, but this tomato was my only friend for a while.

He's the only good thing Francis ever gave me and I will cherish him always.

Troy regards me curiously and I smile, lifting the plant pot. "It's Jerry."

The Alpha smiles, nodding at the tomato. "It's nice to meet you, Jerry."

My giggle lights up the room, and all four men freeze at the sound.

I really am happy.

I have never felt so complete.

"Such a perfect sound, kitty cat," Leo purrs, placing a tender kiss behind my ear.

A shudder goes up my spine.

We really shouldn't. The doctor said I need to rest.

Rian seems to hear my thoughts, rubbing the furrow between my eyes with his thumb. "It's okay, Belle. We will take it slow. We just want to shower you with kisses…"

They guys undress me and thank goodness; I was getting a little hot, but now they plant kisses up and down my skin, chasing the aches and pains away.

Troy is hesitant, but I reach my hand out for him. He takes it and now we fall back on the cushions and share a sweet kiss.

Rian speaks at last. "We've decided to make you a part of the pack bond, Belle."

I almost don't believe it, but when I meet his eyes, he nods, and more tears escape me.

The Alphas purr.

"You just choose who you want to bite you into the pack. Only an Alpha can after all," Rian says, and there's no missing the sadness in his voice.

I look at Leo and Jeremy. Then I peer at Troy.

Troy sighs. "I'd be honored, Belle, but I don't think I'm worthy."

I shake my head. "Nonsense. You've more than earned the right."

"She's right," Leo replies. "So stop beating yourself up. It's in the past."

Troy turns to me again. "Would you really want me to bite you?"

I blush, hoping I don't sound ridiculous next. "Well, I want all of you to bite me..."

Only one of the Alpha's bites will seal the bond, but if they bite me all at once, then we can leave it as a mystery.

"I've made my choice. I want you all to bite me at the same time."

They're not sure at first. It is kind of a crazy proposal after all.

But when I tie my hair up, showing them my neck, they get into position around me, and it seems they don't need to be told twice.

I want one of them to knot me when they do the deed, and there is only one knot I haven't tried yet.

I peer at Troy, and it must be written on my face because he looks at Leo. Then he glances at Jeremy and Rian.

They have his blessing.

He was always welcome in the first place.

Troy is still cautious, but I tug him closer, and now we're nose to nose on the stack of cushions.

His warmth seeps into my skin, so I press my chest against him, letting him get a feel of my hard nipples.

The Alpha freezes, and now I watch as his pupils dilate.

A low rumble sounds in his chest.

He is ready.

We really shouldn't. The doctor said I need to rest.

But Troy is far too tempting…

Those electric blue eyes sear right through my flesh, and then I feel the hardness inside his pants.

He rips his shirt off quickly next and then he takes off his pants until he's in nothing but his boxers.

I slip my fingers beneath the waistband of his boxer briefs, pulling them down to his ankles.

He steps out of them, never taking his burning gaze off me.

He's so beautiful.

I trace his face, pressing at the prominent groove beneath his nose, and my finger fits so perfectly.

He shuts his eyes, and I never would have dreamed that Troy would let me touch his face.

He was always so guarded around me, but not anymore…

I guide his cock next, and now a shudder runs through me when I feel him inside me.

When I thrust, his breath stutters, but I don't stop; I keep rolling my hips until we reach the finish line.

He's close. I can tell by the way he jerks at my hips, ramming into me hard.

My back arches and then lights flicker in my eyes. Troy follows suit, and now he roars as I tighten around him.

The moment his knot swells, the guys sink their teeth into my throat and bite.

New thoughts bleed into my head, merging with my own, and then I feel that tether falling into place.

The bond.

I hear them next.

"Belle?"

That's Rian.

"Hey…" I respond.

"Kitty cat…" Leo purrs.

Tears pour down my cheeks.

"Finally… life is complete…" Jeremy whispers into my mind. "Barret was right. This is fucking incredible."

It really is.

Pack Snow not only has one Omega now, but two.

"I love you, Belle," Jeremy whispers next, taking me by surprise.

Leo purrs louder. "I love you too, kitty cat."

My eyes sting, and then I wipe my cheeks. "And I love you all."

Troy has yet to speak, and I worry for a moment.

He's boneless and sweaty on top of me, and I guess it has been some time since he got a good fuck.

When he comes down from his high, I tug on his tether, the one that brings his coffee scent.

All their tethers have their scents.

"Troy?"

Even before he bit me, I could sense his thoughts. I'm still not sure why, but my theory is that Troy is my soul mate.

It's the only thing that makes sense.

Finally, my soul mate lifts his head, and I meet those simmering blue eyes.

"Belle…"

My heart pounds and I pull him closer, planting a bruising kiss on his lips. He meets my tongue, and now the nest fills with the scent of caramel coffee.

We smell so good together.

Leo gathers some of my slick, and now he gets into position behind me as he thrusts into my ass, working me and Troy to another orgasm, and soon I have two knots inside me.

Jeremy takes my mouth, and then I have three…

Rian works my clit with his fingers, and we spent hours in that nest.

I guess I never did listen to the doctor in the end, but I was never a stickler for the rules.

I am through with being starved.

Now I am full at last.

END