Chapter 30

Chapter

Thirty

Sitting down for dinner felt like the strangest thing in the world. Or, at least for usrecentlyever since Demetri started taking on the extra responsibilities and the rest ofussave forLiamstartedto transition our work into that of Demetri and Prestford enterprises as expected, the pack had taken on a less chaotically happy tone.

Be it from work.

Or growing.

Or even omegas.

Everything felt different tonight as we stuffed ourselves into thelargestcar and made our way across town to a restaurant we knew Ella would like and that it would be rare if anyone recognized us at. Besides thatis,the people who owned it.

And they had the best steak fries.

I stretched my arm over the back of Ella's chair as even she smiled at the antics of Liam teasing Demetri over something and even Marko sneaking out a short chuckle around his glass of ice water.

This could be it.

All of us. Demetri, Liam, Marko, me and Ella.

This was our pack.

I think…I think we would be just happy like this.

"Oh," Demetri stood up.

"What?"

"The Wolferns," he said. "At least Rylan and his omega are sitting across the room waving at me."

Liam groaned.

Demetri put his cloth napkin on the table. "It's fine. I won't ignore them. I'll be right back. I don't want them coming over here for us. I'll let them know that we are having a quiet pack dinner just us tonightandwe'll have them over."

"Right," Liam grumbledabout it, but the rest of uswent backto the menu.We barely placed our order before Ella started to squirm next to me.

I turned towards her, looking at what was wrong. A small line of sweat started to break out on her forehead.

I reached for it, though for once, she didn't feel hot.

"What's going on?" I asked, quietly into her ear as if I was teasing her about something.

She shook her head.

I leaned in closer as if I couldn't help myself, playing with her hair until I could whisper in her ear. "Tell me if something is wrong, beautiful."

"You'll think I'm crazy."

I narrowed my eyes. What wasshetalking about? I followed her eyes across the restaurant. What was she looking at?All I saw wasanother family and two men at the corner boothquicklytyping over their phones.

I paused.

Ella was still frozen, trying not to look back up at them and failing.

Demetri was already rounding the table to sit back down next to me. "See? Didn't take long at all."

"Demi," I nudged him. He continued to talk even as Ella started to fidget. "Demetri."

He cleared his throat as the waiter laughed, turning towards me. His eyes narrowed as he took me in. His eyes flipped straight to Ella. "What is it?"

"There are two men in the corner."

Marko overheard, turning his head into Ella's ear on the other side of her. I couldjustmanage to hear. "You know them?"

Ella quickly shook her head no. "I don't… I don't think so. I just… they smell…"

"Like what?"

"Familiar."

"Excuse me." I catch the waiter. "I apologize."

"Not at all."

"Can you please box everything up, somethingcame upandwe need to cut our evening short."

"Absolutely. Mr. Wolfren mentioned to offer desserts as well."

"That would be great, thank you," Demetri said. At somepointhe was already up and behind Ella, helping her out of her chair.

The menget up out ofthe booth andcheck paid on the table.

Maybe it was nothing.

You're going to think I'm crazy,Ella had said.

Liam takes two steps towards them on our way out before they could meet us at the door. "What the fuck are you looking at?"

"Lee." I reached out for his arm, watching the heat of anger take him over. "Let's go."

He glared at the other alphas.

"Let's go," I repeated.

"We got too cocky," said Marko the moment we made it to the car at a speed even I was having trouble keeping up with and being used to my alphas getting in the mood to leave places quickly— for a variety ofreasonseven though this was a first. "I should've known better."

Demetri remained silent.

"Demetri?" Marko barked.

I was surprised I didn't jump out of my seat.

"I know. We got reckless,"heagreed, looking backat thein the mirror. "It won't happen again. It's fine."

"For just asecondI thought that it would be okay…" Ella whispered as shewas helpedinto the car.

"Okay?" I whispered the word the same way she said it.Okaythat she could live normally or something and felt was wrong? She was still hiding.Hidden.And it sucked. The reality of it all was already settling back in for us.

Ella shook my head.

"Are you okay, Ella?"

"It was probably nothing. I'm sorry I ruined dinner."

"You didn't ruin dinner." My brows creased in concern. "It's okay."

"Is it? It was nothing and I made it something. I'm sorry. I just haven't been out of the house or anywhere in a while I think and now I keep feeling like I'm seeing… Seeing people that aren't the people I think they are."

We all looked between each other.

"I'm probably hallucinating now.For all you guys nowatthis pointIcould be some malfunctioning anxiety-filled omega more than I already am."

Liam growled where he sat in the passenger seat. "Don't say that."

"You're fine, Ella."

"I'm sorry,"said Ella again. "I was fine. I don't know what happened."

"There is nothing we wouldn't do tomake sure thatyou are safe and comfortable," Demetri said, voice deep andpowerfulin the room. All of us turned towards him. "You aren't readyandthat's okay. We should've thought of that before."

"Don't even worry about it," I said.

"It's fine. Your heat is fluctuating stillandyour emotions are all over the place. What you're feeling is valid," said Demetri. "We are here for you no matterwhatwhether or notthat means helping you through your heat, bonding, itdoesn't matter once you decide to trust us."

Marko maintained his eyes on the road, looking around the area as weheaded back towardsthe house.

"You don't mean that."

The entire car was quiet.

"We're packandyou're going to be a part of it, even if you're still unsure. We'll prove it toyou,nowomega. You are going to ours to court," Demetri said.

And that was that. At last, our head alpha was finally getting his head out of his ass.

"To spoil," I added as Ella sniffed back her tears.