Chapter 34

Chapter

Thirty-Four

My past. Ugh. Why in the world did I havetojustgoand ruin everything?

Or at least, that is what it felt like. My past did that, after all.

It ruined everything.

Maybe I shouldn't have shared.

The understanding of what I had just done rattled through me.Rattledme completely.I had never told anyone that story. Ever.

I hadn't ever told even Rita. Sheseemed to guess that I may havebeen shelteredor that someone in my past took advantage of meleadingme to run away, but she never knew the whole story.

Perhaps I should've kept it that way.

No.

Butalsoit was all too much. I had to know that. Even I thought it was too much having to just say the words and force myself to basically relive it all again. The moment the Davinsons came for me. The deal they and my brother struck that I agreed on for the best. The moment I listened through the worst pain in my life as my brother died and I couldn't even grieve him properly…

It was beyond much.

Moving forward, ifPrestford packdidn't want to be withme— even iftheyinsistedtheydid— I would know why at least. I knew they were out and for a good reason I couldn't hold against them.

I handed it to them on a nightmare-filled platter.

Here, take this broken physically inept omega to be your one true bond.

No.It didn't work the way. Sure, I didn't know how it worked. But I had a feeling that definitely was not it.

I was too complicated and full of oversharing…

Marko, not put off in the slightest by my overthinking silence, led me over to one of the free-standing punching bags as my mind had a workoutof its own.

I tried to sleep after last night to no avail. I couldn't get the feeling that something was crawling out of my skin since I talked to them all and told them what had happened over the past seven years.

Before then.

I felt vulnerable andmorethan that, unsettled from dredging it all back up from the back of mymindwhere it wasalwaysconstantly trying to break out of.

And now I gave it a free pass.

There was nothing left of me now.

My chest ached when I sighed.

"Something bothering you?" Marko asked , acting like nothing at all was different than any other dayIcame down here to run terribly on the treadmill until my chest hurt, or punch the bag until my knuckles were close to bleeding, andheforcedto stop—taking care to rub lotion on the spots where my skin looked ready to split.

"You're all just looking at menowI feel like," Isaid,quietly, hating that I had to say anythingat all.

Marko's brows creased.

I huffed again, not looking at him while I spoke. "I know you said that it wasn't pity–"

"It's not."

"I just don't want it to be because you're all waiting for me to break now."

"Never," he said.

I peeked up a him.

There was only sureness in his tone. The rest of him was tense with the determination there too.

"We're waiting…" Marko searched for words. "We're waiting for you to bloom, little omega. Weonly hope thatyou'll choose us to be the lucky bastards who get to watch when this is all said and done."

"I want to." A small smile curled along the edge of his lips. It felt like I was watching something miraculous. I whispered, "I do want you."

"Well then." Marko leaned in a little closer to me until all I could smell was histartsweet citrus scent that made my toes curl. "Say that a few more times. Then feel free to take us whenever you're ready, little omega."

We didn't spend much of the rest of the time downstairs in the gym working out.

After another hour, I felt much better. All my worries were still in the back of my mind, but they were quieter than they were before. I nearly ran into a man just as large at the top of the stairs.

"Oh," I startled, blinking up at Demetri. "Sorry, I wasn't paying attention."

He shook his head. His eyes roamed over me as if looking for something else other than the gross amount of sweat I was sure to be putting off. "I apologize. I was just about to see if you twowere donedownstairs."

"Right, well, I'm done working out," I told him. "Marko just went to the shower a second ago."

"Good. I just wanted to find you and check in."

I nodded. "Alright."

"How are you doing?"

I felt oddly like I was back being interrogated by the doctor they brought in at the beginning of my stay. I shrugged. "I'm fine. Been thinking a lot."

"That's to be expected. Please let me know from now on if you have anything else that is amiss orthat youneed to share.Your storyalongwith the evidence we hadfrom the papers you helped find…you have been remarkable, Ella," said Demetri.

Right. I did helpthema lot. I was glad that I could. In a way, I wasgladI could repay them all for their kindness. Especially Demetri.

"Okay," I said. "If I think of anything else, I'll be sure to let you know."

He stood unmoving for another second. "Good. I suppose then I'll just leave you to it."

Turning to walk towards the living room, I watched Demetri go like a dejected puppy. Before I could stop myself, I realized that I didn't want him to walk away from me. Not yet.

Not like that.,

Not if… If what I said to Marko was true. I wanted them. And if I wanted them. I needed more than just him or Cal to know it.

I raised my voice. "Actually?—"

Demetri quickly turned around as if he had been waiting for me.

"I'm just…" I paused. "I've been a little more uncomfortable than usual today."

"Hm," he thought.

"Hm?" I asked. "Let me guess, another side effect of everything, you think?"

He shook his head. "It's alright.Nothing to worry about.It's likely a sign of an impendingheat,to feel uncomfortable in your skin. Like everything is too…tight," he tried to explain. Demetri looked from where I came from to the perfume and sweat leaking from my pores. "It's… I know you likely don't want to talk about it, but it's going to happen at some time."

He seemed to test my response.

At this point now, it was nothing new. "I know."

"I know that you have time…"

Did I though?

I pursed my lips trying to see what he wanted to say yet.

Luckily, all business, I didn't have to guess long.

"I want you to know that we as a pack would be honored if I'd be there to help you through. As if that isn't clear enough,"hesaid stiffly.

"Oh, it is," I said. Most ofthemanyway. I was still on the fence withhimhimselfwhichseemed odd. I always thought the head alpha would be the most involved. Wanton, even.

But maybe that was just it, Demetrididn't want me. I couldn't tell yet.

But he was very clearly devoted to his pack.

He'd do anything for them. Try, for them.

"If I didn't choose that…" I swallowed. "What would happen?"

Demetri thought for a moment. "Eventuallywe will register you with Omega Services. It is the only way and I'd make sure hat you'd be safe this time. I'd get you new IDs if needed and anything else. I would make sure that you will have good concrete options. I would see to it that you'd be safe. When your heat arrives…you'd either be set up in a hospital to go through it alone."

The pain I remembered flung straight to the front of my mind. I never wanted that again.

Never again.

"Or they'd set you up with a pack likely. Temporary or permanentdependingon different factors to see you through.It would be your choice, but please, consider lettingus court you–properly."

I stared at Demetri and nodded. "Okay."

"I'm glad you will think about it-"

"No. I mean." I took a deep breath. Here we go. The thought of other alphas made me want to squirm. But, in front of Demetri, it was fora wholeotherreason. Maybe we could… grow on each other. Or at least, he could grow on me.

"I mean, okay," I said."I thinkIwould liketo stay here. With you. The pack. For now. If that's okay. Youcould help me when everything happens. If it does sooner rather than later."

Demetri's eyes widened as he blinked. "You want to be our omega?"

"If you'll have me. For now, I mean. As a trial even, if you'd like. I like you alla lotmore than I ever imaginedand…I'd like to try. More than alreadyIguess. Not that you haven't been doing enoughandeverything hasn't been happening already–"

A smile curled both edges of his lips.

Teeth flashed as he lifted his hands before putting them back down at his sides. Was it possible that thegoodbusinessman wanted to…hug me?

Maybe I was wrong about the stoic alpha.

"Of course, Ella."

"Thanks for everything. I mean, I should probably go and get a shower and go to bed. I am tired now with everything."

Demetri nodded. "Sleep well. I'll worry about the rest now. You don't need to think about anything. Okay. We want to make sure you're comfortable."

Even if they could never fully love me after Iwas forcedon them, itmade warmth stirin my chest.

Damn, omega.

Itook a steptowards the stairs before giving one last hesitant smile over my shoulder.

Thiswas it. This house. Them. I was staying here. Astheir omega.

It was everything I ran from, but now, I didn't want to run from them.

Maybe my legs were too tired. Maybe I just didn't want to.

For the first time, that sounded like a good enough reason to me.

"Did I hear what I think I heard?" Cal stood on the edge of the steps, clearly eavesdropping.

I rolled my eyes as I continued to make my way upstairs. "I told you already that I was going to try. For real."

Pulling me up into his arms, Cal twirled me around. "Ugh, you are so ours."

I wanted to tell him not to get ahead of himself, but I didn't. I couldn't help the giggles that escaped as he held me. Maybe they were mine.

They were mine.

And I think I was starting to be okay with it. Omegas wereneededdesiredandused. But maybe with them, it would never be a bad thing. They were never cruel.

They were mine.

The thought jolted me, certainty embedding itself in my chest all the way to Cal's shower so that I would lather myself in his soap. When I go out, I dried my hair. Cal remained inside of his room, sitting on the edge of the bed, smiling at me .

"You need to stop that," I warned him.

"What?"

"Being so happy?" It was more of a question than a conviction. I did like to see him smile.

There was something terribly infectious about it.

Cal chuckled with a shrug. "Nah. Where would the fun in that be?" He asked. "I figure I need to be happy for the both of us right now."

"I am happy."

He extended his arms towards me for me to step into. Setting aside my hair brush, I did. He looped his arms around me. His hand slid up my pajamas that were really just one of Liam's oversized shirts, all the way to my face, cupping my cheeks as he pulled me down for a kiss.

Where there was usually a fun-loving tone to the way his mouth worked over mine, right now it was soft, easy.

I hummed.

"You like that, beautiful?"

"I like you," I whispered against his lips.

"Good. Because eventually you're going to get sick of me," Cal whispered right back.

I shook my head, doubtful.

"Do you want to stay here tonight or go to your nest?" He asked.

My nest. My omega purred in my chest. It was really going to be all mine, wasn't it?

Everything was starting to snap together like a beautiful yet still a bit frightening puzzle.

"Here's fine. I want to be with you."

"Good. I want to be with you tonight too," he said. "I don't want to share you."

I shook my head.

"I mean I will, but…" he kissed the side of my neck again.

I couldn't help but arch back, bending to his every touch for more. Whoever said that betas weren't just as hot as alphas didn't know what they were talking about.

Cal was everything.

With each kiss and lick, we fell back onto the bed. Cal tugged back the blankets, but I was much more concerned about tugging the rest of his clothing off and raking my fingers down his lean chest.

I moaned at the sight of him.

"I want you," I whimpered.

"You have me."

"No. I mean," I rephrased, trying to catch my breath in between kisses and wanting to maul him right now. I let out a short laugh at just how needy I was already feeling. "I want you to be first."

"First."

"My first," I said, a little softer. I peeked up at him through my lashes. I wondered if any of them ever knew.

Cal only smiled, hands continuing their steady perusal of my curves.

"Don't worry," said Cal. He held me close so that my heart would calm down from how he touched me, my omega raging in my chest formore. Though, as he continued that sweeping soothing motion, the res of my body started to sway, sleepy and at ease after such a taxing day.

I was so tired.

"We have all the time in the world."

We did. We had all the time in the world.

"But," he added. "What our omega wants, our omega gets.Plus,I can't wait to rub it into everyone else's faces."

I laughed into his chestwhichrumbled with his amusement. Everything felt perfect. Likea dream.

I felt at peace.

Cal tucked me into his arms just a little tighter. "Sweet dreams, Ella."

I let myself fall into it and fell asleep.

The door never banged before in the pack house.

For a moment,I squeezed my eyes shut, unable to open them from the thick coating of sleep.

I was back in the old house with Peter. We were hiding. He was hiding me–

But I wasn't there anymore.

I rolled over, trying to fall back asleep, reaching out my hand to feel for the space where Cal should've been.

Slowly, I blinked my eyes open. The room was still blurry as I breathed in his sweet marshmallow scent on the sheets and the heavy coating of chai from Liam's shirt I was in.

"Cal?" I quietly croaked.

The door across the room slammed open, louder than what I had heard before.

I startled up, sitting up in bed, unable to scream as three men came in with a woman. They were saying something, not yelling, but I couldn't process it as the bright lights turned on and they grabbed me.

They didn't pause. They held around my arms as if they were willing to drag me out of the house. And they were going to.

"Stop! Stop! Don't touch me," I finally managed to get words out, or at least I thought I did. "Stop!"

Nothing I said was working.

This could not the happening. I was with Cal. I was with my pack.

I was supposed tot be safe.

"Calm down. It's okay."

"Stop touching me!" I screeched.

If anything, it made the assailants hold onto me tighter as I started to struggle. I kicked and thrashed, trying to remember any sort of tips Marko told me about how to get out of someone's hold before I could run. The furthest I got was falling to the floor before I was immediately captured again.

I screamed.

I couldn't recall anyof thelessons Marko gave me, however minimal. I was failing him right now.

I was failing myself.

I kept struggling.

"What is going on?" My voice cracked as my voice was used up. Gone.

"It's alright now. We are going to make sure you're safe, omega."

"Safe? I'm–" I looked around. "Liam? Demetri!"

I couldn't help it as I screamed,being led— pulled and carried— down the stairs to where I saw the Prestford pack alpha talking with officers. His hair was swept back from his face, still in his dark shirt I remember from earlier.

The entire pack was there, and Cal was straining out of someone's arms as he tried to reach me. "Ells!"

"Cal!"

"Please don't let them take me. Please!" I screamed louder.

Did they do this? Did they call Omega Services on me after I told them just how much I trusted them and wanted to give them a chance?

They wouldn't have done that.

Would they have?

My throat felt like it was closing up as the panic came back in full force. But I needed to be strong right now. I needed to run. I needed to start again.

I shut my eyes.

I needed to start again.

I squeezed them tighter.

What was happening?

It was far too long before I forced myself to open my eyesonceagain.

"Where are you taking me?" I asked anyone around me.

None of them were looking at me from the vanoutto another building. The sky was dark and the lights along the street were still lit. They sat me down in a chair like a child, muttering about something or another about me being difficult.

I grit my teeth and snarled.

"If you keep struggling, we will have to restrain you."

I froze. Though I didn't stop my growl. "Why am I here. What are you doing?"

"Please, take a deep breath. You need to relax."

Relax? Was she kidding me right now?

The woman with dark red hair that had to have been a bitch to upkeep peeked back at me as she started tapping something into her phone. She had been with me the whole time, since the pack house, yet I only noticed this now. "We are going to get you registered."

I shook my head. "Registered?"

"Of course. That is where omegas belong before they are chosen by their alphas, silly. Are you ready to calm down now?"

Silly? My eyes widened.

Another woman walked into the room. "I thought they were sending someone else," the redhead glued to her phone muttered.

"Well you got me," said the woman who looked… normal. Dirty blond hair was clipped back and her face was clean of makeup.

But that made no sense.

None of this made any sense.

"What is your name, omega?" The new woman asked who looked out of a business casual catalog.

My lips partedbutnothing came out for a long moment. The woman, however, waited until I finally got the name out.

"Do you not know your name, omega?" She asked, brown eyes flashing with what looked like sincere concern. "It's alright. You are safe now. We brought you here so that we could take care of you and make sure of that. We don't know the full story of what happened yet, but we want to get to the bottom of it. Can you start by telling me your name?"

Licking my lips, they were chapped from how much I must've been screaming, my voice raw. "Ella."

"But that isn't true," another voice said.

I froze.

That voice. That was…

The voice of my nightmares.

The brother of the man I hated to be within fivefeetlet alone had been forced to be tethered to for the rest of my life, stepped into the room and in front of me.

My lips parted in shock before I could stop them. My body shook with the horror of what was happening.

Hewas here. I knew it and didn't trust myself. The man that Rita met a Prestford—the beta.

How could this be happening? It didn't make any sense.

Paul Davinson. Benjamin's little brother that was always there hiding in the corners and in the background, too young to be a part of the full family picture.

He had been here for this entire time.

He found me.

They all found me.

"You were a pesky thing to track down. You always liked to be a challenge though. Didn't you, Elena?"

Iwas taken awayonce again. I was losing everything again once and for all, wasn't I?

First was my freedom and my job in the archives surrounded by stories.

NowIwasn't going tohave my own story at all by the looks of things. Even as an omega in a world I thought was better–more good– gone was my choice.

My pack.