Chapter Forty-One

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

One Month Later

Now Playing: Our Love- Coheed and Cambria

The past several weeks of Pastor Montgomery’s trial have been hell on our girl. We were all surprised by how swiftly everything has progressed. With both teams pushing, and the entire world watching, the presiding judge has made this trial a priority.

Omen’s birth father’s legal team has spent the entire ordeal trying to drag her through the mud. They’ve dug into her childhood, trying to make her seem complicit in the church’s vile actions. When that failed, they turned to her fleeing New Hampshire and hiding with the DAU.

Which was foolish. In a trial where the defendant is being charged with crimes against omegas–including the omega being examined–why would you try to defame a witness for escaping the very crime you are saying never occurred in the first place?

“Ready, babygirl?” Nebula asks as Titan steers our car into the parking lot closest to the courthouse. We had to pass the front of the building to get here, and there is already a media circus outside. Frazzled nervousness consumes her bond. “We’ll be with you every step of the way.”

“I know… it’s just a lot. They’ve been deliberating for two days. What if they decide he isn’t guilty?” She chews on her lip as she glances out the window.

Nex smiles, reaching up to free the abused flesh. His thumb caresses her jaw and he leans in so their noses are nearly touching.

“I know. We will deal with that outcome if it happens. I’ve spent so long hoping this day would come, I-I don’t want to have to go back to living in fear.”

“You won’t,” Nebula promises. “You were alone before, but now you have us. No matter what happens when we walk in there, he can’t reach you. Not ever again.”

Titan opens his door and climbs out, stretching before pulling Nexus’ door open too. “Come on, firefly, let’s head over. Together.”

“Okay,” she whispers, slipping her hand into his. I scramble out behind them, taking her other hand in mine. With the four of us surrounding her, she’s protected. She’s whole.

It’s easy to tell which side of the trial the congregating reporters align with based on how they address our girl. The ones calling out to her as Sarah Montgomery are the ones we avoid the most. If they can’t even get her name right, they don’t deserve a second of her time.

Hannah and Shepherd are waiting inside. Foster has stayed at home with Kaitlin and Everett throughout the trial, giving Hannah the opportunity to be here with her sister. She also took to the stand to testify against the Pastor, which showed all of us how deeply she’s been working for the DAU over the years.

“Whatever happens, we can handle it,” Hannah tells Omen, wrapping her in a hug. They walk into the courtroom together, heads held high. They’re the picture of strength, of survival. This is the type of picture I see often in Omen’s collections from protests. If it wasn’t for the ban on photography, I would capture this moment for her. To remind her how badass she can be.

Sitting on the hard wooden bench, we all wait impatiently as they bring the court to order. The judge takes his seat and calls in the jury. I don’t think a single person in this room is breathing as they file in. The presiding juror stands when called upon, opening a sheet of paper.

This is it. The moment of truth.

“For the counts of domestic bioterrorism, human trafficking, aggravated assault of an unbonded omega, and bribery, we find Grant Montgomery guilty.”

A single breath, two, and the courtroom erupts into chaos. The Pastor, his legal team, and all of his supporters witnessing this are engulfed in rage. Calling out against what they view as an injustice. U.S. Marshalls swarm in, protecting the judge, jury, and other courthouse staff.

“Silence!” Everyone stills, facing the surprisingly powerful older alpha when he barks. “Anyone who continues to act out will be held in contempt. Return to your seats so we may proceed.”

The sentencing is drowned out by the relief flowing out of Omen’s bond. The weight this outcome has lifted from her shoulders is immense. She’s free, really truly free this time. And she’s never felt happier.

Standing between our car and the Wilsons, Hannah and Omen stare out at the capitol. My starlight’s head is resting on her big sister’s shoulder and they are surprisingly quiet when I expected them to celebrate. Maybe it hasn’t sunk in yet. It would be easy for this situation to seem surreal after they’ve both spent so long fighting to escape their father and his cult.

“You don’t seem excited,” Nexus comments. His brows are furrowed as he follows the same trail of thought.

“I am, it’s just…” Omen starts.

“Our father is only one of many problems. Ben and Jacquelyn are another, though they’ve been sentenced as well.” Hannah cuts in. “Doctor Harrison is a significant threat, and he hasn’t been found yet.”

“He won’t come after us though.” Omen straightens, glancing at her sister. “The Doctor is too much of a coward to try to seek revenge. He’ll start over somewhere else, working with someone just as awful as our father. Maybe more so.”

“Mother is also still unaccounted for,” Hannah whispers. Her jaw is tight as she stares at her little sister. Concern fills her warm brown eyes.

“She is, but Han, she won’t come after me either. That woman has never cared about me. She doesn’t view me as a threat, and she certainly doesn’t see me as helpful to her in any way.” Omen steps closer, grabbing Hannah’s hands and squeezing them tight. She turns her head, catching Shepherd’s eyes instead. He nods, his gaze hard. “She’ll come after you. You and the kids.”

“I know.” Hannah deflates. Shepherd steps forward and pulls her against his side.

“We won’t let her touch them.”

Omen accepts his promise easily. We all do because we can see how much he loves the beta woman. If we would burn the world to save our girl, he’d implode an entire planet to stop Hannah from ever being hurt again.

“Let’s go home,” Titan grunts, offering Omen one of his huge hands. “The future starts now, and I plan to enjoy every second of it with you.”

Omen narrows her eyes on us as we walk through the house. The noise from the back patio filters through the windows, carrying the sound of our surprise inside.

When she steps into the living room and sees the sea of people waiting for us outside, she sighs. If I couldn’t feel her smile in our bond I would be concerned she was upset.

“Come on, gorgeous,” Nexus grins, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and steering her to the back door. “Our guests are waiting!”

We invited everyone over for dinner. To celebrate or to distract her since we weren’t sure which way the trial would go. Bea and her parents, Hannah and the Wilsons, Brady and his mate, even Titan’s aunt and her pack made the trip up.

“How’s everything going?” Juniper asks, wandering over to lean against one of the low garden walls beside me. Her red hair is pulled back in a thick braid tonight, and I wonder if she would teach me so I can braid Omen’s hair one day.

“We’re good. Better, anyway. There are still some bumps in the road to overcome, but that’s normal for new relationships.” One side of my lips tilts up in a smile as I glance at her face. Her attention is trained on her other mates where they chat animatedly with Bea’s parents.

My gaze strays to where Omen, Bea, and Hannah sit a few feet away. The relaxed state of my starlight’s shoulders makes me happy. She deserves to have the weight of her family’s sins lifted from her shoulders. Their actions were never her burden to bear, and yet she’s paid the price for them.

“She’s good for you guys,” Juniper comments. “Mellows you all out a bit.”

I snort out a laugh, shaking my head. “I don’t think mellow is the right word. Those three have turned into overprotective, possessive alphas since she came back into our lives. It drives both of us crazy sometimes.”

Juniper laughs too, quickly agreeing. Her pack has it even worse than we do since Canyon and Bowie often have to travel internationally for work. Though last time we spoke they’d mentioned both men taking a step back from their jobs so their pack can start a family.

I wonder if Omen wants kids? We’ve never really discussed that aspect of our future as a pack. I know whatever she decides, the rest of us will agree to. We’re still young enough to wait a few years, and I think letting our girl enjoy her newfound freedom would be best for now. Kids can be a topic we revisit when we reach our thirties.

“I’ll win this time, old timer,” Titan grumbles as he walks past us, Bowie at his side.

Juniper and I both groan. Titan is constantly challenging the other alpha to swimming competitions, but he never wins. Bowie was a professional swimmer who won bronze in the Olympics two years after he graduated from college. It’s an unfair competition.

“You know, I’m starting to believe Bowie instigates these races just to boost his ego.”

“And my Alpha urges him on because he loves competing. At least they’re having fun.”

An arm wraps around my waist, the scent of sunflowers wrapping me in a soothing embrace. Omen rests her chin on my shoulder, watching the two alphas as they dive into the pool. “Next time we should ‘forget’ to turn the heater on,” she jokes, sea green eyes sparkling with mischief.

“I knew we would get along,” Juniper laughs. “Kipp and I tried that with Bowie once. He’d gotten in late from a four day trip to San Francisco, and Kipp was upset his alpha passed out in his own bed. So when Bowie went out to turn the heater on for his morning swim, we snuck back out and shut it off. The way he spluttered when he dove into frigid February water was hilarious!”

“You’ll have to share your tricks with me. I have to make these guys pay somehow, and a few fun pranks would be an entertaining way to go.” Omen sends a pulse of love down our bond as she talks, silently reassuring me she is only joking.

Not that it matters. If my omega mate wants to prank us, I’ll gladly help her. As long as she is smiling, what’s a few moments of embarrassment on our part.

“Oh! Yes!” Omen straightens, turning to wave to Juniper. “It was lovely talking to you for a moment, but I have a baby to snuggle!” I watch her dart across the patio and swoop Everett into her arms before Shepherd can take him back from Shelby.

“Omen,” he growls.

“Go woo my sister or something. It’s my turn to cuddle this little monster.” Omen pouts, angling the baby away from his adoptive father.

“Baby hog,” Shepherd grumbles, looking genuinely put out by her actions. Foster distracts him, whispering something in his ear that has him turning his attention to Hannah instead.

“Want to help me grab dessert?” Nebula grunts, startling me. I was distracted by Omen and Shepherd’s head butting and hadn’t heard my mate walk over. I agree, following him into the kitchen where he has an array of cupcakes and mini cheesecakes stored in the fridge.

His hand wraps around me, directing me to the pantry instead. My brows furrow as we step inside. “What do we-” The words freeze on my tongue as he cages me against the shelves. Midnight blue eyes trap me, the wild edge of his expression stirring my cock to life. “Alpha?”

“Seeing our omega with a baby in her arms does things to me,” he admits through gritted teeth.

Trailing my eyes down over his muscular chest, I see the strain of his bulge against his jeans. “Oh.”

“Are you going to be a good boy and help your Alpha out?”

Dropping to my knees, I let my actions answer his question. I’ll always be their good boy. Without them I would be lost, adrift in a life of loneliness, searching for the missing pieces of my soul.

The door snicks open as I’m pushing his jeans down his hips. Honeyed sunflower floods the space as Omen steps inside. “I gave up baby cuddles for this,” she teases as she drops to her knees beside me. “You’d better make it up to us later, Alpha.”

“Behave, and I’ll consider rewarding you after the party’s over.” Nebula strokes his hands through our hair, gripping the strands at the back of our heads and urging us forward. “Now suck my cock like good little mates.”

I meet Omen’s eyes beside me, and she smirks. Closing the distance between us, she presses her lips to mine. Slow, sensual swipes of her tongue tease me until the head of Nebula’s cock bumps against our cheeks. She guides my tongue out, tangling it with hers so we’re both lapping at the piercings in his tip.

Her fingers entwine with mine, her palm on the back of my hand as she trails them up the inside of our alpha’s thigh. He tenses, muscles flexing as we graze his skin.

“Fuck, yeah, like that,” Nebula groans when Omen wraps our hands around his knot and squeezes. Her tongue separates from mine, slowly working down his length. I follow the same path on the opposite side, not taking my eyes off her.

This is easily one of the hottest experiences of my life. She’s mesmerizing, worshiping our mate’s cock like he’s her favorite treat.

Nebula uses his grip on my hair to pull me back until I’m level with his length. He slowly pushes his way into my mouth, bobbing me up and down until my nose brushes our hands around his knot.

I’m pulled off of him, and he does the same to Omen. Her perfume bursts into the air when he slips into her throat, letting out a seductive, guttural moan.

We take turns slipping him into our mouths until he snaps. His hips start to jerk, fucking Omen’s throat to reach his release.

I use one hand to keep kneading his knot, but the other I slip beneath Omen’s dress. Fates, she’s fucking soaked. Dripping her desire onto the floor. She whimpers when my fingers brush over her folds, shifting to urge my attention higher.

“Good boy, Cal. Take care of our omega’s needy pussy while I fill her mouth with my cum.” Nebula’s praise has my dick twitching, and my heart filling. Being called his good boy has always been my weakness.

Slipping two fingers inside Omen’s core, I use my thumb to rub rapid circles around her clit. Each of my thrusts matches Nebula’s, only changing pace when she locks down around me. Her entire body shudders as she comes over my hand, her scream muffled by Nebula’s cock.

His grip on her hair tightens, the jerks of his hips turning punishing. He stills, only the head in her mouth. I can see each jump of his length as he orgasms. “Fuck,” he mumbles, slouching against the shelves when his knees start to shake.

Omen turns to me, pressing against my chest until the cabinet behind me digs into my back. Her thumb digs into my bottom lip, urging my mouth open. I let my lips part, tongue lolling out. My eyes nearly roll into the back of my head when she lets our alpha’s release drip into my mouth, her tongue sweeping in seconds later.

“Good fucking girl,” Nebula purrs. “Feeding our beta my cum.”

She giggles, accepting his hand to help her to her feet. “The jealousy and outrage Nexus is sending me right now.” Her head shakes, but she’s grinning widely.

“Let’s head back out to the party,” Nebula urges. “With our actual dessert this time.”

“You fuckers,” Nexus hisses as soon as he sees us. He’s sitting at the table with Bea’s family, his hands carefully crossed over his lap and a pout on his lips. Omen wipes the look away when she kisses him, sliding her tongue into his mouth so he can have a taste of our fun too. “I’m still salty.”

“We have an eternity together, Alpha,” Omen reminds him. “There will be more sneaky fun in the future, promise.”

“Damn straight there will be.” He winks. His arm wraps around her ass, making her crash into his lap. Red tints her cheeks, but she settles against his chest. “You’re ours now, gorgeous. Like you were always meant to be.”