Page 22

Chapter 22

Freya

My heart could explode as I sneak a look at Zane and Miller while they’re making cooing noises in the living room.

They took my baby while I had a much-needed shower, and to make myself look vaguely normal. It’ll take more than a shower, but they seem to like me as I am, and that makes my stomach do cartwheels.

Also, what makes my stomach turn over is this is the closest I’ve ever been to having a pack.

Could they be my pack ?

I sigh. I know it won’t last because of Thorne. So I have to remember to keep a tight hold on my heart. I overheard him telling Zane he had to be careful until they knew more about me. Zane argued he knew enough already.

My phone dings with a message. It’s from Harlow. I know because I reserved that sound for her. I rush back to the bedroom and grab my phone off the table at the side of the bed.

Harlow: Have you told him?

I quickly call her.

“What do I tell him, Harlow?”

“That he is Stone’s dad.”

“Oh my god, he hates me already. He thinks I stalked him. If I tell him that, he’ll have me declared insane.”

“You’re overreacting, Freya. Just tell him. It might change everything.”

“Harlow, I can’t just blurt it out that Stone is his.” I pace the bedroom, my bare feet sinking into the plush carpet. “Hey, remember that night at Club Midnight? Surprise! You’re a daddy!”

“Better than him finding out another way.” Harlow’s voice crackles through the phone. “What if Stone starts looking like him?”

“I’ve got a while to worry about that.” I halt by the window, staring out at the ocean, and inhale deeply as I turn back to the bed.

“What I want to know is why he can’t smell you? Your scent should drive him wild like it does the others.”

“Because I’m still using inhibitors and he is sure the perfume that he can smell on me is a fake perfume.” I resume pacing, twirling a strand of hair around my finger. “And to be honest, Harlow, he just genuinely dislikes me so much that he’s fighting against everything.”

“But Zane and Miller clearly aren’t immune to you.”

“They’re his pack, Harlow.” My voice cracks. “When push comes to shove, they’ll choose him over me. Every time.”

“That’s not how it works. Alphas want omegas. Especially one who is a scent match. It’s biology.”

“I wish that was true.” I sink onto the bed, clutching a pillow to my chest. “But not in the case of this one. He wants someone called Maya. And I’ve just found out they work together.”

“What? How do you know?”

Tears burn my eyes. “Because that night at Club Midnight, when I was in heat.”

“Yeah.”

“Well, he called me Maya. He thought I was her the whole time. The only saving grace is that Miller and Zane don’t like Maya.”

“Oh! He wants someone else. Why the hell did you keep all this to yourself, Freya? You should have spoken to me months ago.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Me too. I hate this for you. But their pack is at a crossroads because they want different omegas.” Harlow pauses. “Oh Freya, I’m so sorry. Maybe he’ll come around when he realizes.”

“He won’t. And I don’t even know if I want him anymore.” I wipe my eyes. “The way he looks at me, like I’m nothing...it hurts too much. But how do I get to keep Miller and Zane?”

Later that day, I place a slice of my latest creation in front of each alpha and stand back as they look at the almond and honey slice with the white chocolate buttercream frosting.

“This one is sweeter, but this one might be too different for the bakery.” I place a rosemary and strawberry slice next to the other and twist my apron in my hands as I wait.

Miller smells both cakes before he digs his fork into the herby slice, lifting it to his mouth. My eyes wait as his lips close around the fork. His eyes round. “Holy shit.”

Zane dives in next, practically inhaling his piece. “The strawberry hits first, then the herbs come through...”

I hold my breath as Thorne lifts his fork. His expression stays neutral as he tastes it. Not that I expected anything else.

“I was thinking of new but different bakery items when I reopen,” I say, shifting my weight. “Something unique to draw people back.”

“Oh my god, I’m in love with you Freya. I’m going to whisk you away to a desert island where nobody can have you but me.” Miller licks his fork clean.

I laugh, relaxing a little. “You’d get bored with me. Plus, no electricity means no mixer. How would I bake the goodies that would keep you with me?”

“I’d never get bored with you.” Miller pulls me onto his lap. “We’ll figure the cakes out, but I quite like the thought of taking you to a remote island.”

I laugh. “Okay. Let’s go.”

“Nobody’s taking her anywhere,” Zane growls, but there’s a playful edge to it. “Not without me.”

Thorne’s fork clatters against his plate. “A fire might take you from her .”

“Don’t start this again.” Zane’s jaw clenches.

“I’m looking out for your safety. The family business needs you.”

“It’s yours, not mine.” Zane stands, his chair scraping the floor. “And stop using Freya to manipulate me into quitting.”

My phone rings, cutting through the tension. I fumble it out of my apron pocket, grateful for the interruption.

I stare at the screen.

“Are you going to answer?” Miller asks.

I smile and swipe to answer. “Hello.”

I pace the kitchen, my heart racing as I listen to the lady on the phone telling me she is an insurance company representative. And I can tell by her tone I won’t like what I’m about to hear.

My fingers twist in my apron strings while the three alphas watch me with varying degrees of concern.

“Ms. Rose, we’ve reviewed your claim and I’m sorry...” The woman’s voice drones through the phone. I think I stopped listening for a moment.

I stop at the counter, gripping its edge. “Sorry? What did you say?”

“We can offer you forty thousand dollars.”

“I’m insured for—”

Her voice drips with fake sympathy as she interrupts me. “The building hasn’t been cleared for rebuilding, Ms. Rose. But we can offer you forty thousand.”

My knees buckle. Miller jumps up to steady me, his hand warm against my lower back. “But I’m covered for a quarter of a million dollars.”

“Only if the building is declared unfit to use. We’ve heard the building will eventually be rebuilt, though it may take some time.”

“Eventually.” I shake my head, tears burning my eyes. “And how exactly am I supposed to get back up and running my business with forty thousand dollars? A new lease will cost more than that. Then there’s equipment, tables, chairs—”

The lady’s voice drops. “I’m sorry, but that’s as much as we can do unless the building is declared unfit to rebuild. However, if you accept this offer, that option will no longer be available. We won’t be able to honor any future claim.”

My chest tightens. I can barely breathe. “So, I have to wait in limbo to restart my life?”

“You could take the offer, and we can have the money transferred into your bank account the same day as you sign.”

My fingers grip the phone tighter as I pace the living room. “I’ve been paying premiums for five years without a single claim.”

“I’m very sorry, Miss Rose, but—”

“You’re not sorry.”

“Unfortunately—”

“No, not unfortunately. I need my business back up and running.” My voice cracks. “I have a baby to support. I need to find somewhere new to live, and I can’t do that without my business.”

Thorne appears in the doorway, his jaw ticking as he listens.

“The building may not get permission to rebuild for up to twelve months,” she says.

“What? I can’t…That’s—” I slump against the kitchen counter and the phone slips from my fingers, clattering onto the marble surface. The sound makes me jump.

Zane’s arms wrap around me from behind. His scent hits my nose. I fight with everything I have to not purr. “We’ll figure something out.”

But I can’t focus on his words. My universe is crumbling. Everything I’ve worked for—gone. And now they expect me to survive on forty thousand dollars?

Thorne strides over and plucks the phone from the counter as he narrows his eyes at me.

God, I hate him.

“This is Thorne Stone.” His voice drops an octave that I didn’t know was possible, considering his voice is already really low and commanding. “You can deal with me now.”

The lady says something and his nostrils flare.

“I’m Ms. Rose’s alpha, and unless you want to violate DRA regulations about pack alpha rights, you’ll discuss this with me.”

My knees wobble.

My alpha . My heart skips, but I squash the hope. He’s just saying that to help.

“Why isn’t my omega getting what she paid for?” He listens, his face darkening as anger takes over. “The building has been declared unfit and is to be razed to the ground.”

How does he know that?

He listens again. “Thank you. I’ll have that paperwork on your desk this afternoon. And I then expect you to make a call to my omega with an apology and a new offer for the full amount she is insured for.”

Wait. How does he know about the building? Has he been looking into my case?

He ends the call and hands me back my phone, his dark green eyes boring into mine for a long moment before he turns and walks away without a word.