Page 23

Chapter 23

Freya

It’s been two days since Thorne defended me against the insurance company, and I don’t know how I feel about it. He’s obviously investigating who I am. And the thought should thrill me, instead I’m scared at what he’ll find.

I get it, though. I’ve lied to get what I want, but I’m exhausted by it all. Fighting with the insurance company. Fighting with Thorne. And not being brave enough to let these alphas know everything about me is getting me down.

I’m thinking that contending with six flights of stairs is easier than being here.

The door clicks open, and Miller’s clean, just washed scent wraps around me. His powerful arms follow, pulling me against his chest.

“What’s amiss, little omega?” He cups my face, thumbs stroking my cheeks.

I attempt a laugh. “Just discovering I’m needier than I first thought. Being around alphas is making me weak.”

“Weak?” His gray eyes darken. “You’re the strongest omega I’ve ever met. And the only one I’ve wanted to bond with.”

His lips capture mine in a tender kiss that makes my heart ache. God, I hate myself more with each passing second. When the truth comes out, I’ll hurt both him and Zane.

But what if he’d leave with Zane?

“What would you do if I was your full scent match and one of your pack mates wasn’t?” The words tumble out before I can stop them.

He shakes his head. “We all have the same scent, Freya. Thorne will come around to you being his, too. Give him a little time.”

I sigh. “And the baby’s father... What would you do if he came back into the picture?”

“Kill him,” he says without hesitation. There’s no humor in his tone, but I force a laugh, anyway.

“I have to tell you something.” My heart pounds. “About the baby’s father. He—”

I stutter as Miller waits. But before I get the rest of the sentence out the bedroom door bursts open and Harlow storms in. “Freya!”

“Who let you in?”

She puts her hands on her hips. “I told you I was coming over. I brought you my latest attempt at making a cake.”

“Oh God, are you trying to poison everyone?” I clutch my chest dramatically. “Quick, Miller, call the CDC. We have a biological weapon in the house.”

“Keep up with your snark and I release a video of you singing…no not singing, let’s get this right because you sound like a Common Loon at night.”

“Ugh. I can sing.”

“And I can bake.” She tilts her pretty head to one side.

Miller wraps his arm around my shoulders and kisses my temple. “I like the sounds you make.”

Harlow overhears and wiggles her eyebrows. “And I bet he likes your taste, too.”

“Harlow!”

She laughs as she walks out of the room. “Come on, before Carver comes looking for me.”

Downstairs, I take a seat and listen to Thorne having a conversation about Carver being the highest paid hockey star in the country.

Carver is his usual cool self and shrugs his shoulders and says, “I had the best agent.” He drags Harlow onto his knee. “Didn’t I, baby?”

Harlow’s laugh fills the room. “You certainly did.”

Harlow didn’t do a damn thing.

But she always falls on her feet.

I pat Rosie on her head as I sink deeper into the couch, watching Harlow as she perches on Carver’s knee like a graceful goddess.

Her perfect dark hair falls in waves, her skin glows, and her laugh sounds like music. She fits there so naturally, like she was made to be at his side, and the way Carver’s hand possessively spans her waist makes my stomach clench with something that feels too much like envy.

And then Asher grabs her off Carver, and he plonks her on his knee.

Ugh!

Even Zane’s gaze lingers a second too long, making my heart sink. His green eyes track her movements with an intensity that shouldn’t bother me, but it does.

I hate feeling like I do. She’s everything an omega should be. Confident. Beautiful. Magnetic. Caring. It’s no wonder why all the alphas in the house stare at her.

I’m not sure what it means to be an omega. I thought I did. Yes, I can bake. Period. Nothing else.

I feel like I have nothing left to give.

I sigh, glancing around the room as my hand drifts to my postpartum belly. My golden skin is now marked with silvery lines that remind me daily of how much my body has changed. And I hate the stretched skin that feels disgusting under my palm. Not that I regret Stone, but still.

I swallow. Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Not here.

“Are you okay?” Thorne asks. His voice is much kinder than it has been of late. Almost caring. If I dare say it.

“Fine.” The word comes out harder than it should.

“Fine?” Harlow’s voice cuts through my spiral, her turquoise eyes sparkling with warmth. She knows how I’m feeling. She always does. “You’re better than fine. You look amazing. It must be that ocean air. Or maybe...” She winks, a knowing smile playing on her lips. “Living with your pack agrees with you.”

“They’re not my pack.” The words come out sharper than intended, bitter on my tongue like too strong coffee. I know it sounds harsh, so I soften it for Miller and Zane’s sake. “You have a pack, Harlow. I’m living here because my elevator broke.”

Thorne grunts, the sound rumbling through the room like a distant thunder ready to roll in. His moss-green eyes fix on me with a strange look that makes my skin prickle and goosebumps pop over my flesh.

Harlow wriggles off Asher’s knee and scoops up my son, who is in Zane’s arms, cooing at him as she carries him to Asher. “We really need to give Jagger some siblings.”

“Can’t wait.” Asher’s eyes sparkle as he takes my son in his arms, looking at him like he so desperately wants one of his own, and then his gaze turns back to her.

My heart plunges so low it feels like it hit the floor. I want that. I want what Harlow has. Where every alpha wants something with her.

Zane winces as he tries to stretch his neck, his fingers hovering over the scarred skin over his chest.

I bite my lip. I know Zane will hate it, but Asher is a physio and he could help Zane so much. “Asher, do you know any exercises that might help with burn scars? Something I could help Zane with?”

Zane’s face darkens as he glares at me. “I don’t need any help.”

“She’s trying to care for you, Zane.” Thorne’s voice cuts in. “You should appreciate that.”

“That’s rich coming from you.” Zane’s words explode like a grenade.

My stomach twists.

I caused this tension, but it never started today. These brothers are fighting because of me, not over me. This pack is fractured, and I should pack up, take my baby and leave. Instead I force a laugh and point at Harlow’s creation on the coffee table.

“Hey, at least that cake could double as a doorstop if the baking thing doesn’t work out,” I say, trying to lighten the mood.

Harlow’s eyes narrow playfully. “Well, at least I found my alpha the traditional way. Unlike someone who had to wait for a fireman to rescue her.” She winks. I know she’s not being mean. This is her version of funny. “Though you’ve got three alphas now, you did well in the end.”

How many times—

“They’re not my pack, Harlow.” My voice comes out sharp as panic rises in my chest as I catch Thorne’s expression darkening.

My phone rings, cutting through the tension.

I don’t normally answer unknown numbers, but I’ll do anything to get out of this conversation.

“Hello.”

“Hello, Ms. Rose? This is Anne from the Downtown Omega Wellness Center.”

My stomach drops as I stare ahead for a moment, turn my back to everyone and murmur, “Yes?”

“We’ve received information suggesting you violated our terms of service regarding an illegal conception during your stay.”

The room spins for a moment. “What?”

“According to our records, you attended during your heat cycle, and we’ve been notified that led to an illegal pregnancy.”

“Who notified you?” My feet are moving as I pace around the room.

“I can’t disclose that information, Ms. Rose, but unfortunately, the incident now needs to be investigated.”

“Investigated.” I stop pacing. My life just goes from bad to worse. “I...” My eyes dart around the room, landing on Thorne, who’s watching me intently. “And then what happens?”

“We’re required to contact the alphas who attended to you during your heat. They have rights regarding paternity.”

“The alphas?” My voice cracks as I take a deep breath. “I didn’t use the wellness center. I—”

“We have your sign-in records, Ms. Rose. And the alphas who attended to you.”

“But I really didn’t turn up. I gave my booking to another omega who needed it—” My voice hitches higher and higher with each word.

“Ms. Rose, you broke the law. We understand this is a tough time for you. You’re a new mother, and we will work with you, but the alpha has a right to know he is a father.”

My hands shake so badly I nearly drop the phone. Harlow swoops in, plucking it from my grip.

My legs wobble and the room tilts. Or is it me? I grip the edge of the couch to steady myself.

“Listen here.” Harlow’s voice cuts through the panic clouding my brain. “Ms. Rose knows exactly who her baby’s father is. She never attended your center.”

Everyone’s eyes dart between me and Harlow. Thorne’s gaze burns into my skin, making me want to crawl under the nearest rock and die.

“No, you listen.” Harlow paces, her free hand gesturing wildly. “Someone’s clearly trying to cause trouble.”

My stomach churns as bile rises in my throat. This can’t be happening. Not now.

“Then prove it,” Harlow snaps into the phone. She glances at Thorne, then tries to make it look normal when she looks at me. “Oh yeah. A DNA test—”

I shake my head frantically, my heart hammering against my ribs.

Harlow’s shoulders slump. “Fine. Ms. Rose will be happy for her baby’s DNA to be tested.” She disconnects the call.

The room shifts sideways. I’m going to be sick. Right here, right now, all over their expensive hardwood floors and furniture.

“They’re going to take my baby,” I whisper, terror clawing at my throat. “Excuse me,” I choke out, stumbling to my feet.

I need to get away from here.

But before I can escape, Thorne’s voice freezes me in place. “Then where did you go?”

I look him dead in the eye and say, “Club Midnight.”

Ten minutes later, I pace my bedroom, my bare feet silent on the plush carpet as I realize Thorne’s scent lingers in my nose from downstairs.

But how can I smell him when he’s on scent blockers?

Is he feeling stressed like me, and like me, does his scent come out when he is? Is that why he helped me?

But does he smell me now?

Despite all thoughts of scents, my stomach churns with guilt. He’s helping me and I can’t even tell him the truth about his baby.

God, I’m a coward.

I have to tell him now. I have to tell him and get out of his life and forget about him. Tears coat my eyes because I know that means I'll lose Zane and Miller, too.

With a heavy heart, I turn to the door, but the room suddenly lurches. I reach for the dresser, missing it entirely and stumbling as black spots dance across my vision.

Not now. Please, not now.

I haven’t had an omega drop for years. Not that I knew what it was the first time I had one. The second time should have been expected.

My heart hammers against my ribs. Each beat is deafening in my ears. I should have realized this would happen again. The stress of the past weeks. Having a baby. Hiding his paternity from the one man I shouldn’t, but he hates me anyway, and now he’ll hate me even more.

He still needs to know before I leave here.

I thought things were heading in a good direction. Zane and Miller are the perfect alphas, but living with Thorne’s hatred, and the constant fear of what I did to get my baby—it feels like it is all crashing down on me at once.

My lungs are on fire, and no matter how hard I claw at my throat, I can’t get enough air.

Help!

My head swims, or is it my eyes rolling into my head?

I have to tell him before I drop.

I stagger toward the door, but my legs don’t want to cooperate as the floor rushes up to meet me once again.

I collapse against the wall, sliding down until I’m sitting on the floor. My brain is screaming as I fight the black that zips across my eyesight.

I need to call out, but the words won’t come out.

My omega instincts want to scream for my alpha—for Zane, for Miller, and for Thorne—even as my rational mind reminds me he’s the last person who would want to help me once he hears how I hid his baby from him.

A sharp pain lances through my temple. I slowly lift my heavy hand and press it against my head, but this time the edges of my vision darken and don’t come back.

My throat closes as I gag for air.

In the distance, I can hear footsteps in the hallway. “H—” It’s just a whisper, not even a word as I try to call for help.

“Freya?” The voice sounds far away, muffled, but unmistakably his.

My heavy eyelids flutter closed.

“Freya.” His voice sounds more panicked now. His footsteps are heavier.

I just wish I told him the truth before I die. Will I die this time? I was told I was so close the last time.

“Fuck!” His voice is closer now and with the last of my strength, I force my eyes up, finding a silhouette crouched in front of me.

His scent spikes—strawberry, lime, and tequila—and is mixed with fear as he rushes toward me. His brawny arms catch me before I hit the floor completely. “B—”

“Freya! What happened?”

“Babe—” I say with as much strength as I can find. I need him to know before I go.

My eyes are unblinking now as I stare ahead but can’t focus.

My mouth moves, but nothing else comes out.

“Freya, stay with me. Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Miller!”

The urgency in his voice is the last thing I register as my eyelids get heavy again, but this time the darkness closes in and I can’t fight it any longer.

And as consciousness slips away, I’m not scared anymore.

I’m sure he knows he’s Stone’s daddy when he envelopes me in his scent for the very last time.