Page 70

FIFTY-SEVEN

Our house is packed.

I don’t think I’ve ever stopped to think about how many people we interact with as a pack, but the evidence is astounding. Every frat brother, teammate, and peer that we’ve ever known is piled into our house as we wait for Atlas to come home.

He’s expecting a small pack-only celebration when he returns, but Stacia wanted something bigger for his birthday, something special.

Our prime is always being cautious during the school year with hockey and classes, and now that the school year is over, he deserves at least one night where he can relax, enjoy being around friends, and drink a few more shots than normal.

We all agreed that he would love this and let Stacia take the reins.

She even allowed us to spray the house down with scent neutralizers so the mingled scents wouldn’t linger in her space.

She agreed it was for the best, but demanded that we let her take our clothes over the next few weeks.

Which is something we already do willingly.

Beside me, Kendall and Dax are arguing about something going on in the NHL while I pour punch into an array of different colored solo cups.

It’s a strong citrus-y concoction that Stacia wanted, because ‘Atlas loves limes.’ It’s actually pretty good, with ice cream floating in it to make it more of a punch-float.

“He’s here!” Stacia whisper-yells from across the room. Nobody hears her but Rory and I, so the party goes on as people mingle with their sherbert drinks.

My omega looks slightly defeated, but then Rory cups her hands around her mouth. “Everybody hide!”

Her scream flies through the crowded space, halting every conversation. There’s no confusion, everyone starts to move on instinct.

“Who is that?” Dax whispers to us as we go behind the wall connecting to the living room. “With the blue hair?”

Kendall gives a low chuckle. “That’s Stacia’s best friend, Rory.”

“Rory,” he says her name like it’s a lullaby. “She seems like a real ball buster, huh?”

Kendall snorts. “She’d tear you apart, Dax.”

He gives us a bold smile. “I fucking hope so.”

I try to hide my snort and fail but the conversation ends as the front door opens. Kendall hits Dax and shushes him. He hits and shushes him back. Why did I decide to hide with these two?

I look across the room to see Stacia hiding with Ciro. She’s keeping a watchful eye on the doorway for Atlas. I can feel her excitement through the bond. For the millionth time since meeting her, something pinches inside my chest. She loves to surprise us, provide for us.

She is the most caring partner any of us have ever had. It makes me feel warmth where I used to only feel sorrow.

Atlas finally walks through the door, and we all jump out and surprise him.

He doesn’t look very surprised—I think Ciro was hoping he’d catch a flinch on camera—but he does look very happy.

He hugs our omega first, and I think I hear him thanking her for thinking about him. It’s a cute moment to witness.

“So, what’s the plan for next year? Atlas is going to qualify for the draft, right?” Dax asks.

“Yeah, of course,” I reply.

“Won’t Stacia have another year left of school?”

We both look at each other, remembering the conversation we had with our omega sometime after her heat. Stacia decided she won’t be returning to school next semester.

After being cut off from her parents, she can no longer afford tuition.

Instead, she’s been discussing diving headfirst into her writing so she can finally start her career as an independent author.

She also wants to do something small, a part-time job that she was never allowed to have under her parents’ roof.

She’s excited to work and write, and she’s happy that we’ll all be able to move in together next year after Atlas gets drafted. She says she doesn’t even care where we end up, as long as we’re all together.

Before I can respond, I see movement behind Atlas and Stacia, a hooded figure moving suspiciously. The moment I see his eyes, a growl bursts out of me. “Kendall, call 911.”

He calls out to me as I start to walk in their direction. “What do you mean? What do I tell them?”

“Tell them that our girlfriend’s ex just violated his restraining order.”

I march over just before Derek can put his hand on Stacia’s shoulder. I grab his wrist and pull it up, twisting it in the process. He cries out in pain just as my omega and prime turn to us.

I thought Stacia would be stunned in fear at seeing him again, but her response shocks me. Her lips stretch wide before she belts out in laughter. Atlas, Ciro, and I look at each other in amusement before turning our attention back to the stunning girl who’s currently howling in hysterics.

“You must be really stupid and desperate, huh?” she says to him, head held high with confidence. “What are you doing here, Dickwad?”

Derek growls but I twist his wrist a little bit more to shut him up. He gives a whine that causes his face to redden with harsh shame. “I only want to talk. To ask you to drop the restraining order.”

“Oh yeah? And why would I ever agree to do that?”

He narrows his eyes at her, obviously disliking this new brazen omega. “Because I need to get back into Alpha Xi. My dad can’t find out, I need a way back in. I figured you owed me anyway, for leading me on for so long.”

Atlas laughs. “Sam would never let you back in after what you said. And you have a really warped recollection of your relationship with my omega. You hurt her. You abused her. And now you want there to be no consequences for your actions.”

Derek scowls at him. “I wasn’t talking to you .”

Stacia’s smile turns evil as she steps forward a few paces.

“Let’s get one thing straight, Derek. I’ll never accede to your commands again.

You can yell, beg, bark at me, but it will never happen.

You made this bed that you’re lying in. In fact”—a blue and red light starts to flash through the window, illuminating the entire room—“I think you might as well tuck the covers all the way in because you’ll be in said bed for a long time. ”

Derek’s eyes widen as the sirens come through clearer. He panics and tries to run away but forgets that I have his wrist in my grip and gets tugged back to us like a slingshot. “Please let me go. I’ll never bother you again, I just need to get out of here.”

I sneer at him. “You should have never come here to begin with. You violated the order of protection. In the state of Massachusetts, that means prison time.”

The fear on his face is glorious to witness.

I look up to see Atlas and Ciro pull Stacia between them just as Kendall comes up behind us, police in tow.

I finally let go of Derek, but it’s too late for him to do anything as our pack brothers explain the situation.

There’s a lot of expletives as they put him into handcuffs.

The crowd around us bursts into cheer as they haul him away, the energy in the atmosphere morphing back into one of celebration and joy.

My omega is clutched between all of us, a smile planted on her face. She catches my eye, her own sparkling. I frame my hands around her face. “I’m so proud of you, omega.”

She preens at that. “Life is too short to let that asshole have any more of my time.” She looks over at Kendall. “When can we cut the cake?”

He practically bounces into the air. “Can it be right now? Atlas, this is the best cake I’ve ever made. You’re going to love it.”

Atlas finishes typing on his phone, more than likely sending an email to our attorney to update her on the situation. “I really doubt it’ll beat the one you made for Stacia’s birthday.”

Ciro scoffs. “Please don’t get him started again.”

I can’t wipe the smile from my face as they continue to banter as we make our way through our house together.

This is my pack, the family I always wanted but didn’t think I deserved.

They are right here, tangible in front of me.

I am so grateful to whatever force is out there for gifting me this light in what seemed like a life of murkiness.

The love we have found is inconceivable and completely fucking nuts, but it’s ours.

I’ll hold onto it for the rest of my life.