Page 66 of Their Knotty Pack (Starbrook City Omegaverse #3)

Bethany

G etting them to meet with me had been easy. Almost…too easy. When I called this morning, right after Hunter came home with his signed warrant, I made my voice weak and simpering, easily convincing them that I needed their all-powerful presence.

They agreed to meet tonight at The Alpha Lounge. Seven sharp.

Maverick's been giving us hourly updates. Pack Hansen left the house without Gina this morning, and Maverick looked in all the windows until he found her sleeping in one of the rooms. The door wasn't locked.

Hunter and I have gone over the plan for the fifteenth time when there's a knock on the front door.

"Hey Wren," I smile at my friend, who looks a little nervous.

"Hi, Bethany!" she says entirely too loudly, before looking at the alpha at my back. "Hi Hunter! I have those earrings you wanted to borrow, Bethany!" Hunter takes a call on his cell phone, moving towards the kitchen.

"…Thanks. Wren?" I take the small bag from her that holds two fake diamond earrings. "Why are you being weird?"

Her brows shoot up, and she leans in close. "They might be listening!" she whisper-shouts.

"They are n't listening, Wren. And if they are, we're screwed anyway because Hunter and I have been over the plan so many times I could recite it in my sleep."

Her face falls. "Oh." She straightens. "Well, I'll be home tonight, anxiously biting my nails as I watch the feed over Teddy's shoulder."

I tilt my head. "I thought Ethan was the computer guy?"

"He is, but Teddy stands out in a crowd too much to be undercover so Ethan's taking his place. Ethan said to put them on and you'll feel a tiny little vibration when they're turned on."

"Sounds like someone else I know," Miles grins coming up behind me.

Wren's head falls back as she laughs. "You're so bad."

When she leaves I turn on him, fixing him with an arched brow. "I'm lucky I'm cute?" He asks on a wince.

"You are lucky you're cute." I confirm, pulling him to me for a kiss.

He melts into me, and I can feel everything he's not saying filter through the bond.

His worry. His guilt for feeling worried when he believes I can do what we need to do.

"I'm going to have such a hard time convincing them that I hate all of you. "

"Just channel all the anger you felt when I had the dragon destroy all your D&D characters."

"Or use that theatre class you took in high school," Damien smirks, coming down the stairs.

"I already regret bragging about that." My head falls back as Miles' arms wrap around me.

"Don't sweat it, nymph." Miles leans forward, pressing a kiss to my pulse-point. "You're going to do great. They'll nominate you for an Oscar after this."

"That was Titus," Hunter comes back into the room, hanging up his phone.

"His guys are set for tonight. We've even got the restaurant to agree to let us replace one of the waiters.

The earrings will feed to Teddy, and he'll make sure it reroutes so the guys can see it here, and to where I'll be waiting in the van. "

I nod. That's good. That means it won't be suspicious if they're hanging around.

"One night, bluebell," Hunter comes over, gently tugging me out of Miles' arms to hold me, "one night and this will all be over."

Seven comes too soon. I spent forever trying to find something to wear that screamed "bad bitch", but also "I'm just the delicate omega you think I am".

I opt for a skin-tight black dress that hits just above the knee with a plunging neckline, my secret-camera earrings, a swooping updo, and soft makeup.

"There," Miles had said, taking a step back. "Totally unsuspecting."

Kieran had growled, grabbing me by the waist. "I don't want you anywhere near them looking like that."

"It can't be helped," I gently placed my hand on his chest, "they need to think that I've finally 'come to my senses' and want them back. And…I'm going to have to say some really awful stuff about you guys, but you have to know that I don't mean any of it."

"We know, bright eyes." Damien comes over, kissing my cheek.

Some of the things that I need to say makes my stomach turn. But I know how these alphas think, and I know what "flaws" they would have picked out of each of my pack members.

"I don't think you do," I shake my head, taking a step back. "It's going to be horrible—"

"It's the only way they'll trust you enough to talk. We know, beautiful." Brody runs a hand down my arm.

"It's six thirty." Hunter's voice sounds from the doorway of the nest. His eyes darken when he sees me, but it only lasts a second before he's back to business. "We need to get a move on."

"Tuck your hair behind your hair if you can hear me.

" Hunter's voice comes crystal clear through the little transmitter he had me place in my ear.

I tuck a tendril of loose hair behind my ear.

"Good girl. They're already sat, but Ethan is going to be your waiter.

I wanted it to be Titus but they might recognize him.

Look to the left if you understand." I glance coyly to the left as I open the door to The Alpha Lounge.

"Good fucking girl." Hunter's voice is like velvet in my ear. I can just imagine him, sitting in the back of the produce delivery van parked in the back of the restaurant.

"I'm meeting Pack Hansen here?" I tell the maitre'd, suddenly hit with memories of sneaking here the night they met up with Miles.

This time, the night will end with their lives ruined, not mine.

"Right this way, miss." The maitre'd nods at me before leading me to the back of the restaurant. Georgia makes brief eye contact with me as she sits at one of the tables, and I don't risk even nodding at her.

We make it to the very back of the restaurant, to a small alcove tucked in the corner, mostly out of view of the rest of the restaurant.

"Mouse," Preston says warmly, standing from his seat. "It's good to see you've finally come to your senses." The rest of my old pack sits around a round table, leaving me no choice but to sit between two of them.

"Preston." My voice sounds too strangled, too…nervous. I look around the table. "Grayson, Tucker, Chris…thank you for agreeing to see me."

Preston comes over to me, and it takes everything I have to not flinch back from his touch.

He wraps me in a hug and my body wants to rev olt.

The scent that once brought me a semblance of comfort is now acrid to my senses.

"I have to admit, we were surprised, especially with that whole restraining order stunt you pulled.

" His hands trail down my sides, and the feeling of bugs crawling over my skin makes me want to vomit.

I'm probably going to have to burn this dress now.

"It's okay, bluebell," Hunter soothes. but his voice is tight. "They can't hurt you. I'm right here."

"I…" I trail off. How am I going to do this? They look down on me, they always have. There's no way that they're going to take me seriously…unless I bring them down to my level. Sighing, I dig into my purse.

"Bethany, what are you doing?" Hunter's voice sounds panicked. "Please don't go off script—"

It kills me to make him worry, but I can see it now. The plan we came up with was based on who I was when I was with Pack Hansen. I'm not that girl anymore, and it's time for them to realize that.

I slap the envelope with the damning picture inside on the table. The one that Hunter gave me as a last resort.

All of their brows furrow as Preston snatches the envelope and tears it open, his suspicious gaze darting to mine.

"Bethany…" Hunter's pained voice comes through the piece in my ear.

"What the fuck is this, mouse?" Preston asks angrily.

"Gentleman," I pull out my own chair and take a seat, "I'd like to make a deal."