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Chapter Fourteen

Nicolaus

I ’d just left her room and let out a sigh, glancing at the door before making my way downstairs.

I could hear the others in the kitchen, their voices a blend of concern and cautious hope.

Julian would want an update on Lilianna's state of mind.

Christopher would want reassurance that she felt welcome.

Miles would be concerned about overwhelming her.

Each responding in their own way to the responsibility we'd taken on.

As I descended the stairs, their conversation halted, three pairs of eyes turning toward me with expectation.

"How is she?" Julian asked immediately, his usual composure slipping to reveal genuine concern.

"Processing," I replied simply, moving to the refrigerator for water. "Overwhelmed but stable. She's resting now."

Christopher fidgeted with a dish towel, twisting it between his fingers. "Did she say anything about the room? About staying? Is she comfortable?"

"She hasn't unpacked fully," I observed, taking a long drink of water. "She doesn’t know what to do with herself or act.”

Julian leaned against the counter, his expression thoughtful. "That's understandable. Making a space your own requires accepting that it's truly yours."

"It's more than that," I continued, setting down my water glass. "She's been conditioned to believe she has no real choices. I explained her legal position—that she's not bound by the arrangement her parents made, that she could leave if she wanted to."

Miles straightened, his green eyes sharpening with interest. "How did she take that?"

"Shock, initially. Then something approaching terror." I ran a hand through my hair, considering how to explain what I'd observed. "She's never been taught how to choose. The concept of genuine free will, is foreign to her."

Christopher's expression crumpled. "She's afraid of making the wrong decision because she doesn't know what the right one looks like."

"Precisely." I moved to lean against the counter beside Julian, my analytical mind still processing Lilianna's reactions. "She asked if she could leave, if she could just walk away. When I confirmed she could, she looked like I'd told her she could fly."

Julian's jaw tightened, and I could scent the protective anger radiating from him in controlled waves. "Twenty-three years of being told she had no choice. Of course the concept of having the freedom to do so now would be overwhelming.”

"There's something else," I continued, knowing they needed the full picture. "Her medical care. She's never spoken directly to a doctor—her parents handled everything. She doesn't even understand her own physiology."

Miles cursed under his breath. "The heat suppressants."

"Among other things." I pulled out my phone, checking the time.

"I've scheduled her with Dr. Chen for Thursday.

She'll need gradual reduction rather than immediate cut off.

That could be bad for her body and could make her go into shock if she did something like that.The good news," I continued, tucking my phone away, "is that she's agreed to the appointment.

I explained that Dr. Chen would speak directly to her, and treat her as the primary decision-maker. "

"And she was okay with that?" Christopher asked, his eyes wide with concern.

"Not okay, exactly. More... cautiously hopeful." I reached for my water again. "I also told her about the gradual heat restoration process. She seemed relieved that we weren't expecting her to go off suppressants immediately."

Julian nodded slowly. "That's something, at least."

"She's been taught that her heat is shameful," I added, my voice hardening slightly. "Another tool of control—convince her that her natural biology is inappropriate, something to be managed rather than experienced."

Miles pushed away from the counter, his restless energy propelling him across the kitchen. "Do you think we are in over our heads with helping her?”

"No," I replied firmly, watching Miles pace.

"Difficult , yes. Complex, absolutely. But not impossible.

" I leaned back against the counter, considering my words carefully.

"She has remarkable strength beneath all that conditioning.

It takes courage to question everything you've been taught, even when the alternative is terrifying. "

Julian nodded slowly, his hazel eyes thoughtful. "She laughed today. Really laughed when I called her mother's opinions nonsense. It was... genuine. Unguarded."

"And she enjoyed the tomato from the garden," Miles added, pausing in his pacing. "Closed her eyes, forgot to be proper about it. There's a real person under all that programming."

Christopher brightened slightly. "She asked about dance classes too. Not because someone told her she should, but because she missed it."

"Those moments are what we build on," I agreed. "Small genuine responses that show us who she really is beneath the conditioning."

Julian straightened, his expression becoming more focused. "So what's our approach moving forward? How do we help her without making her feel like a project to be fixed?"

"Patience," I said simply. "And consistency.

She needs to learn that our acceptance isn't conditional on her performance.

" I paused, considering the delicate balance required.

"We also need to be prepared for regression.

She may have breakthrough moments followed by periods where she retreats into familiar patterns. "

Christopher nodded earnestly. "Like testing boundaries to see if we really mean what we say?"

"Exactly. She may push limits just to confirm they exist—or don't exist, as the case may be." I finished my water, setting the glass in the sink. "The key is responding consistently regardless of whether she's being 'good' or 'difficult.'"

Julian gave a sigh, “Are you sure you don’t want to be head Alpha Nicolaus. You do better with things like this.” I know he was teasing, but I could also see not knowing how to help Lilianna was bothering him.

I shook my head, a slight smile tugging at my lips.

"You're the leader Julian. I'm just the one who reads the manuals.

" I studied his expression, noting the tension in his shoulders.

"Besides, your instincts with her are sound.

The way you offered her choices today, gave her space when she needed it—that wasn't an analytical strategy. That was genuine care."

Miles stopped pacing, turning to face us both. "We all have different strengths to offer her. That's the point of pack dynamics, isn't it?"

"Exactly," Christopher chimed in, his natural optimism reasserting itself. "Julian provides stability and protection, Miles offers grounding and patience, I bring comfort and nurturing, and Nicolaus gives clarity and understanding."

"Speaking of which," I said, checking my watch again, "I should head to the pool. The routine will help me process today…and maybe give her some time not to have all four Alpha’s in the house.”

Julian nodded, "Go ahead. We'll handle dinner and make sure she knows it's ready when she wants it."

"No pressure," Christopher added quickly. "I'll make something that reheats well in case she's not up for joining us."

I gathered my swim bag, mind already organizing the information I'd collected about Lilianna's situation.

Something about her quiet strength resonated with me in a way I hadn't anticipated.

Most Omegas who came through my legal practice had been broken by similar experiences—their spirits crushed under the weight of societal expectations and familial control.

But Lilianna had maintained some essential core of self despite everything.

Those secret books she'd managed to acquire. The way she'd questioned her parents' assertions even while appearing to comply. The careful way she'd preserved parts of herself they couldn't touch. It spoke to a resilience that impressed me deeply.

"One more thing," I said, pausing at the doorway. "She may wake disoriented. The first night in a new environment often triggers anxiety, especially for someone whose movements have been so carefully monitored."

Julian nodded gravely. "We'll keep the hall light on and our doors ajar. One of us will hear if she needs anything."

"I'll be back by nine," I assured them, slinging my bag over my shoulder. "If anything changes before then, text me."

The evening air felt refreshing against my face as I stepped outside, a welcome contrast to the emotional intensity of the house. Swimming would help clear my head—the repetitive motion, the isolation underwater where sound disappeared and thought simplified to rhythm and breath.

I gave one glance back to the house, I knew this relationship would need time, but deep down I hoped it all worked out.