Page 79 of Accidentally Forever

“You bastard,” she says, voice steady but low enough that it cuts like a knife. “You’re a lowlife piece of shit for trying to ruin a family over your own greed. All of this—all of it—would’ve probably flown under the radar if the fucking prints Marion left weren’t still fuckingwet.”

Nolan has the nerve to laugh. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were an Alpha,” he sneers. His grin is crooked, a blend of condescension and something almost… amused? The arrogance dripping off him is enough to make me want to snap at him myself, but this isn’t my fight anymore. This is Violet’s moment, and she’s owning every damn second of it.

She squares her shoulders, her voice dropping even lower. “I’m not an Alpha, but I have people to protect. And that’s all that matters.”

The crowd’s murmurs grow louder, buzzing like flies around us. Nolan’s smug grin doesn’t falter. He shrugs as if her words bounce right off him. “Well, isn’t that noble? Shame it won’t make a difference. From what I heard, your fearless little tryst with Marion didn’t exactly pan out the way you hoped, did it?”

A flicker of pain shoots through her expression before that fierce look is back on her face. “He’s in jail and he’ll probably sing like a canary if it gets him out.”

His lips twitch and I can’t tell if he’s still being smug or the sliver of fear flickering in his eyes is real. Whatever it is, I’m just pissed that this is only the beginning of the end. As much as I want this to be an open and shut case where Nolan’s taken in and we never hear about this bullshit again, I know it won’t be.

And then the fucking Alpha grins like he’s holding some card we don’t understand before lunging toward Violet. I’m not sure what he was trying to do but Puma and I move as one. We slam him back, his body hitting the door with enough force to rattle it in its frame. I can feel the tension in Puma’s shoulders, his muscles tight as steel as he holds Nolan pinned, his teeth bared like he’s one second away from sinking them in. I’m not much better—my grip’s so tight I can feel the bastard’s pulse beneath my hands, fast and erratic like he knows he’s cornered.

Someone yelling our names cuts through the haze but it isn’t until one of the detectives approaches that I let go. “Alright, gentleman, I think the show’s over.” I twist around to see Detective Grayson moseying up like he’s watching an actual show. “As entertaining as this little display is,” he says dryly, “I think we can all agree it’s time to let the authorities handle it.”

Nolan snarls something under his breath, but the detective ignores him, looking pointedly at Puma and me. “I did see him try to attack your Beta, though. Not exactly a bright move on his part.”

Puma’s growl vibrates through the air and for a second, I think he’s going to ignore the detective entirely and just finish what Nolan started. But then he exhales, a short, sharp sound, and steps back. I don’t let go right away, my hands still clenched in Nolan’s shirt, my knuckles white. Detective Grayson looks at me, one brow raised, and adds, “That said, a well-placed punch or three might just teach him not to try it again.”

I can’t help it. A laugh bursts out of me as I loosen my grip just enough to let Nolan sag against the door. “Gladly,” I say, and the look on Nolan’s face—somewhere between rage and fear—makes it worth it.

Chapter fifty-eight

SOFIE

All I got from all of that is that this bullshit isn’t over. Tucked into Lance’s side doesn’t make it any better, knowing that the real investigation is just starting. It’s a terrifying thought. Lance squeezes my shoulder, pressing a kiss to my head as he guides me back up the stairs. People are filing back inside after Gray threw a punch at Nolan’s face and then Puma just said that he’s holding his for later.

Without any more excitement, everyone really wants to get back to the art. I just want to hold my Beta against me and tell her how much I love her and then complain about this fucking Orion bullshit. Lance runs his fingers along my shoulder, a breathy sigh falling from my lips. “That’s a problem we worry about at another time.”

“But that means it’s not over! I just want a little peace. To be a family. To not have to look over my goddamn shoulder and wonder if Nolan has something else planned.”

“The authorities have him and I’m sure sooner than later, we’ll find out the truth. Something we can brace ourselves for and if it’s too much, then we move onto something else.” Lance shrugs like it’s no big deal, like he would just give up his entire livelihood if it meant our safety.

I’m about to protest when Hawk joins us, affirming the same thing. “It’d take some getting used to but it wouldn’t be the end of the world, Sofie. I’m sure we could figure out life without all the lavish parties and bullshit.”

My Beta steals my attention as she climbs the steps toward me, her head held high, her shoulders back. I can’t help myself; the second she’s within reach, I’m all over her. My arms lock around her waist, my hands digging into the small of her back like I need to hold her close just to breathe right. “You looked fierce,” I whisper against her ear, and she lets out this tiny, breathless laugh before turning to kiss me. It’s not soft, not shy—her lips move against mine like she’s still got adrenaline pumping in her veins, and I love every second of it.

Hawk’s there a heartbeat later, his big arms coming around the both of us, pressing me against Violet. He murmurs something about being proud, about how Violet handled everything, but honestly, I’m not even listening. My attention’s on her, on the way she holds me like I’m the most important thing in the world.

A noise from downstairs pulls us apart. I glance over Violet’s shoulder just in time to see Puma and Gray coming up the steps. Gray immediately swipes over to Violet’s side, gently massaging her ear until she’s nearly melting against me. “You bastard!” She hisses but there’s no heat in it, even if I’m one step away from slick gathering in my panties. Thank fuck for the liners Violet brought home a week ago.

It keeps my Alphas from immediately descending like vultures.

I thread my fingers through Violet’s turning to face Puma. “What now? They’re still out there and—”

“Sofie, that is a problem for another time.Ifsomeone shows up, then we’ll tackle it. But not until then. Right now, I’m going to show off my mates and enjoy the rest of this little showing because it’s the last one we’re doing for a while.” He mumbles something else before stepping inside, people yelling that they never doubted him or that they were always on his side.

I snort at everyone being so damn obvious as Gray gestures to the door. “We should probably get in there. As much as Puma likes art and showing it off, he’s not a real big fan of people in his house.”

“Wait, what?” That’s news to me. “Why did he throw this party then?”

Hawk squeezes my shoulder and then points to Violet. “Because our Beta suggested it and Gray is his other mate. Between the two of them, I’m sure Puma would burn down the world if he thought it would make them happy.”

The evening stretches on and despite the looming disaster somewhere in the future, I can’t stop grinning. Every time I turn, one of them is there—Lance brushing a kiss to my temple as he passes with a plate of appetizers, Hawk catching my waist and spinning me around like we’re on some grand stage, Gray’s deep chuckle rolling through me as he slips a chocolate truffle into my hand. Puma’s been keeping watchful eyes on the guests, but even he’s taken a moment to lean down and press his lips to my forehead, a grounding warmth that sends my heart fluttering. It’s like I’m floating in a dream, everything soft and sweet and perfect.

Why did I ever think this wouldn’t happen? Why did I spend so long convinced that happiness wasn’t something I could reach out and touch, that it wasn’t something I deserved? Now it’s everywhere, in the laughter that fills the room, in the way my Alphas hold me like I’m the center of their universe, and in the way Violet stands out like a star—bright and shining, like she was always meant to be here.

But then it hits me, that faint ache just beneath the joy. It’s not mine. My smile falters as I glance around the room. Guests swirl past, glasses clinking and low murmurs filling the space. And then I see her—Violet. She’s standing beside Gray, laughing at something he said, head tossed back like she doesn’t have a care in the world. But I know better. I can see it beneath her laughter, that small shadow in her eyes. My chest tightens. She’s not okay.

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