Page 90 of Talk About… Trouble

After everything that had happened, I’d forgotten all about it, especially after I had sent the message about our confrontation outside the pregnancy clinic.

“What is it, baby?” Devon asked, pushing himself out of our alpha’s lap and rushing over to me. I guess they felt the instant panic through the bond. That was going to take some getting used to. I wasn’t used to feeling soseen.

“My lawyer,” I said.

“Answer it,” he encouraged. “You’ll want to know the answers.”

“Hello,” I answered, my voice shaking slightly. I hated how pathetic I sounded and how quickly it felt like I was falling back into that old anxiety.

“Wren,” my lawyer said, straight to business. Generally I loved how up front and honest he was. Right now, I was nervous as hell. “We’ve had some major developments. I’m glad I caught you.”

“What’s going on?” I questioned.

“It seems that it wasn’t a court official or lawyers that had broken the contract, but the abusers themselves. They worked with their family to spread the word as a type of revenge. To say the judge is unhappy is a vast understatement. He has asked that you come in to speak with him at the courthouse, and they plan to pursue additional repercussions after speaking with you. I know that we told you this was all over, and I am so sorry to have to ask you this, but do you think you could come in?”

“When?” I asked, letting my eyelids flutter closed as I tried my best to steady my racing heart.

I could face this. One final time.

“A week from now,” he said. “He’s hoping next Thursday.”

There was a sick part of me that wanted to confront them to show them that they didn’t break me.

The other part of me wanted to hide, like it always did, to wrap myself in the sweet life that I’d built and pretend they didn’t exist anymore.

But if they were attacking me, they likely were going after the others, too. I couldn’t let the other omega suffer the consequences, especially when I was the one who had the direct confrontation in court.

“I’ll be there. I promise.”

“Great, and I’m sorry again, Wren. My assistant will be sending along the information.”

After a quick goodbye, he hung up. Devon gently took the phone from my fingers, setting it on the island and pulling me into a hug.

“Talk to me, Wren,” he urged. “What’s going on?”

I gave them the quickest rundown I could, hoping they could keep up with my fast-talking ramble to get it all out at once.

“Okay, this is what we’re going to do,” Devon said. “Shepherd, go light a fire. Nash, get the couch out there all cozy. Braxton, grab coloring books and markers. Come on, omega, let’s go relax.”

“And just remember,” Nash said, pausing to make sure I was actually listening. “You aren’t doing this alone. Whatever you have to face in that courtroom, it will be with your bonded pack. They can’t deny us entry with you. There are laws that protect us.”

They flooded me through the bond with reassurance. I soaked it in, letting it chase away the darkness that was threatening to come back.

I didn’t speak again until they had me settled on one of our big couches outside, with the fire blazing, adding warmth to the early afternoon.

“I feel so stupid,” I admitted. “I’ve come so far and healed a lot, and now I just feel like that weak little omega that first arrived here in Rockwood Valley.”

“You’re anything but weak. Do you hear me?” Shepherd said on a growl. His brown eyes flashed with fury on my behalf. “The fact that you’re going to face this head-on shows me how strong you are. How incredible.”

His voice was so firm that I had no choice but to believe him, eyes still burning with conviction to emphasize the point.

I swallowed hard and nodded, letting his words fill me, mixing with their love and reassurance.

On the phone, I felt like I was seconds away from shutting down, but now I felt in control.

Balancing my coloring book on my lap wasn’t working. Eventually, I tossed it on the table, but Shepherd wasn’t havingit. He pulled his shirt off, plopping a pillow on the ground and sitting on top right at my feet.

“No, you need this,” he said as he handed the markers back over his shoulder. I took them, uncapping one and starting to color. I glanced over at Devon, who was watching with a small smile on his face, and picked a color for him, handing it over.

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