Page 92 of Pack Rivals: Part Two
“I want to work. I want to study. But,” I glance to the blinds, turning red against the disappearing sun, “I want to find my pack too. I want a family. I want it all.”
“Yes, of course, you do.” She smiles. “I don’t have long. Well, I’m sure you guessed that much. I’m sorry, Bea, that hurting you is the thing that brought my sons to their senses, but I can’t be sorry for it. I can die a contented woman now. And even more so knowing my boys will be left in good hands.”
“Oh I don’t know … I mean …”
“I saw the way you looked at Angel just now. I saw the way he looked at you. It’s how my husband used to look at me. How I’m sure he looked at me.” Her eyes mist over as if she’s remembering. “Love finds a way. It makes us better people. And it finds a way to forgive. I’m sure you can find a way to make this right.”
And for the first time in days I think that maybe I can.
* * *
Dinner is servedin a room that belongs in a palace. The table is so long that even the eight of us only fill one half. More old paintings hang around the walls and a silver chandelier dangles from the ceiling. Candles flicker across the tabletop and a vase of fresh daisies is arranged in the center. Around it sit every dish I may ever have dropped into conversation that I like.
“Nate’s been in the kitchen all day,” Molly says, leading me to a chair and taking one next to me, much to the alphas’ obvious disappointment. There’s a little bit of a tussle for the chair on my other side, but when Molly coughs loudly, they all step back and it’s Hardy that claims the place.
“We’ve been doing some remedial training,” Molly whispers into my ear. “They’re getting there but occasionally we have some relapses.” She smirks at her brother across the table who is scowling at her. “They’re worse than puppies.”
“What exactly does this training involve?” I ask.
“Reminding them at regular intervals that it’s their omega who should be the center of their lives and not themselves.”
“I already knew that,” Silver mumbles. “We didn’t need you to tell us. We’ve been going out of our way to keep Bea safe because she’s precious to us.”
“Oh yeah,” Molly says, the smirk falling from her lips and a serious expression lodging between her brow instead. “I heard about the thing with the clinic.” She covers her hand with mine and squeezes it. “I’m so sorry.”
I manage a wobbly smile, then turn towards Silver. “Is there any more news about that?”
“The police have been hopeless but we’ve been doing our own digging. I want to ensure the threat to your safety has gone.”
My hands drop to the edge of the table and I grip it tight between my fingers and thumb. My obvious distress does something to the alphas in the room. Axel and Angel push back their chairs and leap to their feet, Hardy wraps his arm around my shoulders and Nate stabs the prongs of his fork into the tabletop.
“Okay everyone,” Molly says, glancing around all of us with concern. “Take a deep breath.” She inhales herself and the six men in the room do the same, although it seems to do little to dissipate the tension.
“Sorry,” I say to all of them, “I just … I didn’t think there was the possibility that my safety was still under threat – not from that quarter anyway.” I peer at Silver and he glances towards the other alphas. It’s clear for once the man doesn’t know what to do. “I’d prefer it if you were honest with me.”
He nods. “Okay, the truth is we don’t know. That clinic wasn’t set up by some greedy doctors gone rogue, there was a bigger outfit behind it. Hence the masked men with guns who turned up to try to intercept us. At this point we don’t know who they are or their intentions. Until we do, we will continue to keep a close eye on you.”
“Continue?” I ask, with an arch of my eyebrow.
Silver holds my gaze. “We’ve had my surveillance team watching over you.”
“Including in Naw Creek?”
“Including in Naw Creek.”
“Thank you,” I say.
The muscle in his cheek twitches and for the briefest of seconds he looks shocked, like he was expecting me to give my usual berating, not my thanks.
“You’re welcome,” he says.
Molly nudges me with her elbow. “Shall we eat? It’s going to get cold.”
I tug a creamy-looking lasagna towards me and plunge the spoon through the cheese encrusted top. “Yes, please, I’m starving.”
I’m half way through my serving, when I pause and look up to Silver again. “How about Dr. Hannah? Have you found her?”
“No, and we haven’t been able to talk to that other doctor again either. The cops have him under tight security.” He lowers his fork. “We’re working on it,” he gestures to Connor, “I don’t want you to worry about it.”
