AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“My baby,” she cried, hugging me tightly. “I’m so sorry. I never thought this would happen…”
“It’s not your fault,” I said, my voice muffled against her ample chest. She smelled like onions and food, probably cooking all day for our arrival. Gabe pulled me out of her arms and gave me a large hug. He rubbed my hair, messing up my bun.
“Gabe!” I screamed at him, and he chuckled, his arms at his side now.
“I was scared we lost you,” he said, and I could hear the trembling emotion in his voice. I was his baby sister, and I knew he was worried sick. “Welcome home, sis.”
“Thanks, Gabe,” I said, pinching his cheek, and he scowled. “Don’t worry now, I’m home and safe.”
Everyone had come out of the house to see me, and I was surprised to see Jade there along with my nephew, Manny.
“I’m so glad you're safe,” said my aunt Jade, looking at me with tears in her eyes. “You’re like a daughter to me, as you know. Please tell me how Olivia is doing, every detail.”
“Of course,” I said soberly. It was a horrible thing to come back safe and sound without Olivia. I felt intensely guilty like never before. We really should’ve tried harder.
We were all sitting around my dining table as I relayed everything that happened to me over the past week. I glossed over the part about me going into heat, but Manny guessed it instantly.
“Did you mate with your bodyguards?” he asked, digging into the chicken my mother and Jade had baked. “You smell like them.”
“I…yes,” I said meekly. I wanted to tell them when I was ready, but my mother smiled widely, looking back and forth between Ryder and me.
“You finally found your true pack of love,” she said. “Your fathers will see you later, and I hope they approve of these wonderful bodyguards who went to hell and back for you.”
“I hope so, too,” I said. My dad, Alex, who was the pack leader, was hard to impress. But my dad, Jack, who was second-in-charge, would usually intercede for me. Jack was Jade’s brother. Having seven dads with different opinions was sometimes a nuisance, and I wished my life was simpler.
“I’m sorry we couldn’t save your daughter,” Ryder addressed my aunt.
“From what Lacy had said,” said Jade. “It sounded next to impossible at that time. I understand. Manny is trying to convince the Royal Pack to go after them since he’s their prince. But the government is reluctant to go after their own kind.”
“For right now, Olivia is doing okay,” I said, trying to soothe her a little. “Omegas are pampered over there. Lots of massages and food.”
“What if Olivia goes into heat at that place?” asked Manny with dread. His question made everyone stop chattering excitedly about my arrival. It was a looming cloud that hung over us, not something that I could forget easily.
“If the authorities don’t do anything after the information you gave them, we will have to step in,” said Ryder. “I’ll give you the exact location of the camp so you can let King Armon know.”
For the rest of that day, I talked with my mother and Gabe, catching up. We sat in the living room, away from the rest, and we talked about everything, including my attraction to my bodyguards. Aunt Jade had left early, and Manny was discussing things with my pack.
“They better find Olivia,” said my mom, leaning against the couch arm with a hand on her forehead. “I almost lost my mind when I saw you on the news.”
“I know, Mom,” I said.
“Mom didn’t sleep, and our dads had to force her to eat,” said Gabe.
“Oh my god, Mom,” I said.
“It’s okay now, baby,” she said, sighing and rubbing her face. She had new wrinkles on her face that I hadn’t seen before, and I hoped it wasn’t from me being kidnapped. “The government needs to do something about it, and I think you need cameras everywhere.”
“I know, Ryder won’t let that one go,” I said.
“Listen to your pack,” said Mom. “They will protect you to the ends of the earth for you. I believe that.”
“I know,” I said, my heart warming.
Chapter 35
Lacy
Thenextday-Iwoke up to Ryder kissing me on the cheek. We had all collapsed in my nesting room with all the feathers from the pillows still everywhere once everyone was gone. I curled up into the blankets tighter, trying to ignore him.
