Page 77 of Storm
I do as he says, only because I know from experience that Reed won't back down on this. The pills are bitter on my tongue, but I swallow them dutifully.
"Thank you," I say quietly, meeting Reed's eyes. "You didn't have to?—"
"Yes, I did," he interrupts, his voice still carrying that unfamiliar gentleness. Then, as if realizing we have an audience, he straightens, his expression closing off. But he doesn't move away, remaining a solid presence at my side.
"Now," Storm says, settling more comfortably on the floor in front of me, "since we're all going to be roomies for who knows how long, how about we get to know each other better? For instance, I'm dying to know how Reed went from scary elite alpha to mother hen in the span of, what, a minute?"
Reed glares at her, but there's no real heat behind it. "Alexander, explain the situation," he deflects. "Fox needs to know what we're dealing with."
Alexander nods, taking a seat beside me, his arm slides around my shoulders as he presses another kiss to my temple. The others find places around the room—Rook settling behind Storm on the floor, Frankie perching on the arm of a nearby chair, his posture relaxing slightly as the tension eases.
"It's complicated," Alexander begins, his fingers absently playing with my hair in a gesture so familiar it makes my chest ache with fondness. "But the short version is that Storm here rigged the Choosing Day ceremony by picking Jonathan's pack, which you already knew."
“Why?” I ask. I’d been dying to know why.
Storm winks at me, her grin widening. “You should have seen their faces when I pulled their name.”
"Yeah, Jonathan was thrilled," Rook adds dryly. "So thrilled he threw her over his shoulder and carried her out like a caveman."
"My knight in shining Italian wool," Storm quips, leaning back against Rook's chest.
Reed's jaw tightens visibly at their closeness, his scent sharpening with something that smells suspiciously like jealousy.
I raise an eyebrow at Alexander, who gives an almost imperceptible nod. So, I'm not imagining it. Interesting indeed.
"You deliberately chose Jonathan and Reed?" I ask, still trying to wrap my head around the why of it. "Why would anyone voluntarily pick them?" I know them, they aren’t all sweet and full of rainbows.
"Geography, not politics," Reed interjects before Storm can answer. "She chose our name because our registered apartment was closest to the theater, giving her the best chance to escape and meet…Holloway.” The way he says his name, it’s like it leaves a bad taste in his mouth.
"I needed the distraction," Storm explains, her fingers interlocking with Rook's. "The plan was to slip away and find Rook while everyone was busy losing their minds over the fact I just pulled the head of the Omega House from the barrel. I just didn't count on Jonathan having reflexes like a ninja cat and taking me to the wrong apartment. One I couldn’t just slip away from and meet Rook."
Despite the seriousness of the situation, laughter bubbles up from the group and the tension from earlier dissolves into something lighter. Even Reed's lips twitch, though he quickly schools his expression back to neutral.
"The real problem," Alexander continues once the laughter subsides, "is that the ceremony was broadcast live. It sparked riots, accusations of corruption, demands for reform."
"And the father's took notice," Reed adds, his voice hardening. "They want to take Storm away, give her to another pack to 'remedy the situation.' We won’t allow that."
I absorb this information, my gaze drifting back to Storm. She meets my eyes, like a kindred spirit in a way—both of us omegas who didn't fit the mold, both of us caught in systems that tried to break us.
"You're safe here," I tell her, the words coming out with more certainty than I feel. "All of you are."
"For now," Reed says, his tone making it clear he doesn't share my optimism. "But we need a plan. We can't keep her hidden forever."
The medication begins to take effect, the edges of my anxiety softening, my thoughts becoming clearer. I feel myself relaxing into Alexander's embrace, the fear and tension from earlier receding.
"Time is what we need most," Reed continues, his hand coming to rest on the back of the sofa behind me, not quite touching but close enough that I can feel his warmth. It reminds me of how he was during my heat. Always close, always protective.
"The situation in the city is volatile, but it will stabilize eventually. When it does, we can reassess."
"And in the meantime?" Storm asks, her expression skeptical. "I just sit here and play happy omega in your pack?"
"No one's asking you to play anything," Reed counters, his voice firm. "But you're here because it's safest for everyone, including Holloway. Don't mistake practicality for control."
Storm opens her mouth to argue, but Rook squeezes her hand. "He's right, Storm," he says quietly. "This is the best option we have right now."
The tension in the room builds again. I can feel Reed's frustration, Alexander's worry, Storm's defiance, Rook's protectiveness, and Frankie's anxiety—all of it pressing in on me, threatening to overwhelm the fragile calm the medication has provided.
"It's late," I say, forcing firmness into my voice. "Everyone's exhausted. We should get some rest and continue this discussion in the morning, when we're all thinking more clearly."
