Page 99 of These Bonds that Unite Us
“For the counts of domestic bioterrorism, human trafficking, aggravated assault of an unbonded omega, and bribery, we find Grant Montgomery guilty.”
A single breath, two, and the courtroom erupts into chaos. The Pastor, his legal team, and all of his supporters witnessing this are engulfed in rage. Calling out against what they view as an injustice. U.S. Marshalls swarm in, protecting the judge, jury, and other courthouse staff.
“Silence!” Everyone stills, facing the surprisingly powerful older alpha when he barks. “Anyone who continues to act out will be held in contempt. Return to your seats so we may proceed.”
The sentencing is drowned out by the relief flowing out of Omen’s bond. The weight this outcome has lifted from her shoulders is immense. She’s free, really truly free this time. And she’s never felt happier.
Standing between our car and the Wilsons, Hannah and Omen stare out at the capitol. My starlight’s head is resting on her big sister’s shoulder and they are surprisingly quiet when I expected them to celebrate. Maybe it hasn’t sunk in yet. It wouldbe easy for this situation to seem surreal after they’ve both spent so long fighting to escape their father and his cult.
“You don’t seem excited,” Nexus comments. His brows are furrowed as he follows the same trail of thought.
“I am, it’s just…” Omen starts.
“Our father is only one of many problems. Ben and Jacquelyn are another, though they’ve been sentenced as well.” Hannah cuts in. “Doctor Harrison is a significant threat, and he hasn’t been found yet.”
“He won’t come after us though.” Omen straightens, glancing at her sister. “The Doctor is too much of a coward to try to seek revenge. He’ll start over somewhere else, working with someone just as awful as our father. Maybe more so.”
“Mother is also still unaccounted for,” Hannah whispers. Her jaw is tight as she stares at her little sister. Concern fills her warm brown eyes.
“She is, but Han, she won’t come after me either. That woman has never cared about me. She doesn’t view me as a threat, and she certainly doesn’t see me as helpful to her in any way.” Omen steps closer, grabbing Hannah’s hands and squeezing them tight. She turns her head, catching Shepherd’s eyes instead. He nods, his gaze hard. “She’ll come after you. You and the kids.”
“I know.” Hannah deflates. Shepherd steps forward and pulls her against his side.
“We won’t let her touch them.”
Omen accepts his promise easily. We all do because we can see how much he loves the beta woman. If we would burn the world to save our girl, he’d implode an entire planet to stop Hannah from ever being hurt again.
“Let’s go home,” Titan grunts, offering Omen one of his huge hands. “The future starts now, and I plan to enjoy every second of it with you.”
Omen narrows her eyes on us as we walk through the house. The noise from the back patio filters through the windows, carrying the sound of our surprise inside.
When she steps into the living room and sees the sea of people waiting for us outside, she sighs. If I couldn’t feel her smile in our bond I would be concerned she was upset.
“Come on, gorgeous,” Nexus grins, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and steering her to the back door. “Our guests are waiting!”
We invited everyone over for dinner. To celebrate or to distract her since we weren’t sure which way the trial would go. Bea and her parents, Hannah and the Wilsons, Brady and his mate, even Titan’s aunt and her pack made the trip up.
“How’s everything going?” Juniper asks, wandering over to lean against one of the low garden walls beside me. Her red hair is pulled back in a thick braid tonight, and I wonder if she would teach me so I can braid Omen’s hair one day.
“We’re good. Better, anyway. There are still some bumps in the road to overcome, but that’s normal for new relationships.” One side of my lips tilts up in a smile as I glance at her face. Her attention is trained on her other mates where they chat animatedly with Bea’s parents.
My gaze strays to where Omen, Bea, and Hannah sit a few feet away. The relaxed state of my starlight’s shoulders makes me happy. She deserves to have the weight of her family’s sins lifted from her shoulders. Their actions were never her burden to bear, and yet she’s paid the price for them.
“She’s good for you guys,” Juniper comments. “Mellows you all out a bit.”
I snort out a laugh, shaking my head. “I don’t think mellow is the right word. Those three have turned into overprotective, possessive alphas since she came back into our lives. It drives both of us crazy sometimes.”
Juniper laughs too, quickly agreeing. Her pack has it even worse than we do since Canyon and Bowie often have to travel internationally for work. Though last time we spoke they’d mentioned both men taking a step back from their jobs so their pack can start a family.
I wonder if Omen wants kids? We’ve never really discussed that aspect of our future as a pack. I know whatever she decides, the rest of us will agree to. We’re still young enough to wait a few years, and I think letting our girl enjoy her newfound freedom would be best for now. Kids can be a topic we revisit when we reach our thirties.
“I’ll win this time, old timer,” Titan grumbles as he walks past us, Bowie at his side.
Juniper and I both groan. Titan is constantly challenging the other alpha to swimming competitions, but he never wins. Bowie was a professional swimmer who won bronze in the Olympics two years after he graduated from college. It’s an unfair competition.
“You know, I’m starting to believe Bowie instigates these races just to boost his ego.”
“And my Alpha urges him on because he loves competing. At least they’re having fun.”
