Page 65 of Patiently Yours
“What are you talking about, Stacia?” Kendall says.
She looks so uncomfortable, like she’s going to jump out of her skin. We all wait, patient and quiet. “It’s hard to describe.”
“Please try, angel,” I plead. She looks at me then, still hesitant, still jumpy, but then she nods.
“I have this problem,” she starts, “where I’m not really present. I’m not sure what it’s called, but it’s been a thing my whole life. I’ve always felt like I was watching someone else live their life, and my autonomy was never really there. Like I’ve been relinquishing control to a body double.” She winces. “I’m not explaining this right, but the thing is… It’s too soon. I’m not quite sure what we’re all doing. And you deserve an omega who is sure.”
None of us can speak. She’s our whole world and she’s asking us to throw her away and forget her like she’s yesterday’s trash. She’s asking us to do something that is impossible.
After a few moments of silence, she swallows audibly. “I’m really sorry if I led you all on…”
“No.” Uriah stands up abruptly, halting Stacia’s words. Their eyes catch, and we can all feel the tension in the air between them. It’s a feeling that can’t be faked. We all know it. Stacia is staring at him like she can’t breathe and he is the only one that can give her air.
He takes calculated steps towards her, holding her gaze in his. When he slows to a stop in front of her, everything feels heightened.
“I’m not saying that you’re lying or that you’re not going through hell right now. The way you feel is valid, completely. But you can’t stand here and say you don’t feel anything for any of us. Every single one of us knows what we have with you, and it’s not something that’s supposed to make sense. Fuck, Kendall punched your ex-boyfriend in the face off instinct all because he overheard the bullshit he was putting you through.” I hear Ciro chuckle under his breath. “It’s scary. We’re all scared, but scents don’t lie.”
Stacia inhales sharply, closing her eyes and allowing all of our scents to wash over her for the first time since she walked inthe room. She takes in his words, but tears still shine in her eyes when she opens them.
She takes a soft breath and whispers, “I’m too broken.”
A growl emanates out of my chest and causes her gaze to dart my way.
“You areperfect,” I say sternly. “If you want us to help you, to figure out this problem with staying present, we will help you. But, please, Omega.Don’trun from us.” I take a few steps closer, needing her scent to cling to my skin. “We were literally born to help you with whatever you need. Use us.”
Her perfume gets stronger around us. I feel Kendall and Ciro closing in as well.
“What if destiny is just laughing at us?”
“Babe, it’s not. I could smell you the second we met, and that’s nearly impossible. It was kismet,” Ciro says, reaching out to take her hand.
“Please, let us take care of you. It’s the only thing we want to do from here on out,” Kendall adds.
She sighs, hanging her head. Uriah’s chest begins a steady purr, lulling her to his chest. She gets a whiff of our combined smells, her perfume joining and creating the perfect complete picture.
“Okay,” she heaves. “Okay. I trust you.”
I feel like I can breathe easy again. I rub her hair, giving her a kiss on her forehead. “And you deserve us, just as we deserve you. You are perfect. We will repeat it every day for the rest of our lives if we need to.”
She gives me the tiniest appreciative smile, placing her free hand on top of mine. She doesn’t respond, but she doesn’t have to. We stand still in our little huddle, basking in the love and support found there.
It’s the first hurdle of many, and we get through it cleanly.
THIRTY-FOUR
“Bon appetit,” Kendall says, placing the cheesecake on the table. His new recipes have been outstanding, but if I have to eat another sweet, I might fucking lose it.
“I never thought I’d want an apple for dessert,” I joke.
“Oh.” Kendall scratches his head. “I could make you an apple pie?”
“I’m only teasing, Kenny.” I give him a smile, trying to convey my gratitude. When Kendall is stressed, he spends more time in the kitchen. I can’t fault him for working through his emotions in the only way he knows how.
He returns my smile before sliding a piece onto Stacia’s plate. She gives him a small thanks before digging in.
It’s been about a week since the party incident, and we’ve mostly put it behind us. Still, there’s something that’s been bothering all four of us, and thatthingis a very abusive, toxic alpha that Stacia’s best friend has nicknamed Dickwad.
None of us want to be the person to bring it up. Mainly because we don’t want to talk about him at all. He doesn’t deserve to take up any space during our quality time with each other. We all wish our issue with our frat brother would just goaway, but that isn’t how things are handled in a healthy pack, so we’ve decided it’s time.
