Page 43 of For the First Time
“Is that the dog you helped?”I couldn’t look away from the beast.He was huge and looking at the car like he thought he could take on the four-wheeled beast if it came down to it.
“Yep.That’s Hercules.”
As we got out of the car, four men came out the front door, all of them huddled directly behind the woman as she bounced on her toes.Even as one of the men set his hand on her shoulder, she just kept bouncing.
“Dr.Wilder, it’s so good to see you again,” the woman said.
The men—alphas—surrounding her seemed to get larger at her words, like they felt threatened by the social complement.
“It’s nice to see you again, Anne,” Everett said.“And you, too, Hercules.He’s looking well.”
“We’ve been following your directions perfectly.”
“That’s good.I’d like to introduce you to my pack.That’s Franklyn Oaks, Atlas, and Eve.I’m Everett Wilder.”
The other alphas nodded their heads in greeting.It was the male who had his hand on Anne’s shoulder who introduced himself first.“Ezra Kelly.This is Bartholomew, Ambrose, Rainier, and Anne.”
“And Hercules,” Anne added.
“Of course.And Hercules.You’re all welcome inside.Beau’s got an at-home office but we thought we’d all sit in the formal living room.Better for everyone’s ...senses.”
Nods went around and then I followed Everett who was following the other alphas.Considering how weak my nose was, I was surprised to find that Anne’s scent was so ingrained in the house.I wondered if Anne even realized her scent was a part of the home’s fabric.Betas struggled already to identify others’ scents, let alone our own.
Anne was talking about the whipped salmon and shrimp tartlets she’d had the chef make for us while I did my best to take in this mansion of a house.The plaster on the walls was carved into floral designs, the molding around the doorframes was golden like an expensive frame, the actual art on the walls were beautiful, colorful paintings that made me wish I was in a museum so I could look them over properly.Even the tile flooring was real and elegant, the thick runner rugs making the place look more like a home, although they were in pristine condition.Despite how lived-in the house looked, it was obvious that money kept it clean and tidy.
Atlas’s hand tightened around mine as we entered the formal living room like he didn’t want to risk us separating and then not getting to sit by me.I moved closer so our hands weren’t between us, but in front of my body, my side firmly pressed into his.If he wanted to be close, I was fully willing to let him.
The couches were the perfect example of a formal living space.They had ornate backings with firm cushions not meant to relax on but to fully support.A bookcase was on one wall, littered with books and other little objects like a snow globe, ornaments, candle, and even a wooden box that might have been a pet’s ashes considering it had a plaque with the name Megara on it.A chandelier hung from the ceiling, the silver thing lacking any dust or spiderwebs despite the height of the tall ceiling it hung from.
With four sets of couches surrounding a coffee table that looked made of glass, we took our seats.Atlas by my side, Everett standing between our couch and the next where Oaks was making himself comfortable.When I looked over at him, he gave me an encouraging smile and then mock-glared at Atlas who didn’t even acknowledge his packmate.
The actual lawyer of the pack, Bartholomew, sat on the couch furthest from us, a pad and pen in his lap as he flipped over to whatever page he wanted to start, the sound of the rustling papers the only noise.The rest of his pack continued through the living room and down a hall, giving us the illusion of privacy.
“All right,” Bartholomew started.“Eve, I was hoping you’d tell me in your own words what happened at the OC.Just to make sure I’m fully understanding the situation.I want to jot down my thoughts and questions while you do so and then we can get into the discussion of what’s next.Does that sound good?”
He spoke to me, but still glanced at the males around me, accepting their nods.
I retold the story I’d told pack Wilder.From meeting Hannah, to learning about her profile, to being let go and the letter I’d received.It was impressive to see how fast Bartholomew wrote, how quickly and constantly his pen moved across the pad, or his fingers flicked onto a new page.The more I spoke, the closer Atlas moved against my side until I was essentially squished between the couch’s arm and Atlas’s body.
When he tried to discreetly catch a whiff of my scent, and couldn’t find it because of the descenter, I saw his jaw clench, his hand tightening around mine.
“I find this case—your situation—very interesting,” Bartholomew admitted after I’d finished.“Corruption inside the OC is rare.So rare, I’d argue it’s unheard of.”
“I mean, I’m not sure corruption is the word I’d use.It could have just been a single person, right?Someone who created the profile on Hannah because of an anonymous call or something?”
“Someone had to have known that profile existed in order to know when it was deleted,” Bartholomew pointed out.“Someone with a high enough status had to approve going back into your account and seeing what you did.That speaks to someone with authority.And honestly, I highly doubt that you managed to find the single corrupt needle in a stack of needles.What about other omegas that have been flagged, potentially torn from their packs because someone in the OC is trying to punish them?”
I sucked in a harsh breath.I hadn’t considered that Hannah might’ve been one of many.She’s so unique that I figured her situation was also unique.
An omega who went to protests, with a supportive pack that helped her sneak around, it all felt too singular.But Bartholomew was right.Before I’d met Hannah, I wouldn’t have thought anyone like her and her pack existed.I would’ve been wrong.
Dread settled like a rock in my stomach.The discomfort of the emotion had my throat tightening and I wasn’t sure if it was in preparation of tears or vomiting.I wasn’t sure which one I was hoping for either.
Everett’s hand came down on my shoulder as he leaned over the top of my head to kiss my hair.“It’s all right, Babygirl.You did good all on your own.You can’t save everyone.”
“I didn’t even try,” I choked out, a sob climbing up my throat as my eyes watered.
Beside me, Atlas started to purr, the vibration soothing against my arm.Oaks stood from his spot on the other couch and came to kneel in front of me, wrapping his arms around my legs, not even caring that Bartholomew was watching the whole scene.It only took a few more moments to collect myself.I hadn’t cried, although my nose did feel stuffed, making me wish I had a tissue.Or a time machine.
