Page 13 of Chosen Omega

“In you go, Red.” Erik holds the back door open

Hutch helps me up into the back seat then slides in beside me. Erik walks around the front of the car as CJ and Skylar walk out of the school. Skylar has my bag in his hand and CJ is talking to someone on my phone. I didn’t even realize I dropped the bag or phone when I crawled out from under the table. He is off the phone before they get in the car and both men turn to hand me my things over the middle console.

“Who were you talking to?” I’m a bit hesitant to ask. It was my phone he was using, but he is an Alpha. He doesn't have to answer to me even if he is using my things.

“Mom. She was calling to see if you needed a ride home since she heard our class got canceled.” CJ turns back around and starts the car, but Skylar stays facing backwards in his seat, his eyes on me.

“You … you didn’t tell her did you? About what happened in the library?”

CJ meets my gaze in the rearview mirror for a second before pulling the car forward and making our way out of the parking lot. I’m holding my breath, waiting for him to answer. He waits until we are on the road headed to the house before he answers.

“I told them that you’ve had a bad day but that it wasn’t my story to tell. I also let them know that you wanted to have a nap before the party tonight.” He glances at me in the mirror once more. “You should be good until morning, but they are going to ask and Dad is way too good at sniffing out lies, so I suggest you just tell them. You can also tell them that the guys and I handled it because we did. They don’t want to smother you, they love you and they want to make sure you are okay. Hell,” He waves his hand around the car, indicating his next words include all of them. “We barely know you and want to make sure that nothing happens to you. All I’m saying,” He parks the car in the driveway and turns to give me his full attention.

My breath is stuck in my lungs as I look into his blue eyes. They are so pretty, so captivating. I can see why I’ve heard so many rumors about this pack. Every last one of them is earth-shatteringly beautiful in their own way. CJ looks like your typical boy next door with the aura of an Alpha that is strong enough to make anyone pause. Erik is the big silent type, but just being around him makes me feel warm and cuddly. Hutch is a joker with the looks of a pro athlete. I can tell that if I let him stick around, I’ll never be bored. And Skylar is deceptive in his looks. To see him without ever speaking to him, you’d think he was a typical nerd, so focused on the books that he wouldn’t have time for anything else, but I can see the fierce protector inside. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think he was the Lead Alpha.

“So let Mom baby you a little, okay? She needs it as much as you do.”

CJ hops out of the car when he finishes his sentence and the other guys follow. I’m frozen to my seat, contemplating if I want to come out and tell Mandy what happened or just let it be over since the boys took care of it. The more I think about it, the more I realize I do need comfort. I’m still shaken up and I really just want a hug. Erik is patiently holding the door open, waiting for me to get out. I slide over to his side and he wraps his arms around my waist to help me down. I know that he is a big person, but with his arms around me, I see just how much larger he is than me. I should feel scared, especially after what happened with Camden, but I don't. I feel safe and warm in his arms. I want to stay here forever, but he doesn’t know that, or want that, and he puts me on my feet and closes the door.

He stands there, and I’m confused as to what exactly he is doing. He isn’t moving, he’s just staring at me. It’s like he is waiting for something, but I don’t know what it is. Finally, I give up trying to figure out what he wants and I go inside. He follows behind me and I realize that he was waiting for me to go inside so I wasn’t outside alone. My heart melts at the thought. It’s so kind in a way that so many people take for granted. I know that my cheeks are flushed but I ignore that when Mandy wraps her arms around me as soon as I’m through the front door.

“Happy Birthday, Little Wolf!” Mandy squeezes me so tight, all the air rushes from my lungs. Now I’m worried my face has gone from red to blue. “I heard you had a bad day. Want to talk about it?”

“Actually,” I pat her back then grab her shoulders and gently push her back a bit so I can breathe. “I kind of do. Can we talk in my room?”

I can see CJ and the guys smiling at me from the living room over Mandy’s shoulder. I smile shyly back at them as Mandy grabs my hand and starts dragging me down the hall to the stairs. Charles, James and August are in the kitchen and they all wave, confusion on their faces, as we walk by.

“Girl talk, we’ll be back down in a bit.” Mandy calls over her shoulder as we pass by without stopping.

She drags me up the stairs, my legs working double time to keep up and not trip on the stairs. She doesn’t stop walking until we are in my room, sitting on the bed. She turns so she is facing me then waits patiently for me to start talking. I thought it would be easy. I’ve talked about so many traumatic events before without a flinch, but now that she is sitting here, waiting for me to say something, the words are stuck on my tongue. I can feel the tears welling in my eyes and I swallow a few times to get the lump out of my throat. Mandy scoots over until she is beside me and she puts an arm on my shoulders. Gently, she pulls me down until my head is on her chest. My arms go around her waist almost automatically and I hold her body to mine as she sweeps a hand over my hair, murmuring soothing words. She tells me to take my time and that everything is going to be okay. She says that no matter what it is, we will take care of it. And her words settle in my heart, they ease the ache that’s been there since Camden first put his hand on my leg. I can’t stop the torrent of explanations when they come.

Chapter Fifteen

Candle Fiasco

ItellMandyeverythingthat happened in the library. Tears roll down my cheeks and land on her soft pink shirt as I try to convey how scared I was. I ask questions that don’t have any answers like why would he do something like that and how am I supposed to trust anyone again after everything that's happened. I’m sobbing as the story comes to a close and I want to stop the next words out of my mouth, but they won’t stay in my mind.

“How is anyone ever going to love me now? I’m tainted by what he did. I couldn’t stop him, and CJ and his pack saw it. They’ll never want to hang out with me now that they know I’m so weak.”

Mandy takes hold of my shoulders and pushes me up to face her. She wipes the tears off my cheeks, but doesn’t bother to hide the ones still flowing from her eyes. She isn’t smiling for the first time since I’ve met her. And a piece of my heart crumbles knowing I’m the reason for the serious sad expression in her eyes.

“Rebecca, what that boy did is not your fault. And no one, not my boys or Mates, or anyone else in this town will blame you for it.” She shakes me a bit as if trying to make sure the words are settled deep into my brain. “You are not weak because a bigger person overpowered you. You arestrongbecause you fought back. You said no, over and over again, and he didn’t listen. That makeshima weak person, not you.”

She tugs me and hugs me fiercely again. She doesn’t let me go as she keeps talking to me. “You are an amazing person, who has had a very unfortunate month. You are the strongest person I know, because you keep going. Through everything the gods have thrown at you, you keep smiling and treating everyone around you with kindness and love. This is something that happened to you. You didn’t cause it. It’s okay to be upset, but don’t lose sight of who you are and the amazing heart you have.”

Her words are a soothing balm to my heart. I know in my mind that I didn’t do anything wrong. I never encouraged Camden and told him multiple times that I didn’t want to be anything more than friends. He is the one that escalated it into the situation it became. She is absolutely right, but I think I needed to hear it from someone else in order to truly believe it. I let her hold me and shed a few more tears. I needed this. I needed someone to be upset for me, to grieve the loss of what I thought was the beginning of a friendship, that ended up being a nightmare. When all the tears are out, I feel stronger. I’m ready to face the rest of the day and everything that is waiting for me tonight. I squeeze her waist and sit up.

“Thank you Mandy. Really. I needed that. Can we,” I move my gaze to the bed, not sure how she will respond to my next request. “Can we not tell your mates about this yet. I want the night to be perfect and happy and I know that this will upset them. I don’t want them to get some crazy idea about hunting down Camden.”

“Oh sweet girl. You’ve lost your mind if you think CJ and his pack don’t already have something planned. I know Camden. He was CJ’s best friend until Erik came and CJ’s pack was complete. Camden got jealous that CJ had the others and the two fell out. It’s been rough between the boys and the Luna twins ever since. But,” she smiles at me and moves some of my hair behind my ears. “We can keep this between us for now. We’ll use it as CJ’s alibi when it comes time.”

We laugh and hug once more. She changes the topic to a lighter subject and we hold each other on my bed and just talk for the rest of the afternoon. Around five in the evening, I start to feel restless. I want to pace and I feel something moving around in my chest, rippling under my skin. Mandy kisses my head and places a hand on top of mine to stop me from scratching the skin off my arms.

“Come on Little Wolf. Let's get you dressed for your party. The sun is starting to set, so this will be a quick little birthday cake and ice cream with a few friends, then we can all shift. Your real party will be tomorrow night, we’ll use it to announce your Manifestation as well.'' She gets off the bed and takes my hand, leading me to the closest to help me pick out something to wear.

We finally decide on a black wrap dress that ties on the side. It's cute and will be easy to get off when it’s time for my wolf to come. She helps me brush out my hair and put some products in it to keep the curls from getting frizzy. She also helps me do my makeup before we go to her room and I help her get ready. Neither of us is wearing shoes, it makes me giggle when I realize it and she just shakes her head and ushers me back down the stairs.

The Alphas, all seven of them, are waiting in the living room with Abby. I look around, expecting to see more people, but James jumps up from the couch and picks me up, spinning me in a circle and distracting me from my search.

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