The three of you said you wanted to court me. Yet, you met with the matchmaker today. Not just you and Korbin. But all three of you. I saw the posts and the pictures online. You didn’t even bother to tell me. I reached out in our group chat and what did I get? Silence. Even you, Lincoln. I asked you directly what you were doing, and you lied. Was this all a game with me? Why?
I shove the phone back at him, crossing my arms over my chest angrily. Movement behind them catches my eyes and I see Korbin has stepped forward, now beside Milton, as they all read what I wrote.
It’s evident when they finally catch on to what I’m talking about. I can see their bodies relax, just a little. Just another clue that they never wanted me. If they did, then they surely would be more upset about it. My eyes shift between each of them. Korbin, then Milton, finally Lincoln, waiting for whatever excuse they’re going to give me.
“Fuck,” Lincoln mouths, before stepping closer to me. “It’s not what it looks like. We didn’t know they were doing a press release for our meeting. Hell, they didn’t even know I was going to be there.”
Finally, I use my voice, too pissed to type and knowing they won’t get every word I sign.
“Then why were you there? You’re not a Scorpion. Why did you lie to me when I asked what you were doing?”
Korbin reaches out, touching my arm, getting my attention.
“We went earlier in the morning and filed paperwork to become an official pack. We knew we had the meeting today, but believe me, Bayleigh, we had no intention of the matchmaker setting us up with anyone.”
My eyes drift between them, seeing them all looking at me. They became a pack. An official one.
“That’s right, Omega.” I raise my brow at Milton’s term of affection. “You should have seen the prissy omegas they tried to push onto us. But they aren’t you, Bayleigh. You’re the tornado we want.”
“He’s right. You’re beautiful, smart, full of life and fire. The omega we want is you,” Lincoln adds.
“Then why go? Why lie?”
“We had to,” Milton says, taking my hand. “It’s required by the team. They didn’t even like Lincoln being there, but they had no say in it. We showed them the paperwork making us a pack, told them they could fuck off with their omegas because we didn’t want them. We fully planned to tell you everything afterward. We were going to have you come over, feed you, and then show you the paperwork. We’re serious when we say we want to court you, Bayleigh. You’re ours.”
Each of them nods in agreement. My vision becomes blurry as tears well in my eyes, realization finally hitting me that I completely misread the situation. James was right. Something was off, and if I had answered their messages, talked to them earlier, then I would’ve known this already.
Lincoln signs, taking his time, making sure he gets the words right.We’re here. With you.
“I know you and I are not as close as you are with Milton and Lincoln, and believe me, I plan to change that. But, Bayleigh, we would never pick anyone over you.”
Korbin’s words hit me. Even though we're not close, he’s still announcing that I’m his.
“You’re it for us, Bayleigh. From the moment I heard Lincoln talk about you, I was hooked. I knew before I even spoke the words that you were it for me. If we knew our meeting was going to be placed in a news blast, we would’ve told you.” Korbin's eyes stay locked on me as he speaks.
“In hindsight, we should’ve done that anyway.” I can see the guilt etched on Lincoln’s face.
“You never wanted them? It’s me you want?” I ask, needing to hear it again. “This whole time?”
“Yes,” they all say in unison.
“And once we court you and you’re ready, we want you to join our pack,” Milton adds. My heart crushes again, but this time with happiness.
42
Korbin
This is my fault.Not all of it, but enough that I feel like it’s up to me to make it right.
Lincoln moves toward her again, signing something soft, but she flinches like her body is waiting for bad news. Milton tries to reach for her right after, gentle voice, steady hands. I stand behind them both, jaw clenched so tight I hear a tiny crack in my own teeth.
I can’t do this with an audience. I can’t say what I need to say with Milton’s soft eyes or Lincoln’s guilt hovering around us like smoke.
So I step forward.
“Bayleigh,” I say. “Come here.”
I don’t touch her right away. I keep my hands at my sides, palms open. She looks between the three of us before her gaze lands on me. There’s hesitation there. Her eyes are wide, blinking slowly, her breath catching before it reaches her chest. Her fingers curl in on themselves.
