“I’m not sure I deserve it,” I whisper against Mack’s cheek.
He pushes my hair away and kisses my neck. “Then we’ll keep showing you until you realize you deserve everything.”
I rest my head against his chest, his naked body touching mine.
I’ve fallen so hard for these men, this pack. His words are the words I always wanted to hear. So why do I feel like everything is going to get ripped away from me? Instead of letting myself sink into this menacing feeling, I try to relax and prepare myself for whatever tomorrow brings.
The bed shifts and I groan. I’ve been half asleep next to Mack all night, just waiting to see what tomorrow brings. We kept our phones in the living room, which I won’t deny a sick part of me wants to see what the chatter is online.
Smash Knot has an extremely rabid and dedicated fan base. Most of them already hate me, so I know the vitriol online is probably disgusting.
What if it’s too much for all of them? What if this is what makes me lose everything I’ve just gotten a taste of?
My eyes are closed, but I can’t help it as I cry quietly. As much as I’m trying to be strong, the lyrics of that song and seeing them again hurt me. It’s probably a mixture of lack of sleep and old traumas being dug up.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” a deep voice says and I blink open my eyes to Cole lying next to me, Jonah behind him.
“You’re back,” I sniffle, tossing my arms around his neck and squeezing him tightly. I reach around him, grabbing Jonah’s biceps.
The large Alpha tosses an arm over Cole without a care, grabbing my hip.
“I’m sorry for tonight, sweetheart. I just saw your reaction, and I lost it. I didn’t mean for things to get out of control. I’m not that violent person,” Cole says, and I cup his face, dragging my nails against his beard.
“I’m not mad, and I don’t think you’re violent,” I assure him.
“I guess I can let go of the fear that you’ll pack up and leave us for them?” Cole says and I furrow my brows.
Cole, this pack, was insecure about me leaving?
I can’t help it when I smile, making Jonah and Cole look at me like I’ve lost my mind.
“You really think I’d go back to them after the way you have treated me? You’re crazy.”
“Thank God,” Cole mutters, pressing his face against my throat, allowing me to get a look at Jonah’s face.
He looks tired, but steady.
“I’m sorry tonight didn’t go the way you’d hoped,” he says.
“At least your mom and sister seem to like me.”
“They all loved you, you did nothing wrong, you were perfect,” he says, not even caring about resting his elbow on Cole's face to stroke my hair. “It’s just, you need to prepare yourself.”
“It’s bad?” I ask, biting on my lower lip, and Cole squeezes me tighter.
I’m used to some backlash, but most of it was on social media and private forums, not mass media. As far as the larger media outlets were concerned, Smash Knot’s Omega companion didn’t even have a name.
“The song is available online. The video of tonight is everywhere. We’ll protect you from everything,” he promises.
He’s sweet, but right now my mind is wondering about them and their lives. What if Mack loses subscribers? What if this negatively impacts Cole’s case with the airline? What if it’s a poor reflection of the Sørensen family name?
“Look at me,” Jonah demands, and I do as he says, blinking through tired eyes. “You’re mine. Ours. We take care of you. I don’t want you worrying about any of this shit. I don’t care what they say in the media or the ramifications. You did absolutely nothing wrong. None of this is your fault. If there are any consequences, it’s because of the choices we made and we’ll handle them. Nothing has changed with us becoming a pack or how we feel about you and I really hope we didn’t fuck up and change how you think about us.”
I place my hand on top of his, over my cheek.
“It’s only made me want this more,” I whisper.
“Good,” Cole says, kissing my collarbone, while Jonah rubs my face with his large thumb.
