I stop talking because they have been briefed by Koz before he sent them over, but also the breakdown is in the simple agreement that Douglas prepared and sent over. They all signed and returned the documents to him within moments. I paid them that quickly too.
I pass over ADV kits to each of them. Without being asked, they all read the instructions then do what’s needed. Unsurprisingly while I watch these six Alphas do the test, my head is back a few short days when I saw Kai, Darius, and Ramses do exactly the same. I bag up those memories along with the empty packaging scattered on the table and dump it all in the trash.
And then I distribute a printed-out list, reading it to the room as I go. “Pack Alastor, including Kairo Alastor, Ben Rogers and Andy Howard. Security team from Verdune, Ayden Rossi, Bradley Coops, and Charles or Charlie Pult plus anyone else from their team. All board members, and any living relative of theirs are also included.”
Despite Ben and Andy from Pack Alastor not being actual people, I want them included just in case they too are a part of this game.
“Nobody on this list is permitted on my property or anywhere near me. Don’t believe the bullshit they spout. If in doubt, check with me. I hate threatening people, but if I find out you’ve been colluding with any of them, in any fashion, I will have your asses thrown back in jail before you can count to two.”
ChapterTwenty-Nine
HEIDI
Idon’t bother learning the names of my security team, in part because I’m so fucking tired but the other side of it is I guess I’m done being nice. Instead, I make my security wear name badges alongside their weapons. Everything on display seems fitting with my new mantra of being beyond obvious in my intention. I don’t bother trying to hide my sour mood from the Verdune team either.
“Open the gate, Heidi, you’ve made your point,” Ayden says sardonically.
Every time he speaks to me, he shakes his head like a disappointed parent. But that’s on him, not me. Our standoff has been going like this for the past ten minutes. I suspect they will continue like this until I give in.
He goes to say something, but I interrupt him. “I’ll repeat myself for the last time. I have full control of the Verdune Estate. I also have an independent security team who are in charge of my personal safety and security. They have been briefed on the latest,” I use my fingers to emphasise, “unverified risk”. All the keys and codes have been changed, so any you have are now obsolete. If you step foot on my property, my team will restrain you with force until the relevant authorities arrive. I have also contacted the authorities to advise them of the change of guard. I have removed every person employed by Verdune or working for Verdune from the camera and data feeds. What happens to me whether I’m on this side or that side of the fence is no longer a concern for Verdune, which includes you.” I finish with a practised smile, keeping our interaction professional before turning around and walking off.
“You can’t do this,” Ayden snaps, dropping all pretence of being nice by adding a punch of his Alpha presence.
Instead of fighting against his dominance, I lean into it. Instead of becoming a pliant submissive Omega, I let his power harden my resolve of not being anyone’s pawn anymore. Without turning around, I offer back softly, “I assure you I can, and I am.”
And then I purposely bite my tongue to stop from saying another word, because not only am I doing this, but I don’t need to explain anything to him. But Ayden’s not done. With each step I take, his mood worsens. I can feel his domineering presence bearing down harder against mine. He becomes more barbed.
“I’m only thankful Margot isn’t here to see this, she would be so disgusted in the person you’ve become,” he hisses. And even though I had readied myself for a personal attack, and even though there’s enough distance separating us making it hard to hear, I don’t miss the intentional hurt he hurls my way. I also don’t miss a step as I keep walking off with my chin held high because no matter what he says, or anyone else, I know my mother was proud of the strength hiding inside me.
It doesn’t mean to say I won’t feel, but I refuse to break in front of anyone. If Ayden was trying to alienate me with his vicious words, he failed terribly because I actually chose to come back here. Out of all our properties, I wanted to return to Verdune Estate. I wanted to be where Margot died but more importantly where my legacy started.
Using the side staff entrance, I stop in at the kitchen to let the chef know I’ll be leaving early and not to prepare anything. And then I check in on my security team. The team have full access to the house at night except for the rooms I’m staying in. One of them accompanies me up to do a final sweep of the area for the night.
It was an easy decision to use the visitor suite when I arrived back. Clearly, I wasn’t going to use Allan and my late mother’s side of the house, and my room felt too full of feminine energy, it offered too many reminders. Until I heal more, and until I have put into place what I came home to do, I need to maintain my freshly adopted persona.
The visitor suite is set up differently to mine. There’s more windows for starters and an expansive balcony that offers the perfect place to see amazing views of the gardens that stretch out for acres in all directions. Of all things, it was the office area that sealed the deal. For some reason there are two banks of louvered windows—an oddity compared to the rest of the fortress that the Verdune estate is—but I need to feel the night air on my face as a reminder of what is at stake: my freedom.
Leaving my security team, I kick off my heels after locking the door to my office behind me. And instantly there’s a weight of release off my shoulders when I do.
Walking through the suite, I flick off the overhead lights, plunging the rooms into darkness. The dark matches the quiet in that it’s deep, strangely peaceful. After the last few days that were nothing but sensory and emotional overload, it’s a welcome and necessary relief.
I’m definitely one of those people who rejuvenates in time alone; another by-product of being an only child because it’s not generally an Omega trait. Unity Collegiate was big on those lessons of pack being the only place where Omegas needed to find comfort, although my Scorned Girls and I broke many moulds there.
Finding my phone, I initiate a group call, and much like I anticipated, they answer on the first ring. I’d texted them earlier from my new number to let them know I was still alive, but it was a one-line update. I wasn’t ready to face them. Now I need them.
“Ho.” Simona starts crying before she even gets the camera set up.
Their concern is as clear as their love is, but my girls are acting odd, uneasy.
“What?”
Raney’s eyes are twinkling because of her tears but there’s also a strange look in them and before I question any of them, Kai makes his presence known.
I feel nothing.
I also lie to myself because I feel a tsunami of every conceivable emotion known to man surge up when I see his face again. He’s been injured, that much is clear. Small knicks and cuts, a deep bruise on his cheek, a split on his lip. But by his choice, he is no longer my concern.
Hanging up before he or anyone can try to explain, I shoot off a text to the Scorned Girls chat, keeping it nice and simple letting them know I’m not speaking with them if he’s around or involved. And then I power down my phone, becoming uncontactable, untraceable, moving to the next part of the night, one that I am not looking forward to.
