I can’t stop looking at it either. It’s almost like watching a car wreck happening in slow motion, impossible to look away from. My hand covers my mouth. “Dom, what were you thinking?”
I hear a groan, then his body is curling around me, his scent filling my nose. “My thoughts were consumed by a case. I wanted the same aesthetic and feel as Hen’s office at Noire…”
“But you got Bridgerton season three. I mean, on the television it looks great but in real life.” I walk further into the room, leaving them snickering, but I can’t stop giggling either. “Dom, it’s really awful. It doesn’t suit you at all.”
He groans, louder and longer this time. “I know that!”
I try to find something positive, and besides the structure of the room there’s not much. Even the carpet the designer installed is a pukey green colour, but I’ll give him credit where credit is due, it exactly matches the paint and the detailing on the walls.
“The view is pretty amazing,” I offer.
Dominic tips his head to the side, his thoughts taking him down a different path. But a few seconds later he physicallyshakes himself and almost immediately he’s got something brewing in his eyes.
“Simona, what about if we turn this into your space? Until you finish at Unity you could use it as a study, and then once you graduate, we could have it turned into whatever you want. A place to write, paint or even just your own room where you watch television or have your friends over.”
We go from giving Dominic smack about his awful room to talking about our future.
“I kind of…”
He directs to the floor-to-ceiling windows, leaving me to take in the view while he grabs the cushions off the green velveteen lounges, as well as all the ghastly paisley printed pillows. Dominic gets busy, and then Hen and Ryder catch on. Together they make a safe place for us to talk.
He sits, and I crawl to the place he indicates between his legs. As I lean back against him, Hen and Ryder settle nearby, lying on pillows. Together, we start talking about how we each envision our pack life beginning.
“I’m not sure what comes first,” I admit, “but I would like the Certification from the government I receive upon graduation from Unity. I’m not sure if it’s really as valuable as they dangle in front of you, but it’s my safety net. Although, in light of Dominic’s assistance, I’ll probably get back and find out I’ve been expelled from Unity because my fees have not been paid.”
Ryder squeezes his hand around my ankle. “Sin, would you please consider letting us pay your tuition for the rest of the year. And being completely transparent, Dominic already outlined to us that Brody has been being a dick by controlling your finances. We don’t want to bulldoze into your life and just pay out the rest of your Unity fees, or anything else, without talking with you first. We would love nothing more than the opportunity of investing in you and your future.”
“Or we can set up your own account completely separate from ours. Alternatively, we make you a signatory on our main account so you can make those decisions without asking. It’s something we’ve already set up for each of us. I mean we’d hope you’d talk with us about big decisions but it’s only because we’re interested in you, not because we’re cross checking or countering your motivation. And the final suggestion, we could help you find a part time job,” Hendrix says, adapting to the seriousness of the conversation and sounding like a successful businessman more so than a bossy Alpha.
A wave of gratitude crashes down. They’re not rushing in and simply assuming they can make decisions on my behalf. But it’s also how they’re giving me options. I knew the situation I was in wasn’t normal, and I also knew the three of them lived entirely different. They’re very honest and involved with each other. At the same time, their offer of assistance is very, very thoughtful.
I play with the small balls of fluff on Ryder’s socks while I talk. “I said before, emancipating is potentially and likely going to leave me with nothing. The founding families will band together, more so than usual, and I will become an example parents use to manipulate their daughters behaviour. I expect things to get vicious. I’m ready for it in a lot of ways. Especially now.”
I take my time to look at each of them, hoping they see how happy I am to be theirs in spite of what it’s cost me. I get a sweet acknowledgement and a blaze of their presence through our bond, reminding me I’m not alone.
“I won’t be surprised if I’m written out of my parents’ inheritance. I’ll be very sad, but like I said, I’m expecting things to become intentionally hostile in their retaliation. Although in hindsight, my parents probably amended their will and made Brody as a beneficiary of the Vanderlingfortune as soon as confirmation of our packing was formalised. The Vanderling family come from generational wealth although it is hidden behind shelf companies, trusts and overseas accounts, all of which fall under ‘men’s’ business. On paper it was mine, but practically it never was.” I take a quick inhale, wanting everything out of my thoughts and into something we can talk about. “I’m really overwhelmed by your offer, and the options you’ve provided. And I’m probably going to shock you by making a quick decision without any angst, but we’re pack and I’m leaning into that. You’ve already given me so much as to who you are individually and you’ve never hidden how you work as a pack—which is open, honest, driven by your love and respect for each other. I want that, just like I wanted each of you.” Another steadying exhale before I keep going. “I’ve never had my own account that wasn’t managed by someone else, so I’d like my own, please. I’d also like to be added to the main pack account. And lastly, I’d love a part time job.”
I’ve barely finish speaking and they perfume for me. Pride fills the ugly Bridgerton room turning it into a happy place.
Hendrix pounces, covering me with his body before he kisses the absolute daylights out of me. Leaving me gasping for air, and deliciously happy. Before he gets up, he whispers in my ear. “You’re incredible, sweetheart. We’re the luckiest Alphas in the world, being able to call you ours.”
“I think I’m the lucky one.”
“Not sure I’d feel lucky if this was my room,” he teases, pressing his nose to mine. “I’ll go arrange your bank accounts. And also, keys and cards to our other house and Noire and Dominic’s office. Ryder will go through how security runs when he tours.”
“All that is happening today?”
“Of course, Simona. Our future started. Now, we’re justcatching up with all the necessary administration side of our pack. I’m also going to arrange some food for us to be delivered, so let me know what you feel like. Once we’ve spent the afternoon talking, eating and hopefully fucking you again, we will beg you to stay but let you win the argument you want to return to Unity. All of us will drive you to the gate, Dominic will be speaking with the Omega Mothers, and I’ll slip my fingers inside your panties and kiss you goodbye. Only leaving us for a few short hours though, hopefully.”
Like always, he conjures up vivid imagery as well as bringing another wave of heat to my core. He sits up, staring deep into my eyes and must see what he was looking for because he rolls up, and walks out the room.
“I’m just going to grab your phone so you can start messaging people back properly.”
I twist to look at Hendrix but he’s already at the door.
“I had messages?” I ask Dom. I mean, I knew I would, but my phone hasn’t been a priority.
“Nothing huge. We would have gotten through to you if there was anything urgent. And you did actually respond to a couple not that you’d remember.”
