Harper put down her fork and took a long deep breath with her eyes closed. “I haven’t told anyone about this. No one.”
“You don’t have to do this right now.” Lev flexed his hand and I knew he was feeling the same as the rest of us, itching to comfort her, soothe her.
“I do, actually. If I’m going to be here, you have to understand some things about me. It was about a year and a half ago when I was at work and one of my friends pulled me aside and told me there was a video of me online. She’d caught her boyfriend looking at it and during that confrontation, she found out what the video was.”
My stomach turned and I pushed my plate back. I just knew what she was about to say was going to sicken me.
“Take your time, omega.” Miles pushed some of his alpha power into his words. It settled us all.
She pressed a hand to her chest. She must feel his power too. “My friend showed me the video. It was of me, and it wasn’t just one video. I was with my pack for four years. I knew they made good money, but it seemed like some things were over the top for the money we made. It was because every heat, every sexual encounter, every bath I took, every shower, even sometimes when I used the bathroom, it was all on video. Therewere hidden cameras all around the house, and they uploaded the videos to some app that paid for views.”
The food was forgotten. The world. Even breathing. No one said a word.
“They did that to you?” Miles vibrated with rage. “They used your most sacred and intimate times together and shared them with the world for money?”
Harper was crying now. So was Lev. He didn’t ask for permission from our omega. He just picked her up and settled her in his lap, wrapping her up in his embrace. She braced herself at first but then melted into him, resting her head on his chest.
“This goes without saying, but I’m going to do it anyway.” My voice cracked as the anger drove through. “Those weren’t alphas. They weren’t a pack. They were greedy, exploitive males who deserve to go to prison for the rest of their lives for what they did to you. If my wolf had his way, they wouldn’t be breathing anymore.”
“I know that now but when I first found out, I thought it was my fault. I felt used and dirty. The day I found out, I took a three-hour shower. It was like everyone who saw that video had their hands on me. After that, I found a way to get the suppressants, and I made a plan to get out.”
Lev kissed the top of her head. “You’re safe here. We can show you all of our laptops and phones if you want to go through them. We can even have a third party clear it all so you feel secure that we’re not doing anything like that. Whatever makes you feel better.”
“I don’t think you three would do that. Call it a feeling. I knew something was wrong all along but couldn’t put my finger on it. I always had to wear lingerie. They made me wear sexy nightgowns all the time, and the maids paid special attention to my room and bathroom. That was because it was a movie set ofa sort, and I was the omega who didn’t realize she was the star of the show.”
I chimed in, needing her to know some things. “Thank you for trusting us enough to share that, Harper. We can discuss the possibility of your heats and what will happen during that, but please know that it’s all your choice. What you do with your body is all in your hands. We are here to support you but the decisions are yours.”
“I know that now. Thank you, guys. Not what you expected from a roommate chat, huh?”
She wasn’t a roommate. She was ours. It would take time, but we had all the time in the world for her.
Chapter Thirteen
Harper
The first few days after I moved in with the new pack, I tiptoed around, afraid of doing something wrong. Of making them mad or drawing attention to myself in a way that would send a message I did not want received. The problem was, everything about my living situation drew me in deeper to a life with these alphas.
They had never said anything to imply they wanted me in a similar situation to my previous one. Treating me graciously, considerately, and not allowing me to lift a finger, they acted as if I was a welcomed guest, my comfort level rising by the hour. We ate all our meals together, starting with giant breakfasts. Sitting around the table with them before we all went off to our various pursuits was just ridiculously fun. They teased one another, but never in a mean way, and they included me in all the jokes.
In my past life, I’d been an outsider. A convenient sex object and, as it turned out, someone whose personal life generated most of their income. None of their faces appeared in the porn. Only back views and my face. And I didn’t even have a bedroom of my own. If one of the alphas wanted me to stay the night after they had their way with me, I stayed. Otherwise, I slept on a pallet on the floor in the hallway. For convenience.
How had I ever survived this? I hadn’t chosen it, obviously. I’d been sold when I presented as an omega, as was tradition in the pack who reared me. Making me the property of my new alphas, and I was told to be grateful they only wanted to use me as they did and didn’t make me scrub floors too.
Apparently, I had issues with gratitude.
After breakfast, I went off to work or into my room to do online classes, and the three of them went their individual ways.They wanted me to take a lunch to work, but I pointed out that I got a free meal at the bakery, and that it was very good. That reminder often had one of them giving me cash and asking me to bring home something from work. They really loved the bakery.
With good reason. Especially as I got to be a better baker and didn’t make so many mistakes. When I returned, they would always want to know if I had baked the goodies, and if I did, they showered me with praise for my skill. If I had not, they would congratulate me for working at such a great place.
All kindness, no scolding, no hitting, and the only touching what I allowed. Mostly pats on the back or a kiss on the cheek at bedtime.
I couldn’t stay here forever, as I had pointed out, but honestly, it was heaven. It was home. When I arrived each night, I inhaled the scent of home. Clean, fresh, mingled with each of the male’s scents together, making me happy, relaxed, and comfortable.
I had stopped taking the old meds right away and switched to the new, but as I’d been warned, it would be a while before the old completely left my system, and the combination could have side effects. A few days in, just as I was taking a deep breath and feeling like I’d managed to avoid any problems, I found out I was wrong. Of course. When in my life had things been perfect?
“Harper, can I see you in my office?” Amanda asked.
“Sure.” I wiped my sweaty forehead and followed her inside. “It’s extra hot in the kitchen today, isn’t it?”
