Chapter Sixty-One
Riley
My heart pounds with a toxic mix of apprehension, fear, and rage. I’ve moved to the kitchen table, and in addition to my pack, a plethora of other alphas and betas from our community stand behind me so they can see the screen.
I tap through video feeds, following the truck as it sends up plums of dust, driving haphazardly down the dirt road toward the shop. They turn their headlights off, plunging the screen into darkness, and pull off the main drive to cross through the grassy front field toward our house.
Vee and Brooks instantly loose growls, the sounds rumbling through the room as the intruders drive across our property.
“Goddamn idiots,” Dave says.
“You can say that again,” I mutter, switching to one of the house camera feeds. “Idiotic assholes, driving right up to us like that. Did they not notice all the other cars on the way in? Do they not think we’d have put up cameras after last time? I assume they drove right by the patrol car at the entrance.”
Vee curls her lip in disgust, and Brooks straightens.
“Speaking of… Where are the police?” Riley says, flipping video feeds.
“Hopefully on their way. Let’s get out there,” Brook says, his voice a low growl. “Ri, can you capture screenshots, save any video that shows their faces?”
“Yep, I’m on it.” I’m already recording, getting plenty of evidence that they’re breaking the restraining order as well as trespassing on private property.
“Alright,” Vee says, looking around at our friends. “We don’t make the first move. I’d love nothing more than to bash these asshole’s faces in, but if we can avoid violence, it’ll only work in our favor.”
She stares around, making eye contact with each person who showed up to support us. My chest swells with pride, both for her and for our community. I’m so grateful for all of them.
Vee nods decisively, then continues.
“Alright. Omega gardening club stays inside,” she says, turning to the omegas and beta. Siobhan starts to protest, but Vee cuts her off. “Absolutely not. You’re staying inside, and if I have to lock you in the basement to accomplish that, I will.”
Sage is trying to sneak around the room to the other side of it, and I silently scoff. She doesn’t stand a chance.
“That includes you, Sweetling.”
Yep, called it. No way is Vee going to not have one eye on our omega right now. Sage slouches, but closes her mouth when Vee cuts her a glare.
“We don’t have time to argue. They’re pulling up out front as we speak. We line up, we hold our ground, we don’t start anything. If they start shit, we’re on the defensive only. Understood?”
A chorus of “Yes, boss” and “Got it” and determined nods follow, and then they’re all filing out the front door.
“Riley, call the sheriff. I know they said they’d post a squadcar on the road, but the fact the alpha-holes are here and the squad car isn’t, doesn’t have me feeling confident. If we can get them arrested before they throw the first punch, that would be ideal.”
I nod, pulling out my phone, and Vee leans down to me on her way out to whisper in my ear. “I’m proud of you, Sour Patch. Love you.”
I’m left with Sage, the omega gardening club, and surprisingly, Kenny, the local teen we hired to work the register this summer. Vee must have made him stay inside with us, which is a good call considering he’s a minor.
“Should we put the show up on the TV?” I ask, trying to make light of a terrifying situation.
“I’ll make popcorn!” Siobhan says, leaping into action. Her half-fallen-out braid flies behind her as she darts into the kitchen for snacks, returning only minutes later.
And then we’re piled in the living room, watching with bated breath as our alphas try to contain their protective rage.
Chapter Sixty-Two
Brooks
Neveah and Riley are part of an incredible community here. I can’t believe how many folks showed up late at night to support them. To supportus.
Neveah flicks all the outdoor floodlights on at once, and I have to squint for a moment. Steve and Josh are pulling up as we step outside, the truck slamming to a halt and sending a cloud of dirt into the air when the lights come on.
