My heart is thundering in my chest, a spiral of panic starting to build. My omega is whimpering, demanding her alphas.
I swallow, and glance around again.
The window is big, old fashioned, and has a dangling fly screen. Wincing, I give it a gentle nudge. Mercifully, it opens without a sound.
As my omega fights my every movement, I say a silent goodbye to these incredible men, and slip out the window, taking the shirt that doesn't quite smell enough like all of them with me.
Chapter 20
My bare feet pad quietly around the side of the small villa in the light of the early dawn, as my fingers tap at my phone to book a taxi.
My purse and the shirt are in my other hand and my shoes are dangling by their heel straps from my pinky. I'm so distracted by the tug in my chest, by my omega's desperate attempt to go back inside and make herself a nest and destroy their perfectly orchestrated lives, that I almost miss the sight of the large, well-maintained pool, winking invitingly in the soft light of the dawn.
I'm totally oblivious to the sight of the grey-haired, tiny woman in an oversized linen shirt reclining in the faded pool lounger until she hisses at me and waves me over to her. I bite my lip, and drag the heel of my palm across my cheeks as I carefully approach her, trying to stuff the shirt that won't quite fit into my tiny purse.
"Morning," she whispers. "Want a coffee?" She gestures at a half-full French press and a pair of cups on the small table by the lounge.
I blink. "Uhhh…" My voice isn't wavering too much at least. I clear my throat. "Sure. Thank you. Um, a quick one though. My taxi will be here in ten minutes."
She smiles at me, pours a generous cup, and pushes it to the side of the table next to the other worn sunlounger. I perchawkwardly on the edge, depositing my stuff next to me while praying I'm not inadvertently flashing her, and sip.
It's good.
My stomach growls at the intrusion of the coffee. The woman frowns.
"Do you want something to eat as well?"
I shake my head. "I'm fine, thanks. I don't want to put you out."
She raises an eyebrow, and silently tops my cup up with more coffee.
"Don't think I've ever met someone so hospitable to a potential burglar," I mutter between sips.
She chuckles quietly. "I know a walk of shame when I see one."
I hope it's too dark for her to see my face.
"I know my son. He's extremely picky with who he lets sleep over. If he and his pack brought you home, and invited you to stay the night, it's for good reasons."
My eyes absorb her features. The sharp, aquiline nose. The stormy grey, clear, bright eyes. My chest tightens again.
"Are you… you're Ralph's mum, aren't you?"
She puts her cup down and turns towards me.
"He introduced himself to you as Ralph?"
I nod, mutely.
"Huh. Wow, you must have made a real impression on him. Yes, I'm his Mom. Johanna to my friends, Mrs Blackwood-Clarke to the people who are afraid of me." She waggles her eyebrows.
I let out a shocked giggle. "Nice to meet you, Johanna Blackwood-Clarke."
"Excellent hedge, young lady. Well done. And nice dodge as well. But I'm still going to need you to tell me your name, so I can tease my boy about it later."
I bite my lip. "Uh, I'm Dellie." I take another sip. "Thanks. The coffee's delicious."
"Mmm. It is, isn't it? Now, as a mother, I just have to check—did my boy and his pack treat you right? Because I don't care how old he is, I will spank his ass—figuratively, mind you, I don't believe in corporal punishment—if he mistreated a woman or let his pack get away with that."
