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ChapterTen
Briar
Iwas a statue. I’d been staring at the shiny metal doors of the penthouse elevator for five minutes now, but I couldn’t make my feet move. This was my first time facing the world since I’d been exiled, and I couldn’t quite remember how to function.
“Are you waiting for it to do tricks?” Wells mused as he stepped up next to me. I jumped at his gravelly voice, so lost in my panic that I hadn’t noticed him approaching. Now that I was back in the present, I took a deep breath of his scent, a mix of patchouli and vanilla musk. It was warm and strong and rough around the edges, just like the man himself.
“No, I’m being a coward,” I answered honestly. He snorted at my admission.
“Where are you supposed to be going, then?” he asked.
“My first appointment. I found an OB in the city, but I don’t know my way around well, and this… It makes it impossible to ignore.” My voice wavered at the end, barely over a whisper, but he heard. He reached out and squeezed the back of my neck in a comforting gesture that had my anxiety calming down.
“Let me come,” he said simply. I blinked over at him, confused why he’d even offer. It wasn’t his baby, and I wasn’t his charge.
He sighed. “You’re going to have to work on letting people in, sweetheart. We’re not the enemy, and even if you don’t think this arrangement is forever, we’re still here for you now.”
His words hit me hard. I’d always relied on myself. Hell, Liam was my favorite person, and I barely relied on him for anything other than companionship in our family’s cold house.
“Please?” I asked. I’d barely been able to force the word out, and he gave me a sad smile.
“Don’t worry. Shit like this takes time. I’d love to. Just let me grab my keys,” he said, returning a few minutes later with a black leather jacket and his keys.
With him by my side, I finally hit the elevator button. It dinged almost immediately, and he stepped in, raising an eyebrow when I hesitated one last time.
“If you weren’t pregnant, I’d say we better stop for a drink,” he teased.
“You know, I was warned you barely spoke. I’m not seeing it,” I shot back playfully. He grinned and shrugged.
“I just don’t have much to say. Plus, you’re far more interesting, and you need reassurance more than they do. Some of our pack does enough talking for all of us,” he explained.
“Miles,” I said confidently, causing both of us to laugh. It felt nice, and just like that I was able to function again. I wouldn’t dwell on the fact that I’d needed someone else to get there. The important part was that I ended up here in the end.
“So where are we going? And are we insanely early or running behind?” he questioned, which was a more relevant question than he could’ve known. Liam was always behind, so I knew if we had to go somewhere, I had to rush him. I was the opposite—always early for any appointment.
“It’s at three-thirty,” I admitted. He shook his head, but there was no judgment there. I liked that Wells seemed unshakable and unfazed.
“With that much time, we need to stop for a snack or something first. Did they warn you not to eat or anything?” he asked.
“Uh,” I said unhelpfully, pulling out my phone to double check their email. “Nope, no restrictions.”
“Alright, then I’ve got the perfect place,” he said as the elevator descended to the parking garage.
“Which one’s yours?” I asked, warily eyeing the motorcycle. He reached up with his keys and hit a button, making a sleek red SUV chirp back at us. “I should have known it would be a tank.”
“I’m a big guy,” he defended. Of course, he was also a gentleman, rounding the car and opening the passenger door for me before helping me climb inside. Maybe some women would balk at the old school display of chivalry, but I had never felt safe and cared for, and it was easy to tell it was just second nature for them. They were the true meaning of alpha. These gestures weren’t a show of power or strength, but an innate ability to protect.
He turned on a classic rock station and hummed along as he navigated out of the lot and into the midday traffic. When I’d been brought to their home, it was nighttime. This was a vast contrast, with the bright sun beating down on Grove City, cars flying by, and the sounds of the city drifting into the car despite his music.
Grove City was much nicer than home, or rather this part of town was. The sidewalks were clean, the buildings well maintained, and there were no sketchy alphas waiting for an opportunity to jump the next cute omega who happened by.
My nervous side had me glancing at the clock, wondering if we would make it to the doctor’s appointment on time, but I was going to trust Wells to know best. He was the one with experience in traffic around here.
“Alright, here we are,” he said as he turned onto another street and parallel parked like it was no big deal.
“I’m having you drive me everywhere. That was impressive,” I said. It might have seemed like I was joking, but in reality, he would be the first person I asked.
“You get used to city driving when you grow up with it,” he said as he shut off the engine. “Stay there. I’ll come around.” He climbed out and jogged around, opening the door and helping me out just as he’d gently helped me in. “My lady?”
“Thanks, kind sir,” I said as I got out. “Oh my god.”
“What?” he asked, startled at my gasp. But I was already power walking up the sidewalk and pushing open the door to the pizza-by-the-slice shop. They had New-York-style slices, bigger than my face, and the smell of freshly made dough permeated the air.
I grinned up at him when he stopped beside me, looking exasperated by my sudden departure. “You’re my hero!”
“I’m glad, but maybe don’t just rush off on me when you’re under my protection,” he growled.
I winced, though it was due to regret, not intimidation. “Sorry, I didn’t think about it. The pizza called me.” He gave me a pointed look but dutifully stepped up to the counter.
“What’ll it be, Briar?” he asked. I stared at the pizza behind the display for a few moments.
“Pepperoni, please,” I told the teen behind the counter.
“Make that two, and two drinks,” Wells finished for me, fishing out his wallet and sliding a card to the cashier.
“I could have paid as a thank you for bringing me,” I argued weakly, and even that small kernel of indignation was soothed by the wink he gave me.
“I don’t let ladies pay,” he countered. “My dad wouldn’t put up with that for a second. They were that overly attentive, wholesome sort.”
“That’s adorable,” I said. I was genuinely glad that one of us had awesome parents. Maybe if I stayed long enough, I could see him interact with them. The idea of this big, quiet alpha being doted on by adorably present parents was funny to picture.
We quietly ate for a few minutes, but my mind was going a million miles an hour.
“What if I’m pregnant with a boy? Does that still count me as a lady?” I blurted out. His laugh was deep and rich. The gravelly rasp of it rolled over me, sending a surge of heat straight to my core. My omega slick responded, and I took a step away, praying to whatever gods were listening that he didn’t notice me getting turned on by his laughter. Something was seriously wrong with me.
When he had a tray in hand, he led us over to a small table. I sat down, checking my phone again.
“I promise I won’t let you be late. The doctor is within walking distance,” he said gently, and I winced at being caught.
“Sorry, old habits.”
