CHAPTER 60: YOU’LL SEE

Ricky stopped in the middle of the library and glanced around. "Where do I put this?"

Rhea pointed toward the far corner. "Just by the... " Her words faltered as her gaze fixed on the spot. Her hand froze midair. There, at the base of a toppled ladder, books lay scattered across the floor. Blood shimmered darkly across the carpet. And in the middle of it, she saw herself lying motionless, her brothers huddled around her, shouting her name through tears.

Her breath caught. "...What the..." The words barely left her lips.

Ricky frowned, following her gaze. The corner was empty. "Rhea?" He stepped closer, confused. "What’s wrong?"

She didn’t answer. Her eyes stayed locked on the phantom scene before her, tears welling as she saw Jake trying to shake her limp body, Eddie shouting for help, and Ricky, Ricky was sobbing into her shoulder. Her chest ached at the scene before her.

"Rhea!" Ricky’s voice was closer now. He grabbed her shoulders, shaking her gently, but she didn’t blink. Her tears slipped free, sliding down her cheeks.

"Rhea, talk to me!" He shook her harder. Her head turned toward him, but his face began to blur. His voice grew distant, echoing from somewhere far away.

"Rhea, wake up!"

Her eyes snapped open.

The familiar ceiling of the pack house came into focus. She blinked rapidly, her breathing uneven. Tavian was by her bedside, worry etched across his face, while Jason hovered nearby.

"Are you alright?" Tavian asked, relief and concern mixing in his tone. "We’ve been trying to wake you for a while now."

Rhea sat up slowly, her pulse still racing. So it was a dream, she thought bitterly. All of it.

Tavian frowned when he noticed the tears streaking her cheeks. "Were you having a bad dream?"

Rhea let out a shaky sigh. "Yeah... something like that." Her voice cracked as she added under her breath, "I miss them."

"Miss who?" Tavian asked gently, shifting aside to give her space to move.

"Nothing..." Rhea started, then froze as reality caught up with her. Her eyes darted toward the door. "Wait...how did you two get in here?"

Her heart, still racing as she looked from Tavian to Jason.

Jason scratched the back of his neck nervously. "We... uh, we knocked a bunch of times, but you didn’t answer," he said. "So we got worried and called Beta Ellie. He gave us the spare key."

Rhea blinked, trying to process that. "What’s wrong with you people and walking in on someone while they are sleeping? What if I was naked?"

Jason and Tavian froze, their eyes widening in panic.

"We...we didn’t want to!" Tavian blurted out. "You weren’t responding, and we thought something might’ve happened."

Jason nodded quickly, his voice tripping over itself. "Exactly! We just wanted to make sure you were okay, that’s all. Please don’t be mad."

Rhea pressed her lips together, guilt and relief tangling in her chest. The dream’s weight still clung to her like fog. "It’s fine," she said softly, though even she didn’t sound convinced. "Thanks for waking me, by the way."

She climbed out of bed, stretching her arms with a wide yawn.

"No problem," Tavian said, trying to sound casual.

Jason glanced at him, then stepped forward carefully. "You were crying in your sleep," he said quietly. "Were you hurt... or having a nightmare?"

Rhea sighed, rubbing her face to wipe away the traces of tears. "It’s nothing. Just... bad dreams. Yeah."

Calling that a bad dream feels wrong, she thought bitterly. They are... my family.

"Don’t tell me you dreamt about Nikki," Jason said.

Rhea gave a small, humorless laugh. "Dreaming about her would be a nightmare, not just a bad dream."

The two omegas chuckled, but Tavian’s laugh faded quickly. His shoulders slumped, and a shadow crossed his face. "I guess you could say that," he muttered.

Rhea frowned. "Tavian, are you okay?"

He startled, forcing a nod. "Yeah. I’m fine. Really."

Rhea eyed him skeptically but let it slide, for now.

Jason cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "We, um... actually came to get you for breakfast."

Rhea blinked. "You guys eat breakfast together too? I thought it was only dinner."

"Yeah," Tavian said with a nod. "The only meal we don’t eat as a pack is lunch. Some people are working, others train or handle errands outside the compound, so they just eat whenever they can."

"Interesting," Rhea muttered, running a hand through her hair.

Jason smiled lightly. "You should freshen up. We don’t want to keep the others waiting."

"Right," Rhea said, heading toward the bathroom. "Just give me a few minutes."

The dining hall buzzed with morning activity. Pack members drifted in through the open doors in small groups, their laughter and chatter blending into a steady hum. Kitchen omegas moved quickly between tables, setting down trays stacked with grilled meat, eggs, and sausages.

Three long rows of tables stretched across the room, organized by rank. The omegas occupied the lower rows near the entrance, quiet, orderly, and careful not to raise their voices. The middle rows were occupied by the sub-betas, their movements measured, their conversations precise and courteous. Further up sat the sub-alphas, their laughter louder, their posture straighter, their confidence palpable.

Towering above the rest, on a raised dais at the head of the hall, stood a smaller table reserved for the highest ranks. Ares sat at its center, posture composed but tense. Ellie occupied his right, leaning back with practiced ease, while Eberhard sat to his left, upright and alert. Beside him, Nikki fiddled with the silverware, pretending interest in the setup while carefully avoiding Ellie’s gaze.

Three chairs sat empty near the end of their table, an odd sight that hadn’t gone unnoticed.

Eberhard’s brow furrowed. "Alpha," he began, his tone measured, "why are there three empty seats here? This table has always been reserved for us."

Ares, pulled from his thoughts, blinked and followed his gaze. Only then did he notice the chairs. His eyes flicked to Ellie. "Why are there three extra seats?"

Ellie shrugged, a hint of mischief playing on his lips. "Because three important people will be joining us."

Eberhard’s frown deepened. "What is that supposed to mean?" Even Ares glanced at his Beta with mild confusion, waiting for an explanation that didn’t come.

Ellie ignored him, eyes scanning the room lazily.

"I’m asking you a question," Eberhard pressed, his voice rising slightly. "Who are these people you think can sit at this table? Have you forgotten that not just anyone can dine here?"

Ellie’s tone sharpened. "And yet here you are, sitting with us."

Eberhard’s chair scraped against the floor as he straightened. "What did you just say?"

"Eberhard," Ares interjected sharply. "Enough. Show some respect."

The older man froze, his jaw clenching. "My apologies, Alpha," he muttered through gritted teeth, adjusting his seat while glaring daggers at Ellie.

Ares sighed and turned to his Beta. "Now, would you care to explain who’s joining us? You know I don’t like surpri..."

"Oh, don’t worry," Ellie interrupted smoothly, a smirk curling his lips. "You’ll like this surprise."

"You’re interrupting the Alpha," Eberhard snapped, irritation lacing his tone.

"I know," Ellie replied easily, meeting his glare without flinching. "And he doesn’t seem to mind. So why do you?" He leaned forward slightly, his voice lowering just enough to cut. "Nothing you say will change the bond between Ares and me. You can stop trying to stir trouble."

Before Eberhard could retort, Ellie’s expression shifted. His gaze darted toward the entrance, and the faintest grin tugged at his lips.

"They’re here," he said, his tone carrying a mix of amusement and satisfaction that made Ares turn toward the entrance.

*******

The hallway was devoid of movement except for Jason, who walked briskly ahead, his stride clipped and impatient. Tavian kept pace right beside him. Behind them, Rhea followed at an easy pace, completely unbothered.

Her freshly washed hair gleamed, loosely tied back with a few strands framing her face. She looked effortlessly radiant, bum shorts hugging her hips, a sleeveless turtleneck tucked neatly in, and ankle boots that clicked softly against the marble.

"Can you two take it easy?" she called out, adjusting the strap of her top. "The important thing is we make it to the dining hall on time, right?"

Jason and Tavian both turned at once, sharing the same weary look before sighing in unison.

"It’s not just about being on time," Jason said, his tone heavy with patience running thin. "Omegas are supposed to be seated before everyone else. Because we waited for you, we’re already late."

Rhea arched a brow. "Who even set up that ridiculous system? Was it that big-headed Alpha?"

"Shh!" Jason hissed, glancing around, shoulders stiff. The hallway was empty, most pack members already at breakfast, but the way he lowered his voice made her smirk. "Don’t say that out loud. If anyone hears you talk about the Alpha like that, you’ll get us all in trouble."