I AM READY.

Pearl's POV.

I twisted in Grim's arms, my heart slamming against my ribs as my gaze narrowed in on the figures stepping out of the shadows. 

"Well, well, well, look at whom we have here." Magnus snickered as he stepped into view, flanked by Griffin, Jaxon, and Nathaniel.

Multiple emotions flooded me as I didn't even know how to react. I just stared, trying not to tremble under their deep gazes.

"Quit being sarcastic, Magnus." Grim said coldly, shifting his stance to place himself protectively between me and the others.

"So Gittens was right. She will come." Jaxon said out of the blue.

My body stiffened.

Gittens told them I would come?

"Don't sound so surprised. He was always good at predicting her." Nathaniel nudged his brother, a smile dancing on his lips as he turned to stare at me deeply.

All of them were. Goosebumps covered my entire body as I took my eyes to the ground, unable to look them in the face. 

My coming was meant to catch them off-guard, but it seemed I had a whistleblower, but how did he know? Was he stalking me or something?

What was I missing?

"What are you doing here, Pearl?" Griffin asked, his stern tone sending shivers down my spine.

I lifted my trembling hand to my hair, scratching it as I searched for words to say. Suddenly, everything I'd rehearsed in my head vanished.

What the hell was I thinking?

I'd marched in here with confidence, thinking I could persuade them. But now…

"If Gittens told you all I would be coming, then he must have also told you the reason." I struggled to say, my voice hoarse.

I tried not to breathe too heavily.

"Not really. He just mentioned us playing together again." Nathaniel countered, and I drifted into thoughts.

Judging by this answer, Gittens does know my reason but why not share it with them explicitly?

"I would like to know what is going on, it's why I came back quickly from Greece despite having businesses to attend to," Grim said and I looked him in the eyes.

He grinned at me and my heart fluttered, my cheeks heating as I immediately looked away from him to the rest, who seemed to be glaring, or was I overthinking?

Magnus, with his long red hair and ever-icy demeanour, leaned against the wall, biting his bottom lip. 

Griffin stood stiffly with his hands in his pockets, blinking those infuriatingly long lashes I used to envy.

Nathaniel ran a hand through his white braided hair, lips twitching in a half-smirk.

And Jaxon with features sharp enough to cut glass, folded his arms across his chest, unimpressed.

These four weren't just my former teammates. They were my stepbrothers.

And still, Grim was the one I'd always felt safest with. Especially after the Lilith incident.

I wonder if she still hangs around them. 

No.

I don't want to know.

"I need your help." I began and Griffin laughed like I had just cracked a joke, his blue eyes burning with fury.

"After running away for more than two years? Cutting all forms of contact with us?" He snarled and I gulped, feeling saliva gathering in my mouth.

"Can you blame me?" I questioned, raising my head a bit, having no idea where this courage was coming from. I mean shouldn't I be trembling in fear?

Griffin narrowed his eyes at me, looking taken aback while Grim seemed to be holding back a chuckle.

"So now, you have grown balls? Took you so long after Lilith whooped your ass." Griffin mocked and I dug my nails into my palm, trying to stop the anger from rising in me.

How dare he?

"Enough Griffin. Let's hear her out." Magnus, the eldest of the quadruplet, cautioned, and Griffin shrugged.

There was silence for a while, nobody saying anything as they all waited for me to say something.

"My basketball team is falling behind, and I need you all to get on it; otherwise, I will get fired." I finally said and Jaxon hummed, placing a hand under his chin.

He was more of a reaction guy, barely speaking unless necessary.

"What makes you think we will all agree to help?" Nathaniel questioned and I let out a sigh. I never thought they would agree, but for them to ask such a question meant they might consider it right?

"We are family?" I tried using that card and Magnus laughed.

"Yeah right. Families disappear on one another." He snickered and Grim walked forward to place a hand on his shoulder.

"You all can't exactly judge her for that, can you?" He covered up for me, and I couldn't be more grateful, but at the same time, wary.

I knew Grim and what he was capable of. He doesn't help except he was sure of something in return.

"Apart from that, Grim. She is an omega, we are Alphas, we can't be under her except w...." Jaxon tried saying when;

"I am ready for that part as well." I cut in, my palms growing sweaty as I watched all of their jaws drop.

Even Griffin who was backing us earlier, immediately turned around, his eyes widening in disbelief as they softened.

"You are joking right?" He chuckled, trying to ease the tension when I took in a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart as I removed my jacket slowly and threw it to the ground.

My hands shook as I moved my hand to the back of my dress and unzipped it, about to drop it as well when Grim dashed forward.

"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Let's all talk this out." He tried zipping up my dress back when I stopped him, blinking at him repeatedly.

"I am ready." I insisted, not because I wanted to but because I didn't have a choice. Not if I wanted to win.