Chapter 7 – Meet the Reigns'
A few days later, the two couples remained residents in the Reigns' house. Finn returned to his apartment and Seth to his hotel room.
Alyssa's things were moved into the spare room upstairs but she slept in Roman's bed; the big man remained a fixture in the chair beside it, watching over her.
"This isn't where I fell asleep." She told him the first morning upon waking; covering her yawn behind her hand.
"I waited until you were asleep before I brought you in here." He mumbled with a guilty expression on his face. "I can't sleep even with just a wall between us." He shifted forward in the chair, reaching a hand out to run over her hair on the pillow.
"You aren't sleeping now, Roman." She turned concerned eyes up to meet his tired ones.
"I can at least sit and relax if you are here, Ally. I'm anxious and pace this room until I can be beside you again. Please just give me this and let it go, baby girl." He gave her a pleading, tired look and she silently nodded her head.
That night she changed into one of his shirts and went straight to his room.
"I don't want you anxiously pacing your room until I fall asleep." She shrugged, crawling under the covers.
The smile on his face lit up the room before he moved to take his seat in the chair.
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Dean had taken Cordelia to collect a few things from her house and she took the room Ally formerly used next to his downstairs. He could tell she was nervous about moving in but not irrationally so, and he did everything he could to calm her nerves.
The young doctor made a point of telling her old friend that her mate appeared to be courting her; taking her out on dates so they could get to know each other. They managed a few outings while remaining close to the house in case Roman got out of hand. Cordy found it quite endearing that he watched over Ally like that.
Dean was indeed the amazing man that Ally told her he was. He hadn't even attempted to claim her yet.
Roman was on a mission to prove himself worthy of his mate and had not upset her once – not even when he refused to allow her to return to the Performance Center yet.
Alyssa surprised everyone by not arguing with him.
There was a happy balance between the Alphas and Omegas within the Reigns' household. Roman was trying to tone down his Alpha with Dean's assistance, and Ally was trying to calm her human with Cordy's help.
It was like a slap in the face when Cordy told her friend that it was her human side that had a problem with taking an Alpha, not her Omega. Ally felt like a hypocrite when she realized that her friend was right. Her Omega did indeed live by the code of their ancestors; intent on being equals with her Alpha mate but the instant she met Roman, she wanted her true mate to claim her. Ally's human side forced her wolf to obey her will and attack and deny him.
From the moment she sensed him, she condemned him for letting his human side turn his Alpha into an overbearing brute that thought of nothing but getting his knot in her and making her submit to him. She looked down on him for straying too far into humanity when in fact, she did the same thing.
It was a hard reality to face.
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"What's with you carrying me around all the time? Have you gone caveman on me?" Ally asked with a sly smile; holding on to Roman's neck while he carted her down the stairs. "And I won't even go into the whole watching me sleep thing."
"I like carrying you." He carefully descended the stairs, keeping her protectively against his chest. "And I like watching you sleep."
"That is kind of creepy." She chuckled before getting serious. "Roman, I healed days ago. I'm perfectly fine." She stared into his eyes; voice solemn when she sensed his underlying distress.
"It killed me." He sat down on the recliner in the den; keeping her on his lap with his arms wrapped tightly around her midsection. "Seeing you in pain, hearing your cries; it gutted me. I felt so fucking helpless."
"Roman…"
"No! You're mine!" He snapped at her; surprise registering on her face before he shook his head with a sigh. "You don't understand. I know you're capable of protecting yourself; you stood up to me like an Alpha, but I'm supposed to protect you, take care of you, and you were hurting and I couldn't do anything but sit there and watch. That isn't built into my Alpha or me as a man." He cupped her face between his palms; barely restrained desperation reflecting in his eyes. "I know you don't like to hear it but you're mine just like I'm yours. You were created for me to love."
Alyssa swallowed the lump in her throat; her dark brown eyes darting between his grays.
"I know I was a complete dick when we met and I admit my urge to knot and claim you was my first priority. It is an Alpha's instinct driven urge; to take what was made for us, to ensure no one else takes it away from us. I did some stupid shit that I know scared you and for that I apologize." A small smile tugged at his mouth when she shakily nodded her head, accepting his apology.
"I heard you and Cordy when she explained how she felt when she sensed Dean. I really didn't take into account how overwhelmed Omegas feel when confronted with their true mates. I just know how I felt when I sensed you." He furrowed his brow when a tear slid down her cheek, catching it with his thumb and absorbing it into his skin.
"I want you to know that; while I still feel the urge to make you mine, I also feel like I'm missing a limb when you aren't near me. My heart hurts when you're scared or in pain." His eyes followed the liquid sadness rolling down her face; obsessed with absorbing each drop into his flesh. "My every thought is about you. All my feelings are wrapped up in you. I am incomplete without you. Do you understand now?"
"I think so. You're saying my impressions of Alphas are as warped as your heavy-handed treatment of your Omega when we met." She half-smirked until she saw his gold rings surround his gray irises; instantly knowing it was the result of referring to herself as his Omega.
"I know I'm your Omega, Roman. I know you're my Alpha. You don't have to prove that but I know you will because it's built into you. What I need you to prove is that we're equals. Hush!" She placed two fingers over his parted lips.
"I know I reacted horribly when you announced your claim. I felt I was justified; and still do based on my Omega's beliefs but I disrespected you as an Alpha by striking you. This is hard for me, Roman, so give me a moment to 'use my words' as Cordy puts it." She scowled up at him when he chuckled before returning her gaze to her lap.
"Take your time, mate." He smirked; running his fingers through her hair while she struggled to gather her thoughts.
"I know Alphas are prideful beings and I will do my best to respect you as an Alpha in public if you will afford me the same courtesy. If we have an issue with each other at work or outside of these walls then we discuss it in private. Agreed?" She glanced up at him through her lashes; rolling her eyes when she saw the satisfied smile on his face.
"We are in agreement. I will not – how did Dean put it? Oh right; I won't drag you down the halls by your hair." He clutched a handful of hair in his big hand and laughed when a blush spread over her cheeks. "I noticed you mentioned 'outside' of our home, baby girl, but what about inside?" He cupped her chin, lifting her face to meet his gaze while his thumb continuously grazed small circles over her skin.
"I am trying to learn how to be the Omega you want me to be just like you are trying to be the Alpha I want you to be. Cordy said it is give and take, and it is unfair for me to expect you to change and not change too. I can still be strong without being obnoxiously independent. There are two sides to my Omega; after all." She cleared her throat, feeling awkward when he lifted an amused eyebrow. "I will stand strongly, supportively and sometimes a little loudly at your side in public, and at home, when we're alone, I will…submit to my Alpha – when I'm ready and within reason." She placed a restraining hand on his chest.
"And what are your exceptions, baby girl?" He purred seductively in her ear.
"I only have one, Roman." She spoke in a small voice; tension coursing through her that made him pull back and stare at her in concern. "Promise me you won't claim me until I offer my neck to you."
"I promise, mate." He nodded before resting his forehead against hers.
He sighed happily when she palmed his cheek; nuzzling into her touch. His eyes fell closed in a feeling of contentment until he felt the press of her lips against his. His eyelids dreamily fluttered open, gazing into her browns while he let her lead on placing soft, chaste kisses along his lips.
"Mate." He breathed out, tasting her lips now. He didn't force it; his tongue just softly lapping at her lips but not entering her mouth. He kept it up until he felt his cock stiffening beneath her and pulled back with a frustrated groan. "I would like us to walk down the beach today and pay a visit to my parents. They are dying to meet you." He cocked his head and smiled when her dreamy eyes cleared and focused on him. "Yes, I've told them that I found you. By now, my whole family knows."
"You're in for a treat now, darlin. An afternoon with the Reigns' clan is an unforgettable experience." Dean ruffled her hair on the way to the kitchen from his bedroom.
"Not so fast, Ambrose." Roman stopped him dead in his tracks; smirking when his brother glanced back at him with a wary eye. "They want to see you and your mate too."
"Shit."
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The women sealed themselves behind the locked door to Alyssa's bedroom and collaborated over clothing. Cordelia became just as self-conscious about her appearance as Alyssa when she learned that Dean considered Roman's parents and family his own.
"I don't think they're coming out, Rome." Dean rubbed the back of his neck, pacing the hall in front of the girls' private sanctuary.
"Would you stop fidgeting?" He snatched his free hand away from his mouth when his brother began to gnaw on his thumbnail. "Of course they're coming out – someday when they run out of food." He sighed, staring at his watch before his eyes darted up when the door swung open.
"Quit being so fucking dramatic." Alyssa chuckled; stepping out with Cordy's hand gripped tightly within hers. "Do we look alright to meet the family?"
Roman smiled; taking her free hand when he felt her tension. "I don't know why you're nervous. Our families have known each other for years, and you both look beautiful."
Alyssa was sporting a sleeveless, V-neck, little black dress that stopped mid-thigh. The bodice of the dress was form-fitting and flared out at the waist. Her tanned, toned legs bare and feet in light beige, heeled sandals that matched her clutch. Her wavy brunette hair was loose across her shoulders and down her back, and she applied just a touch of makeup to accent the emerald rings around her brown irises.
Cordelia wore a bright floral print sundress with short-sleeves that went to her knees. The vibrant colors in her dress made her Omega rings stand out against her gray irises. Her chestnut hair was secured by an ornate barrette in a low ponytail. Elegant flat sandals adorned her bare feet.
"Believe it or not – a majority of our prep time went into doing each others' nails." Cordy wiggled her toes while Ally studied her fingers. "Sorry it took so long. It wasn't our intention to keep your parents waiting." She shifted her apologetic eyes between the Alphas before sighing when Dean cupped her chin.
"Well you both look gorgeous, darlin; and one thing you need to know about the family – they don't wait on anyone. You get there on time if you want to eat or you pick up takeout on the way home." Dean chuckled with Roman before pecking Cordy's lips. "Shall we?" He held out his arm, beaming proudly when she nodded and slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow.
"You ready, baby girl?" Roman held out his hand, pulling Ally into his side when she took it.
"I know so many of your family members that I find it strange that I'm actually intimidated right now." Ally said softly to Roman while they followed behind Dean and Cordelia.
"Oh right! Like people aren't struck by paralysis when confronted by your family. My knees still shake when I have to speak to your dad." Roman laughed; keeping his eyes on the ground before him.
"They didn't shake when we met. If I remember correctly, you yelled at my father, my brother and Paul." She glanced up at him with a whimsical smile.
"That day was completely different. They were standing between me and what is mine." Roman huffed; standing a little prouder after his declaration.
"Aw shut up, Captain Caveman, before you piss her off again." Dean turned, walking backwards with a dimpled smirk. "It would be absolutely heartbreaking to see her scruff you again. Oh wait! Nope, it would be hilarious!" He broke out laughing and turned to run when Roman took off after him.
"And there go our Alphas." Ally sighed; patting Cordy's hand when she slipped it into the crook of her arm.
"Yep! Two fine catches." Cordy nodded with a straight face.
"CAPTAIN CAVEMAAAAANNNN!"
The women fell into hysterics when Dean cried out the cartoon character's name just like the show. They caught up to them when the men stopped and Roman pointed to an open area behind the dunes and trees.
"What's going on?" Ally asked when they turned towards them.
"I need to ask you something, mate." Roman took her hand and pulled her towards him, meeting her halfway.
"Go ahead."
"Dean has decided to sell his place in Vegas and move here to accommodate Cordelia's practice." He smiled at the doctor who was beaming up at her soon-to-be mate.
"I think that is very sweet of you, Dean."
"Thank you, darlin." He blushed; glancing down into his Omega's eyes.
"I was thinking we have a lot of property here. In fact, it is empty on both sides of us but this stretch – it is a couple hundred acres between our house and my parents." He fidgeted for a moment before he let out a sigh and worked up his nerve. "I was thinking we could let them build a house at the halfway point and live here." He pointed at the lot behind him.
"Were you worried about asking me this?" Ally furrowed her brows, looking at him with an inquisitive stare.
"A little." He shrugged.
"It is your property, Roman."
"It is our property, Alyssa." He stood at his full height, back straight and head held high while he held both of her hands. "I think it is only right to discuss important issues with my mate."
"Yeah, how does that silly saying go – happy wife, happy life." Dean grinned and shrugged his shoulders when the three of them turned to stare at him.
"I am not his wife and you are a dork." Ally chuckled with a shake of her head before glancing back up at Roman.
"Would you want to be? My wife, that is." He clarified when she gave him a confused look.
"One thing at a time, big man." She patted his chest, giving him a soft smile before looking at the lot and turning to their friends. "Well you two need to get your ideas together and decide on stories, bedrooms, bathrooms and extras. I'll get in touch with my dad's builder to draw up some floor plans based off of your preferences and; after you okay a final draft, they'll break ground the next day."
"So neighbors?" Dean lightly gripped her shoulder and shook Roman's hand.
"No, we're pack." Ally hugged the two of them before stepping back to let her mate do the same.
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"Hey Uce!" Jey pulled his cousin into a hug before doing the same with Dean, and finally turned to the women with a smile. "Ms. McMahon." He nodded his head towards her when Roman pulled her in the house behind him.
"Why don't we agree to call each other Jey and Alyssa right now, Mr. Uso, since we're practically family." She held out her hand with a smile. "Oh!"
"Deal!" He chuckled, pulling the woman into a big hug. "And I can't believe you know which one I am." He lifted and swung her back and forth before replacing her on her feet.
"Give me some credit. I'm not one of our dumbass commentators, for one, and you two really don't look exactly alike. Anyone with eyes can see the differences between you." Ally moved back into Roman's side while she chatted with his cousin.
"She's an awesome lady, Rome. You are an awesome lady." He glanced between his cousin to his Omega and gripped her hand. "And who is this lovely lady?" Jey glanced at Cordy standing behind Ally and gave her a little wave.
"This is Cordelia Starke, Uce." Dean stepped forward, taking Cordy's hand. "She's Ally's best friend and personal doctor, and just happens to be my true mate."
"Uce! You found yours too?" Jey beamed at Dean, pulling him into a hug when the blonde nodded. "I can't believe you and Rome! Finding your mates at the same time! Your parents are gonna flip their shit! Come on in! Everyone is in the yard."
The five of them walked through the house, and out into the backyard through the open French doors. Apparently word of Roman finding his mate had spread through the family because there was a rather large gathering of Samoans waiting on them.
"Roman! My baby boy!" A woman setting down a large bowl of salad on the wooden picnic table turned a loving smile towards them and rushed over with open arms, taking her son into a hug.
"Hi Ma." He bent down, wrapping his large arms around her back.
"It is so good to see you." She cupped his face in her small hands, leaning her forehead against his. "And Dean, my sweetheart!" She turned and hugged her adopted son. "You boys need to come home more. I've missed you so."
"Hey Ma." He said softly; a happy smile on his face. "We've missed you and Pops too."
"And Alyssa McMahon." Patricia Reigns faced the fidgeting woman, cocking her head before a beaming smile crossed her face. "I never had the chance to meet you after your birth since you stayed away from the road and chose to work behind the scenes later, and I admit I am stunned that you ended up being my Roman's chosen one but I couldn't be happier." She stepped forward and pulled the young woman into another fierce hug. "Welcome to the family." She whispered happily into her ear before releasing her.
"Thank you, Ma'am." Alyssa bowed her head to her mate's mother.
"Oh it's Mom now." Dean warned her with a grin before he stepped forward with Cordy's hand in his. "I have good news too, Ma." He let his eyes drift over to his mate before returning to his mom when she squealed, jumping while she clapped her hands.
"Both of my boys found their girls!"
"I got lucky, Mom. He called me to come over to Roman's to take care of my old friend here." Cordy elbowed Ally before holding her hand out to Patricia. "Cordelia Starke; and I am so happy to meet Dean's family." She let out a soft "oof" when Mama Reigns wrapped her in a tight hug. "There are a lot of huggers in this family."
"We are all huggers, my dear. You get used to it." Patricia pulled back with a laugh. "You boys make the rounds and introduce your mates to the family, and get some food before the twins go through it all. Roman, Dean, your father is manning the grill." She shooed them off; practically vibrating with joy.
"Look at you – getting along with the in-laws already." Ally smirked at her friend while they were led towards another group of the family.
"Yes, well I'm not emotionally stunted like you. I'm a people person." Cordy pursed her lips, holding back a smile until her friend put her in a headlock, and they started a play fight.
"Okay, baby girl, play nice." Roman wrapped an arm around her midsection while Dean did the same to Cordy, and pulled them apart. "I'm sociable enough for the two of us just like Cordy is for her and Dean."
"Hey! I'm a fucking people person." Dean argued with a mock-scowl until the other three laughed. "Okay, fine; I can at least handle Twilight when she loses her shit on other people. That should count for something."
"Oh it does, baby. Ally has never been easy to control in the past." Cordy patted his cheek, unaware that the dimpled grin he wore was because of the endearment she used for him.
The two couples made the rounds, meeting new family and making small talk before fixing up their plates and separating to eat, talking amongst themselves in relative quiet.
"What do you think so far?" Roman lifted a brow at his mate while taking a bite of potato salad. He couldn't hide the whimsical smile on his face if he tried. He knew his family could be a little much on new people.
"I've never been touched so much in an hour's time in my life. In fact, I don't think I've been touched that much in my whole life." She giggled; cheeks flushing red when Roman smiled at her.
"Cordy is handling it well."
"Well as a doctor, she is used to human interaction. I know!" She waved him off when he arched a brow at her. "We work for the WWE and are surrounded by crew, co-workers and crowds all the time but NXT is on a smaller scale, and I tried to limit my contact to Paul, Finn, and Bear." She immediately picked up on the change of his mood with the mention of Baron. "Sorry, I didn't mean to…"
"Don't worry about it. Everything is as it should be now."
"So it is. My son has found his true mate and that is something to celebrate indeed."
"Hi Pop." Roman put his plate down and stood, embracing his father.
"So this is little Alyssa McMahon, all grown up." Sika turned his attention on his youngest child's mate. He held out his hand, taking hers, and instead of a greeting, he seemed to be sizing her up, seeing if she merited his approval.
The smile faded from her face and Roman sensed his mate's unease while his father scrutinized her.
Alyssa felt her hackles rise up when the elder Reigns looked her over. She half expected the old man to demand she strip to be inspected like Omegas were in the old days before claimed by one of the upper class Alphas. Her dark brown eyes snapped towards him when he tilted her chin to the side before disregarding her entirely.
"Roman, you haven't claimed your mate yet and you've had her for a few days now. What is the delay?" Sika rounded on his son; a look of disapproval in his eyes.
"Pops, we're doing this at her pace. She's different…"
"There is nothing different about her. She's your true mate; yes, but she's an Omega. You tell her to present her self for mating, knot her, bite her and fill her with your pups." Sika's voice rose; gathering the attention of the family still present while he berated his son. "An Alpha doesn't allow his Omega to dictate how this goes!"
Ally flushed red from embarrassment but felt her teeth clench and her claws began to lengthen. Aside from the verbal attack on her self, she was getting angry that her mate was on the defensive, trying to explain the delicate nature of their relationship and his father was condemning him for it.
"We have trouble, darlin. Come on." Dean felt Ally's stress from across the yard; took Cordy by the hand and the two of them quickly made their way to the couple separated by his father.
"Why is he treating her like a piece of meat?" Cordelia whispered to her mate while they power-walked through the family.
"He's very old-fashioned." Dean sighed with a shake of his head.
"You mean an old knothead." She snapped before her eyes widened upon looking closely at Ally. "Oh shit. We need to hurry."
"Sika…" Patricia came forward with her hands up, pleading with her eyes for him to stop.
"Hush, woman!" He cut her off with an angry glare before shifting his gaze to his son.
Ally fisted her hands; her claws digging into her palms. She could feel her skin vibrate along her skeleton, her bones straining to crack and reform. She shook with the effort to hold it together but each time her mate was berated by his father, she began to lose her grip.
"Dad, I can handle my mate…"
"Apparently you can't since she doesn't bear your mark!" Sika poked a hard finger into Roman's chest before swinging that digit back to point at Alyssa. "Now take your Omega home and claim her like you should have after your marks were registered." The elder Reigns bellowed at his youngest not realizing that his widened eyes were directed behind him, and not on him.
"Ally?" Roman said warily before she virtually exploded into her wolf form; her clothes shredding and flying in all directions when she shook out her fur.
"She shifts?" Sika exclaimed with a look of shock on his face.
Feral brown eyes zeroed in on the man that tried to humiliate her Alpha, and all she saw was red. Lowering her head and pulling her ears back, she pulled her muzzle back to bare her teeth. A rolling growl followed by a snap of powerful jaws forced Sika to back up slowly, away from Roman, until she situated herself between her mate and his father.
"Omega submit!" Sika shouted at the brown wolf but the man couldn't keep the shakiness out of his voice, especially when she was joined by a lighter brown wolf, and they both stomped their paws while vicious growls rose in volume.
"Cordy, darlin?" Dean moved forward and crouched on her right, placing a hand between her ears. "I know you're standing beside your sister – your packmate – but you need to let Twilight deal with Pops, and Rome deal with Twilight." He smiled softly when his mate sat between him and Ally before he glanced up at his surrogate father. "By the way, Pops, I haven't claimed my Omega yet either, and I'll be damned if I let anyone dictate how or when I take my mate."
"Dean…" Sika began but a snarling Ally snapping her jaws sent the old Alpha stumbling back on to the ground.
"Ally!" Roman shouted when his mate coiled to spring forward on to his father. She froze in place; every muscle locking up before Roman knelt in front of her. He gave her a proud yet sad smile and stroked a hand down her head, between her eyes to her nose. "Go home."
Roman shot to his feet when she darted past him, jumping over his father's form, weaving between startled family members and leapt over the fence.
"Go with her, darlin." Dean patted Cordy on her side and grinned with his tongue poking from between his teeth when she sailed over the fence a few seconds behind Alyssa.
"Dad, I will handle my mate as I see fit. I will claim her when she's ready." Roman grumbled out while he picked up Ally's clutch and shoes before standing tall. "What I won't do is allow you to talk to or about my mate like that ever again. And if she decides that she never wants to see you again after your shitty treatment of her, I will never see you again either."
"What he said, Pops." Dean narrowed his eyes on the elder Reigns when he finally made it back to his feet.
"Ma, I'm sorry about ruining the get-together." Roman hugged his mother, rocking her back and forth for a moment. "Ally and I are going to let Dean and Cordy build a house on a lot between us, and you or any of the family are welcome in either of our houses as long as our mates are treated with respect."
"Of course, son." Patricia nodded with a watery smile; palming his and Dean's cheeks when Dean reappeared with Cordy's belongings. "I think both of your girls are lovely, and quite admirable, standing up for you and each other like that." She whispered with a grin. "Do tell the girls I'm sorry for the way they were treated here today, and I'll stop by soon if that is okay?"
"Of course, it is okay, Ma." Dean kissed her cheek, giving her a quick hug. "We need to go, Rome. Twilight needs to be checked on."
"I'll see you soon, Ma." Roman kissed his mother before walking by his father without a backwards glance.
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