Page 51 of Met Your Mate

I'm a bastard.

I mean, I'm very aware I'm a douchebag, but I never thought I would stoop to this level. My attention is split between two women. One is my beautiful, angry, little mate, and the other is a woman I've never met but the person I've been searching for all my life.

I know it's her. The unconscious female with blood coating her is Briar. My soul has been screaming her name since I learned of her at the age of four, hell even before I knew of her, and it certainly hasn't stopped now that she's cradled in another alpha's arms as we soar through the sky.

This is my worst nightmare; being torn between the two most important women in my life while stuck in a flying military grade tin can.

My sole focus should be on Kate, who currently has her nose dug deep into my neck. Between Nick and I, Remy having been left behind when his presence freaked our omega out, we've calmed her down enough to rest fitfully.

She was so angry when we separated her from her new friend to drive to a spot the helicopter could retrieve us, so her soft snores help me relax a little.

My thoughts have been all over the place since the nine of us, my pack and Briar's, or Freya as they've been calling her, jumped into the ginormous flying machine.

I should be soothing Kate through our bond, but I can't stop thinking about how little I know about the girl in my arms and the one across from me. I don't know these omegas, not even the one I've been bonded to for years.

I only know how Kate feels and responds to stressors, much to my horror. Her favorite ice cream, what she sounds like when she's eating dinner I cooked up for her, the clothes she would wear if given the choice? All the small things that make my mate who she is, I have no clue about.

Not only do I have no idea where we go from here, but how do I tell my mate that I refuse to be separated from the other omega they locked her away with?

Omegas are notoriously territorial over their mates, and I only imagine that instinct is heightened when you’re fated to one another.

I should have paid more attention in high school. Maybe then I'd have a better idea of how Kate will react to my need for Briar—Freya—even if it is nothing like what my omega and I share.

Christ, how do I do this?

"Is she alright?" Nick rumbles through the headsets connecting all the guys and me.

The omegas just have noise canceling headphones on to keep them comfortable, plus we have no fucking clue why Br—Freya's ear is bleeding. My pack mate's question makes my stomach twist uncomfortably, but I appreciate he's asking about how Freya's doing.

Ronan barely reacts to the first use of the headsets, and the other alphas are much the same, never taking their eyes off the rise and fall of their mate's chest.

Casey looks up though, but his attention swiftly shifts to scrutiny when he looks at me. Honestly, I don't blame the beta for being wary of me now. If another male was acting as shifty around Kate as I have been his omega, I would be on edge.

"I don't know... She seems stable enough," Casey murmurs, eyes flicking back to Nick.

The pain in his voice and eyes makes me uncomfortable. My instincts are flickering in and out at strong intervals. I've never felt so much from my alpha side. Truthfully, I've always been a bit broken, never feeling like my alpha half and I are one.

I have theories as to why it feels like my very foundation is split in half, and I think I'm finally getting the answers.

The longer I'm near Briar/Freya. Fuck what do I call her? I should probably get used to calling her by the name she's lived with, I guess. The longer I'm near Freya, the more I get the odd sensation of merging with my alpha side. Like being near her is piecing me back together.

"We're here!" the pilot says over the roaring of the helicopter.

I'm so focused on keeping Kate steady on my lap and making sure Freya's mates don't drop her, that I hardly notice the landing. Atop a hospital landing pad is not where I want to be. Not much is worse than fucking flying, but running across a tall building through wild winds is a close second.

"Goddamnit!" I grunt, bolting through the doors being held open by real doctors.

"Don't like heights?" Kate teases quietly, scaring the daylights out of me. She huffs a small laugh and says, "Sorry."

Blowing out a breath, I reply, "People weren't given wings for a reason. We aren't meant to be so far off the ground," I grumble while taking in the bustling hallway.

Nick raises a brow at me, and Kate snorts. A pretty pink blush follows her silly noise, helping me forgive the little minx for making fun of me. Then I see Freya being rushed to the elevators with her pack and a couple of frantic people in scrubs.

"What's going on?!" I ask, my voice wobbling as I jog to catch up with them, only for the door to close on me.

"Beck, set me down, please?" Kate asks softly.

Gripping her tighter to my chest, I jab my finger into the buttons to call the elevator back. "Where are they taking her?!"

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