Page 38 of Chosen Beta

“Relax, it’s Ezra. Shadow’s with me.”

“What did you just say?”

I wince at the sudden increase in volume.

Shadow sighs.

He might not be able to feel Owen’s emotions across the distance, but he can sure as hell hear the anger in his voice as it rises.

“I said Shadow’s here, with me, in Cressidan City. Pete too. They came together for a visit.”

“That sneaky little …” he mutters, trailing off instead of cursing like he usually would.

I’m guessing the relief of knowing our Omega is safe is starting to sink in.

“I’m going to be out here for a while, Owen. It would be nice if you could join us for a few days.”

The line goes quiet, and after a few seconds of silence I start to think we’ve gotten disconnected. Then, he clears his throat.

“I’m busy. It might not be life or death like your work, but we’ve got bills to pay, and I’ve got work to do to cover them.”

Money isn’t an issue. It never has been.

Owen only ever brings it up if he wants to remind me that strictly speaking none of us have to work. He’s telling me I don’t need to be out here, choosing to help others instead of spending time with my mates. He knows it’s not as simple as that, but he’ll realize that soon enough.

I let out a sigh. “I get it, I do. I know I’ve been selfish. If I’d come home more often or been away less of the time, Shadow wouldn’t have felt like he had to sneak out to get to see me.”

“I’m glad you realize that. He’s missed you like fucking crazy. We all have.”

“I’ve missed all of you, too. We’re a pack, and we’re apart more often than we’re together. It’s not healthy for any of us.”

“You said it. Does that mean you’ll come home?”

Shadow raises an eyebrow at me.

“I’m temporary here,” I remind him.

It’s only a lie of omission, but I’d be jumping the gun to tell him I want to keep this job when he hasn’t laid eyes on Lana yet.

“Right,” he mutters. “And when does that contract of yours end, exactly?”

“It ends when my patients can be released to their homes.”

“Yeah, that’s not an answer, Ezra. Call me when you know when you can be released to come home.”

“This isn’t a usual situation. You know that.”

“Nothing’s ever usual with you.”

Shadow sighs, his shoulders slumping as he moves away from me.

He heads over to the L-shaped white leather sofa to sit down while I try to think of a reason that’s good enough to get Owen to agree to come out to the city.

It doesn’t feel like there is one.

I don’t think he’ll even care if I tell him we have another mate.

Especially considering where I found her.

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