Page 123 of Bonding with the Beta

Jaxon smiles in return. “I know what it’s like to feel like no one wants to help. I don’t want you guys going through that as well. It’s good to have you in the district. If there is anything else we can do, let us know.”

“Oh, you’ve done more than enough for us.” Priscilla, his wife, places a hand over her chest. “We’ve needed a new start for a while, and you are our saviours.”

Cole nods. “We must return the favour.”

Jaxon dismisses his idea. “All I ask is that we can join forces as an alliance and know that we have each other's back in this district. We’re strong, but with you, we could be even stronger.”

“Agreed.” Cole claps a hand on Jaxon’s back.

My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I step away to find Kayleigh’s name on the screen. It’s late, but I know she’s been out celebrating with Evie. My thumbs fly across the screen as I reply, and her responses come right back.

“Get off your phone.” Jaxon’s jaw tenses as he steps to my side. “We’re here to help, not to seem uninterested.”

I glance at him “Give me a second. I’m texting Kayleigh.”

Jaxon hums and returns to Cole and Priscilla.

Kayleigh:

I can’t wait to see you.

Kayden:

I can’t wait to see you either

Three dots appear after my text for a few moments. I wait for her to finish typing, but she doesn’t. I frown but shove my phone back into my pocket and start helping the volunteers separate the boxes into the correct piles.

An elderly woman tells me where to place the items, but instead of listening, my mind is completely distracted. Bright lights and high-pitched noises start blasting inside my head. For a moment, I’m blind and subject to the sound of the sirens erupting in my brain. My ears feel like they’re about to bleed.

I groan and step back.

Something is wrong.

Something is severely wrong.

And all I can think about is Kayleigh.

Fire burns its way through my blood, devouring my body in what I thought at first was pain, but it’s actually deep distress and fear. I scratch the back of my head when small glimpsesof Kayleigh’s voice float through my mind like I can hear her thoughts, but she’s not thinking them—she’s saying them.

“Something’s wrong,” I say as I make a beeline to Jaxon.

He smiles politely at Cole and draws me to one side for some privacy. “Have you lost your mind? We are here to help; not for anything els?—”

“Kayleigh,” I blurt when the loudness inside my head becomes almost unbearable. “Something is wrong with Kayleigh. I-I need to go.”

“What?”

I step back. “Please just trust me. I need to go. I’m sorry.”

Without looking back, I rush towards my car and slip into the driver’s side, digging for my keys and slamming them into the ignition. I’m not far from her university, and the second I press my foot down on the acceleration, I don’t think. I don’t have time to think at all.

Kayleigh is my only priority right now.

You best tell me everything's okay when you get to her,Jaxon’s voice booms through my head. He’s not pleased, but I am not ignoring these signs.

I will. I’m sorry.

The second I get onto the main road, I race down the country lanes. The hairs on my arms begin to stand as I fidget in my seat, becoming more and more uncomfortable with every second that ticks by.

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