Page 18 of Unruly Omega

Chapter Seventeen

Locke

“What did you do?” I barged into Markus’ office, not pleased at all. Sure, he was one of our best men, and his counseling sessions saved lives, but I’d end him if he’d hurt my mate. Period.

“He consented to blocker. It was a huge dose. I made sure he knew the dangers.”

“Why would he do that?” I asked, darting to Kellan’s bedside.

“Because he wants to be whole again. Just like all of you.”

“That scream. It sounded like you were killing him.”

Markus nodded. I knew he took no pleasure in the pain of others. In fact, sometimes, he seemed to absorb it into himself. He felt things others did and sometimes he would take a day or two to himself to process things. I was sure that with the people that came to the sanctuary, there were things Markus heard about that he wished he never had.

“It’s a tough treatment, Locke. I swear to you that I got consent. You know that I would never do something to inflict pain on another person unless it was for their ultimate good.”

I took a step back as my mate jerked a few times on the table. He inhaled a great breath and then all the twitching movements stopped in an instant. “Is it done?”

Markus went over and checked Kellan’s heartbeat. Most newly mated couples wouldn’t dare let another person touch their mate, but Markus meant no harm. He had a mate of his own out there somewhere. “He’s calming. I think he should…”

Before he could finish his sentence, Kellan sucked in a breath and opened his eyes. “Did it work?” he asked, patting his chest. Like he could feel the difference already. I hoped to thegoddess he could, not because of me but because his life would be difficult with two bears fighting for control over him all the time.

“There’s only one way to tell.”

We knew what that meant. He had to shift for us to know if the more fearsome bear was still alive and kicking.

“Alpha,” Kellan addressed me as his mate, not the leader of this community.

“Are you up for it? Maybe you need to rest.”

Kellan sat up and I rushed to help him. “I don’t want to rest. I want to know that the other bear isn’t going to hurt you or me or anyone else here. I have to know what my future holds. Please, Locke.”

No way I could say no to my omega’s pleadings. Ever.

“Let’s go, then. We’ll go far away from everyone else.”

“Do you need backup?” Markus asked but put his hand on Kellan’s shoulder. “No offense.”

He shook his head. “None taken. I think you need it. In case I need to be put down. I’d never forgive myself if I attacked you or anyone else.”

“Only you, Markus.”

We walked out to the farthest place from the main house and took off our clothes. Markus stood a good distance away with the dart gun at the ready.

All the way here, I begged the goddess to take his bear from him. Let him live the rest of his life through as little post-traumatic stress as possible.

“All right. I’m going to shift first and try to command your natural bear to come out. Are you sure this is what you want to do?”

Kellan nodded. “I’m sure.”

I didn’t ask again. I let my bear out and in seconds, I was shifted before him.

Now for the hard part.

Omega mine. Shift. Show me your bear. Show me the bear that was meant to be mine.

Kellan trembled with the oncoming shift. He cried out in pain as he began his transition, and I held my breath, wondering which bear would come out.

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