Page 214 of Altius
I took two steps backward, praying to whatever mystical force had tied me to this man—to my mate—that the bond would remain.
My unanswered prayer landed like a sucker punch.
Gone. It was gone again.
What the hell was going on?
The room began to spin.
Calm down, I told myself, forcing my feet toward the living room. Get your phone. Waning syndrome might make bonds unstable for a few days. Look it up—right now—before you freak out and make Wyatt injure himself rushing out of the shower.
My bag was on the bistro table by the kitchenette. I dropped into a chair and struggled to unlock my phone with trembling fingers.
Messages from Alijah and Joaquin were interspersed with dozens of updates from Rory, a complete photographic record of Beaufeather’s relocation, and Kelsey’s move to her new apartment.
But I didn’t have time to look at them. I needed answers—and fast.
A few quick searches yielded meager results. Waning syndrome might weaken bonds, but there wasn’t anything definitive enough to satisfy me.
I needed Cal. He would know. But he was in the middle of moving…
Was it worth risking a call to Owen?
Glancing at the clock, I realized we had less time to eat, pack, and get to the airport than I’d realized.
Food and pills first, I decided, reaching for the room service menu.
I’d just finished ordering a mix of savory and spicy food when my phone vibrated.
Audra was calling.
While I was tempted to let her go to voicemail, I knew my elder sister wouldn’t call if it weren’t important.
“Hey, Audra.”
“Oh, I wasn’t expecting you to answer,” she said. “I hope I’m not interrupting your unromantic trip to a dreadful city with a repulsive alpha you’re definitely not dating.”
Dating? I had to laugh.
Wyatt and I were a permanent item now—something my family couldn’t find out about until later. Maybe even much later.
It was too risky.
Landon and Amir already knew that I was with Cal and Wyatt thanks to Rory’s screw up. The entire football team might know about us by now.
But if word got out that I’d bonded a coworker without filing the appropriate paperwork first, we’d both be out of a job.
“I can’t tell if that’s the laugh of a satisfied omega or not,” my sister teased.
“No comment.”
“Fine, keep your secrets. Just wanted to let you know Quinton got confirmation from Brizo House. They received the settlement money.”
“That’s great. Thanks for letting me know.”
Now I could put every unpleasant encounter with Coach Garvey firmly behind me.
Childish laughter and the voices of Audra’s mates were faintly audible in the background. Only then did I realize she was the ideal person to ask about what a new bond felt like, having been through the process three times herself.
