Page 157 of Altius
“Ten minutes or so. Why?”
Alijah swallowed, then said in a rush, “Cal booked us a flight, and it leaves in two hours. Said something about an omega code that allows for solo travel when threatened. Please don’t fight me on this. I think it’s the right thing to do, and—”
“Okay,” I said, slinging my bag over my uninjured shoulder and unlocking the door. “Let’s grab your things and get out of here.”
Alijah gave a startled jump and hurried after me. “But—but aren’t you going to… The boundary-stepping and toe-squashing. Thought that was bad?”
“For matters of opinion, not necessity. I was already planning to leave tonight.”
Holding up my phone, I showed him an incomplete flight booking.
“I was just waiting to see if you wanted to go with me. That code allows for a companion of my choosing.” Brushing my pinky against the side of his tense hand, I whispered, “And you’re the best choice.”
“Yeah, right,” he said with an endearing snort, walking toward a desk near the doorway, where his camera lay on top of its carrying case. He picked it up and scrolled through recently captured images on the LCD screen—pictures of my red wrist and scratched arm. “It’s because I’m the only choice right now.”
“Perhaps,” I said, admiring his lean figure from behind. “But it’s a fact that you give the best cuddles.”
He turned around and unleashed a fearsome pout. “No fair! That was supposed to be my reward.”
“I don’t follow.”
“Cal booked us in first class.”
“As to be expected.”
“And I’ve never flown first class before,” he said, flipping through a few more photos. “So, I figured that since we’d be alone, we could spend the flight cuddling in exchange for this.”
Alijah pressed the play button on his camera and handed it to me.
Four full minutes of damnation unfurled. Watching the escalation of Garvey’s anger and physical aggression was worse than living through it. Only a few words made it through, all obscenities on Garvey’s part.
Reyhan’s terror bled through the screen.
I recoiled at my reckless behavior. It had seemed like the only choice at the time, but watching it from an outside perspective…
Why had I continued to put myself in harm’s way, despite knowing Garvey could throw me around like a ragdoll?
And then he did.
I chose to ignore how close my head had come to slamming into the corner of the cabinet.
And worst of all, the image of Amir struggling on the table behind me, making a few futile grabs before latching onto my arm and pulling me out of the way at the last second.
Trying his hardest to protect a fellow omega, just as I had done my best to help him.
It all looked so much more violent than I remembered, especially when I sprayed Garvey in the eyes.
And yet, it wasn’t enough.
“Should have kicked him when I had the chance,” I grumbled, returning the camera. “I’m sorry for putting you through that.”
“It was hell,” Alijah admitted quietly, disassembling his camera and tucking its components into the carrying case. “But getting evidence is the best way for me to protect you. I can’t take down an alpha. Had to keep reminding myself that you’re stronger than I am, more than capable of holding your own. And he’d be breaking the law if he got angry enough to touch you…”
Alijah heaved a deep sigh and zipped the bag shut.
“Don’t even want to know what Joaquin felt through the bond. I’ve never felt so angry. Or helpless. Watching him grab you, Morgan, I…”
He swallowed hard, moisture gathering in his eyes.
