Page 86 of Petals and Strings
It was insane how much our biology worked against us. The pain of breaking bonds and losing them affected us for so long. I never expected a newly forming bond, especially one forming before bites, could help give us the ability to heal.
It wasn’t instant. Most of the things we have issues with, will make us stand out among the crowds outside these walls. We’d have lingering traumas and triggers our entire lives.
But maybe we could be happy despite that.
“Come on, it’s still early,” Audrey said around a yawn, standing up and pulling Kane with her. Caspian and I followed, everyone snuggling into our giant makeshift bed.
As I was nestled in, facing the others, I saw Ledger watching Audrey settle. His piercing, blue eyes found mine and softened.
They told me without words that he heard everything, and he’d be working just as hard to give us that life.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Audrey
Ashrill whistle cut through the early morning silence. We all let out a collective groan after the late night, Ansel snuggling in closer as I pressed my face into Caspian’s back, breathing in his scent and wishing I could stay right here.
The whistle went off again, heavy footfalls stalking closer. “What the hell is this?” It was half alpha bark, though without the command.
Like he wanted us to listen on our own, not force it.
I sat up, eyes locking onto the imposing figure. He glared down at us, ready to open his mouth again but I wasn’t about to let him send Ansel into a panic. I flew out of bed, facing off with the alpha before me.
He was handsome, in a rugged, ‘I could kill you five ways with a spoon’ kind of way.
“Don’t bark at us. In case you missed it, this isn’t fucking boot camp, it’s a broken bond rehabilitation facility. And if you trigger my omega, I’ll make your life hell.”
“Youromega?” he asked, deep voice echoing loudly. He reached over to the wall, flicking on the overhead lights. It was blinding at first but I blinked it away, keeping my gaze on his the best I could. “I think you’re mistaken who is in charge here.”
“Not you,” I said, not backing down. Rydell let out a growl behind me, his animalistic rumble easy to distinguish.
“I’m warning you now, watch how you speak to her,” Rydell said as he moved, putting himself between us. “We’ve been through enough and aren’t about to let anyone put us back in line.”
They had a stare off. The new guy was the first to break. “It seems I’ve got my work cut out for me,” he bit out. “Up. Now.”
“Or what?” Ledger asked. His voice was calm and even, but he looked ready to pass back out. The middle of the night wake-up did nothing to help that.
He ignored Ledger and crossed his arms, leaning against the wall. “I’m Ares. Your therapist and your full-time guard now. A bit of both worlds to keep you from causing more issues.”
“The last therapist tried to assault me to keep me in line. I don’t think it’suscausing the issues,” I growled.
A flicker of fury flashed in his eyes before it was gone in the next blink.
“That’s not a worry here, Audrey.” I hated that he knew my name. On principle, I wanted to hate him right off the bat. I stood my ground, crossing my arms. Mostly to keep him from seeing more than he should. “Someone care to catch me up on everything?”
“You seem to already have all the facts, right?” Kane drawled. He wasn’t usually combative but he seemed to be present now, and ready to defend us.
“We’ll see,” he said.
While the others rose, I took him in, not bothering to hide that I was studying him. He wasn’t dressed like the rest of thestaff. He had on black cargo pants and a hunter green tee. His combat boots were worn in.
Dark red hair hung down his back, the sides shaved down. He had a thick beard but it was trimmed. In truth, nothing about him was out of place.
He screamed military and discipline.
This would definitely be interesting.
None of us spoke until we were all standing side by side, a united front. The doors opened and Nancy walked in with a tray of medicine cups and waters. She didn’t look directly at the alpha but her tension gave her away. She offered small smiles as she moved down the line, each of us obediently taking our medication after inspecting it.
