Page 33 of This Fate That Guides Us
“Good morning,” I greet them, my tone cautious. I walk around the back of the couch raising a brow when Tee glances up, but my alpha friend only shrugs and grunts. A sound I’ve learned to interpret as ‘I tried, I failed, it’s your turn’.
Leaning down I press a kiss to the top of Cal’s head. My sweet beta has all his music sheets spread out on the coffee table. His tablet is balanced on one knee while he scrawls in his notebook.
Glancing at the screen, I’m not surprised to find an open email thread with Azalea Rivers, our friend and the lead singer of Candy Courage. He and Zale formed a close friendship during our tour with them last year, and he often seeks the other artist's input when he is writing a new song.
He smiles up at me, a slight blush on his cheeks. ‘Omen’ he mouths and all the pieces click together. Nexus’ early wake-up and his nervous pacing.
I playfully roll my eyes, realizing I should have guessed what my pack mate is up to. We all feel the same pull to Omen. Nex is just a bit more forward with his emotions than the rest of us. My heart says she’s ours but my brain constantly reminds me of our mysterious fifth mate. There is always the chance building a relationship with Omen could send our other Fated mate running when we finally meet them.
Even with my hesitance and concerns, I wouldn’t deny us the opportunity to spend time with the little omega.
Watching him pace, I’m pulled into the memory of the day I first met my chaotic mate.
Walking out of the air-conditioned building after my school-mandated counseling session, I grumble feeling the humid fall air press around me. I can’t wait to be finished atthe academy and move somewhere north. Somewhere with less humidity for half the damn year.
Making the trek back to my dorm, I try not to let my thoughts wander to my sister or parents. Two topics sure to heighten my anger and cause trouble for me along the way. My anger is one of the reasons I’m now required to attend weekly sessions with the academy’s on-site therapist. Only a few days after arriving I got into a fight with a couple of other newly presented alphas. A fight that led to the destruction of academy property.
Turning the corner to pass between the gymnasium and the class buildings, I pause when I hear muffled sounds of pain and fighting. I can’t get involved. Whoever it is, they’re on their own.
My resolve crumbles when I walk past the gap between two buildings and see four older alphas beating up another student who isn’t even attempting to fight back.
This isn’t a fight, it’s bullying.
My alpha instincts demand I stop when the scent of charred wood and sickly sweet amber fills the air. The scent of this kid’s distress.
Channeling the rage stored from my session and the nightmares plaguing me nightly, I drop my bag and take off down the path. One of the bullies looks up when he hears my footsteps, but he’s too late to avoid my fist connecting with his face. He stumbles back, dazed from the blow. I quickly catch his friend’s attention and they turn their fists on me. They’re bigger than me and I’m sorely outnumbered.
I should have run.
Knocked to the ground, I land beside the kid they were beating up and my heart stalls in my chest when I see his tear-filled brown eyes blink at me. The resigned, broken look in hiseyes calls to me. I can’t explain how I know he’s meant to be mine; I just do.
Retaliating harder, I kick two of the bullies away and focus on the two still trying to hit me. I dodge one of their punches, mentally chuckling when it connects with his friend’s stomach instead. My lungs burn from the strain of fighting.
Blue light shines against the brick, stalling the bullies’ assault. They take off running when they recognize the security cart passing by the mouth of the alley.
As soon as I’m sure they’re gone, I collapse beside my new packmate. He’s still curled in on himself. His black jacket torn at the shoulder and his lip bloody. One of his eyes is already swelling shut. Never again will he face those assholes alone. I’ll protect him no matter what it takes.
I later learned the beatings were a regular occurrence. A lot of the other alphas around campus didn’t believe Nexus was a real alpha because of his social anxiety and lack of athleticism. I immediately started working to show Nex he was a great alpha, regardless of his fear. It wasn’t until we had graduated that he really came into himself. My fashion-loving, self-pampering, nerdy alpha is someone so easy to love and we were all relieved when he started to realize it too.
Sighing, I step into Nexus’ path. His brown eyes flicker up to mine with a strained smile before refocusing on his phone screen. He’s only on his home screen which makes me wonder why he’s so nervous, but then I remember none of us have Omen’s phone number yet. This pacing must be him working up to going over to her room to speak with her.
“You’re psyching yourself out, baby,” I murmur softly. Rubbing my hands up and down his arms to help calm the tremors his anxiety is sending through his body. A purr rattles to life in my chest and he melts against me. His nose presses against my neck close to my scent glands so I hold him closer.
I may not understand his anxiety on a personal level, but I’ve helped him through enough breakdowns to know how to best support him. A large portion of his fear comes from the bullying he experienced throughout school. Constantly being picked on and talked down to makes having confidence in yourself difficult.
“I was going to ask if she wanted to explore the festival with us tonight. What if she says no?”
My fingers dig into his chin when I turn his face toward me. He doesn’t fight my grip, letting me see the worry and insecurity he’s been hiding beneath his usual sunshine. “She’d be a fool to not want to get to know you.” I press my lips to his in a rough, but mild, kiss. Silently letting him know he is worthy of the love we offer him.
“She’s supposed to be one of us, Neb. I feel it.” He murmurs against my lips. Like his feelings are some well-kept secret when he wears his heart on his sleeve.
“I know, baby. I feel it too.” Admitting the pull I feel to Omen aloud is probably a terrible idea. He will likely take my words as permission to start fully pursuing the omega, but I can’t bring myself to regret voicing them. I can tell he’s already getting attached.
I hope Omen feels the same as we do, otherwise it may break my vulnerable alpha mate.
“Come on, I’ll text Brady and see what room they’re in. Then we can go ask her together.” He nods, his shoulders relaxing. I grab my phone from the bedroom and send a message to our manager. He’s quick to respond, but his answer complicates our plan. “They didn’t stay in the hotel,” I announce to the rest of my mates. We spend so much time on our buses during a tour that nights where we get a hotel room seem like a blessing.
“Omen and Bea’s rooms on their bus are mini nests. I overheard Ridley mentioning something about them to Bea. Itmakes sense they would rather stay in their safe spaces than sleep in a clinically scent-free hotel,” Callisto mentions. He’s packing up his notebook and music sheets now, carefully putting them in the waterproof case he bought to protect them.
