Page 49 of This Fate That Guides Us
“I thought you said they were busy tonight?” Bea asks, leaning back to meet my gaze in the mirror. I jerk my eyes away from her, focusing on a spot on the wall instead. “Oms, are you running away from the hot musician dick?”
“No,” I lie, but my bestie sees right through me. Her lips turn down into a frown as she puts the last of the dye on my roots and throws her gloves away.
“It sure seems like you’re running when they’re blowing up your phone and you’re ignoring them in favor of hiding out on our bus with me. Did something happen? Are they being too pushy?”
Closing my eyes, I bite my tongue and count to ten. I don’t want to snap at Bea but I need her to drop the topic. I just want to hang out and have fun with her, not ruminate on the pull I feel to Pack Graves. “No, they’re… fine. Can we not talk about it?”
“I guess, but I’m always here for you, Oms. Even if it’s only to listen.”
“I know, Bea. And I adore you for it. Right now I want to chill and have a girls’ night listening to Candy Courage and doing our hair.”
Bea gives me a tight smile and agrees, but her eyes linger on me a little too long for the rest of the night. I know she doesn’t agree with me avoiding the guys, but it isn’t her decision to make.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
NOW PLAYING: THEMoon- Austin Giorgio
Something happened between Omen and my pack. A different type of tension exists between us now. She’s barely spoken to any of us since we left Louisville two days ago, declining Nexus’ endless invitations to hang out for lunch or after our shows.
It’s bothering me not knowing what is causing the issue. I’ve always been a peacekeeper. A beta who dislikes confrontation. My beta parents both had jobs that often led to bruises and injuries. My mother worked as a nurse in the emergency room at the local hospital.
Her career shouldn’t have been overly dangerous, but my hometown is one who tends to stick to old-school ideals like refusing suppressants and blockers. Newly presented alphas and those approaching ferality were denied the medication meant tohelp ease their instinctual aggression. While Mom didn’t face many new alphas, she did often encounter ones who were a little too feral to function without assistance.
My dad got to deal with the newly presented alphas working at the local designation academy. Working as a full-time security guard on campus, he often had to jump in to break up fights before someone could get severely injured or killed.
Growing up seeing them both come home and tend to each other made me hope for a life where I never had to experience the agony they willingly suffered. I’ve built a peaceful life with my pack, using my bonds to help prevent in-pack fights and instinct-driven brawls.
It can be exhausting, especially right now when we are facing protesters outside of each of our concerts. Their words and presence are wearing down on everyone in our crew, not just me and my mates.
Maybe the protests have something to do with Omen’s change in attitude. If the pressure of the opposition to our pro-pack views is a lot for us to handle, how much would it affect someone who isn’t used to living in the spotlight?
Tilting my head back against the shower wall, I let all of my worries about the distance Omen is putting between us fade away. We are off for the next two days and Senator Pierson’s campaign is stopping here in St. Louis today, something Nebula told us late last night.
I know he wants to go, to join the other DAU and citizen protesters giving voice to their objection to the brutalistic approach the alpha politician takes toward designation and pack rights. Despite my reluctance to face yet another volatile protest, I quickly finish getting ready. I know he’s going to need my comfort and support to control his anger.
Pulling on my shoes, I realize Omen will most likely be at the protest too. Maybe I can use this opportunity to try to figure out why she’s pushing us away.
Downtown St. Louis is packed. The sidewalks overflowing with protesters, some of whom have traveled for days to be here. Local police have blocked off the streets around the convention center where Senator Pierson is holding his rally, keeping the majority of the crowd away from where anti-pack supporters are entering the building. A good safety measure as it only takes one unstable interaction for someone to get hurt.
Nebula leads us through the crowds to where Bea said their group was. Much closer to the building than I’m comfortable with. If something were to go awry with Omen this close... I don’t know if I could de-escalate my alpha’s aggression if she were to be injured.
Stepping through the sea of people, I spot Ridley’s imposing figure where he is practically hugging Bea’s back. She doesn’t seem to mind his closeness, which isn’t surprising since they can barely keep their eyes off of each other when we’re all hanging out. I’ll be shocked if they don’t wind up together after his assignment as her bodyguard is over.
Bea says something to Omen that we can’t hear over the noise of the crowd. Those light eyes turn to us, the smile falling from her face. Her blank expression causes nausea to churn in my stomach.
The first clue about the distance she’s creating between us is revealed when her eyes briefly shimmer with hurt as she looks at Titan. “Tee, did something happen between you and Omen?”
I study his expression, noting the light tension at the corner of his eyes as he watches her turn away from us. He shrugs and grunts in answer, something I’d assume meant he doesn’t know why she’s giving him the cold shoulder if I couldn’t feel the regret and guilt in his bond. When he’d returned from hisbirthday outing a few days ago, I thought I’d caught hints of her sweet scent clinging to his shirt, but I’d brushed it off as my longing for the omega influencing my imagination. Maybe there is more to the story than I originally thought.
Stepping closer to my giant alpha, I press one hand over his heart and let him feel my need to comfort his aching soul. He sighs, his long arms wrapping around me and pulling me tight. I strain to hear his words over the noise of the crowd. “She went out to celebrate with me. I kissed her. She panicked and I… I thought she was going to reject me and reacted.”
I bite my tongue to force myself to think things through instead of jumping to conclusions that would rock the boat. Titan’s always been rough around the edges. After watching his family cut off people in their lives for living a lifestyle they didn’t believe in, he grew too used to hiding parts of himself to escape their harsh words. Reacting without thinking to save himself from facing the same rejection from someone he genuinely cares about is a trauma response he has yet to overcome.
When we first met, he was skeptical and closed off, unwilling to close the gap and form a real relationship with me out of fear I’d turn on him the same way his parents had his Aunt. Slowly, and with a lot of patience, I was able to break down his walls and show him I wasn’t like them. I accept him for who he is, flaws and all.
With Omen, it will be different. She, like him, seems skittish and afraid of developing deep attachments to others. Without knowing her history and the causes behind her guarded nature, I won’t be able to help the two of them see past their issues to grow together.
Hugging Titan close, I murmur words of support and understanding. Growing our relationship with the pretty omega is a lot more complex now, and I’m uncertain if we will be ableto make it work. A small thread of hope pulses through me knowing my alphas don’t give up easily.
