Page 60 of This Fate That Guides Us
Today we head to Norfolk for another show. Since the cities are so close together, we get a nice break before we have to leaveour campsite here in Raleigh. Time I intend to spend making a plan for the future.
My phone sits on a pillow beside me, speaker enabled, and a call to Donovan in the process of connecting. It only rings twice before he answers, sounding as chipper as ever. “Good morning Trouble, how’s life on the road treating you?”
I know he gets regular updates from Lex about any issues we encounter–like the protesters back in Cedar Rapids and Nashville–so I don’t bother to bring up any of my concerns there. The DAU is working tirelessly to bring an end to the oppression people like Adam Pierson bring into our government. I have to trust them to do their best to protect us all.
“It’s much more chaotic than I imagined. And exhausting,” I tell him honestly.
“Mmmm. I believe it would be a big change to suddenly be surrounded by so many other people every day after spending the majority of your time at the academy in a shared apartment with Bea. You seem to have adjusted to the differences well though.”
“Yeah,” I sigh. It does get overwhelming constantly being around so many other people, but I wouldn’t trade this career for the solitude of my apartment. Accepting this job led me to meet my Fate matched mates. “That’s actually why I was calling. Sort of anyway.”
“I’m always here to listen and to help where I can,” Donovan replies easily. Taking a deep breath, I tell him everything. The pull I feel to Primordial Covenant. Finding out they are the pack at the other end of my Fated connection. My fears over growing close and having my birth family discover who they are to me. My desire to tell them the truth about not only who I am to them, but who I was before the DAU took me in and the Powell’s adopted me.
“You’ve been carrying quite a lot on your shoulders,” He finally says. He listened patiently while I spilled every thought in my mind, for which I am grateful. It is honestly a relief to have gotten everything off of my chest. Keeping so many secrets is draining.
“Your concerns regarding revealing your birth identity to this pack, do you feel they may reject you for your connection to your family?”
“I don’t believe they would. They’re actively pro-pack, pro-designation, which means they don’t agree with my father’s beliefs, but nothing they’ve ever mentioned has led me to believe they would hold my origins against me.”
“I’ve heard some of their band’s music and read a few of their interviews, as scarce as they are. It’s clear to see they respect Fated bonds and are waiting for their own Fated omega, so I’m inclined to agree with you.” Donovan’s agreement eases some of the tension in my shoulders. Rejection is the scariest thing an omega can face as it often leads to their death. “Am I the only person you’ve spoken to about this?”
I hesitate before admitting he is, not wanting to be judged for not trusting anyone else with this information. He doesn’t look down on me for my decision though, he only takes my secrecy into account.
“First, you need to talk to Lex. He spends every day with you and your mates, so he will be able to decide if this band will keep your secret or put you at risk of discovery.” I bite my cheek knowing it won’t only be Lex I have to talk to. Bea won’t talk to me for a year if I tell him without telling her first. “Then, if Lex agrees, you can tell your pack the truth. Make sure they’re aware of how important it is your birth identity remains hidden.”
We talk for a bit more until a knock at my nest door has me rushing out a quick thank you and goodbye. Glancing at myphone screen, I frown. It’s only nine in the morning, so I know it isn’t Bea outside. She’s not a morning person by any standard.
Cracking the door open I wonder if Donovan had text Lex to let him know we needed to talk when I find my alpha bodyguard on the other side.
“Good morning?” It comes out as a question that earns me an eye roll from the stoic man.
“You have plans. Get dressed.” He walks away before I can ask anything else.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
NOW PLAYING: HEAVENLYBodies- Arankai
Walking through the curtain separating the living area from the bunk area, I freeze when I see Nexus sprawled across our couch. A transparent black shirt emblazoned with a myriad of pink floral pieces covers his chest while leaving very little to the imagination. He’s paired the shirt with bright pastel pink skinny jeans and sparkly black Doc Martens. He’s equal parts adorable and delicious.
“Good morning, gorgeous,” he purrs as he jumps up to meet me, his long arms wrapping me tight against his chest. As his amber and oud scent fills my senses, I barely smother a moan.
Hints of his packmates’ scents and sex cling to his skin making my inner omega sit up and take notice. My core clenches around nothing and my panties are already soaked. For goodness’ sake, we haven’t even left my bus yet!
“Good morning, handsome,” I mutter against the silk of his shirt. He shudders in my arms and I bite back a smirk at how easily he reacts to affection from me. “I hear we have plans?”
“We sure do,” Nexus grins. He takes my hand in his much larger one and leads me out of my bus to a waiting SUV. Lex sits in the driver's seat. I feel bad for asking him to drive us around after we’ve all been on the go nonstop the past four days, but as Nexus slides into the seat beside me and reaches over to buckle me in, my concern fades. Lex is an adult and is more than capable of setting his own boundaries.
“So where are we going?” I ask, but Nexus only grins. I guess I’ll just have to wait and find out.
An hour later we pull into the parking lot of a large black building with massive windows wrapping around the front and right side. I glance at Nexus curiously as he leads me inside. My jaw falls open when we step through the double doors to see row upon row of overflowing bookshelves.
“You brought me to a bookstore?” Excitement fills my voice. I can’t decide where to look as I see a collection of records in the corner and what seems like an endless number of books waiting for me to discover something incredible inside.
“I, uh, enjoy reading. It’s my biggest hobby,” Nexus admits with pink cheeks. I can’t hide my joy, a smile stretching across my lips.
I pull him along behind me through all of the aisles learning he prefers romances and fantasy books over anything else. We find an entire double-sided row full of romances and quickly lose track of time pointing out the ones we’ve read.
We both find a couple books to add to our shelves before Lex texts to remind us we have to travel back to the campsite soon so we aren’t leaving late for their show.
