Page 78 of This Fate That Guides Us
I’ve royally fucked up by keeping this secret to myself, but I was terrified as soon as I learned who they were. A terror that only escalated as I got to know them and learned about Nebula’s past. “Bea,” I groan, “I’m sorry–”
“Don’t you dare try to give me some shitty excuse right now, Omen. I will fight my instincts and come in there to titty punch you. Nudity be damned.”
“You don’t understand,” I cry, but my breath is stolen by another wave of cramps.
“Oh, Omen,” Shelby sighs. “You have to tell them, sweetie. They deserve to know.”
“She should have already told them,” Bea snarls.
“I was going to,” I sob. “The night after their concert in Boston. I’d already talked to Donovan about it, but then this happened.”
“Why didn’t you tell them as soon as you knew who they were to you?” Shelby asks.
“Fear. What if my family finds them?”
“Omen, that will always be a possibility, but you can’t let fear rule your life,” Shelby tells me. I’ve heard the same thing from both Bea and Lex before. I can’t seem to convince my brain they’re right.
“It doesn’t matter now,” I laugh bitterly. “Even if I tell them, nothing will change. Nebula’s sister is the omega my brother Ben rejected. She took her own life after he destroyed her.”
“Oh, Oms. You’re afraid they’ll reject you? After what Nebula watched his own sister go through? They love you, girl. Like the over-the-top, write songs about you type of love,” Bea replies softly.
“I’m not afraid, Bee. I already know they’ll reject me. They hate my entire birth family, me included. As soon as they realize who I am, that's it. The end of the line.”
“You’re jumping to conclusions without giving those boys the chance to decide for themselves. You can’t carry the burden of your family’s evil forever, and if they’re your Fate matched mates, they’ll see that too. All of you deserve a chance at happiness ever after.”
I muffle my sobs from hearing Shelby’s affirming words into a fluffy pillow. I’m terrified. Afraid to give them the power to destroy me. Afraid to hurt them with my secrets. Most of all, I’m afraid of what will happen if they choose me. If they stay and my family finds me… I wouldn’t be able to handle knowing I put them in danger by being theirs.
When the tears have slowed, I shove the pillow away and pull the phone closer. “You have to tell them, Bea,” I start. She tries to protest but I power on. “They need to know the truth before they step inside of this room. We all know as soon as they catch my scent their instincts will kick in and they won’t be able to leave. Give them the choice, Bea. Please.”
“Fine,” she snaps. “I’ll tell them. But you have to face this eventually, Omen. You can’t keep letting your fear of your family rule your life. You have to start living for yourself.”
“I know,” I promise her.
The rest of their conversation fades into the background as the wave of heat consumes me. I’m almost glad I can't focus onanything but my body’s needs. For now, I don’t have to worry about the rejection in my future, only chasing my next orgasm.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
NOW PLAYING: WELCOMEHome- Coheed & Cambria
Watching Lex carry my omega away when I knew something was wrong pissed me off. Catching her scent in the air and realizing she was in heat? I nearly went on an alpha rampage to get to her. Our head of security and several other members of our team had to physically restrain me.
Something I’ve apologized deeply for. Losing control of myself like that… I put my team, my mates, and my omega in unnecessary danger.
Even if we had managed to catch up to Lex, there wasn’t anything we could do to help our girl. Not without having a conversation with Omen beforehand. No one would ever forgive us if we approached an omega in heat without prior coherent consent. Rightly so, too. Verbal consent is key in a society drivenby instincts. It’s all too easy for lines to be crossed and choices taken away when your primal self takes control.
Our apartment is silent with my mates still sleeping. They’re exhausted from our late-night return. I am too, but my insomnia has decided to strike once more. I doubt I will settle until I hear her sweet voice reassuring us she’s okay.
While I respect her decision to handle them alone, heats can be brutal for an omega to handle without help. If she was forced to survive five days with no help and no suppressants to dull the worst of the symptoms? I refuse to imagine how much damage could be done to her body.
Fuck. I have to focus on the positive, otherwise I might lose what little control I have left.
A knock at our apartment door startles me from where I stand peering out over Starburgh. Building security wouldn’t let anyone pass who we don’t know, meaning my girl may be on the other side. I cross the space and open the door to find myself face-to-face with Omen’s best friend, Bea.
“Hello,” I greet as I open the door wider to allow her inside. I glance out into the hallway hoping to find Omen with her, but there isn’t anyone else in sight.
“She isn’t here, Nebula.” Bea draws my attention to where she’s standing awkwardly by the windows. Her coconut lime scent is subtle this morning but tinged with unease. Worry pulses heavily through me at the thought something may be wrong with Omen and her next words make my stomach sink.
“Can you gather the rest of your pack, please? We need to talk.”
