Page 89 of This Fate That Guides Us
“I know,” I nod. “Try not to be hard on Nexus about his feelings for her. He’s able to see things from a perspective you can’t.”
“I’ll try.” I accept his promise and get to work cleaning his wounds.
We all startle when footsteps come stomping up the stairs a few minutes later. Brady takes one look at Nebula’s bruised body and sighs. His arms cross over his chest and stands tall, the weight of his presence making him feel like a looming mountain. “You four need to get your shit together. I saw Omen on the news and now I have an idea of what happened between the five of you to cause her to quit, but I won’t put up with fighting. Work it out peacefully or ride on separate buses.” He doesn’t give us a chance to respond, he just turns and leaves. “We’re wheels up in five,” he yells before the door closes behind him.
I don’t know where we will go from here, or how my pack will survive these cracks in our bonds. Whatever we decide, it’s clear this isn’t going to be easy for any of us.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
NOW PLAYING: SANCTUARY- Joji
Staring out the window of our hotel room, I study the city of Las Vegas far below. A city so busy it literally never sleeps. I could never live somewhere like this. My mind would never be able to settle in a place so filled with noise. Starburgh is a city, but it isn’t nearly as energetic as somewhere like Vegas or New York. There’s peace to be found in our little haven.
The thought of returning to our apartment there doesn’t sound appealing. My heart knows the space I once loved will be as empty as our bus without Omen by my side. Wherever my girl is, that’s where I belong.
My jaw still aches from my fight with Nebula, the bruises on my face and chest a dark bluish purple. I can’t stand seeing my reflection in the mirror. The reminder of how destroyed my pack is. I deserve the pain. Not for fighting with Nebula, butfor abandoning my omega when she needed me. If I had known Neb would take drastic steps to cut her off, I never would have walked out of that hotel room.
Whispers in my mind remind me I could write to Omen using our connection and my mates would never know. I could reach out and apologize every day until she forgives me for walking away. But I can’t bring myself to pick up a pen. Not when I still have two weeks’ worth of shows left in our tour.
If I write to Omen now and she responds, I doubt I’d have the strength to stay away. I would leave everything behind in a heartbeat if it meant I could hold her again.
Shaking my head, I force my thoughts away from my girl. An idea sparked during my restless sleep this morning. The perfect way to let Omen know she’s on my mind without using our connection. I’m going to spend my days sending my girl food pics. Each one paired with a promise to return to these cities so she can try these restaurants, or new ones, with me.
Food is our love language, so I’m going to woo the shit out of her.
Stepping into the restaurant I’d seen recommended multiple times on a thread for the best restaurants in Vegas, I know this is somewhere my girl would love. Cushioned booths sit against a wall lined with neon signs shaped like different Japanese foods. The center of the room has tall tables with stools, and the wall by the kitchen holds a wooden counter for individual seating. The ceiling is covered in these adorable mini paper lantern string lights.
It’s moody and fun, and best of all it smells fucking delicious as soon as you walk in.
Linking my hand with Cal’s, I lead him to one of the tall tables off to the side, hoping to avoid the majority of the crowd while still being close to the door when we’re ready to leave.
“This place is cute,” my mate comments as he sits across from me. His dual-tone eyes study me, seeing deep into my soul and recognizing my ulterior motive. “You chose it because of Omen?” I nod, placing a drink order with our waitress before explaining my plan to win our girl’s forgiveness. “That’s a really sweet idea. She does love trying new foods.”
“Exactly!” I pull out my phone and show him the pictures I’d sent her earlier. “I went to this rustic taco place for lunch. Tijuana style is what their menu said. They were so good! Not as spicy as I think our girl would prefer, but she’d love the unique options they had for fillings! They even had cow tongue tacos! I wasn’t brave enough to try those though.”
“Cow tongue? I didn’t know people cooked them to eat.”
“Yeah, neither did I. I mean it wasn’t super surprising. If people will eat an animal’s brain, then why not its tongue?” I swiped to the next set of pictures. “After the taco place, I found this cute ice cream shop down the street. Omen isn’t big on sweets, but they had so many cool flavors I couldn’t pass it up! They even had a hot honey ice cream! She’d probably love that one! I got honey lavender though. Nothing spicy for me.”
Cal smiles sweetly, asking about the other flavors and restaurants I want to visit to share with our omega. His eyes are a little sad though, which I get. It would be better if she was here to enjoy this with us.
Scanning over the restaurant's menu, a giddy feeling bubbles up my chest when I see they have a kimchi carbonara dish. Omen would get that for sure. I think I’ll order their hot pot instead. I don’t want to burn my tongue off trying to eat something above my spice comfort level. I snap a picture of the menu, though, and edit it to highlight the pasta dish.
Sneaking a picture of Cal sitting across from me, I send both to Omen with a short note telling her about the cool place we found. I can’t wait to bring her back to Vegas and make new memories with her.
“Do you believe she will forgive us after everything that’s happened?” His question is quiet and full of uncertainty as he stares into his bowl of ramen.
I understand his hesitation. It would be too easy to believe this is the end. That my gorgeous girl will never forgive us and our crossed paths have finally forked. But I refuse to lose faith in Fate. “Omen is our destiny. I’m not going to give up on her. One day she will bear our bond marks and spend every night in our arms. I won’t accept anything else.”
Cal’s eyes raise, skepticism and adoration gleaming equally in the orbs. They can all have their doubts. I’ll prove I’m right one determined grovel session at a time.
The bus door opens quietly. From the corner of my eye, I watch Nebula walk up the steps. He’s carrying a paper gift bag in his hand. I don’t move or speak. Content to let him simmer in his anger. I won’t be apologizing this time.
I feel the cushions beside me dip as his weight settles on the other end of the couch. My feet brush against his side and I quickly pull them back. Our bond feels fragile, fractured from the stress of the distance between us.
“Nex,” he mutters my name sweetly. Deep voice filled with resignation and remorse. “I don’t know how to fix this. How to come to terms with who she is and what she is to us. I hate hurting you. Knowing my refusal to entertain the thought of her as our omega is causing you pain destroys me. I don’t want to be the villain in your story.”
A sigh falls from my lips at his admission. I recognize the situation we’ve found ourselves in is extremely complex. A labyrinth we’re forced to navigate with no knowledge of what awaits us at its center. “I never expected you to just accept Omen as ours, Nebula. I’m not naive enough to think things would ever be so simple. I only want you to give her a chance to explain. To listen instead of allowing your anger to blind you.”
