Page 28 of These Bonds that Unite Us
“I’m going to cut through all the bullshit and be honest,” Donovan says, drawing my attention away from his mate. Natasha winks, she knows I look up to her because I’ve admitted it several times over the years we’ve known each other.
“Okay?” I question, glancing at Bea who looks pissed. I have a feeling wherever we are going, I’m not going to like it.
“I spoke with Doctor Russell this morning, and she hasn’t found any other ways for you to combat the chemical rejection.”
My shoulders sink, but I’m not shocked. This was the outcome I expected from her research. In my heart, I’ve known from the start my only chance of survival lies with my former Fate matched mates.
“With this new threat to your safety, she also agreed it would be best for your health if you stay with Pack Graves.”
“I– You–” I stutter to find the words to express how I’m feeling. Part of me feels betrayed by his insistence I stay with the very mates who caused my chemical rejection, but the reasonable part of me knows this is the best course of action.
“They hurt you, and you have every right to be angry with them for how they reacted to finding out who your birth family is, but I won’t stand by and watch you slowly wither away when they want to try to fix things.” His voice is firm and unyielding, but his eyes are filled with concern and fear. Donovan views meas family as much as the Powells do, and my declining health is hurting him too.
Which is why I cave without argument, even though I’m terrified of what will happen there.
He nods, a bit of relief flowing across his face before he pushes to his feet to make a few calls and get everything in order for us to leave. Natasha trails after him, promising lunch after we gather our bags from upstairs.
I collapse against the back of the chair and let my head flop to the side so I can look at my bestie. Her midnight blue eyes meet mine and she sighs. “This is one clusterfuck of bullshit, isn’t it?”
“Sure,” I snort out a laugh, “at least you aren’t going to be trapped in a house with the mates who rejected you.”
She scowls at my nonchalance, still pissed at their behavior. “Give them hell, Oms. They want your forgiveness? Another chance to win your heart? Make them earn it. I’m talking crawling across the floor to meet your every whim and desire.”
“We’ll see,” I murmur with a shake of my head. She stands and offers me a hand, which I gratefully take. Standing on my own two feet takes some work. “Wait, where are you going? I don’t think Donovan mentioned that while I was down here.”
Bea pauses a few feet away and peers back at me. “He’s sending me to stay with Shiloh. Like that’s what I really need when I’m already stressed out. Forced proximity with my grumpy, asshole boss.”
I try to muffle my laughter, but I know I’ve failed when she flips me off behind her back. I imagine my best friend is going to be pushing his buttons as much as he does hers. Soon enough they’ll be living out their own employer-employee romcom.
“I can hear your comedic thoughts from here, and that is not happening. He’s going to learn how annoying this omega can be,” she smirks before she steps into the room she stayed in. Ijust shake my head at her denial and grab my bag from where it still sits untouched by the foot of the bed.
As we climb into Donovan’s car a few hours later, nerves start to unsettle my stomach. I don’t know if I’m ready to face the men who shattered my heart. I know they said they messed up, that they want to fix things between us, but I can’t shake the fear this sudden desire to reunite only stems from their sense of guilt over my declining health.
Sighing, I lean my head against the window and watch upstate New York fly by. If I want to survive, I have to face them eventually. It might as well happen now.
We drop Bea in Starburgh at the penthouse apartment Mr. Acherley owns. His jaw was already ticking as she kicked off her shoes and tossed aside her bag like she owns the place. I give them a day before the tension between them snaps and he takes her over his knee. He seems like the brat-taming type.
Thoroughly distracted, the drive to Pack Graves’ house passes quickly. I thought they had an apartment in the city, like Bea and I do, but apparently, they live in a house by one of the local lakes.
The sun is starting to sink as we turn down their driveway, casting the surrounding forest in shadows. It’s kind of eerie, but also dreamy in an otherworldly type of way.
We round a small bend, and the house comes into view. I study its exterior with wide eyes. The dark stone walls are weathered with age. Deep green vines creep up several corners, making it seem as if it's being reabsorbed by nature. In the distance behind the house, I can see glimpses of the lake reflected in the evening light.
I’m already in love with their house and I haven’t seen a single piece of its interior yet.
My joy over the wondrous building fades when Donovan pulls to a stop by their front door and I see the men of PrimordialCovenant waiting for me. A thundering beat starts in my chest as my eyes roam over the four men who once owned my heart. They’re all dressed in sweats or athletic wear, except for Nexus who is still wearing his usual skinny jeans and silky button-up combo. Tonight his shirt is decorated with silver and purple metallic roses.
The splash of color tugs at the corner of my lips, but I can’t bring myself to fully smile. Not when fear pulses so heavily through my body. Being here with them could save me or break me completely, and I’m not sure which way I want things to go.
Donovan opens my door, helping me out of the car before he steps back to grab my suitcase and camera bag from the trunk. I was hesitant to bring the latter with me–my low energy state hasn’t made working an option lately–but seeing the gorgeous home the guys live in I’m glad I opted to grab it. At least I can take some beautiful pictures here.
“Hey starlight,” Callisto whispers. He’s suddenly standing beside me, his arm carefully gripping my elbow. I hadn’t realized I was swaying on my feet, lost in my thoughts.
Nebula and Titan are taking my things from Donovan, while Nexus stands by the door. He’s shifting on his feet, and he can’t seem to look at me for more than a few seconds at a time before he jerks his gaze away. My teeth dig into my cheek wondering if maybe he doesn’t want me here after all.
“Let’s get you inside.”
I nod and let them lead me inside. Nexus’ nervousness is palpable in the air as I get closer. I’m practically choking on it when we pass by him to the front door. The dark shadows beneath his eyes seem more pronounced than they were two days ago.
