Page 7 of These Bonds that Unite Us
“Me?”
“We have an epic grovel ahead of us. Do you have an idea of what you want to do?”
Cal shifts below me, his hand freezing in my hair. “I guess I hadn’t thought about it. I’m still not convinced Omen would consider allowing us the opportunity to apologize, so earning her forgiveness seems impossible.”
I hum, tilting my head up slightly to nudge his hand. He takes the hint and resumes combing his fingers through my hair.
“We will never win her back if we don’t put in the effort she deserves. I know it isn’t going to be easy, the road ahead is long and filled with potholes that could destroy our progress, but I know it will be worth it. I’ll do whatever it takes to have Omen inmy arms again. To show her she is meant to be ours. Exactly as Fate intended.”
“And if Nebula can’t see past her connection to the Montgomerys?” His question is spoken so quietly the night breeze nearly carries the words away. I can sense his fear in our bond. A feeling that matches the dread in mine.
“I chose him over her once before, I won’t make the same mistake twice.” Even though it will break me, break all of us, I won’t walk away from my omega again.
Callisto falls quiet, contemplating my promise, as the first of the meteors streaks across the sky. The rest follow quickly, like stars falling from the sky. Closing my eyes, I bundle all of my hope, longing, and regrets into a tiny ball and cast them out into the universe.
Please, Fate, if you are listening, let our paths converge once more. Give me another chance to prove myself to Omen.
We lie in the grass for several minutes, in awe of the phenomenon we’re witnessing. My arm starts to itch, the sensation slowly morphing into the tingling feeling that comes with a message sent through our Fated connection. I shoot upright, hope soaring in my heart, but as Nebula’s familiar bear hug energy wraps around me, the feeling plummets to disappointment.
‘I miss you, and I’m sorry for demanding so much of you.’
Cal’s arms wrap around me, holding me tight as we share the sadness his message brings. I should respond, find some way to make peace with my alpha mate, but the pain from Omen’s disappearance still pulses heavily through my soul.
Until Nebula can try to understand why her absence hurts me, I don’t think I can bring myself to face his apology.
Nebula
Cal and Nexus have only been gone for three days and I’m already losing my mind. Doubt consumes my waking thoughts, and my insomnia is at an all-time high. I’ve slept for maybe eight hours since they left. My body protests the lack of sleep but I’ve been forcing myself to stay up and moving.
If I sit I will spiral, and I can’t afford to be a wreck when my mates come home. I’m their alpha. It’s my job to protect and care for them. Not to break down over my insecurities.
The lack of a response to my messages isn’t helping my mental state either. Titan assures me they’re both fine, that they just need time to cope with her disappearance. It’s hard to accept their reasoning when my insecurities and fears are whispering alarming thoughts in my mind, trying to convince me my mates won’t ever return.
My mates aren’t my parents, I remind myself. They won’t walk away from me when things get rough. Not permanently.
My fist connects with the heavy bag. The rhythmic thud and reverberations of my punch centering my chaotic mind. I’ve basically shut down my bond with my mates, something I never could have imagined myself doing before now. They don’t need to be overwhelmed by my stress when they are taking steps to heal themselves.
Technically I am too. It’s just a slower process for me.
Today was my first session with my new therapist here in Starburgh. Even the introductory visit left me feeling like my chest had been torn open and my heart cut out. I thought I had a good handle on my grief, but since learning whosheactually is, it feels as if I’m back to that heartbroken teenager. Abandoned by his family and pissed at the world.
“For someone who just got home from a national tour with sold-out shows, you look like someone kicked your puppy.”
My punch misses the bag and I have to catch myself before I fall. Turning around, I’m surprised to find Caleb Michaels standing behind me. I sort of befriended the alpha during our tour with his band, Orbital Somatic. As much as I could when most of our time was spent chasing after our she-devil photographer anyway.
“Caleb. Didn’t know you were a member here.”
“I wasn’t until recently. We moved out to Starburgh a few days ago. Wanted to be closer to the label, so it’d be easier for us to play smaller shows locally.” He’s maybe an inch taller than I am, but he’s built closer to Cal or Nexus. Lean and athletic without packing on muscle. “Give your knuckles a break and cool down with me?”
“Alright.” I shrug and start unwrapping my gloves. I don’t feel up to hanging out right now, but Caleb is a chill dude and I know he won’t press if I don’t answer.
“I don’t know if you know this,” he starts to talk after a few minutes of stretching. “But I was in another band before I joined Orbital.” I think I remember him or one of his bandmates mentioning it, but the memory is foggy. “A duo with my high school sweetheart. We sang indie songs, closer to pop than rock. She was an omega, too.”
I pause with my hands pressed to the floor between my knees and turn to look at him. He has a wistful look in his blue-gray eyes. A longing I feel deep in my soul. Finding our omega has been my pack’s dream. One we’d stay up late at night whispering about in our beds.
Too bad that dream was shattered the minute Fate mated us to a Montgomery.
“I always thought she was meant to be mine. We fit together like pieces of a puzzle. The pull was undeniable and it grewstronger when we both presented at 18. Leaving her behind to attend the Alpha Academy was one of the toughest decisions I ever had to make.”
