Page 10 of Waiting for Fate
EVERY MUSCLE INmy body aches with the most delightful pain as I slowly sit up. The hotel nest smells like sweat and sex, matching the sticky feeling coating my skin. Even though Derek and the alpha with me had convinced me to shower yesterday morning, the evidence of my heat remains. Tracking my eyes across the room, a small smile pulls at my lips. Thanks to the suppressants I’d taken beforehand, I can remember most of what happened, and wow, it was better than I ever imagined.
The nest door opens and I can’t help but to perk up, hoping my mystery alpha has returned. I’m not sure what it is about him, but my omega has developed a bit of an obsession. Sadly, it’s only Derek, my beta helper. He has a bottle of water and medicine in his hands as he steps inside. He straightens when he sees me awake, carefully avoiding looking at my naked body.
“Good morning, Miss Powell. I ordered breakfast to be sent up. If you’d like to shower, you have half an hour before it gets delivered.” He passes me everything he’s carrying before stepping back outside.
Flopping back to the bed, I cringe when I land in a cold, wet spot. Okay, yeah, I definitely need a shower. This is gross.
Tossing back two pain relievers, I crawl through the mess of blankets and head into the adjoining bathroom. I look myself over in the mirror as the water heats, noting the small spattering of bruises and hickeys on my skin. Joy spreads through me, knowing I’ll have a visual reminder of this heat for at least the next few days.
Freshly showered and clean of all the slick, sweat, and cum that covered my body, I gather the few blankets I brought from my nest and toss them in a bag. A knock at the door lets me know food is here, so I join Derek at the small dining table in the main room of the suite. I’m sad when I don’t see the alpha helper, something Derek must notice. He hands me a small handwritten note.
My heart aches reading the confirmation he’s gone, but I brush it aside. Heat helping is temporary, and I don’t have time to find a pack or mates when my career is just taking off.
Derek hands me a card as he leaves, offering future heat services should I need them. I give him my thanks before I send Omen a text to let her know I am headed back to the apartment. She offered to pick me up, but there’s no point in dragging her out to get me.
A weight lifts from my shoulders when I unlock our apartment door and find everything unpacked and organized. I owe Omen big time for taking care of all of this while I was in heat. Her bedroom door isn’t open, so I try to be quiet as I lug my blankets back into my nest. I barely resist the urge to bury my nose in the material to catch a hint of O’s ozone scent. I won’t be able to wash them until his scent fades, a thought that has my lip quivering and tears building in my eyes.
Post heat hormones are a roller coaster I loathe to navigate.
Exhaustion still clings to my bones as I stroll into the Soulbound office. My Monday meeting with my mentor and the band I’ll be co-managing had to be rearranged because of my heat. With the tour starting tomorrow, I have no choice but to come in today, even if I’d much rather be sleeping.
Jane, the secretary for the label, greets me cheerfully on my way in and shows me to the manager’s office. A small desk in the back corner sits empty, with only a file folder with my name on it sitting on top. I thank her and settle into my seat, tossing my sweater over the back.
I’m not there long before Shiloh struts in, the picture of confidence in his dark gray suit and white dress shirt. His hair is styled away from his face and a pair of dark-framed glasses sit on his nose. Fuck, he’s even hotter with them on. What did I ever do to be Fated to work with this untouchable god of a man?
“Good morning, Miss Powell. I’m surprised to see you’ve returned already.” He doesn’t seem surprised, but maybe he’s just hard to read.
“Good morning to you as well. I wanted a chance to meet with Brady and the band before the tour begins tomorrow.”
His lips turn down slightly at the corners as he studies me. “I was under the impression omega heats last longer than two days.”
“It was a suppressed heat.” My cheeks heat with my admission, as if talking about my heat is taboo.
“And your recovery period after?”
When I hesitate, he lets out a “tsk,” and shakes his head. The cold, scolding look he levels at me should not make me wet, but damn, am I dripping. “Sabine, it is of the utmost importance to the staff here at Soulbound that you take care of yourself. Including giving your body the time it needs to rest and heal after something as physically strenuous as a heat.”
My lips thin as I fight back the argument I can feel brewing in my mind. He’s technically correct. My heat leave has an allowance for recovery time, so I didn’thaveto come to work today. Iwantto be here, though. If I’m stuck at home, I’ll wallow in the misery I feel after my mystery alpha helper disappeared, an action that won’t benefit anyone.
“I understand and appreciate your concern, Mr. Acherley, but I assure you I would not have come in if I felt my schedule for the day would be too taxing. I’m only here long enough to meet with Brady and introduce myself to Orbital Somatic.”
Shiloh sighs, his jaw tense, but he concedes. He leaves a stack of papers on my desk, mentioning they have all the information I will need for our early departure tomorrow. “I expect you out of the office by lunch time, Sabine.”
I scowl at his retreating form, rubbing at my temples. That man lives to be a pain in my ass, doesn’t he?
“You look tired, kid.”
I jolt at the rugged voice addressing me. An older alpha stands before my desk, his hip leaning against the desk opposite mine and his arms crossed over his chest. He has short, graying hair, a closely trimmed beard, and a strong jaw. He’s fairly attractive, but his sharp black currant scent overpowers my senses.
“Brady Moore,” he offers me a hand as he introduces himself.
“Bea Powell.”
“Well, Miss Powell, I’ve heard good things about you from the production teams. I hope you bring that same determination to the managerial staff.”
I beam, nodding my agreement.
“I’m sure Shiloh expects us to sit in the office and go over all the paperwork he left you, but that sounds like a shit day to me. Let’s head downstairs and meet with the band. I made them come in early to practice.”
