Page 46 of Waiting for Fate
“Bea!” He barks my name, but it doesn’t cut through the fog. He can’t feel it, the pain. My alpha needs me, he—
Ridley’s lips slam to mine, his body caging me against the wall until he’s plastered to my front. My brain shuts off, all my thoughts evaporating.
“There she is,” he whispers between kisses. “I’m sorry for being so rough. I needed you to stop thinking for a minute.”
Clarity filters in as he presses his forehead to mine. “I—“
“I know, baby. We’ll grab Hendrix and start the journey back to New York tonight. You’ll need to call Brady and email Shiloh to let them know you’re leaving early. We’ll get home and go from there. If the safe house is compromised, Lex will take Omen and run. They’ll go even deeper into cover.” His fingers grip my chin, holding me still as he stares into my eyes. “We can’t assume the worst.”
“He’s hurt, ” I whine. “He needs us!”
Ridley sighs, letting his lips fall to my forehead. “How hurt? Tell me about the pain?”
The elevator dings, and he drags me beneath his arm before he steers us out into the hallway.
“It started in my head, my temple. Then there was a burning pain on my upper arm.”
He nods as he opens the door to our room with his keycard. Hendrix is watching a movie inside, an empty pizza box on the nightstand beside him. He sits up when we walk in, his eyes tracking the wet streaks on my cheeks from my tears.
“The pain here”—Ridley presses a finger to my temple—was likely him getting punched. You wouldn’t have felt the other pain if he were unconscious.” I nod, biting my lip to hold back a fresh wave of tears. He points to my arm next. “This? If it was burning pain in only one spot, he might have gotten shot.”
A whine rattles from my chest, loud and unsettling.
“Shhh, I didn’t mean to upset you. Lex knows how to deal with bullet wounds. He was in the military, remember?”
“What happened?” Hendrix cuts in, already cleaning up his mess and throwing his stuff into a bag.
“Omen Powell’s safe house was compromised.”
“Shit. She want to head back? Being in her nest will help.”
I’m frozen as they move around me, packing and making calls. Brady knocks on the door and Ridley explains everything to him, but I can’t say a word. Can’t even acknowledge he’s here. Everything hurts. My arm, my head, my fucking heart.
If this is what having a shared pain Fated connection feels like, I don’t think I want it. Knowing my Fate matched mate is hurt and three thousand miles away is the most heart-breaking thing I’ve ever experienced.
I’m a wreck. We’ve been back at my apartment in Starburgh for two days and we still haven’t heard from Lex or Omen. Every time one of our phones rings, or a text comes through, I jump to see who it is. Begging for any news about my mate and best friend.
“You should be getting ready for work,” Ridley comments from the kitchen.
I snuggle deeper into the mountain of blankets piled around me, pretending I can’t hear him. How can I go into the office and act like I am okay when it feels like my entire world is falling apart?
“Come on, sunshine,” he says again as he reaches in and grabs me from my pile, tossing me over his shoulder. “Get dressed, do your hair and makeup, and I promise I will call Donovan and demand an update while you are in your meetings today.”
He starts the shower before he slides me down his front, steadying me with a hand on my waist. Soft lips press to my forehead, then he spins me around. I yelp, jumping away when his palm cracks against my ass. “Get moving, Omega!”
I scowl at his retreating form, briefly contemplating going to hide in my nest instead. He’s right, though. I know Lex is okay because the remnants of his pain faded quickly. He may be injured, but it isn’t bad enough to warrant me disrupting my life and throwing my dreams to the side. I have to trust him to care of himself and Omen.
After a shower, a fully styled face, and a sleek half braid, I feel more like myself. The pop of sunset colors on my pencil skirt and matching sweater helps brighten the darkness clinging to my mind.
I can do this. Go to work and kick ass. Then I can come home and collapse back into a puddle of omega disaster.
At Soulbound, Ridley has to stop at the security desk and get a badge to accompany me upstairs. He won’t sit in on my meetings, but he will be on the same floor I am throughout the day. Lingering in case the threat the Montgomery family poses becomes active.
Part of me feels awful knowing he has to sit and do nothing while I’m working. This is his job, though, both as my bodyguard and as my alpha. He also assures me he has ways to entertain himself, which helps.
“Good morning, Bea! It’s wonderful to see you again!” Jane greets as I pass by her desk. She’s a delightful older woman. Strong too, since she puts up with Shiloh’s attitude every day.
Speak of the alpha and he shall appear. His office door opens, and he steps out, wearing a cream suit jacket and matching pants. The gunmetal blue dress shirt beneath adds a pop of color, and the entire outfit sets off the silver streaks in his dark hair. Why must this man look like the world’s most decadent dessert every time I see him?!
