Page 50 of Waiting for Fate
“I don’t know. My birthday is in November, so I could present at any time. I guess just survive? Try to keep my grades up?” He shrugs, pressing ripped up pieces of his straw wrapper against the condensation on his glass. “I thought about getting a job after school, but I don’t know where to look. No one hires kids from the group home, especially when they are close to presenting.”
Irritation has me clenching my jaw shut. Not at Spencer, but at this world’s judgmental stance toward our abandoned youth. Too often are the ones who need us the most overlooked. Condemned for the decisions and tragedies that led to their place in the foster system. Perhaps it’s time for Soulbound to make a push for better treatment of these kids. Something that will impact not just them, but the entire community.
“If you want to work, I will ask around and help you find something.”
His eyes flicker up to mine, a grateful smile on his lips. It spreads into a joyous grin when our server drops off two plates of sizzling steaks. I can’t fix all the problems he will face as a group home kid, but putting a smile on his face and making sure his stomach is full is enough for tonight.
Tomorrow I will use the weight of my position to find new ways to make his life easier.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
I THOUGHT FEELINGLex’s pain through our connection was horrifying, but nothing compares to what I witnessed yesterday. Watching your omega best friend confront her anti-designation father live on TV is nightmare inducing. The sounds of him hitting her, of the hatred spilled from his lips, it haunts me.
What is most hurtful of all is knowing Omen chose this. She volunteered to take her father down, knowing her life was at risk.
And Lex let her.
I’ve never been this furious with someone while worrying about their physical wellbeing. My instincts need to take a chill pill. I know he’s alive. We need to focus on kicking his ass for not stopping Omen fromalmost fucking dyingon his watch.
Repeating this to myself, I stalk through the hospital entrance, bee lining for the elevators. My parents were here yesterday to check on her. They sent me her room number, and made sure I was on her approved visitor list.
Despite Grant Montgomery’s arrest, the DAU is still taking her safety seriously. Followers of her birth father’s cult could try to sneak into the hospital to get revenge for their leader’s downfall. Or nosy journalists trying to sniff around to get an insider scoop on her story instead of trying to hurt her. She doesn’t need any extra bullshit when she’s trying to recover.
Ridley chuckles beside me as we ride up to the fifth floor. “You look like you’re on a warpath, sunshine.”
“I am,” I grumble, scooting closer to him when other people get on with us. He wraps an arm around my shoulders, letting me lean on him and appeasing his protective instincts at the same time. I feel calmer with his body pressed against mine.
At least until we step through the doors to the Omega wing and I see Lex speaking with Donovan ahead of us. The older alpha spies us first, chuckling and walking away. Smart move, old man. I won’t bite my tongue just because you’re standing close by.
Lex spins to face us, his usual scowl in place. My hand moves before my mouth can form a single word, palm connecting with his cheek. His head snaps to the side, the sound of the slap loud among the beeps and whirs of the quiet hospital.
He doesn’t say anything, accepting my anger as he turns back to face me. “You-“
My eyes fly over him as I try to work through my anger enough to speak clearly. When I spot the bandage on his arm, the rage fizzles out. Replaced by crashing waves of overwhelming worry and relief. I throw myself at him, ignoring his comically wide eyes and pressing my lips to his.
His hands bind under my thighs, lifting me against him, and I squeeze him tighter. Expressing through every swipe of lip and tongue how glad I am to know he’s alive. He’s here, and he’s safe. I can be mad at him for everything else later.
My kisses move across his jaw, loving the rough prickle of his stubble against my lips. I bury my nose beneath his ear, inhaling deeply when I finally process the lack of scent blocker. His sandalwood and leather scent soaks into my brain. It reminds me of the first moments after sunset, when soft rays of light peek up into the sky and the world still smells like it’s been baked by the sun. Warm and woodsy. It’s captivating.
I can feel the moment he starts to pull away, drawing into himself the same way he did in my kitchen several weeks ago. Hurt blooms in my chest. “You’re mine,” I whisper, staring into his steel-gray eyes and begging him to feel this too. “My Fate matched mate. I felt it when you got hurt-“
His head falls back until he’s staring at the ceiling as he slowly drops me to my feet. “I know.”
Two small words that land like the waves of a tsunami against my heart.
“You know?”
Resignation and denial fill the air around us. Brushing past him, I storm into Omen’s room. I can’t handle whatever explanation he has for what is very clearly a rejection. He calls my name, the sound choked with guilt, but I don’t turn back. I refuse to chase an alpha who is at war with himself over his feelings toward me.
Lex needs to decide for himself if he will pursue a relationship with me. Until then, there will be no more of the push and pull between us. I’m worth more than stolen kisses that end in moments of regret.
Omen is asleep in her hospital bed. I collapse into the chair already pulled up to her bedside. The gaunt lines of her face and collarbones break my already fractured heart to pieces. Bruises line her jaw and throat from where her birth father attacked her. Looking at her, it is apparent I came closer to losing my best friend than I ever thought possible.
Tears leak down my cheeks as I sit in my sorrow. Eventually, I brush them away. Whatever happens next, she won’t face it alone.
Mom lets me know they are keeping Omen for several days to monitor her progress. There is a drug the doctor there wants to use to combat the side effects of her chemical rejection and slow her decline. Since I can’t do anything to help her while she’s under her doctor’s care, I’m going back to work.
I’m still on edge from Lex’s rejection. Moody and one bad day away from a breakdown. Pushing through is my only option. My career won’t wait for me to get over a bad breakup. Not that we were a thing, which is a thought that makes me feel pathetic.
