Page 80 of Waiting for Fate
Where the fuck am I?
A door opens and I’m tossed into a room filled with the sour, days old scent of distress and alpha anger. My eyes fly around the room, taking in the cages lining the walls filled with naked, abused women and men.
Fucking Fates, they brought me to a breeding ring camp?!
Steadying my breath, I focus back on the door as it reopens. Marcus saunters inside, a depraved smile stretched across his face. “You’ve been causing a lot of problems for me.”
I can’t reply with the tape on my mouth, but I need words to convey my hatred for the alpha standing before me.
“You wanted to find the breeding ring, didn’t you?” He crouches down and rips the tape from my lips. “Oh, but you probably didn’t want to become one of the alpha breeders. I hope you enjoy knotting,brother, because you’re going to be doing a lot of it.”
“Fuck you,” I snarl, spitting in his face. The blow to my stomach as punishment is worth every ounce of pain. Never will I give in to this piece of shit. He has no idea the FCDA tracks its agents. As soon as Porter realizes I’m missing and not throwing a tantrum, this entire place will get torn apart.
I just have to survive until then.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
PAIN RADIATES THROUGHmy chest, stealing the breath from my lungs. I hug the bathroom counter, steadying my shaking legs. It feels as though someone just tackled me.
Shit, this isn’tmypain.
Stumbling to the bedroom, I collapse onto the edge of my bed and grab my phone. It rings twice before Mom answers. “Good Morning, sweetheart! You’re up early!”
“It’s a workday, Mom,” I huff.. The pain is fading, thankfully, but I don’t know how much more of this I can take.
“What’s wrong?”
“Fated. Connection.”
Mom sighs, the sound weary. “Oh, Bea. Shared pain is a terrible connection to experience. Have you spoken to Ridley and your other potential mates?”
“Lex and Ridley are still off grid, but Donovan assured me they were unharmed. Orion texted me back and confirmed the pain isn’t coming from him, either.” I don’t mention Shiloh, who is across the apartment in his bedroom and unharmed.
Lying back, I use my shoulder to hold the phone to my ear so I can wipe the tears from my eyes. Terrible seems like a very understated way of explaining how soul destroying this is. “There has to be a way to lessen the feeling.”
“Because shared pain is so rare, there hasn’t been enough research to give you a definitive answer. All I can do is suggest what bonded mates do. Close your eyes and envision something cloaking the bond between you and your mates. It’s going to be difficult because the bonds aren’t there. Just try your best.”
Listening, I find the spot I imagine my soul to be and envision the strings of fate that will tie me to my mates. Ridley’s is easiest because I feel closest to him. Finding the bare spark of connection between me and my mysterious fifth mate is nearly impossible.
“If you can’t blanket the connection to one mate, cover them all,” Mom suggests.
Taking her advice, I picture the softest pink comforter wrapping around each thread. “How do I know if it worked?”
“You wait. If the pain starts again and isn’t as strong, you’ll know.”
“And if it doesn’t help?”
“We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it,” Mom promises.
Shiloh knocks on the bedroom door, reminding me we have to leave for the office soon. Rushing through a quick goodbye with Mom, I toss my unruly curls into a bun and slip on my blazer. This will have to be good enough. I don’t have the time or energy to put more effort in this morning.
“Ready,” I tell Shiloh as I step into my heels. My eyes stay trained on the front door, avoiding looking at my asshole boss. Weeks after my heat ended, I still haven’t gotten over his rejection. The broken pieces of my heart feel extremely raw in his presence, reminded with each inhale of his scent that I’m not worth taking a chance on.
“Are you alright?” he asks as we ride down to the lobby of his building.
A hint of concern laces his voice, but I’ve learned not to trust the emotions he feigns when he wants information about my life. Too many times has he turned around and thrown my response in my face.
“Perfectly fine.”
