Page 103 of Bound By Pain
Shaking my head, I try to express through our bond that I don’t blame him. He gives me a half-smile and steps out onto the balcony.
Lex scoots closer, palming my cheek and wiping my face. “I can punch Dromir for you. He’s a dick.”
Snorting a watery laugh, I lean forward to press my face into his neck. I need a drink and a nap. The constant stress of being targeted by Marcus and his lackeys is getting really old, really fast. Why can’t he just fuck off? Disappear to some other city where he can live his life of crime instead of chasing my pack?
“Come on, butterfly. Let’s settle in your nest. It will help settle your emotions.” I let Orion lead me out of the room, mind already shutting down from the immense stress. Omegas aren’t built to handle shit like this. We feel too deeply. Hurting clear to our soul when one of our loved ones is hurt or in danger.
I would say I hate the biological reactions I’m forced to experience, but I remember those same parts of me taking control during my heat. And there is no way I can think that.
Regretting fire sex with mouthwatering Alphas? Couldn’t be me.
Two days of emotional turmoil follow my heat. Time spent alternating between joy over bonding with all of my mates, worrying about my family, and being pissed at everyone who continues to impede our happiness.
Finally, Donovan calls.
“Hello, Bea.”
“Old man.”
He chuckles lightheartedly, but his voice is serious when he speaks. Apologizing for not knowing my parents had gone to Dromir’s island for Dad’s heat. “I never meant to worry you. There was a miscommunication on my end. A situation that has since been corrected.”
“I’m not upset with you,” I promise him. No, my ire goes solely toward the asshole Alpha responsible for not disclosing my parents’ whereabouts.
“Good. Well, I have other news. Are your mates available?” I mute the phone while I gather them from wherever they have scattered in the penthouse.
“Donovan,” Creed greets, letting him know we are all listening.
“Pack Acherley, thank you for your time.”
It’s weird to hear him call us that. I don’t think I’ve quite wrapped my head around the fact that I am Bea Acherley now.
“Late last night, agents stationed around Silverstone captured Marcus Brown. He is in FCDA custody and being transported to a secondary location for questioning.”
That’s it? It’s over? I expected something more climactic. A fight or a high-speed chase or something.
I’m relieved, of course, but also worried this may not assuage my Alpha’s need to hunt the other man down. They wanted to be the ones to capture him, likely with new injuries as retribution for his role in my abduction.
“That’s excellent news,” Shiloh says. “Thank you for letting us know.”
The guys ask a few more questions, mostly about what to expect moving forward and other threats to watch for, but I’m only half listening. Most of my attention is on the bonds in my chest. Slowly, subtly, I feel them out. Trying to understand how each of my mates feels.
Shiloh is relieved. Joyous even. He doesn’t care that they weren’t the ones to catch Marcus, only that he is taken care of. Orion feels similarly, but a thread of distrust runs beneath his acceptance. Perhaps lingering fear that the threat against us isn’t completely gone.
Ridley is elated. And horny. I peek one eye open to find him licking his lips as he stares at me. Insatiable Alpha. I blow him a kiss, then focus on my other two mates. The ones most likely to be upset.
Lex is pissed. Whether that is because he wasn’t involved or for another reason, I can’t tell. He has a handle on his aggression, though, so I’m not worried about him.
Creed is difficult to read. He feels so much that diving into his bond is like swimming in a hurricane. Emotions batter me on all sides until I’m forced to pull back. Wanting to comfort him, I slip my hand in his and squeeze. Light green eyes turn to me, softening at the edges when I lean my head against his shoulder, chin turned to look up at him. He raises our twined hands and presses a kiss to the back of mine. A silent promise that he’s okay.
After Donovan hangs up, we sit in silence for a long time. Each of us is processing this news. I’m sure more will come as the agency uncovers the connections Marcus used to evade capture until now. All things the agency will take care of. Meaning that for us, for my pack, it’s over.
We’re safe.
As safe as we ever can be, anyway.
Ridley is the first to break our silence. He whoops and sweeps me off the couch, throwing me over his shoulder. One hand grabs my ass, squeezing it playfully. “Come on, sunshine, let’s celebrate!”
Pressing against his lower back, I push myself up far enough to look at my other mates. The intense desire in their eyes burns through our bonds, igniting a flame of need deep in my core. I grin, sticking my tongue out at all of them. “Better catch up before he locks the door!”
