Page 30 of Bound By Pain
“How is she?” Omen asks.
“Stubborn.” I shrug one shoulder. “Just like a certain Omega I know.”
Omen scowls, lips thinning as I remind her of the hell she put us through when she refused to take care of herself after the rejection. Eventually, she was forced into Pack Graves’ care by Donovan. Her role in the designation protection program gave him the leeway to move her into their home when her apartment was nearly broken into.
“Is the doctor in with her, or?”
“Just her mates.”
Omen’s scowl deepens. She exchanges a look I can’t decipher with her pack leader, Nebula. He quickly ushers the others into the room and leaves her to stand with me.
“You are her mate, too, Lex,” she says, moving to lean against the wall beside me.
Grunting, I don’t voice my response. We both know there is no point in denying my connection to Bea, not after all the moments Omen got to witness.
“And we’re the stubborn ones,” she sighs. “I don’t know what your reasons for holding back are, so I’m going to tell you what you once told me. There are no guarantees in this life, Lex. Bea is a grown-ass woman. She can decide for herself if pursuing your Fated connection is worth it.Butyou have to be honest with her first.”
She pushes off the wall and pats me on the arm. “Don’t let fear rule your life. One day, you might regret it. I know I did.” Walking around me, she pauses with her hand on the door to Bea’s room. “And Lex? Thank you for saving her.”
“I always will,” I respond beneath my breath. Words Omen doesn’t hear because she has already slipped inside.
Leaning my head back, I let my eyes slip closed and imagine telling Bea everything. I already know what her decision will be. She wouldn’t push me away because of my trauma. No, my girl would accept all of my broken pieces with open arms and a tray of loaded nachos.
She’s been through too much to deal with my shit right now, so it doesn’t really matter. I won’t burden her with my past when she’s barely recovered from her trauma. When the time is right, I’ll explain everything. Then she can decide for herself.
CHAPTER 17
A long napwas just what I needed. The aches in my body aren’t as persistent after allowing myself to rest. If only sleep could cure the demons haunting the corners of my mind.
Unburying myself from the mini-nest I built out of my mate’s clothes, I pause when I stumble upon a to-go coffee-themed stuffy. I don’t remember seeing it in the bags that Orion brought from back in New York.
Giving it a small sniff, I catch faint hints of my mates, but it’s weak enough that it is likely just from the contact with their clothes.
Is this… a gift? But which of my mates left it for me?
Glancing around the room, I study each of them, watching for signs of anticipation, but no one appears to be waiting for me to discover it.
Hugging it to my chest, I internally squeal over the softness of the material. I fucking love stuffed animals. I have an entire collection of them, some of which I’ve had since I was a literal baby. The only thing that would make this absolute cutie better is if it were saturated in my mate’s scent!
Setting it gently on the pillow beside me, I finish pushing myself into a sitting position. Ridley’s eyes light up when he sees I’m awake, and I have to stifle a chuckle. Once, when we were on tour with Primordial Covenant, Omen said he reminded her of an excited puppy. Fates-dammit, she was spot on with that description!
“How are you feeling, sunshine?” he asks, standing from his seat to hover beside my bed.
“Okay,” I tell him with a shrug. My stomach chooses that moment to rumble loudly. I don’t think I’ve eaten anything solid since before Orbital Somatic’s concert in Portland, and that was at least two days ago.
“Hungry, apparently,” I add, ignoring the heat that rises to my cheeks when I realize the rest of my mates are also watching me.
Shiloh stands, straightening the front of his rumpled suit jacket with one hand. A move that is way too hot for being as simple as it is.
The twinge of pain between my tensing thighs derails any growing horny thoughts, sobering me. Yeah, none of that for a while. Think of scolding grannies or something, Bea.
“If you would like, I can speak with the nurse and find out if there are any restrictions on what or when you can eat.”
“S-sure,” I squeak out. Clearing my throat, I add a quick “thank you” as he turns to leave.
A few minutes after he leaves, the door opens. I expect it is him returning, but all of my bravado disappears when my best friend and her pack walk in.
“Oms,” I whisper, eyes watery when I see her. Fucking Fates, I do not want to break down with her mates and mine in the room!
