Page 52 of Bound By Pain
“Uh, hello?”
“Sage! What the hell did I tell you about answering the door?” Ridley groans, appearing behind her. Seeing the two of them standing side by side, it’s clear they’re related. Their noses are the same shape, and their eyes are a similar shade of blue-green.
Running a hand through his hair, he gives his sister a harsh look before turning to me with a frustrated smile. “Hey, man. Come in. Bea and Orion are still asleep in her nest, if you want to join them. Might be a bit of a squeeze.”
Bea’s apartment is cute. Cozy even. There are blankets spread over the back of her light blue couch, and pictures hanging on every wall. The scent of freshly brewed coffee mixes with lime, ozone, and peach. The latter makes my nose twitch, leading me to believe it belongs to Ridley’s sister.
Buried beneath all of those scents, so faint it makes my heart ache, is the pineapple coconut blend I smelled when Bea first arrived at the breeding camp. Before that asshole, Harrison got his hands on her and stole her scent glands.
A door across the room opens, and a blue-haired, tattoo-covered Alpha stumbles out. It takes me a moment to remember his name, having only seen him when we were at the hospital with our Omega.
“Orion.”
“Creed. You’re here. Good! She’ll be happy to see you.”
Fates, I forgot how deep his voice is. Looking at him, you wouldn’t expect such a rich, gravelly tone to come from his mouth.
His phone pings, eyes rolling when he digs it out of his pocket to read whatever message is waiting. “Actually, are you planning to be here for a while?”
I nod. There’s no way I’m leaving her now.
“I have family stuff to take care of, and I want to grab the rest of my stuff from my apartment. Ridley is taking his sister to the airport and cleaning out his place, too. So it will be just the two of you.”
Ridley reappears with an empty bag slung over his shoulder. “Make sure she stays off her feet. She overdid it yesterday and will feel the effects today. There are painkillers in the bathroom cabinet. If you can get her to take them.” He claps me on the shoulder on his way past. “Good luck. Call if you need anything.”
His sister protests as he drags her out of the apartment, complaining that she isn’t getting to say goodbye to Bea.
Stepping to the nearest window, I crank it open. Letting some fresh air in will help the other Omega’s scent dissipate quicker.
“Good thinking,” Orion comments on his way down the short hallway off the living area. “I’m making dinner tonight. Any food allergies or preferences?”
“No mushrooms. Not allergic, just can’t stand the taste of them.”
“Got it. Okay, I’m headed out.”
After locking the front door, I head inside the bedroom I had seen Orion emerge from. A bed heaped with stuffed animals and clothes scattered across nearly every surface accompanies the burst of pastel pinks and purples.
Clearly, my Omega is not a fan of organization. Or doing laundry.
Her nest door is cracked open, creaking slightly when I pull it wider. Fuck, this nest is tiny. I know Omegas enjoy smaller, darker spaces, but I’m not sure how I am going to fit inside with her.
Sighing softly, I send up a silent prayer that my back won’t hate me after this.
Soft pink, rose-shaped fairy lights run along the ceiling, while yellow string lights hold photos on the back wall. Blankets, pillows, and clothes pile across the floor. And buried in the middle of them all is my Omega.
Soft, dark brown curls peek from beneath a fluffy purple pillow, and her toes poke out of an orange silk blanket. With the rainbow of pastel colors, her nest reminds me of rainbow sherbet. Sweet and colorful.
Knee-walking inside, I mold and shift my body until I’m contorted to wrap around her. She rolls over, nose burrowing against my neck, breathing deeply. “Alpha.”
“Omega.”
Sleepy, midnight-blue eyes blink up at me. “You’re here. Did you catch him?”
Clenching my teeth, I shake my head. “We did not.”
“So, just a short visit.”
Gripping her jaw, I use my fingers to keep her head tilted up. “No. I wasn’t supposed to be in the field. My personal ties to the case are the only reason my boss allowed it.”
