Page 88 of Bound By Pain
“Omega time is important,” I agree. If I didn’t have Omen and Foster to hang out and gossip with, I would absolutely lose my mind. They get me in a way my Alphas never will. Not without experiencing heat hormones and the hurricane of ups and downs that follow.
“I see you two bonded. Congrats! He needed someone like you. After losing Ren… well, we all lost ourselves. She wouldn’t want us to wallow in our misery, though. The best way we can honor her is by causing chaos.”
Smiling, I think of all the stories Orion has shared about his wild first mate. She would be honored to know her former sister-in-law was wreaking havoc in her name.
“You two caused enough trouble while she was alive to last a lifetime,” Orion jokes. “Vee and Ren were best friends. A permanent third wheel on our adventures.”
“Like you didn’t love having me around!” Vee protests. “I never tagged along when you guys went on proper dates, just the fun ones. Like the color race she signed you up for the week of your twenty-first birthday!”
Orion’s mom interrupts story time, calling us all into the kitchen to grab plates. It’s crowded and loud. Full of laughter, love, and baby snuggles.
Wrapping my arms around my Alpha, I press my lips to his cheek. “I’m happy you found your way back to them.”
“Me too, butterfly. If I hadn’t met you, I might not have.”
“You would have. Maybe not this soon, but one day you would have come home. You love them too much to have stayed away forever.”
He smiles, staring into my eyes with an intensity that steals my breath. “You are my home, butterfly. The holder of all my love, even if pieces of it are shared with others.”
CHAPTER 36
The first morningin the penthouse has been a disaster. Ridley destroyed my kitchen attempting to make Bea breakfast. I swear he managed to get pancake batter on the ceiling, despite it being nearly twenty feet above him.
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I grab cleaning supplies from the cabinet and get to work. Boundaries will need to be set if I am going to survive in this pack. Specifically, where sharing our Omega is involved. I may not be the mindlessly selfish bastard I previously thought, but I still don’t relish the thought of sharing her.
During her heat, I will set those feelings aside. Anything to help ease her pain and ensure she is cared for. But outside of it? My time with Bea will be precisely that- my time.
“Good morning, Alpha.” My Omega looks incredible, wearing nothing but a large t-shirt with her hair tossed into a messy bun.
The penthouse door opens, and Lex walks in, frowning at his phone screen. His eyes snap up when he realizes Bea is here. Watching his demeanor change, it is clear that whatever hang-ups he had about their relationship are not weighing on him as insistently.
The others slowly trickle out. Ridley carries the empty tray of food he made for Bea. I narrow my eyes at him before pointedly looking upward. He follows my gaze and winces. “I’d apologize, but being a disaster in the kitchen is just part of who I am.”
“Then leave the cooking to Orion or the chef I pay handsomely to keep the fridge stocked.” He laughs at my grumbled response. At least he has the decency to wash his dishes instead of leaving them piled in the sink.
Creed and Lex whisper heatedly in the corner before they both sigh. My stomach sinks as they approach our group. Protective instincts rear their head, demanding I shield Bea from whatever news they bring.
Instead of stepping in front of her, I pull her onto my lap. If I cannot be her shield, I will have her back.
“Porter called with news about Doctor Harrison,” Lex grunts. He meets Bea’s eyes, steady and full of regret. “He was found dead in his cell several days ago.”
My Omega gasps, body tense and trembling. A purr rattles to life in my chest, attempting to soothe her.
“What does that mean for the case against the breeding ring’s backers?”
“At first, we assumed his death was a cover-up, someone trying to silence him, but both the county coroner and the FCDA coroner corroborate that his death was natural. Well, as natural as it can be when the man experimented on himself as much as he did on his captives.”
Bea shudders, hand flying to her neck. Her finger traces the faint scar over her scent gland. I wrap my arms around her waist, holding her tighter. She’s been speaking to a therapist at the same office Orion visits, and it has helped her cope with what happened. Hopefully, this news does not set her back.
“As for what happens with the rest of the trials, we can’t say. There is still enough evidence from the raid of the Wexern complex and the campground in Alabama that any sane judge should be able to convict. But we don’t know who they are handing the case to.” Creed admits, sounding as frustrated as we all feel. Corruption runs much deeper in our government than any of us were aware of until the Montgomery complex was raided and its true depravity exposed. Since then, it has been one horrific uncovering after another.
“No matter what, no one will hurt you again,” Lex promises. He clasps Bea’s hand in his. She melts against me, nodding as she accepts his words.
With the five of us at her side, and a penthouse so drenched in security measures it is safer than the President’s office, she will be safe. We will do whatever it takes to guarantee it.
Everyone goes their separate ways after breakfast. Ridley, Lex, and Creed head down to the gym for a morning workout. Or maybe it’s a photoshoot with the number of selfies Ridley takes.
Orion goes to his room to call his parents, making plans for the upcoming holidays. Bea does the same. Hiding away in her nest while she checks in with everyone.
