Page 89 of Bound By Pain
I enjoy the moments of peace, settling in the living room to read the morning paper. A call from the lobby interrupts me halfway through the crossword.
“I apologize for disturbing you, Mr. Acherley,” the head of security tells me. “Someone stopped by the front desk several moments ago looking for your Omega. We didn’t share anyinformation, and he left rather quickly, but he left an envelope behind.”
Frowning, I push to my feet and head for the elevator, remembering at the last minute to grab my keycard. “I’ll be right down.”
My foot taps on the bottom of the elevator as it journeys to the ground floor. We haven’t made Bea’s move here a secret, not with the amount of help we had bringing everyone’s belongings over from their former apartments. Anyone who knew Bea was here would have called to let us know they were coming to visit.
So, who is this mystery visitor?
“Mr. Acherley.” The guard greets me with a tilt of his head. A gloved hand extends an envelope toward me. I am grateful for the precautions the staff here takes, given that the only thing on its exterior is Bea’s name.
It weighs heavily in my pocket on the ride back to the penthouse. Acid swirls in my stomach, threatening to expel my small breakfast. Already someone is targeting my Omega, after we spent this morning making promises to keep her safe.
Grabbing my phone from the counter, I put an alert in the Alpha-only group chat, asking my packmates to meet me in the kitchen. I also text my brother and ask him to stop over.
“What’s up?” Ridley asks, toweling off his wet hair. He’s shirtless, which seems to be normal for him, and freshly showered. At least he isn’t drenched in sweat. Unlike my Omega, I do not enjoy the overpowering scent of his body after a workout.
“This was delivered in the lobby. For Sabine.”
Creed grabs the envelope and tears it open, cursing when he reads its contents. “This asshole.” He passes it to Lex, who drops it before his clenched fists can crumble the paper.
“Jericho is on the way. He will access the building’s security footage and deliver it to the FCDA when he goes into work this afternoon.”
Hopefully, my brother can find something to help us capture the person targeting my mate. So far, no one has been successful. Whoever this Marcus is, he has connections we must be unaware of. Ones with the power to make someone disappear in plain sight.
“Don’t tell Bea. Yet.” Orion gets our attention with his words. “She needs the peace and sanctity of our home when she’s this close to her heat. If she feels unsafe here…”
He doesn’t have to finish his thought for us to understand the gravity of the situation. Bea could spiral, putting her in further danger when her body is constantly on edge. This could also slow the progress of her scent gland’s redeveloping. Stress often hinders healing.
“Okay. We’ll wait until we know more.” Everyone agrees, but the tension in the room doesn’t dissipate.
The door opening fifteen minutes later has us all on alert. Jericho walks in hand-in-hand with my niece, Delilah. His Omega and their packmates follow, smiling despite the wall of Alphas greeting them.
“Uncle Shy-shy!” Delilah slips from her father’s grasp and darts through Creed and Lex’s legs to throw herself into my arms. “Hi!”
“Hello, little terror.” I beam at her, ruffling her curly blonde hair. “I have someone very special I want you to meet. Are you ready?” She nods rapidly, wrapping her arms around my neck and letting me lift her onto my hip.
I nod to Jericho, leaving my packmates to fill him in on what’s happened. Creed or Lex will go to the security office with him to view the footage, leaving me to surprise my Omega with yet another impromptu family gathering.
Knocking on the door to Bea’s bedroom, I crack it open when she calls out in response. She’s settled on the pack bed, laptop open and music playing through the speakers. Her eyes light up when she sees me, before they drop to Delilah and widen in shock.
“Hello,” she greets hesitantly, closing her laptop and sliding off the bed.
“Delilah, I would like you to meet my Fate-matched mate, Bea.” Delilah sticks out a hand, shaking vigorously when Bea places their palms together.
“She your ‘mega?”
“She is.” I meet Bea’s eyes when I say the words, letting my pride shine through. Our relationship has not been mistake-free. There are many wrongs I have committed in my adamant refusal to belong to her, but those are in the past. Never again will I speak of her with anything less than the certainty I feel in my heart. She is mine, and I am hers. No collusion of Fate will change that.
“It’s so nice to meet you, Delilah. Did you come to have lunch with your Uncle Shiloh?” Bea questions my niece as we walk back downstairs to join the rest of my family.
“I won’t say noes to foods.”
Bea laughs, the tinkling sound brightening this dreary disaster of a day. So long as she is happy, we can weather any storm the universe throws at us.
“Food is the best. What are you hungry for? We can order in or we can make something.”
Yeah, the first time my mate cooks for me will not be when my entire family is here to visit. I want to savor what she makes, not rush to eat before these behemoths inhale it all.
