Page 170 of Psycho Alphas: Part Two
It was so visceral I felt, through the darkness, the floor crash into my knees, the palm of my hand holding me up as I retched.
Fuck…
I thought I was going to die, my instincts tugging me to react. To protect something I would never protect in my wildest dreams.
I was helpless, with no control, and no ability to shut down the connection.
My breathing was heavy, the horror of the bond I couldn’t keep out smothering me, rising until she was all of me. I heard the faintest, low growl of distress, and it might have been hers or mine for how entwined we were.
Then, as the nightmare crescendoed into a roar, I felt agony like I’d never felt before; a lash of white-hot molten lava across my chest.
Everything went black.
I faded in and out of consciousness, hearing only the slow thud of my pulse in my ears. A bokeh of light swam in and out of my vision.
A scent lingered in my senses, the faintest sharp hint of wood and flowers on a cool night.
Roses and redwood.
A groan rumbled in my ears, and only on the second did I realise it was mine. I pushed myself up from the floor, world coming into view slowly, head pounding.
It was hard to catch my breath as the bedroom focused, something squeezing my chest tight. The first thing I noticed was the person waiting for me, matching the roses and redwood scent to its Alpha.
Ace was lounging on his bed, propped up by pillows, phone light glowing, but ice-blue eyes fixed on me as I gripped the footboard to steady myself. At his side was a cardboard box. I frowned at it for a second, still acclimatising to the world. There was something about it, something unsettling?—
“How do you feel?” Ace’s question drew my gaze back to him.
“Why?”
“I’m curious.”
“How long have I been out?”
“An hour or two. Just enough time for a delivery.” He nodded toward the box, eyes never leaving mine.
I didn’t understand.
He looked as calm as his scent, and there was nothing too tense about him that might mark him a threat right now. But there was a piece I was missing.
“I know what it’s like,” Ace added. “My dear brother put me through the exact same thing, though in my case it wasn’t such a gift.”
“A… what?”
“I didn’t pass out, so there’s that. I did bite her that night, though, which I’m sure you’ll do.”
“What are you talking about?”
His smile was icy. “Mygiftto you.”
I stared at him, uncomprehending.
A gift?
“Bella did exactly what I told hermightgive her a chance of survival—and one of her Alphas just dropped it off. I wonder if he was the one who did it?” A flash of madness glinted in his eyes. “I have a tail on him, we’ll see if he can shake it. Give them a head start.”
“Whatare you talking about?”
“Your bond. It’s in there. Or at least, whatwasyour bond.”
