Page 51 of Frenzy
Pryce
Iwas pacing back and forth in my room, and at this rate, I would wear a track on the floor. I’d had to leave the nursery because my constant movement was keeping the cubs awake. I felt like there was electricity humming through my veins, anxiety in the back of my brain screaming I should head back to Bonnie. I needed to be there. Needed to see her. Needed to touch her skin with mine.
Dominic was down there now, but soon he’d have to go to work. Then I’d go. But who’d stay with the cubs? Maybe I could take them with me. Yeah, that’s what I’d do—I’d take them with me. Decision made, I strode out my door and barrelled straight into Courtland. He gripped my shoulders to stop me bouncing off his chest. Courtland was quite a bit taller than me, as apparently Omega Manix tended to be a little more lithe than the behemoth Alphas, and even most of the Betas.
“Omega, are you okay?”
I was nodding before he’d even finished. “Fine. Just going to get the cubs ready. I thought I might take them with me to sit with Bonnie, you know, seeing how Naja can’t babysit anymore and I don’t really trust anyone else to watch them.”
It all regurgitated out at once, making Courtland frown. “Are you okay, Pryce? Sleeping?”
No. Not sleeping, unless I was with Bonnie. It was like I’d become addicted to her, but I didn’t know how to explain that to Courtland with his cool, calm control.
“I’m sleeping well enough,” I hedged, giving him a tight smile. I went to step around him, but he didn’t loosen his grip on my arms.
“Omega,” he bit out, the power in his voice instantly stopping my movements. “Pryce, come here.” He dragged me into his arms, and started to thrum. The delicate purring sensation instantly soothed something in my chest, and I felt myself melting into him. His Alpha power was heady, like a hit of some kind of narcotic. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
It wasn’t a suggestion. “Being away from Bonnie is making me anxious,” I muttered, the sound muffled against his chest.
He hummed low in his chest, his hand stroking up my back soothingly. “Do you think this is a residual effect of your captivity? PTSD, maybe?”
I mean, it could be. It definitely didn’t bring back fond memories. Hell, maybe that was it. “Doesn’t matter. I’m not going to stop going to visit her.” I set my jaw as I met his eyes, just so he knew I wasn’t fucking around.
He pressed his lips together, his eyes inscrutable, but he nodded. “Of course, Omega. Let me help you get the cubs ready for the day. Are you sure you’ll be okay caring for them today?”
I resented the insinuation that I couldn’t care for them without help, but the look on Courtland’s face told me that he was just trying to make things easier for me. The cubs were more lively now, more like they should be at their age.
“We will be fine, but I would appreciate the help getting them prepared.” I stepped away, but I paused. Standing on my toes, I kissed him softly. “I was going to choose you, you know? Before Bonnie… I was going to choose you and this Pack. I know you’ll probably think it’s due to our situation now, but it’s not. You were right for me, all of you.”
“You say those words like they are the past tense, Pryce.”
I shook my head. “No, I still want you all. But if anything happens to Bonnie… If she dies—”
“I won’t let that happen,” Courtland growled, like he truly believed he could beat death himself.
But I wasn’t done. “If something happens to Bonnie, I’m not sure I can…” I trailed off.
I didn’t know how to say that I wasn’t sure I could ever let myself feel enough again to endure this kind of loss a second time. Bonnie had introduced me to the world, and I wasn’t brave enough to let anyone else in if she died.
Courtland pulled me back into his arms and kissed me hard, and in that touch I could feel his fear, but also his determination. “We get our happily ever after, Omega. You, me and Bonnie. Radic and Dominic too. I will make it happen. You can trust me.” I licked my lips, unconsciously drawing the taste of him onto my tongue. He caught my chin. “Do you believe me, Omega? Do you believe that I will do anything to ensure our Pack is happy and healthy?”
I nodded, and he kissed me once more. “Yes, Alpha.”
“Good.” He scraped his lips down my throat, biting softly. “When Bonnie is awake, the first thing I intend to do is make us a family in every sense. Would you like that?” His voice was so low that I knew his Beast was grappling for control.
“Yes, Alpha,” I purred back, and he grunted like I’d physically stroked his dick.
Stepping away, he straightened his pants. “Good. Go get ready, Pryce. I’ll dress the cubs.”
I watched him walk into the nursery, and I couldn’t help but creep closer so I could peek through the door. He clutched the rail of the crib, staring down at the babies. And he was smiling. I couldn’t hear the soft words he was murmuring to them, but as he lifted Gabriel into his arms, the baby kicked his legs and gurgled, making Courtland laugh.
“Do you want me to be your Alpha? Or I mean, I guess, your Dad. I mean, I don’t know much about it—my father gave me a gun for my seventh birthday—but I promise I will protect you from anything that makes you scared.”
Yeah. I’d made the right decision. My Beast thrummed in my chest, in total agreement.
My nose twitched at the foreign scents in the infirmary, pushing my Beast back to the edge. I wanted to bundle Bonnie up and take her home, make her a nest, protect her. I felt Courtland stiffen as he caught the scent of strangers too.
“Wait with Bonnie,” he said gruffly, and the Alpha order had my feet moving before I even consciously thought about it. When I stepped into the room though, Bonnie wasn’t alone. If my nose wasn’t wrong, the girl present was a human. Wearing a white lab coat.
