11. Sabs #2
She doesn’t say the alternative or remind me what happens when bonding sickness progresses.
The longer newly bonded mates are parted, the more severe the side effects get.
Scientists say the bond adjustment phase is a process that binds DNA together, creating a joint entity that feeds on the other.
While this fusion is happening, if one half of the pairing vanishes, the body starts attacking itself.
Omegas usually fare even worse than alphas.
If they’re never reunited, many can spiral into the pits of insanity.
Even with medication and special hospitals dedicated to providing support, it’s a cruel and torturous fate.
Those who are able to “recover” enough to function usually end up so miserable that it begs the question as to whether they really have much of a life at all.
“If we don’t go soon, he’s going to break down the door.
” Faye’s brown eyes widen. While she’s reduced her wariness of alphas since bonding with the Silverwood Pack, she’s still cautious around alphas she doesn’t know.
Her parents dying at the hands of a rogue pack has left behind trauma that will take her a long time to heal from. “How did he get past Margie?”
Seeing her fear gives me the courage I need. I take a deep, grounding breath, imagining I’m about to head into a volleyball set.
“He’s not alone either,” Kady says from her vantage point. “I don’t recognize the guy who is with him. He looks older.”
“Maybe it’s one of his packmates,” I speculate under my breath.
“His pack?” Kady gasps sharply. “How many of them are there? You didn’t mention anyone else.”
“Two, I think?” I shrug. “Honestly, I can’t remember. All the details are a little fuzzy.”
“You’ll find out more about them all soon.” Faye winces as the thumping on the door continues.
“Are you ready, Sabs?” Delilah asks, rising to her feet.
How can I be? Just yesterday, my biggest worry was acing my assignment on steel structural integrity and winning my next volleyball game. Since then, my whole life has changed on a dime.
“No,” I confess as I feign a smile. “But I guess I’ve got to show this hockey player what a Stella is made of.”
“You’ve got this.” Delilah encourages as I extract myself from the blanket heap. “We’re right here with you.”
“If you want one of us to stay with you, we can make sure someone is with you around the clock,” Kady offers. “I can readjust our schedules, plan out a whole rotation. You don’t have to be alone with him or his pack, if you’re not comfortable.”
This is Kady all over. A fixer and planner.
“Thank you. But…” I suck in a deep inhale. “I think this is probably something I’m going to have to face alone.”
“That doesn’t mean we won’t be here for you every step of the way.” Delilah helps me out of the bed. The air feels bitterly cold after leaving my comforting pillow fort. I want to retreat to its coziness again, but there’s no going back now.
As we trudge up the stairs, I have to stop every few steps, swaying a little. My balance is completely off.
“It’s okay.” Faye takes my arm. “As soon as you’re close to Adler again, you’ll feel better.”
I can feel him. As we climb higher, my skin practically buzzes with anticipation at knowing he’s close. I sense his panic and urgency, his need to be close to me. With each step, it’s like I’m passing through a storm, the rain finally clearing as we reach the hallway.
Kady is first to the door, throwing it open. “You must be Adler,” she greets him. “I’m glad you’re here.”
When I catch sight of him over her shoulder, he doesn’t look like the same carefree guy from the beach. Heavy circles ring his eyes, and his golden, sun-kissed skin looks almost gray. I struggle to breathe through the guilt clamping around my lungs, knowing it’s my fault.
“Sabs!” His blue eyes light up. “You’re here.”
For once in my life, I’m at a loss for words. Although my body feels compelled to go to him, to lose myself in his muscular embrace, my feet stay frozen to the mat.
“It’s good you came when you did,” Kady says. “She’s not in a good way.”
“We came as quickly as we could,” the older guy, whom I only just now take in at Adler’s side, replies. His tone is brisk, business-like. “They need to be together.”
I’d guess he’s in his late twenties, even though his dark, wavy hair has sprinkles of silver dotted throughout, giving him a hot Italian vibe and making him look older.
He’s sharply dressed in a button-down and slacks, directly contrasting Adler’s loose tee and sweatpants.
However, the way his defined muscles cling to his silky shirt and the way a faded scar creeps up from under his collar gives him a rugged edge.
He also smells… fucking incredible. An intoxicating mix of spiced rum, a hint of cinnamon, and something clean, like shaving cream.
“Who are you?” Kady plants her hands on her hips, looking the alpha up and down. “You don’t look like a student, and Margie doesn’t let just any alpha through the gates.”
“Orin Strike.” He plucks a badge out of his pocket then holds it out for her to inspect. “Head of SVU Security.”
I groan inwardly. Clearly, our situation has been escalated. He’s not as tall as Adler, probably standing just over 6′, but his commanding presence fills the space, leaving me in no doubt as to why he’s in such a position.
“Oh, right.” Kady bristles. “Well, thank you for escorting Adler.”
“I’m actually here for personal reasons.” Looking past Kady, Orin’s dreamy eyes meet mine. They’re gray and mysterious with a deep intensity. The eyes of someone who has been through a lot, making me eager to know more about him. “I’m Adler’s pack leader.”
“Wh-what?” I finally find my voice again. All the while, Orin’s gaze doesn’t leave me. I turn to Adler, “You didn’t say that your pack leader was SVU’s Head of Security!”
“We were kinda… busy.” Adler grins sheepishly, a lightning bolt shooting through me at remembering exactly how busy we were. “I guess it didn’t really come up as party conversation. Orin can be a bit of a killjoy.”
Adler’s already starting to look a bit better, getting more color in his cheeks. I stifle a laugh. His attempts to lighten the strained mood make me think that living with him may not be so bad after all.
While I snicker, Orin and Kady glare at him. Both are clearly on the same page that now isn’t the time for joking around.
“Well, at least we know you’ll be well looked after,” Delilah whispers in my ear, her arm still protectively around me.
“It’ll be best if you stay with us, Sabrina.” Orin wastes no time getting straight to the point. He’s obviously an alpha who likes to make plans. “You can move in with us, or we can rent somewhere else, if you’d prefer?”
“Your place is fine,” I murmur. “And please, call me Sabs.”
Orin nods curtly. “We’ll make sure you have everything you need.”
Adler steps closer, his foot hovering outside the door but not crossing the threshold, even though his ticking jaw hints at how much he wants to. “I meant what I said last night, Sabs.” I can feel his sincerity pulsating through our connection. “We’re going to make this work.”
“And your pack?” I dare to look at Orin, not even being able to imagine how he feels right now, his unreadable, serious expression giving nothing away. “What do you think?”
The vast majority of accidental bonding cases involve solo alphas, making our predicament even more unusual.
“My first priority is your and Adler’s health.” Orin’s forehead wrinkles. “We’ll deal with everything else later. Adler has put you in a difficult position. Whether you want to be or not, you’re part of Pack Strike now.”
Adler’s guilt hits me like a heavy dumbbell. He obviously cares a great deal about what Orin thinks, and disappointing his pack leader makes him feel almost as bad as biting me in the first place.
“It wasn’t all Adler’s fault.” I’m compelled to defend my alpha. “I… encouraged him.”
Adler hangs his head. “As an alpha, I should have been able to control myself.”
“What’s done is done.” Orin shuts the conversation down, glancing over at our neighbors. A few omegas from Persephone House have gathered on their porch, not-so-discreetly watching on. “Have you packed a bag? We should leave before we attract any more attention.”
“Right… A bag… Uh, no.”
The overwhelming reality hits me that I’ll be swapping my home in Stella House for the Strike Pack mansion with no idea of what’s coming next.
“Come inside while Sabs packs.” Kady steps aside to let Orin and Adler inside. “It’ll stop you from having to deal with,” she glares at the Persephone House gaggle, “them. In the meantime, I have lots of questions.”
I recognize her tenacious expression as she gears up to interrogate them, entering full-on scary law student mode.
I muster a half-apologetic grin for Adler, who looks like he’s been caught with his pants down.
Kady tends to have that effect on people.
Even Jagger Knight—Delilah’s famous rockstar alpha—crumbled under the pressure of being scrutinized by a Sinclair.
“We can help you put some things together.” Delilah closes the door behind them, nervously peering at the nosy neighbors who are probably hotly debating why the guys have been granted permission to enter OV. Noticing Orin impatiently checking his watch, she also adds, “Don’t worry, we’ll be quick.”
“Thank you,” Orin says. “I’d prefer to handle this as discreetly as possible.”
Delilah gives me a gentle shove. “Let’s go, Sabs.”
“Damon says his boss is a good guy. He’s always spoken highly of Orin,” Faye, who has been quietly observing what’s unfolding, comments as we head downstairs while Kady stays with the guys.
“What do you know about him?” Hopefully, she can give me some information about my new hot pack leader.
“Not much,” she admits. “But I know he was in the military before he started working here. He’s honorable. A man who follows a strict moral code. He’ll keep you safe.”