Chapter 24 #2
Orion hums, tilting my head back to rinse the soap from my hair. His fingers brush over Ridley’s mark, then Creed’s, reminding me of the bonded who chose me. I know he has, too. Even without his mark on my skin, he’s shown me where his heart lies. I’m his as irrevocably as he is mine.
“I can’t speak for Lex, because I don’t know him, but no matter where things go between you two, you aren’t alone.”
Returning to work feels incredible. A steady to-do list and tasks to focus on help keep the bad memories away. I feel normal when I’m here.
Or I would if everyone weren’t walking on eggshells around me. Acting like I’m going to fall apart if they speak too loudly or say the wrong thing.
Stepping off the elevator, I walk down the long hall leading to the studios. Orbital Somatic is working with Manny to record new songs for the album they are releasing next spring, and we are due for a face-to-face check-in.
Slipping the door open, I collapse onto the couch behind Manny, giving him a lopsided smile when he side-eyes me. He looks as exhausted as I feel, which is weird because he’s always very adamant about getting good sleep and a healthy work-life balance.
My eyes slip closed as I listen to Caleb and the others go through their songs. When he stumbles over the first few words, I know they’ve realized I’m here, but I motion for them to continue. A break while they finish won’t harm anything.
Vibrations in my pocket have me digging my phone out. I peek at the screen with one eye and sigh when I see a text from Shiloh. Like my other mates, he was reluctant to agree to allow me to return to work. Apparently, spending almost two weeks at home wasn’t enough.
Thankfully, Soulbound’s human resources team accepted my doctor’s note and allowed me to come back. I would have gone out of my mind, stuck at home for another week.
Shiloh: Your schedule is clear from 1 to 2. I would like you to join me in my office for lunch.
Several seconds pass before it vibrates with another message.
A single word that has me rolling my eyes.
‘Please.’ As if he is giving me a choice.
I don’t respond, but mentally remind myself to head up there this afternoon.
I do not want him to track me down, which I know he will do if I don’t show up.
Orbital Somatic finishes the song they were recording, and Manny shuts off the sound link before spinning in his chair. “How are you doing, chica?”
Shrugging my shoulders, I force myself to sit up. “I’m here. Alive and free. What about you? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you look so damn tired before.”
The slightest blush crawls up his face, tinting his russet skin a shade darker. “Nothing you need to worry about. Life likes to throw unexpected situations our way, does it not?”
“Unfortunately.”
“Congrats, by the way,” he comments, nodding toward the bite marks on my throat. Now I’m the one blushing.
The studio door opens, and all five members of Orbital Somatic spill out. Their drummer, Lee, practically rushes me, dropping to the floor beside where I’m sitting. “Fates, Bea! We’re so sorry!”
With a soft sigh, I reach out and pat his hat-covered head. “You all know what happened in Portland wasn’t your fault, right?”
“We should have looked after you,” Jeremy, the band’s bassist, comments.
All five of them look distraught, guilt and regret shining in their eyes. Empathy comes in spades when you are as in touch with your emotions as they are.
“If they couldn’t have gotten to me at the hotel, they would have taken me somewhere else.
It truly isn’t anyone’s fault except the men who kidnapped me.
” Standing, I put my hands on my hips and meet each of their eyes, letting my badass manager persona surface.
“No apologies, no guilt. We are here to boost your band into stardom, not rehash shitty events that we can’t change.
Take fifteen, sort yourselves out, then meet me in the manager’s office upstairs. ”
Grumbled acceptances fill the air as they leave. I deflate when the door closes behind them, skin crawling and memories trying to push to the front of my mind.
“Now that you are back, talk to Caleb.” I turn to look at Manny, raising one brow in question.
“I don’t know if it is his guilt over your abduction or something else that has happened, but he’s been acting weird since they returned from the charity show.
Quieter, more withdrawn. His head isn’t in the game. ”
Tilting my head a bit, I consider his actions just moments ago. He hadn’t said a word to me, or anyone else, only nodding along with his bandmates. Which is odd, because the gentle Alpha is usually the first to address an issue when it arises.
“Thanks, Manny. And good luck with whatever is causing you to lose sleep. I’m here if you ever need to talk.”
He waves me off, turning back to his work. I take my leave and head upstairs. Like Manny, I will get through my day one task at a time.
After meeting with the band to go over upcoming shows, interviews, and other tasks, I send them on their way. Caleb stays behind at my request, staring at the blank walls of the office.
“What’s going on?” I ask bluntly.
His blue-gray eyes meet mine, filled with a sorrow that cuts deep into my soul and brings tears to my eyes. Fucking Omega hormones.
“It’s nothing-”
I cut him off with a sharp glare, and he swallows thickly before staring down at the table. He clenches his hands together on top of the worn wood, his knuckles white from the tightness of his grip.
“After you left the club that night, a fight broke out. Not involving any of the bands, just a bunch of drunk assholes nearby. It was whatever, you know? That shit happens. But then I started to panic. Full-blown, hard-to-breathe panic attack. It was fucking weird. I didn’t understand why my body was reacting so poorly to something I’ve seen a hundred times…
” His voice trails off, eyes squeezing shut before they flicker back open and turn to me.
“Then I looked across the room and saw Skye’s pack surrounding her. She was hyperventilating in their arms. And suddenly it clicked. Like a key sliding into place and unlocking a door I’d spent years ignoring.”
I already know what he is going to say before the words leave his lips. My mind is torn between joy and pity for the confused Alpha.
“It wasn’t my emotions I was feeling at all. They were hers. Shared through a Fated connection we never uncovered.”
“What did she say?”
He glances away again, jaw tight as his head shakes. “I left before I could find out. Like hell, I was going to stick around to get rejected.”
Reaching out, I gently grip his forearm, waiting until he looks at me again. “Skye already has a bonded pack-”
“I fucking know that,” he grits out. Shaking off my hand.
“Let me finish speaking, asshole. She has a bonded pack, BUT she still sought you out in Portland. The history between the two of you obviously means something to her. And I know it does to you, too. Are you really going to walk away from your Fate-matched mate because you are afraid you won’t fit in with her other mates? ”
“That’s not… It’s more complicated than that.”
“Maybe,” I tell him as I push to my feet, ready to go meet Shiloh for lunch. “Maybe not. You won’t know if you don’t try. I don’t know about you, but I think Fate is worth taking chances on.”
Leaving him to consider my words, I silently hope he gives his Fate a chance. I would never wish for another Omega to have a mate whose fear impedes the connection between them.