Chapter 22
Erich
“We need to complete our pack, Erich.”
I nearly spit my soda all over his well-pressed white shirt.
Fucking Laurant.
“Well, ‘hello’ to you, too,” I grumble-rasp on a harsh swallow of cola.
Who the fuck just rolls up on someone out of the blue and says something so life-altering like that?
Not that I didn’t already know what needed to happen. Believe me. I’ve been thinking of almost nothing but this fact for more than a day now.
That chat with Arlowe sparked something inside me.
My nostrils flare of their own accord, and I can suddenly smell it. This fool’s shocking statement had distracted me from something very important.
“Holy shit, you two mated.”
His face is frustratingly impassive. Not even a hint of a gleeful or mocking grin. I know he must feel some level of smug about the whole thing. It was never a secret that I didn’t think they ever would. Either Laurant was too much of a goody-goody, or Nyx had better taste.
To be fair, she had no choice in the mates that fate dealt her, but still. Now we all have to suffer this pompous douche.
Forever.
Laurant sighs, gestures to one of the benches farther away from the back exit of the academy. I squint at him before moving ahead of him to the location and sitting down. He sits a healthy distance from me on the other end, but close enough for me to hear him whisper.
“I’ve been made privy to some information. About incomplete packs.”
This is what Arlowe was talking about, I know it. “Oh yeah?”
His lips thin then purse. “How… how is your relationship with Zephyr?”
I cringe before I can stop myself.
“That good, eh?”
My eyes roll as I grumble. “He’s not easy to get along with.”
I’m met by raised brows that I narrow my eyes at. I know I’m not easy, either. I don’t need fucking Laurant to tell me so.
“Why do you ask?”
He sighs. “We are putting him in peril by not mating and marking him.”
Now, my brows rise. “What?”
“Apparently, something that the rebellion isn’t making common knowledge for fear of pressure, is that Omegas who are left unmated and unmarked will go feral. It’s apparently worse if part of the pack is bonded and they remain in close physical proximity with those they aren’t yet bonded with.”
My mind whirls at this.
By my count, he’s only bonded with Nyx. But Nyx should be safe because we’ve all bonded her.
“Fuck.”
“Astute response.”
I glare. “He doesn’t like me.”
“Neither do I, but we do what we must for the pack.”
“He…” I swallow, hesitate.
This is Laurant. He’s a part of our pack, whether I like it or not. He needs to know.
“Nyx told me that he was traumatized by his time in Tenebrosa. She didn’t tell me what happened, but…” My head drops forward a bit. “You can see it. In his eyes.”
Laurant is quiet a moment, then asks, “Do you know where he is?”
“He moved into Nyx’s room.”
He rises and nods at me. “We should speak with him.”
My legs get heavier with each step we take. Into the academy's main hall, to the bottom of the curved stairs, up the first step… it’s like, as I move, more and more lead weights are slapped to my calves and thighs.
I want to mate Zephyr. Bond him. Save him.
But I don’t know if he’ll let me.
That’s why my legs are heavy. The weight is fear. Fear of rejection.
But this is the same fear I dealt with when it came to Nyx. My inaction hurt us both for so long… I don’t want to make the same mistake again, even though I’m headed in that direction. Maybe already there.
Outside Nyx and Zephyr’s door, I am motionless while I stare at the solid wood, eyes dropping to the biometric lock.
I don’t know how long I stand there before Laurant steps in front of me, raises his fist, and knocks. A gentle rap right in the center at face height.
There’s rustling behind the door before it opens about a foot, revealing a smiling Nyx. Her eyes drift from Laurant, to me and back. “Hey, you two. What’s up?”
I open my mouth to speak, but nothing comes out.
Nothing.
“May we enter?” Laurant’s voice is gentle, calm.
Nyx’s lips purse. “You’ll need to ask Zeph, but it’s okay with me.
” She sidesteps then opens the door a bit further, revealing Zephyr lying in the middle of one of the two mattresses they’ve pushed together.
He rests on his stomach, knees bent, feet in the air, face resting in his hands.
He looks so innocent, my heart stutters in my chest.
“Zephyr,” Laurant hums, “I’d like to properly introduce myself to you. May I enter your nest?”
The waves of thought that wash over Zephyr’s face are obvious and readable. He’s unsure, he reconsiders, he wants to say no, he resigns himself. It’s an open battle in his mind.
“Okay,” he says at last, pushing himself up to kneel on the mattress.
“Thank you.” Laurant passes Nyx and enters the room, disappearing behind the still mostly closed door, leaving me in the hall looking at Nyx as Zephyr’s lilac eyes settle on me from inside.
“I…” my voice is all air, and I swallow. Why is this so difficult? If he denies me, he denies me. It’s his right.
I almost jump out of my skin when Nyx’s hand slides over mine and grips it.
Once I’m in her grasp, I can breathe easier.
Once my eyes fix on hers, I feel strength return to my body.
Her ozone and autumn leaf scent soothes my soul as I take it into my lungs and let it stay there a moment before exhaling.
I give her hand a small squeeze of appreciation before clearing my throat, looking over her head into the room.
“Zephyr.” My voice is much more calm than I feel, and I’ve never been so happy for such a small feat. “I would like to enter your nest, if you’d let me. I have…” I almost choke, swallowing instead. “There’s a lot I’d like to tell you. Share with you.”
Those light purple eyes bore into me, his face impassive, unlike when Laurant requested entry, and my whole body stiffens, readying for rejection.
That is, until he says in a small voice, “You can come in, too.”