Chapter 102
Chapter One-Hundred-Two
Jay
It’s maddening to have to stand around while a strange Alpha makes sure Robin isn’t having some kind of medical episode. I wanted to punch the guy out when he told me I wasn’t permitted to be in the room with her. I still want to march back there and incite violence.
“Tug a little tighter on his leash, Shayne,” Harper mutters. “He’s about to go feral.”
I frown at my Omega, before I turn my stare on our Alpha.
“You’re really going to let some stupid fucking doctor be alone with our mate?”
“Dial it back, Jay. She’s been a patient here for weeks,” Shayne says, giving me a wry smile. “That doctor has been looking after her, and aside from the fact that he helped her recover, he’s also mated to the head of the school. There’s nothing to worry about. She’s safe with him.”
“Safe?” I can’t help but laugh. “He’s an Alpha. She’s a Beta. There’s a power imbalance. I don’t know that asshole from any other stranger. I don’t trust him. I don’t care who he is.”
“You do know that you’re the stranger here, right?” Harper asks, raising an eyebrow when I look at him.
“What?” I ask, getting more irritated.
“To Robin, I mean. She knows that guy. The doctor. She doesn’t know you, or me.”
“He’s right,” Shayne piles on. “And I don’t think getting wound up is going to help you get to know her any better. She doesn’t need some stranger acting like a caveman, trying to save her from an actual doctor who only wants to make sure she’s in good health.”
“I’m not …” I start, stopping when I realize I’m only getting angrier.
They’re both right. Robin doesn’t know me. She doesn’t know this isn’t what I’m always like.
It’s not a good impression to make. I curse under my breath, expelling my anger in the words.
My body doesn’t relax easily, but Harper touches my arm and leaks a little of his healing energy into me. That helps break down my rage. It seeps in and calms me right down.
I breathe in deeply and let it all out on the exhale.
Calm. Cool. Collected.
I crack my neck and let out a soft sigh.
“Thanks, Harp,” I murmur.
“Don’t mention it,” Harper tells me.
He smiles when I look at him. “It feels good when I can help you, instead of the other way around. I get to look after you for a change.”
I put an arm around him. “Don’t get used to it.”
I look back at Shayne. He’s watching the door Robin walked through minutes ago.
Nothing ever makes him angry. I don’t know how he can be so level all the time.
When it comes to our mates, I’m triggered swiftly.
Falcon knows how it is. He has a lot more of that rabid energy inside him than I do. He’s just always pushing it back down, forcing himself to think things through, before his anger can get out of control. I don’t envy him that task.
It’s been constant for weeks, and I finally understand why.
He met Robin a month ago. He rescued her from a bad situation.
And then, he let her go. He left her here to be healed by doctors.
On a surface level, he didn’t recognize her as a fated mate.
But something deeper inside him knew.
That’s what was driving him for all these weeks.
No wonder he was going fucking crazy.
I’ve been here for less than ten minutes, and I was ready to kill the doctor who’s been helping her for having the audacity to tell us to wait out here for him to check our mate is okay.
It’s messed up. I can admit that now that Harper has calmed me down.
It doesn’t make our wait any easier.
I look over to where Shayne’s brother is standing with the redhead I thought might be Robin for a few tense seconds. There’s nothing wrong with her, really. She’s just not Robin.
I watch as a dark-haired woman and a tall Alpha in a leather jacket step into the reception area next to Shadow and the redhead. Shadow looks our way as the redhead goes over to the desk.
He brings the other two over and Shayne touches Harper’s arm.
I free our Omega from our hug and turn to greet these newcomers.
“Harper and Jay, meet Lana, the head of the school, and Owen, the head of security.”
They both have a commanding presence. I probably could have guessed who they were if I wasn’t told. The female is a Beta, but in the right light she could look like an Alpha.
“Oh wow, another Delta,” Harper murmurs, nudging me.
Lana looks right at him, one eyebrow raised. “Delta?”
“Uh …” he starts, trailing off because she heard him.
“Harper has studied the older generations’ designations at length,” I explain. “Before certain designations were debunked as they have no basis in genetics, many Betas with Alpha qualities were in leadership roles. Those Betas were given the designation of Delta.”
She blinks at me. “I’ve never heard it explained like that.”
“Well, the texts Harper studied were in French. Europeans have a different take on the whole thing, apparently.”
She seems impressed, though that wasn’t my intention.
“That history isn’t covered much in schools here, and I can see why now. Whoever was in power when that change was made was making sure only Alphas could lead the masses.”
“Pretty much,” I agree with a shrug.
“Well, it’s nice to meet you,” she says, before looking back at Shayne. “I assume you’re out here waiting for Robin to come back from the medical ward? Shadow explained what just happened.”
“We are,” Shayne confirms. “I assume she won’t be expected to go back to work.”
“She won’t,” Lana agrees. “And we can start training over again when it’s appropriate.”
“In the meantime, we’d appreciate it if you would avoid spending time outside of Robin’s suite unless it’s absolutely necessary,” Owen says. “I don’t want new people wandering around the building when they don’t know all the rules. Once you’re trained properly, we can talk about what’s allowed.”
Lana nods. “Sorry, but he’s right. We have a lot on our plates. Do what we instruct, and you’ll keep everyone safe. Step out of line and we’re going to have problems.”
I exchange a look with Harper.
She is definitely what he’d call a Delta.
Maybe they’re more of a thing than I thought.
She’s not wrong that a change was made to keep Alphas in power.
Harper’s been telling me that for years.
I guess some part of me thought he was just trying to make me feel better when we met our Alphas.
I was never jealous of their bond with him.
It wasn’t deeper than mine, just different.
But maybe I’ve always kind of wished, in the back of my mind, that I was an Alpha.
If only because then I’d be what he needed most.
I’m still wondering what it means that I’m more than a Beta when Harper’s perfume is triggered for the second time by our new mate.
It’s been days since he perfumed for me, and I was already feeling the loss of intimate contact before we even got here. Having his scent fill the air as our one and only female mate comes toward us is like a wish about to come true.
My pants tighten, and I take in her curved form as if she’s the first woman I’ve ever seen in my life. I’m awestruck by how stunning she is, and all I want is to add to those marks my Alphas have made on her throat while I’m claiming her gorgeous body.
She stops a few steps away from where we are.
“Uh, I’m okay,” she says, reminding me she left because she collapsed. “Dr. Clarke took some blood to test, but there’s nothing to worry about. He said I should take the day off work.”
Lana moves around to where she is. “Of course. Don’t worry about that. We just want to make sure you’re good.”
“I am,” she murmurs, her gaze moving from me to Harper.
“I do have some bad news,” Lana says, making my body tense up.
“Oh?” Robin looks around, but none of us know what Lana’s about to say.
“You’ll have to stay in your suite. You can call me if you need anything, of course. But until the second fence has been installed, we need to keep everyone as safe as possible. That means no wandering. And we can’t have anyone going outside right now. I’m sorry.”
“Oh.” She seems disappointed.
I guess it’s only natural. No one likes to be cooped up.
“It should only take a few days,” Shayne adds, looking to Lana who nods slowly.
“That’s what we’re hoping.”
“Falcon’s helping with that,” Shayne explains. “He’s outside now with some of Owen’s staff.”
“He was digging the trench,” Robin adds.
It’s not a big surprise. Falcon might have been aimless for a while on the career front, but anytime something needs done, he’s the first one there, getting his hands dirty, regardless of who asked or how much time it might take.
“Then I guess we might not see him much for a few days,” I murmur, glad to know we won’t have to share Robin too much, at least for a while.
“You can call down to the kitchen for meals,” Lana says. “And please use the elevator to get to Robin’s suite. I don’t want her exerting herself while we’re waiting for her test results.”
She moves to the elevator and hits the button by the side.
It’s like a dropped curtain reveal to me, considering I never noticed the elevator until the doors are opening in front of us all.
“The bags,” I start, before I see Shadow bringing them over.
Despite how slender he is, he manages the bags without effort.
“You can get my number off Shayne if you want to chat,” Shadow says.
I realize he’s talking to Harper, who nods enthusiastically.
“Sure. I mean, maybe not immediately, but I’ll definitely text you.”
Shadow laughs. “I’ll understand if it takes a while.”
Those two have clearly bonded instantly over their shared designation.
I guess Omegas are the rarest type, and male Omegas are even rarer than female.
It’s not like Harper usually gets the chance to meet someone like him.
Shayne and I pick up the bags.
The other redhead hands Harper his violin case.
He smiles at her. “Hey, thanks.”
“No problem.” She smiles back. “I’m Erika. I’m on reception if you need anything.”
“Nice to meet you, Erika.” He heads into the elevator.
We follow him inside, making room for Robin in the middle.
She looks a little nervous as she steps inside.
Her cheeks are flushed, and her hand shakes when she brushes her hair back.
I don’t think Shayne or Harper notice. I put down the bags I’m carrying, ready to steady her if she starts to collapse again.
“Oh!” she mutters, before she presses a button.
The elevator doors close on the reception area.