Chapter Twenty-Eight
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
MY SKIRT SWISHES around me, tickling my legs as I walk out of my apartment. Orion texted me to let me know he was on his way ten minutes ago. Excitement bubbles in my stomach, matching the nerves that make my hands shake as I twist my keys in the lock.
A door closes, and I turn to see Orion headed up the path toward me. I nearly swallow my tongue when I see him. Sweet Fates, this man is a fucking vision in black. He’s wearing a black dress shirt that strains around his arms and shoulders. It is paired with an intricate corset in the same color.
I never thought seeing a man in a corset would make my knees weak, but here I am. Seconds from dragging this gorgeous alpha into my apartment and showing him exactly how much I appreciate the long curve of his waist.
“Good evening, Bea,” he greets, offering me a hand. I slip mine into his, and offer him a tentative smile. When he pulls my fingers to his lips and brushes a kiss against them, I swoon. “Ready to go?”
“Yeah,” I breathe out. It feels like my brain is running on a loop between awestruck and horny. Which is pretty on par for an omega around her Fate matched alpha.
Holding the door open, Orion waits as I slip inside. He leans into my space, his ocean storm scent soaking into me as he carefully buckles my seat belt. My thighs are already soaked in slick, the smell of my arousal clear in the air between us. He smirks as he leans back, throwing me a wink before he closes my door and jogs around to climb into the driver’s seat.
“Do you get seasick?”
I blink several times at his sudden question. “No?”
He offers me a shy smile before focusing back on the road. “I booked a private dinner on a sailboat. If you’d prefer to go elsewhere…” He trails off, peeking at me when we stop at a red light.
“That sounds wonderful,” I admit. Butterflies whirl in my chest. Ridley and I had gone out on little adventures during our off days on the West Coast, but no one has ever taken me on a proper date before.
“Okay,” Orion blows out a breath, clearly as nervous about tonight as I am. “Good.”
We drive in comfortable silence for a few minutes before he speaks again. “Have you been sailing before?”
“Boating, but not sailing specifically. My parents have a small boat they use on the lake near their house.”
“I’ve always loved being out on the water. It’s freeing. Something I felt even more after Shallow Horizon’s initial rise to stardom. Even now, there are people around the country who recognize me when I’m out in public. That’s why I wanted to take you on the boat. No one can interrupt us out there.”
“I hadn’t considered that,” I hum. Life in the limelight isn’t as fun and carefree as movies and TV make it appear to be. The press can be invasive when they want to dig into a celebrity’s life. Even fans often forget their idols are people too. “As long as I’m here with you, I don’t think I would care what we were doing.”
Orion chuckles, earning a fresh flood of my perfume. This alpha’s voice is entirely too deep to be appropriate in public. I’m glad we won’t be sitting in a small restaurant for our date. With this plan, I don’t have to worry about everyone scenting how turned on I am all night.
We pull up to a dock twenty minutes later. The sun is low on the horizon. Deep blues chase shades of orange and pink across the sky. It’s beautiful, but the sight doesn’t compare to the alpha currently holding my hand. He’s gentle as he guides me up the dock to a large boat. It’s lit with soft gold light, matching Orion’s magnetizing amber eyes.
“Careful,” he soothes as I step on board. His palm brushes against the small gap of bare skin between my velvet crop top and tulle skirt. He shudders, sucking in a sharp breath. The physical contact must be as electrifying for him as it is for me.
A small square table sits beneath the folded sails, decorated with white china and rolled cloth napkins. Fluffy, tan cushions cover the benches surrounding the table, and a large vase in the center holds a bouquet of pink and white roses . It’s intimate and romantic.
I glance around, searching for the vessel’s captain. Orion slips from my side and moves around the deck with purpose. Is he going to sail us out into the water?
There is so much I don’t know about my alpha mate. Aside from mapping his tattoo covered body and learning he was the lead singer of Shattered Horizons, he is still a stranger to me. I was tempted to look him up online, but it felt unfair to go into a relationship having heard about his past from others.
Hopefully, tonight will strengthen the connection between us. I don’t think I can handle another Fate matched mate who decides they want nothing to do with me.
Stars twinkle in the sky as we idle in the water. The lull of the water lapping against the boat soothes any lingering tension from my body. I’m lounging languidly against the seat, staring out at the city lights in the distance, when Orion joins me.
“Are you hungry?”
I offer him a wide smile. “I never say no to food.”
He grins back and offers me his hand. The sparks that ignite from the soft touch between us roll over my body, spreading heat in their wake. I doubt I’ll ever get used to the wonderful feeling of being connected to one of my Fate matched mates, even with just a casual touch like this.
“I’m not a chef by any means,” he admits, leading me into the cabin. A small kitchen area leads to a bedroom at the back. It’s all dark wood and pristine white fabrics. Welcoming without looking like home. Orion presses a kiss to the back of my hand before he steps to the small fridge and pulls out the ingredients he needs for our dinner.
“Ah, I should have asked if you have any food allergies or preferences? I planned on making us an asparagus pasta dish.”
“That sounds incredible. No food allergies. As for preferences, as long as it isn’t abhorrently spicy, I am open to anything.”
His head bobs as he resumes his digging, pulling out a skillet, a steamer pan, and a bowl. “Small amounts of spice can elevate a dish, but adding heat for the sake of making food spicier isn’t something I enjoy. I’d rather savor the flavors than lose feeling in my tongue.”
I watch, entranced, as he unbuttons his shirt sleeves and rolls them up to his elbows. The dark material stretches over his arms, highlighting the athletic build of his upper body and showcasing his colorful tattoos.
I’m drooling. This alpha is an absolute snack. How the hell am I supposed to keep my hands to myself when he’s standing here looking like a dark fantasy brought to life?
“Tell me about yourself.”
It takes me a moment to drag my eyes away from his arms. Heat creeps up my cheeks when I realize he is watching me, a devastating smirk on his face. He knows exactly what he is doing to me.
“Hmm. I’m the only child in a pack of four. Or I was until we adopted my best friend, Omen. I graduated from the Omega Academy last spring and started working as a manager-in-training at the label immediately after.”
“Why did you decide to become a band manager?” he asks as he sets a pot of water to boil. His body flexing in that ridiculously hot corset makes it extremely difficult for me to answer questions.
“I love music. One of my alpha dads was always listening to music growing up. As soon as I was old enough, he started taking me to concerts with him. It was a Candy Courage concert that made me realize I wanted to work in the industry. Stepping into a business role was a no-brainer since I have zero musical talent.”
“Candy Courage, huh? Those girls are… wild. Are you going to their concert next week? The label will give you a discount on tickets.”
My jaw drops, mouth hanging open. I hadn’t even heard they were playing a show. Too caught up in work, mates, and worry for Omen. This is the perfect opportunity to get my bestie back out in the world! “I will definitely be there now!”
He laughs, his eyes lighting up with humor. Fate truly has blessed me with unbelievably handsome mates, even if some of them are pains in my ass.
“Your turn.”
Orion hums, beating eggs and grating cheese into the same bowl. He’s very task focused as he works, cautious even. “You’ve heard I used to sing for Shattered Horizons. A story I will share later. Keep things light until after we eat.” My heart races faster when he winks at me.
Slowly, I nod my agreement, shoving aside my curiosity for the sake of his comfort. Whatever happened between him and his old band must weigh heavily on him.
“California was where I moved after we split. While living there, I discovered a passion for marketing and graphic design. I enrolled in a local college and got a degree, all while working at the label’s office to support myself.”
“Soulbound is a true diamond among simulants. They genuinely seem to care for their bands and staff.”
Orion steps closer, his ozone scent washing over me as he drains a pot of pasta into the sink. Out on the water, it feels like I’m surrounded by remnants of his scent, but nothing compares to the real thing. I take a deep breath, letting him coat my senses before he moves away.
“Do you miss California?”
“Yes and no,” he says. “New York has always been my home. Being back, surrounded by the familiar, is comforting. But California has its perks. The warmth being one of them. I am not looking forward to a Northeast winter.”
Laughter spills from my lips at the pinched look on his face. The slight scrunch of his nose. My alpha does not appear to be a fan of snow.
“I’ve never been a fan of the colder weather,” I admit once I’ve caught my breath. “Looking out the window to watch snowflakes fall to the ground can be breathtaking, but as soon as I have to touch the snow, I’m out.”
He chuckles, voicing his agreement as he dishes the pasta onto two plates. I take one from his hands, ignoring the downturn of his lips. As sweet as chivalry is, I am perfectly capable of carrying my plate to the table.
With a bottle of wine in one hand and his plate in the other, he follows me. I slide onto the cushioned bench, dancing happily when he takes the seat beside me. Close enough our arms occasionally brush, which is still too far away.
Swirling pasta on my fork, I take a bite and moan. Whether it’s the burst of flavor or knowing he poured his love into the dish, it tastes magical!
We eat in silence, enjoying the peaceful night breeze and each other’s company. Being here with him feels right, proving I am right about the connection between us. Orion Walker is Fated to be mine.
After dinner, we head to the front deck of the boat where he has a plush blanket laid out. We settle side by side and stare up at the sky. We’re still too close to the city to truly see the stars, but a few of the brightest peek through.
“The band I am going to help, Belemorph, recently lost their omega in an anti-designation attack in Los Angeles.”
Turning to study his face, and my breath catches when I see the devastation written there. I heard about the attack, but wasn’t aware one of our bands had lost someone. To lose a bonded mate… It’s unimaginable. Bonds snapping can destroy an omega. We aren’t built to handle the pain of losing a piece of our soul.
“That’s…” I trail off. There are no words to describe something so awful.
Orion gives me a sad half-smile. “Their manager is worried their grief may lead them to try to take their own lives. He thinks I can help, because…” He takes a long breath, those amber eyes locking onto mine. “Because I experienced the same loss six years ago.”
I’m fairly certain my heart stopped beating. The anguish in my alpha’s eyes is too much to bear. I want to wrap him in my arms and soothe his despair, but after hearing he had a bonded mate, I’m unsure my comfort would be welcome. I don’t know how to react when I’m dancing such a perilous line.
“What happened?” I choke out the words, fighting with my warring instincts.
He scoops me up, pulling me to rest against his side. My purr rattles to life soft and barely audible over the sounds of the water, but he feels it. The tension slowly melts from his body, his arm tightening around my shoulders.
“I met Serenity in middle school. She was a sweetheart. The classic image of a good kid. With perfect grades and not a blemish on her record. Getting to know her, I quickly learned the truth: she was very good at covering up her tracks. That girl had the freest spirit buried beneath her carefully crafted responsible persona.”
Jealousy tries to worm up my spine, but I crush the feeling. Orion belonging to another woman is a tough pill to swallow, knowing this story leads to them bonding eventually, but it is in the past. Acting irrationally over his relationship with someone no longer in this world would be terribly selfish of me, regardless of how my instincts feel about the matter.
“When she presented as an Omega, I knew she was meant to be mine. I’d been in love with her for years by then. Feelings she reciprocated. After we graduated from the academy, I bonded her. It was everything. She was everything.”
The longing in his voice cuts me. I cannot fathom the pain he must still feel with the hole in his chest where her bond used to be. I never would have survived being in his shoes.
“I was away for the weekend. My old band, Shattered Horizons, had a show in Maryland. Ren was working at the Natural History museum and wanted to stay behind to help with one of their events. On her way home, there was an accident. I was on stage when it happened. It was… unbearable.”
Tears track down his cheeks, dripping onto the blanket below us. I reach up and gently wipe the one closest to me away, blinking wetness from my own eyes. “Orion… That’s… I’m so sorry you had to experience that.”
He turns so we are face to face, and pulls me closer. “I need you to know why I’ve been struggling with our connection. Part of me feels like finding a new omega is an affront to Ren’s memory, but the bigger part of me is terrified I will lose you, too.”
Silence blankets us. Words escape me because there is no magical fix for Orion’s fear. There are no guarantees in this life. Loss is always a possibility.
“I want to try,” he whispers, his breath warm against my temple. “I cannot promise it will be an easy journey. My grief is everlasting and my fear often consumes me, but you are worth the risk, Bea.”
A sob catches in my throat, and I bury my face against his chest. I hadn’t wanted to admit I was afraid he would reject me, but the thought lingered at the edges of my mind.
“I-I want that. To try.”
Rough fingers grip my chin, tilting my face up. One thumb caresses my lips, pulling at the soft flesh until they part. His mouth brushes against mine, the faintest feathering of a butterfly’s wings. An unspoken promise is written in his eyes. To stay. To try. For me.
“Sweet omega, thank you for giving me a chance.”
“Whatever you need, however long it takes, I’m here. I’m yours.”