Chapter Thirty-Five
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
JANE KNOCKS ON my office door, stepping inside when I answer. “Mr. Acherley, I’m leaving for the evening, but I wanted to remind you about the label’s charity gala this weekend. Your suit has been dry cleaned and is ready. Is Miss Powell going to be attending as your date?”
Shit. I forgot about the gala. As a Soulbound executive, I cannot skip attending. And I don’t feel comfortable leaving Sabine at the apartment alone while I am in New York overnight.
“Thank you, Jane. Yes, Miss Powell will be with me for the evening as my guest . Could you make the proper arrangements at the hotel tomorrow? A single room is fine, but please book double beds.”
She nods and steps back, but pauses in the doorway. “If I may suggest something?”
“Of course. I value your opinions.”
“Miss Powell will need a gown to wear.” Jane gives me a knowing look before she leaves, closing the door behind her. I doubt Bea packed evening wear when she fled her apartment, which means my secretary is correct.
Opening my laptop, I pull up the website of a local boutique specializing in dresses for social events and pack bonding ceremonies. Every gown is only sold once, giving the wearer an exclusive look for their special occasion. Scanning their current collection, I smirk when I find the perfect dress. It looks like it was made for my omega. From the color to the deep cut on the bust. With a peek at the clock, I call the store with only ten minutes to spare before closing.
Perhaps these gifts will help thaw the ice Bea has built around her heart since her heat two weeks ago. Outside of the short drive to and from the office during the week, I’ve barely seen her. She has taken to hiding in the guest room when we are at home, and outside of meetings she avoids me at work, too.
It’s frustrating, but I recognize that the blame for her lukewarm reactions lies with me. Yet again, my selfishness is hurting those around me.
This is precisely why I cannot pursue a relationship with Bea. I will continue to hurt her when I drive her other mates away.
Sighing, I head to the second floor to find Bea. I find her in the studio with one of our producers, Emanuel Alfaro. She’s sitting on the couch, hair pulled up in an artful pile of curls on her head, leaving her neck exposed. I miss the sight of my love bites on her skin. Visual reminders of the amazing heat we spent together.
As I hover in the doorway, she laughs at something he says. The tinkling sound fills the small room with a brightness I hadn’t realized I was missing.
Rapping my knuckles on the open door, I wince when her laughter immediately cuts off. Replaced by the stony expression she’s taken to wearing around me.
“Ready, Miss Powell?”
I have to fight back a flinch when emotionless blue eyes flit to me before turning back to Manny. My instincts try to demand I fix it, a purr already starting to vibrate my chest. Pushing my biological reactions to my omega’s pain aside is extremely difficult. Alphas and omegas aren’t built to fight the connection to their Fate matched mates.
The DAU needs to capture the man who tried to break into her apartment quickly. Otherwise, the forced proximity may ruin us both.
“Sure,” she finally replies. Even her tone is cool and aloof. She grabs her purse, stuffing her cell phone inside, and steps closer to Manny’s seat. Watching her hug him, a sweet smile on her face, makes me insanely jealous. No one else should be touching my omega.
I turn on my heel and head back to the elevator before I do something stupid. Like rip her from his arms and sink my teeth into her throat so he knows who she belongs to.
In the parking garage, I step outside of the elevator and extend an arm to help her out. She ignores my offered hand and brushes past me. Her shoulder slides across my chest and I allow myself another moment of torture by inhaling her pineapple coconut scent.
Bea may physically hide her feelings, but her scent tells the truth. She is distraught by my refusal to give her pack a chance.
This is what is best for us both. I will not put myself in a situation where I may harm one of her other mates. Neither of us would be able to forgive me if I did.
“Friday evening there is a charity gala in the city that I am required to attend as label executive,” I tell her as I open the car door for her. “I have made arrangements for you to attend with me.”
Outrage covers her face as I close the door. I can hear her cursing as I round the back of the car. My mouthy mate certainly has a temper. Though I will gladly take her fire over the indifference she has been feigning around me.
“I’m not going.”
Starting my car, I carefully back us out of my parking spot and leave the parking garage. “This is non-negotiable, Sabine. As secure as my apartment building is, you cannot stay there alone overnight. Not with the Montgomery cult still searching for you and Omen.”
Technically, the DAU believes the attempted break in at the omega duo’s apartment was only targeting Omen. I will not put Bea’s life at risk without confirmation. She is stuck with my possessive brand of protectiveness until the threats against her roommate have been dealt with.
“I can stay with my parents for the weekend,” she protests, crossing her arms over her chest.
“They are still on call assisting with issues in New Hampshire,” I remind her.
We ride in silence for several minutes. She stares out the window, her eyes filled with pain where they reflect in the glass. Soon her other mates will return and she’ll be able to escape the hurt my presence causes her.
“I don’t even have anything to wear to that type of event,” she finally mutters.
Smirking, I put the car in park and turn to face her. “I’ll make sure you have everything you need for the evening, Omega.”
She shivers, eyes slipping closed. Creamy, citrusy perfume fills the air between us, making my already hard cock ache. Her eyes fly open, lips thinning as she cuts off her delicious response to my voice. “Fine.”
Bea is out of the car and stomping toward the lobby before I can climb out of my seat. The way her lavender pencil skirt stretches around her curvy hips and ass has arousal burning down my spine. A cold shower is going to be necessary to survive the night without laying her out on the counter and drowning in her pussy.
I’m adjusting my cuff links when the bathroom door clicks open. The sight that awaits me steals the breath from my lungs, leaving my jaw gaping and my tongue speechless.
Bea looks stunning in the blush pink satin gown. The material clings to her waist and hips before sliding down her long legs to the floor. Beaded pink fabric cuts a deep v along her sternum, crossing under silky straps to rest on her shoulders. With the way the dress flows down her body like water over smooth stones, I know she is bare beneath it.
A thought that tests every ounce of control I possess. Especially with her hair straightened and twisted in a low bun at the base of her neck, leaving her unmarked neck on display.
Fates give me strength so I do not attack every alpha who dares to look at her tonight.
“Miss Powell. You look as radiant as a lone star in a darkened sky.”
Color covers her cheeks with my compliment. She takes a moment to look me over, noting the matching pink pocket square in my jacket with a flash of heat. It dissipates quickly, cooled by the distance I’ve put between us.
“You look handsome as well, Mr. Acherley,” she replies evenly.
Slipping her arm through mine, she allows me to guide her from our room and into the elevator. Only when other guests join us does she step close enough for her body to press against mine. I take advantage of the crowd and scent mark her cheek.
I tell myself I am doing so to protect her, but we both recognize the act for what it is—possession.
The elevator doors open and we follow the fray of well-dressed packs and couples toward the event room where the gala is being held. This year, the label chose to donate the funds we raise in our silent auction to a non-profit that builds omega-only communities. With the horrific treatment of omegas in New Hampshire being broadcast for the nation to see, we want to help contribute to finding survivors safe places to live.
Bea sucks in a sharp breath when we step into the elaborately decorated ballroom. Strings of tiny white lights hang from the ceiling, making appear as if stars are raining down around us. Round tables covered in black cloth are scattered throughout the room. Each is topped with a golden moon shaped vase holding a bouquet of roses in shades of blue, purple, and white.
I guide her further into the room, pausing every so often to greet someone I know. Networking like this will give Bea bigger opportunities within Soulbound as she grows into her manager role. One day we will see her promoted to executive manager. Leading the company into the future with her love of music and passion to help growing bands shine in the spotlight.
Making a loop back toward the bar in the front corner, I stumble over my feet when I see Jericho and his pack in the crowd ahead of us. Before I can steer us away, he glances up and sees me. His smile slips into a frown when his eyes fall on Bea beside me. They narrow back on me and I know I’ve been caught in the lie I spun that day at the bistro.
Steeling my spine, I join his pack, greeting his mates by name so Bea knows who they are. “Jericho, this is Miss Powell. One of our new managers at the label.” Glancing down at Bea, I add, “Jericho is my younger brother.”
“It’s lovely to meet you all,” Bea says with a strained smile. She swallows thickly, so I slip my arm from hers and step away with a muttered promise to return with drinks for us both.
Someone steps up beside me as I wait at the bar. I don’t have to look to the side to know it is Jericho. There is no way he was going to let me withholding information go so easily.
“So, you’ve finally met your mate?”
I choke, head whipping to glare at him. How the fuck-
“A few weeks ago, I went on an assignment to North Carolina with Lex Ferguson and Ridley Hale. While we were there, the DAU let both men know their omega had been in direct danger and relocated to your apartment for safekeeping until the attacker is caught.”
The bartender slides Bea’s and my drink across with a nod. I grab both and move to the side so we aren’t in the way of the other guests. “Allowing my employee to temporarily stay in my apartment means there is a connection between us?”
“No. Ridley seems to think there is, though. Before tonight, I wouldn’t have put much faith in his idea, but the way you look at her tells me everything.”
“And how do I look at her?”
“Like your heart would stop beating if she wasn’t in your arms.”
Scoffing, I stare out into the crowd. My gaze is naturally drawn to where she stands with my brother’s pack, laughing easily with his omega mate. “She can’t be mine, Jericho. You know what would happen if she was.”
“You’re an idiot.”
I scowl at his blunt response but brush it aside. We’re brothers. We grew up calling each other on our bullshit and fighting over everything under the sun.
“Look, Shiloh, I know what happened with Cedes left scars on your heart, but what happened then isn’t the same as what you’ve found now.” His hand grips my shoulder tight, eyes following my gaze to his pack. “With Cedes and the others, you were a square peg trying to fit into a round hole. Being part of a pack where everyone shared a Fated connection except you wasn’t going to work.”
“Because I am a selfish bastard who cannot stomach the thought of sharing my mate with someone else.”
“You couldn’t handle sharing Cedes with someone else because of the imbalance in your relationships. No matter how hard the two of you tried, you were never going to be as close to her as the others. Even if you didn’t see it, your alpha felt it. That is why you lashed out the way you did.”
I hate hearing what I already know spill from his mouth. When the truth is spoken aloud, it makes it harder to keep pretending it is cautiousness keeping me away from my Fated. “And if I react the same to Sabine and her other mates?”
“Have you seen her with them?”
“Yes.” He gives me a hard look, so I relent. “Only in a professional capacity.”
“Exactly.” Jericho squeezes my shoulder again before dropping his hand and heading back to his mates. “Give them a chance, brother. Her other mates are a part of your Fate as much as she is.”
Trailing behind him, I swallow the refusal resting at the tip of my tongue. Am I letting my fear of being on the outside of another pack affect my chances with Bea? And if I am, can I overcome that fear long enough to give this pack a chance?