10. Adler #2
I ignore my friend, stomping from the kitchen to find Orin with a hulking stranger who takes up most of the room. He’s built like a mountain with tattoos covering his arms, and his tee is covered in specks of blood.
I narrow my eyes at Orin. “Who is he?”
Luca joins me. “Now’s probably not the right time for a guest.” He’s more tactful than I am. “We’re dealing with a… situation.”
Before Orin can ask any questions, I see the stranger’s gaze land on the fox statue… and the pink lacy thong draped over Fred’s ear.
The alpha’s shoulders tense as he inhales deeply, drinking in her scent with flaring nostrils, not taking his eyes off her underwear. Seeing him scent my omega sets an instant red-hot ball of fury searing through my veins.
I’m not the only one who’s angry. The unwanted guest’s massive hands curl into fists. They’re the size of small boulders, and based on how he’s blood-spattered, I’m assuming that he’s someone who isn’t afraid of doing serious damage.
“What is it, Drax?” Orin notices his sudden tension, then his eyes fix on me. “Adler, what’s got into you?”
My lips curl back as I snarl like an animal.
She’s my omega. My protective alpha instincts see him as a threat to remove.
Not breaking eye contact, I move slowly toward the statue before plucking her panties from it.
I have to resist my urge to bury my face into them, grateful that simply having them tucked into my pocket makes me feel a little better.
“Where is she?” the alpha, Drax, hisses through gritted teeth. “Is she upstairs?”
“You should leave,” I growl. “Now.”
“Hold on a second.” Orin steps between us then asks him, “Who are you talking about?”
“Sabrina Maverick.” Drax glares at me like he wants to throw me straight through the trophy cabinet. “I saw him and Sabs getting cozy on the beach last night.”
My tongue feels too big for my mouth. “You know Sabs?”
“I’ve known Sabs my entire life.” Drax crosses his huge arms over his chest. From his guarded posture and reaction, I’m guessing they’ve been a lot more than friends, making me instantly dislike him even more.
“Do you know where she lives?” Luca seizes the opportunity to find out more about my mate. Something I would have thought about if I weren’t busy imagining how I could tackle him to the floor. “We need to speak to her.”
“So she ran out on the famous Ace, huh?” Drax laughs coldly. The fact that he’s correct only angers me more. “It figures she saw sense when she woke up. Sabs usually has better taste.”
“But you do know where to find her?” Luca presses.
“Maybe.” Drax shrugs. From his shit-eating smirk, the fucker knows exactly where to find her. “But even if I did, I wouldn’t tell you. If Sabs wants to get in touch, that’s her decision.”
“Tell me where the fuck she is!” I launch myself at him. However, due to the bond sickness, I’m lacking my usual strength, so banging into his chest feels like I’ve thrown myself straight at a steel door. “Now!”
Luca hauls me off him while Drax’s breathing grows heavy, and Orin grabs Drax’s shoulder to hold him back.
“Enough!” Orin barks, causing me to whimper while Drax hangs his head in submission.
Orin scowls, glaring at the two of us before finally releasing his hold on Drax.
His disappointment and disgust are obvious, yet his voice softens as he speaks to Drax.
“I asked you to stay with us because I’m trying to help you.
If you attack my packmate again, you won’t have a place in this house, understood? ”
“Understood,” Drax grumbles.
“He’s staying here?” I spit, shaking my head in disbelief. “No fucking way.”
“That’s not your call to make.” Orin draws himself up to full height. “I’m your pack leader, and I say that Drax stays. He needs our help.” Orin smooths down his shirt. “Now, is someone going to tell me what’s going on here, and who the hell is this Sabrina Maverick?”
Drax’s lips press into a thin line.
“That’s what I was trying to say when you came in,” Luca scrubs a hand down his face. “There’s something we need to—”
“She’s my omega,” I declare smugly.
“Yours?” Drax scoffs. “Sabs is not yours.”
“You wanna bet, motherfucker?” I smirk. “We bonded.”
Drax staggers back like he’s taken a punch.
“W-w-what?” All the color drains from his face, making the black and gray tattoos on his neck seem even more pronounced.
His massive hands, which were just readying to smash my skull, now hang lifelessly at his sides, and his clean scent seems to have taken on a chemical, bleach-like tone.
“Bonded?!” Orin’s reaction isn’t one of shock but of fury, his face turning redder with every passing second. “Tell me this is just your idea of a sick joke, Adler.”
“He’s not joking, Orin.” Luca motions to me. “Just look at him.”
Orin scans me over, assessing me. I must look like total shit as he lets out a huge huff before grabbing the nearest trophy within arm’s reach and throws it.
Orin is renowned for his composure, so his sudden outburst has us all stunned.
He usually has perfect control over his emotions, and this is the first time I’ve ever seen him lose his shit in… well, forever.
Even Drax seems stunned from the way his eyes bulge like saucers as a hushed silence descends.
“Sorry about that.” Orin swiftly composes himself, readjusting the cuffs on his gray shirt. “I’m just…” A vein in his neck throbs. “Surprised.”
Drax stays quiet. His jaw is slack, hanging open, blinking at me in total disbelief.
Coupled with sagging shoulders and a pained expression, he looks like a broken man.
A man who has had his heart pulverized. I should feel victorious after putting him in his place, but talking about her only makes me realize just how much I’m missing Sabs.
“It was…” How can I describe what happened? “An accident. A very happy accident, considering that she’s the most amazing woman I’ve ever met.”
“A fucking accident?!” Drax finds his tongue again, eyes narrowed into slits, looking like he wants to tear my head from my shoulders.
“How couldn’t you control yourself? Alphas are taught to restrain their urges, right?
” His voice wavers, looking to Orin as if seeking confirmation.
“I thought you had to take classes on that stuff.”
“I know that Sabs is your friend, and you’re angry.” Luca steps in to play mediator. “But maybe if we all talked this through—”
“Did he talk it through with Sabs before he bonded her and tied her to him forever?” Drax jabs a finger in my direction.
“He’s just another alpha jock who only thinks of himself.
Weren’t all sports teams forced to take mandatory consent and conduct training after what happened with the Blandon Pack? ”
He thinks I’m like those D-bags? Guilt swims through me at the gravity of what I’ve done, but to paint me with the same brush as those asshole football players?
After the Blandon Pack was expelled, there were calls to fix some of the toxic alpha-centric culture on campus.
Although the football team was the main offenders behind omega harassment complaints, all sports teams were forced to attend.
I was furious at having to be patronized about how to treat an omega.
My desire to take care of and protect omegas is built into my DNA, but maybe…
Like Drax said, maybe I’m just as bad as them after all.
“It’s not what you think.” Luca attempts to lower the tension in the room. “It really was an accident. Under the circumstances, Adler did everything right.”
“I’m guessing Sabs would disagree.” Drax snickers. “Considering she’s not here right now.”
“I’ll stand by her,” I insist. “I’d never bond an omega then leave her to fend for herself! I know how serious this is.”
“If you’re so intent on looking after her, where is she?” Drax spits.
Bitter hate radiates from him. If the situation were reversed, I’m sure I’d feel the same way. My younger sister, Isabella, hopes to attend SVU in a few years. How would I feel if I found out that an alpha bit her during a one-night stand?