10. Adler #3
“She…” Now I look like a fucking chump. “She left.” I wince, holding my head as a wave of pain makes my legs wobble.
“I’ve got you, brother.” Luca props me up while Drax scowls like he’d rather I fall.
“We have no time to debate bonding ethics right now.” Orin rubs his temple like he’s trying not to self-combust. “It won’t change what’s happened.”
“But—” Drax begins to argue.
“We need to find her, Drax,” Orin cuts in. “Look at what them being apart is doing to Adler. Bond sickness hits omegas worse. Whether you like it or not, she needs to be with him.”
Drax’s lips curl. “Great, so you bonded her, and now you’re making her sick too.”
“They need to be together while their bodies adjust to the bond. Sabs needs help,” Luca appeals to the glowering monster. “We need you to tell us where to find her, Drax.”
“Or we can find another way.” My stubbornness gets the better of me. “One that doesn’t involve asking a stray for help.”
“You may not like this ‘stray,’ but I’m the only one who knows where your omega is,” Drax snaps.
“If you care about her at all, you’ll help us,” Orin tells him. “Don’t do it for him. Do it for her.”
“Then you can leave,” I sneer.
“Actually,” Orin clears his throat, “I think it’ll work out best for everyone if Drax stays. You’ve known Sabs for years, yes?”
“Uh-huh.” Drax nods. “We grew up together. Our families are close.”
“And you know each other well?”
Drax nods again. “You could say that.”
His tone sounds almost smug, conjuring pictures of the two of them together in my head. The thought of my omega having been close to another alpha makes my skin prickle with jealousy.
“It’s obvious he’s in love with her!” I throw my arms up. “Can’t you fucking see that? I don’t want him around my omega!”
“Biting her doesn’t make her your property,” Drax hisses. “It just makes you a vampire. You’ve stolen her fucking life.”
“Okay, okay!” Luca steps between us. “While I think we can all agree that this situation isn’t ideal, the two of you need to dial it down. You both care about Sabs. Let’s focus on that.”
“Bonding is a tough time for any omega,” Orin agrees. “Especially after bonding to a stranger.”
“She’s not a stranger!”
Well, she doesn’t feel like one. She’s a part of me now.
“You just met.” Drax rolls his eyes dramatically.
“Having Drax around may make her feel more comfortable,” Orin tells me. “Can you imagine how scared she’ll be feeling right now? She bonded to an alpha she just met, and she hasn’t even met the rest of your pack.”
I rub the back of my neck as I try to put myself in her shoes. As much as I hate the thought of Drax sticking around any longer than necessary, I’m not pigheaded enough to not see that they make a good point.
“Okay, fine! He can stay,” I groan, realizing that I need to put my own ego aside for her sake. “All that matters is Sabs. Now, can you hurry the fuck up and tell us where to find her?” I clench my jaw, holding back what I really want to say. “Please.”
“She’s probably at Stella House,” Drax murmurs, looking at his shoes. “There or at her brothers’ place on Bonded Beach. But knowing how protective the Silverwood Pack is, I doubt she went there. If she had, they would’ve already hunted you down.”
“Thank you.” Luca blows out a loud breath.
Drax grunts in reply.
“Luca and Drax, I want you to stay here,” Orin orders. “Make the house nest comfortable.”
“But—” Drax begins.
“This is a delicate enough situation without you and Adler brawling in Omega Village in front of Margie,” Orin says. “Stay and help Luca. This is what it’s like when you’re part of a pack. Working together.”
“I’ll need your help to get things right.” Luca addresses Drax. “We’ve got some blankets and food, but you’ll have a better idea of what she’ll prefer. I don’t know anything about her—what materials she likes, what pillows would be best, or what snacks she eats.”
“Sour Patch Kids.” His expression turns wistful. “She can eat a whole family pack in one sitting.”
“See?” Luca smiles. “That’s exactly why we need you.”
How fucking useless am I? Having to rely on another alpha to tell me these things is like a punch to the gut.
Although it’s only candy, I hate that another alpha knows my omega better than I do.
I should be the one who knows what she eats, what colors she likes, how she likes her nest…
Though I want to know everything, I know nothing.
Drax buries his oversized hands in his pockets and sighs. “I guess I can help.”
“What are we waiting for?” My palms are sweating, beyond ready to get out of here. “Let’s go!”
Luca ruffles around in his backpack, still on the floor where he dropped it upon returning from his trip. “Here.” He thrusts a T-shirt in my direction. “You can’t go walking around OV shirtless.”
I’d run through Omega Village completely naked if it meant getting to Sabs quicker.
When Orin grabs his car keys and storms out of the house, I’m right behind him.
“Good luck,” Luca calls after us.
“He’s going to need it if he meets the Stellas,” Drax utters under his breath.