Chapter 13
Damien
I watch from the doorway of the kitchen, arms crossed, muscles wound tight as Addie leaves, suitcase in hand.
She says she’s going to meet her best friend from Nashville for the weekend. I call bullshit.
I know she’s going to meet up with her new Alphas. The new fucking Alphas who happen to be two of my oldest friends. Fucking traitors.
If they had feelings for Addison, they should have told me. I would have been willing to share her with them.
The fucking nerve of those assholes to message me that they went behind my back to meet PastelPrincess and then claimed her as their own. After years of gaming with these guys, I thought we were friends, that we had built a brotherly bond of sorts. Boy, was I fucking wrong.
When I saw those marks on her neck, I was fucking devastated. I thought I lost her for good, but I’m not the kind of guy to give up that easily or to take shit lying down.
If Waffle and Grim want to play dirty, so can I. But first, I want to find out who they really are, what they look like, and their names. Can’t bring down the enemy if you don’t know who you’re working against.
As soon as I hear the sound of tires on gravel, I grab my packed bags and head toward the door.
“Mr. Damien, are you leaving?” Alfred asks.
“For a few days.”
“What about your game this weekend, Sir?”
“I’ll be back. Let my dad know, please.”
If he finds out what I'm doing before I leave, he’ll put his foot down. Not that I’d listen to him, but I’d like to avoid fighting with him if I can help it.
He’d tell me I’m being an overprotective big brother, and Addie is free to do what she wants.
He’d be wrong. I am being an overprotective Alpha, not a brother. And Addie might be able to do whatever she pleases, but she’s going to be living her carefree life with my fucking bite alongside those assholes.
I’d never ask Addie to leave them, even if I fucking despise them now. Scent bonds and mate marks are not something to be fucked with. But I sure as hell plan on being her Alpha as well.
There is no other person out there for me. It’s always been her and will always be her. Hell, I’m nearly thirty, and I’ve never fucked another person before. I’ve been saving myself for her.
And now it’s time to claim what's mine. I’ve been sitting on my ass, making up excuses for too damn long. No more. I won’t sit by as she builds her perfect little pack with other Alphas and not me.
Tossing my bag into the back seat, I hop in and head toward the airport. I made sure not to get on the same flight as Addie. Instead, I booked a ticket with another airline that leaves at the same time.
Once I’m parked in the overnight parking lot, I lock up and head inside.
I’m going to use the app I have to avoid bumping into Addie by checking her location. The last thing I need is to come up with a lie about why we’re both at the airport. This is a mission I’d rather no one know about.
Once I’m checked in, I make it through security and toward my gate. I watch the app and start to worry as I get closer and closer to her location.
Lifting my eyes, I search for her, finding her bubble gum pink hair. She’s sitting at her gate, face in her phone, oblivious to her surroundings.
She’s so fucking beautiful. The urge to go over to her is strong. After scoping the place out to make sure there are no sketchy-looking people, I keep going to my gate before she notices me.
Is what I’m doing wrong? Maybe. Do I care? Nah.
Love makes people do wild things, and I’d do just about anything for my Omega. Yes, I’ve been stupid and intentionally blind for the last few years, but let’s just say my eyes are wide open now.
I’m antsy as I wait for my flight. I hate just sitting around, and although I try to distract myself, my mind is elsewhere. I want to talk to Addie, but if I text her as myself, it will seem odd. We’re not close, and that's my fault. It’s something I plan to change.
I find myself pulling up her name, and before I know it, I’ve sent her a quick text.
Me: Have a safe flight. If you need anything, call me.
My Omega: Thanks xox.
That’s it. Sighing, I pull up the PA app on my phone. I can’t play games on here, but I can use the chat.
I find my chat between FatalDe@thWish and PastelPrincess.
FatalDe@thWish: Hey, you. Been a while. How’s life?
PastelPrincess: Hey! Yes, it’s been too long. What, two weeks since we talked haha. I’ve been good. Life has been crazy. How about you?
FatalDe@thWish: Could be better.
PastelPrincess: Oh no. Why? What's going on?
FatalDe@thWish: I’ve found myself in a bit of a hard spot.
PastelPrincess: Are you okay?
I shouldn’t do this, I know I shouldn’t. I’m not thinking this through. But if Waffle and Grim are able to tell her how they feel, then why the hell can’t Death?
FatalDe@thWish: Not really. There’s this girl I like.
A girl I’ve known for a long time. She’s funny, sweet, and one hell of a player when it comes to Twisted Valley.
But the thing is, she doesn’t know how I feel.
I’ve been wanting to tell her for years, but didn’t want to ruin our friendship.
What do you think I should do? Do you think she’d feel the same way?
I press send and feel my heart slam against my chest. What the hell did I just do? God, I’m so stupid all the time.
But maybe, just fucking maybe, if she knows how I feel about her, it will buy me some time. Put a pin in those other two, sweeping her off her feet and making her forget about me completely.
Yes, I know I’ll have to tell her I’m Death. I will, but I can’t right now.
Maybe I just made things a hell of a lot more complicated, but the idea of her being away with those guys, spending a weekend with them in their bed? Their hands on her? God, I already want to find them and rip them to shreds.
PastelPrincess: Death... is there another girl you’ve been playing with?
FatalDe@thWish: Nah, pretty princess. Just you. Only you.
PastelPrincess: You like me?
FatalDe@thWish: Very much so.
PastelPrincess: As more than just friends?
FatalDe@thWish: As more than just friends.
PastelPrincess: This is...This is unexpected.
FatalDe@thWish: For you maybe, but I’ve known my feelings for years.
PastelPrincess: I... I don’t know what to say.
FatalDe@thWish: You don’t have to say anything, Princess. I just wanted you to know.
My flight is called, and boarding starts. I slip my phone into my pocket and get in line. I feel like shit for saying something before her trip with the guys. I don’t want to ruin it for her, but at the same time, I do.
Am I being a jealous asshole? Yes, but I panicked.
The whole flight there, I’m a nervous mess. When we land, I grab my bag and check the app. She’s still in the airport. I make sure to stay far away from her until I see her location move.
I don’t leave the airport until she’s pulled up to The Venetian Resort. Huh. Well, that’s one pricey as fuck place to stay. Didn’t know Waffle and Grim had that kind of money.
Not that I know anything about them, really. No idea where they live, their jobs, nothing.
Once I grab my Uber, I head toward the same hotel.
I’m still not sure if I’m getting a room for the night, so I don’t bother checking in.
Sitting outside, I wait to see if her location moves. It stays still for a long time, but after about an hour, it starts to move.
I get to my feet and follow. She’s walking down the strip, and I look for her, but there are so many people that I can’t find her. I know she’s here, I can see her location, but she’s so damn short, and this place is so crowded.
“Damn it,” I hiss.
If I get too close to the location, she could spot me.
For a while, I follow her on the app, but still can’t see her. I lose her completely when I’m forced to stop for cars to go by.
After a while, I realize I’m not getting anywhere.
“I’m so fucking stupid.” I groan, dipping into a Starbucks. “Go home, Damien. You look like a crazy person right now.”
But I want to fucking know who these guys are! This is my only chance. Who knows when I’ll get another?
I could outright ask Addison who her Alphas are. Yeah... didn’t really think of that one. I’m starting to question my intelligence. Love really does make you do stupid things sometimes.
Deciding to give up for now, I grab something to eat.
I spend the rest of the day just wandering around, taking in the sights. My best bet is to catch them at the hotel. Fewer people to navigate.
When it’s nearly five, I realize they’re not heading back to the hotel. They’ve stopped, and it’s not the hotel, so I zoom in to check the address.
“You have got to be fucking kidding me,” I growl.
A quick search of what team is playing in Las Vegas today sours my mood even more.
The fucking Scented Scorpions.
They’re here to see a fucking KP game, and not any KP game, but my biggest fucking rivals. No wonder she lied to me. I’d have lost my shit. She’s never come to one of my games until recently, but she’s willing to go to a Scented Scorpions match? That's bullshit.
I start walking in that direction, determined now more than ever to find out who Waffle and Grim are. Maybe I should let them know about their horrible taste in hockey teams.
It’s one thing to go behind my back and take my Omega, but to take her to one of their games? That’s just fucked up.
When I get to the arena, it’s packed. People are dressed in red and black, while others are dressed in purple and green. Both the Scented Scorpions and the team they’re playing against, the Flaming Flamingos, suck ass. Why the hell would there be this many people?
It’s not until I get to the door that I realize I’ll have to pay for a damn ticket to get in.
Grumbling, I pull out my credit card and pay way more than the ticket is worth. It feels wrong, giving them my money. Like I’m the one betraying my team.
It’s for the good of the mission, I tell myself. Doesn’t help me feel better.
Heading inside, I look at the app. She’s in here somewhere.