Chapter 27
Reid
Ican see Arabella’s apartment up ahead, but the closer I get, the stronger those damn scents are.
They're close by. Her stalkers.
The men who helped her through her last heat.
I try not to let it irritate me, squishing down my instinctual urge to get rid of the competition. If I can get her to listen, I’m hopefully going to have to get used to it. Get used to them—whoever these alphas actually are.
If Arabella likes them, I’m sure they can’t be too terrible, stalkers or not.
Her mournful scent is still heavy in the air out here, making my heart clench. Even if I hadn’t already heard it for myself on our phone call, with every inhale it’s painfully obvious she’s upset. Devastated.
Fuck, I despise the hurt that was in her voice. What the hell did I say to make her think something like this would be a deal breaker for me? Does she believe I don’t care enough to consider her needs and wants?
Sure, I don't love that she kissed her freaking stalkers, but they share a bond.
Regardless of whatever the science says, false bonds are only really false if there's no shared connection, no shared desire on all ends.
Judging by her reaction, some part of her wants them just as badly as they want her.
She wouldn't have kissed them otherwise.
She wouldn't be beating herself up so badly right now if there weren't real emotions there.
This is a bond that feels more like it just hasn’t been completed yet.
The fact it hasn't dissolved after weeks apart is proof of that.
Her building comes into view, and I quicken my pace, heading straight for them. Well, I assume the two alphas clinging to each other right outside the building are the ones I’m looking for.
I'm watching them like a hawk as I approach, but they're wrapped up in each other, at least until I get close enough for my scent to reach them. The second our eyes meet, I know they know exactly who I am.
I hope they also know that I’m not just about to step back and never see her again. I don’t think that’s what Arabella wants, and I sure as hell don’t want to give her up either.
The more dominant one, who was trying to console the other alpha, holds my stare. For a brief moment, it's a clash of dominance as our instincts react to each other, sizing each other up as threats and competition.
I reel it in first, because if I'm going to have to murder these guys, I don't need them to know my plan before I enact it. It’s easier to take down two men if they don't know what you're planning. It may only be plan b, but I’m not ruling it out given some of the tricker parts of the situation.
I’m hoping it doesn't come to that. I would hate to do anything that hurts Arabella, even if I'm doing it for her safety.
As much as a small part of me wants them to be evil, heartless bastards that I can dispose of without betraying my personal morals, I can tell they're both struggling. Their eyes are both rimmed red from crying. Whatever upset Arabella also seems to have deeply affected both of them.
It’s honestly a good sign for her, though, and the larger part of me is relieved because of it. I want her to be happy more than anything.
“Reid.” The alpha who’s been holding my stare nods his head to me as we stop just a couple of metres apart.
“That’s creepy. You know that, right?” I lift my brow, crossing my arms over my chest.
Of course, he knew it. I should’ve expected they’d know my name considering how much time I’ve spent with Arabella these past few weeks. I wonder if it has hurt them to see her so happy with me.
“I'm Alec, and this is Nathan, my mate,” Alec says without bothering to comment on what I said.
“Wait.” I shake my head, frowning. “Mates?” I look between them. Well, fuck. No wonder their scents are so blended. I guess that explains a few things.
“Yes?” Nathan looks concerned. “Mates…as in bonded mates.” He squints, tilting his head, and I realise he thinks I don’t understand him.
Fuck. Maybe he’s concerned I’m one of those twats who is against alpha-alpha pairings?
“Yeah, I get that. Arabella didn’t mention that you were mated, that’s all.” I take a deep breath and then let it out slowly.
Her anxiety and sadness are even heavier in the air here. I need to get to her. Which means I need to hurry this the fuck along.
“How’d you meet Arabella?” I ask, trying to keep my composure.
I already know some of this, given she told me about them being at the heat clinic, but I want to hear it from them.
See how they really feel about this. Determine if they care about her wellbeing beyond their duty, and make sure they’re not just here from some bullshit entitlement to her because of the incomplete bond they created.
My instincts are screaming at me to go get my omega and make sure she's okay, but before I do that, I need to make sure these two aren’t a threat to her.
“She was going into heat in the middle of the street. When I spotted her, she was in trouble. She was being followed, and she was so out of it that she didn’t even realise it.
I took care of the assholes, and then I helped her get to the clinic safely, as I assumed that’s where she’d been heading.
” He pauses for a moment, as if contemplating saying something else before he finally finishes explaining calmly, “I didn’t want to leave her there, but I was going to…
until she asked me to stay. I was happy she trusted me enough to ask for that. ”
I nod at him. That’s better than I thought.
“And you?” I turn to Nathan next.
“She wanted my mate for her heat, but we don’t assist with heats solo.
We’re a package deal; always have been. I met her at the clinic so she could meet me and give consent.
When she said she was happy for me to be there too, we helped her through her heat,” Nathan answers, but watches me just as closely as I’m watching them.
“What about you?” Alec asks.
“Toast.” I smirk. They’ll figure it out.
Well, if they’re really clinic alphas, then they’ve been thoroughly investigated.
There’s no reason to think the clinic has missed anything, even given the stalking.
It’s clear their shared bond led them to do some questionable things.
Alec also helped her without any expectations and only stayed when she asked him to.
I doubt he’d lie about that either, given he knows I can just ask her about it.
“Toast…?” Nathan squints at me, but I simply shrug.
Something has just become very clear to me, and I would rather not waste anymore time on the street. If they want more answers, they can join me in my girl’s flat.
I turn, done with my interrogation, but Alec stops me before I can try to get buzzed inside.
“Wait,” he says, stepping forward, his frown still firmly in place.
“For?” I ask when he doesn’t say anything else.
“You’re not upset with her, are you?” Nathan asks, as his mate grunts, clearly struggling to find a way to ask without growling.
“Upset with Arabella?” I ask, and Nathan nods. I can feel my face doing that thing where I fail to hide my disgust. “For?”
“You know what for.” Alec grunts, glaring at me. “Your scent gave it away.”
“Ah. For kissing you?” I tap my index finger to my chin, humming.
"Yeah, I’m a little upset,” I scoff. “I’m upset that I clearly fucking failed to make my feelings for her perfectly clear.
I’m upset that she thinks I’m the kind of alpha who would even consider giving her up over kissing the men that helped change her life.
And I’m real fucking upset that her ex still walks this earth with both his feet attached. Uhh…I feel like there’s more.”
“That is not what I meant,” Alec adds with another low rumble, but Nathan is grinning now, clearly amused.
I wink at the grinning man, glad he at least seems to have a sense of humour, and he blushes.
Alec growls at the exchange, and my grin grows wider.
“Oh! I’m also upset I didn’t catch you two little stalkers sooner.
Did I mention her ex still having all his limbs?
That’s really bothering me, if I’m honest.” I shrug.
“Anyway, I have an omega to soothe. Are you two criminals coming? Or should I let her know I saw you lurking out here like creepers?”
“So, that’s it? You don’t care that she kissed us behind your back?” Alec asks, clearly sceptical.
“Arabella is the only person who gets to decide what to do with her body and who she shares it with. If she still wants me, then I’m hers.
If she wants you two as well? Fantastic.
I don’t think I’ll survive a full-blown heat with her solo.
Baby girl needs a lot of…well, you two get it.
” I wink once again, wiggling my brows when Alec glares and Nathan chuckles.
“See you in there, boys.” I nod at them both before hitting Ruth’s buzzer to get inside. The door unlocks without a word exchanged, and I grin at the building gratefully.
I messaged Ruth while on my way here asking if she’d let me into the building. I figured Arabella would be ignoring the building’s intercom along with my calls. I slip into the building, purposefully swinging the door wide open behind me to give them enough time to follow.
I can tell they won’t be far behind.