27. Twenty Seven - Tate

twenty seven - tate

. . .

After she showered last night, we made out for a while in bed, and I knotted her before she dozed off peacefully in my arms. It's the first time she's spent the night at my house. The first night of hopefully many because I'm already a bit obsessed with the idea. Things are different with her than with any other woman, omega or not, I've dated.

The early morning light filters gently through the window, and I can't help but watch as she drags her fingers along the light dusting of hair on my chest. I still have a few hours before I need to get up and head to morning skate, so I'll enjoy the time I have now.

She's snuggled up under my navy comforter and against my side like it's the most natural thing in the world.

I wondered for a while if we'd ever make it here. Yes, the beginning of this mating wasn't exactly butterflies and roses, but I'd hoped that one day she'd realize I wasn't going anywhere and accept it.

"This is nice."

With a slight tilt to my lips, I lift my head from the pillow and look over at her, pulling a few strands of hair away from her face with my fingers gently so it doesn't bug her. She's right, it is nice. I like the domesticity of it. The simplicity of just being together without fighting.

"I can think of a few things that would make it even nicer," I say, my voice filled with grit from sleeping. My cock jumps in approval of the thoughts my brain is entertaining.

"Oh, yeah?" She peeks up at me before that dangerous little hand goes on its own adventure. "And would it have something to do with this morning woody you're sporting?"

"And if I said yes?" I quirk an eyebrow at her in challenge. God, why does her hand on me feel so good.

I guess I blame myself for sleeping naked. If I wasn't, her soft little hand wouldn't be wrapped around my bare cock.

"Well, maybe we can see what happens." She giggles, and it's the sweetest sound.

"Hey, Tate." Her eyes find mine.

"Yeah?" God, she's gorgeous.

"Thank you for making me a nest, even though you didn't know if I'd stay here for my heat. Thank you for not pressuring me into it. I know things have been a whirlwind lately, and I'm trying my best to get on board. Just… give me time, okay?"

"Whatever you need, Rebel. But if you thought for one second I'd let you entertain the idea of someone else around this sexy as hell pussy when you're in heat, then you clearly don't know me at all."

"And we're back to captain possessive." She rolls her eyes, but I can tell she wants to smile. She's yet to admit it, but I think my possessiveness turns her on.

I lift a hand to cup her cheek. "You are mine. You always will be. Don't you see that yet?"

She bites her lip, and I hold back the growl. "I'm starting to."

I lean in to kiss those delectable lips when a phone goes off somewhere in the house. We didn't bring the phones up here last night when we went to bed, so I guess I should probably go find out who's calling at this ungodly hour.

"That's my phone, Tate." Rebel grabs the corner of the sheet and starts to get up.

I grab onto her arm. "Hey, wait here. I'll go grab it. There's no need for you to leave the warmth of my bed just yet."

She gives me that smile that makes my soul melt, and I leave to go in search of her elusive cell phone.

It stops ringing right as I get into the kitchen. Seven missed calls. Most from Nova. My phone's sitting on the counter across from hers, and it lights up, too, with yet another voicemail. Gunnar's name is lined up in rows. What the fuck happened?

Grabbing my phone, I hit the voicemail button. Gunnar's harried voice comes out of the speaker, but it's garbled and hard to understand. All I hear is something about Nova and the hospital. Shit…

Pulling up his number, I hit call, and it rings and rings…. Come on, man. Pick up the phone. Pick up the phone. I chant the words as I listen to yet another ring. I expect at this point for it to go to voicemail, but then he answers.

"Tate, where the fuck you been?"

"What's going on?" I don't answer his question. Where I've been is not important right now, but if this has to do with Rebel's best friend, I need to know so I can tell her.

"It's Nova. She's…. She was…." He sighs, unable to get the words out. His voice is choppy and emotional. "She… got attacked last night at the house. Whoever broke in last time must've come back to finish the job. I got there in time to stop him, but… he ran off before I could do anything. She's got some bruising on her arms, and she's emotionally beat up, but the doctor says she's going to pull through."

"Fuck." It's all I can think as I realize Rebel is going to blame herself for this. She's going to blame going home with me last night as the reason Nova got attacked, even though we both know that's not true.

He would've been waiting regardless of whether Rebel was home or not, and at the risk of sounding like a complete and total asshole, I'm glad Rebel wasn't home last night. I'll thank everything that's holy that she was with me, safe.

As if I've called her into existence, I turn to see Rebel staring at me from the other side of the island in my kitchen. The blood has drained from her face. "What's going on?" She asks, her hand on her phone, the call list pulled up showing all the missed calls.

"Rebel." I reach for her, but she pulls away.

"Tell me what happened? It's Nova, right? Don't tell me she's…" Her voice cracks on the last word, and it has me rushing over to her and pulling her into my chest. I start to purr, pressing her head against my heart to calm her.

"Hey, Gunnar. We'll be right there," I say into the phone quickly before hanging up and focusing on my omega.

"Hey, she's going to be okay."

She chokes up, and a tear slips from the corner of her eye as those baby blues find mine. "This is my fault. I should've gone home. I should've known he would come again. We've been so vigilant. I just wanted one night. I wanted to spend the night with you alone, and she…"

Grabbing her shoulders, I lean down so my face is right in hers. "Rebel, listen to me. This is not your fault. This isn't our fault. This is the fault of a psycho who thinks it's okay to prey on people. Who thinks it's okay to take what he wants and fuck all the consequences. Let me be clear, he will not get away with this. That I can promise you."

I lift my phone again and type a text against her back.

Me: Do we have any video footage? Can you identify this perv?

G: Yes, I still had cameras there.

A grin pulls at my lips. Sneaky bastard, but I honestly don't blame him. As long as he wasn't videoing my omega, then we're cool.

Me: I guess that's good. How is she really?

G: Shaken up. Luckily, I got there in time, but I found him right before he…

He won't finish that statement, but I know exactly what he's going to say. It's the exact thing I've been worried about happening with Rebel. Anger courses through my veins. The fact that his intended victim could've been Rebel has me wanting to unalive him, bring him back to life, and then unalive him again in a more gruesome way.

Me: Are they keeping her overnight?

G: It's up in the air right now.

We keep texting for a few minutes, and he tells me which hospital they're at and which room. I tell him we'll see him soon.

Rebel seems frozen in my arms, and a few quiet sniffles register in my ears.

"Hey, Danger. She's okay," I whisper against her forehead, placing a sweet kiss against her.

"I left her alone. It's my fault. I did this to her. Oh, God… if I had been there." A shiver tears down her spine as she cringes.

"Rebel."

She cries harder now, her shoulders shaking. "Tate, you don't understand. She got hurt because of me. Oh, my God. How did I let this happen?" She keeps mumbling things, but I can't understand what the rest of what she's saying is. It's incoherent with her snotty crying and deep breathing.

"How about this… you go take a shower and get dressed. Then I'll take you to see her. Okay?"

She sniffles and nods, but then shakes her head. "What if she doesn't want to see me? What if she blames me?"

"She's not going to."

"But how do you know?" Her eyes are puffy as she looks up at me.

"I just do. Now go." I turn her and give her a soft smack on the ass. Her feet drag as she walks away from me.

I wait until she's left the room to hit speed dial on my phone. Coach picks up on the second ring. "Tate."

I sigh. "Coach. I won't be at morning skate today."

"This still about your omega, Geekies? Thought I told you to get it worked out and get your head out of your ass?"

"Her roommate was attacked last night, and I'm not leaving her alone right now. She's not okay."

He sighs. "I get it. You know this means I'm scratching you from the game tonight, right?"

"Yeah, Coach. I understand."

"I expect you to be at the next practice. Am I to assume that Gunnar will be with you all as well?" He isn't supposed to ask these questions, but I'm guessing he's already talked to him today.

"Yeah, Coach."

"Take care of them, Tate. Focus on your omega."

I hit the end button on the call and sigh. I hate this so fucking much. I hate that Rebel is blaming herself. I knew she would. Although she has the heart of a fucking warrior, I know deep down she's sensitive. More than most people would ever know, but I've seen it in the way she cares about Nova. Their bond is special.

I'm worried this will break her. Not wanting to leave her alone with her thoughts for a second longer, I go in search of my omega.