Chapter Forty-One

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

NOW PLAYING: DROWN - Bring Me the Horizon

I’m forced awake when a hand clamps over my mouth. I struggle against whoever is leaning over me until I hear Lex hiss out my name.

Blinking rapidly to clear the sleep from my eyes, I see my bodyguard’s wide gray eyes glancing from me to the door to my temporary bedroom-nest. It’s a violation for an alpha to enter an omega’s nest uninvited, something I know Lex would never consider unless we were in danger.

I carefully sit up, keeping as quiet as I can. My ears strain as I try to listen for movement in the house. Instead of hearing noise, I smell the faintest hint of smoke. “Lex,” I breathe. He stiffens beside me when he smells it too.

“There are eight men outside, two by their van and six spread out around the house. They most likely kept one on each exit with the other four heading inside.” Lex explains.

He’s leaning over so he can whisper the words against my ear so our voices don’t carry. I nod, my fingers digging into the blanket spread across my lap. The hits Fate keeps throwing at menever seem to end.

“Their goal is most likely to kill or incapacitate me, then grab you. I’m going to get us out of this house but you need to do whatever I tell you, Omen. If I say run you run. If I tell you to leave me behind, you follow my direction without hesitation. I will use my bark on you if I have to. Nod once if you understand.”

I nod shakily. My heart hammers in my chest, all the way up my throat. I swear I can taste my heartbeat on my tongue. The thought of being separated from Lex, of leaving him behind, makes me sick. I know they haven’t admitted it yet but he’s important to Bea. If anything were to happen to him…

No. I can’t think like that. I just need to focus on following Lex. He knows what he is doing and I trust him to get us both out of here alive.

Nexus

It’s been almost a month since I held my omega in my arms. Felt her body pressed to mine. Smelled her sweet floral scent and tasted her on my tongue.

I’m falling apart at the seams. I don’t want to be here, on this tour bus or on the stage. I used to love the feeling I got when I performed for crowds of thousands. Felt their adoration, their devotion, as they got lost in our music. Feeling their love from afar gave me the peace I’d always been searching for. A way to grant my extrovert soul the interaction it needed without spiking my social anxiety.

Now all I can do when I step beneath the stage lights is search for the sea-green eyes haunting my dreams. She’s never there though.

Logically, I know her coming to one of our shows would be too big of a risk. Less than two weeks ago her identity was leaked on national television, and last week the DAU reached out to the label and our security team to let us know the Pastor had a team watching us in case we tried to make contact with our girl. Her connection to us could put her at risk.

I also know she probably wouldn’t be here even if it was safe. I abandoned her. Helped her through her heat and walked away. I chose my bonded mates over her. Why would she ever want to hear from me again, let alone see me?

For the first week after the tour resumed, I tried to get news about my girl from Bea or Ridley, but they both shut me down. Her omega bestie has been absolutely vicious in her refusal to speak to us. Unless my questions are related to the bands or our shows, she turns her nose up and walks the other way.

I deserve her anger. Her silence. Knowing I alone am to blame doesn’t make handling the cryptic vision of my omega I am living with any easier to accept. Dark thoughts have become my closest friend in the wake of my heart’s apocalypse.

Today was the last show of our summer tour. Though we’ll still be in Los Angeles tomorrow for Orbital Somatic’s performance, we’re one step closer to getting back to Starburgh. To going home. As a celebration for a successful tour, the label booked the rooftop restaurant of our hotel for a midnight feast. All of the crew and both bands are here. There’s food, booze, and one hell of a view of the city. We’re going out with a bang apparently.

Everyone’s laughing and having a great time, reminiscing on the past few months. I relax against the back of a half wall separating sections of the restaurant, letting the ambiance quell the unease I feel around so many people. I may work with most of them at each show, but anxiety doesn’t understand logical thought.

My eyes track Bea as she crosses the room to a more secluded area, her phone pressed to her ear. I wonder if she’s talking to my girl. Probably not since Cal said Omen and Lex had to go dark after her identity was leaked. Maybe it’s her family and they have news about my girl though.

My feet move before the thought fully enters my consciousness, the need to know where she is, what she’s doing, too great to ignore.

I haven’t walked more than three yards when a heartbreaking, guttural scream splits through the air. My eyes snap to where Bea has collapsed to her knees. A hand is pressed to her lips, another wrapped around her stomach like she’s trying to physically hold herself together. Tears stream down her cheeks and sobs heave from her chest. We all watch as Ridley wraps himself around her, whispering words of comfort into her ear.

Instinct, Fate, or paranoia, I’m not sure which of the three is the reason for the unsettling feeling in my gut. Somehow I know this has to do with my omega. Fear skitters across my skin and I’m rushing toward the pair without thought. My breath caught in my throat.

Bea pushes away from Ridley and sprints across the room, tears still falling from her eyes as she beelines to the exit. Her bodyguard is right behind her, but I catch his elbow. He shakes me off with a glare but I keep step beside him.

“What happened?”

“It isn’t your concern, dude,” Ridley growls as he rushes to catch up to Bea.

“If it has something to do with my omega, it abso-fucking-lutely is my concern, dude,” I bite out as we reach the elevator bank where the omega manager presses the call button repeatedly.

Ridley stops me a few feet back. Annoyance lines his expression but also understanding. “The safe house Omen and Lex are staying in has been compromised. No one’s been able to reach them.” Worry and pity fill his eyes when he looks back at me. The elevator door dings and Bea jumps inside as soon as it opens. “I’ve gotta go. I’ll let you know as soon as I hear anything about their status.”

I don’t get a chance to say anything more because the doors are closing. Not that I could speak around the lump in my throat. Noise barely filters through my mind as Ridley’s words loop on repeat in my mind. I can’t even consider their implications.

I won’t accept it. There’s no way my omega didn’t survive.

She has to be alive.

My mates surround me, their questions going unanswered as I fight to overcome the grief and fear leaving me frozen. They went dark so their phones weren’t with them. Lex probably had a burner phone for emergencies, but it could have been left behind when they ran. If only we had a way to contact them–

Titan grabs my arm and forces me to turn to face him. I blink, watching his hand grip my arm and that’s when it hits me. We do have a way to reach out. “A pen, I need a pen,” I stammer. Blindly searching my pockets and theirs.

Someone taps my shoulder and I turn to find Brady standing there with a pen extended toward me. I snatch it from his fingers and toss the cap aside. I can’t worry about anything right now other than sending my omega a message. The words press into my skin, my intent focused on her summery signature.

‘Gorgeous, please tell me you’re alright.’

I wait and wait and wait, but no response comes.

‘Omen, I really need you to answer me!’

Cal wraps himself around my back, his hands gripping me to him tight.

‘FUCKING TELL ME YOU’RE ALIVE!’

She still doesn’t reply. Message after message until my arm is covered in them. The dam breaks. All of my fears, regrets, and worries, pour from my body in strong sobs. My legs collapse under me, and only Titan’s quick reaction keeps me from crashing to the floor.

I can’t lose her. I can’t. Not when I still have to win her back.

Please, Fate, if you’re out there listening, guide my omega back to me.