“Go find your pack, Nikolai,” I said over my shoulder.
With that, I pulled Leon with me as I started to jog away. The familiarity of it had a wave of calm rushing through me, and I knew by the intake of breath behind us that Nikolai felt it.
All the fire drained out of him, the anger seeping out of our bond and resignation settling in its place.
He didn’t understand what I needed anymore and he couldn’t simply think with his alpha and not his bain.
Leon was quiet at first as we jogged down the familiar path through Widow’s Peak. My head was such a jumbled mess that I wouldn’t have known what to say anyway.
We rounded the corner and cut behind a stretch of houses. The terrain was a bit rocky here, but there was a beautiful view at the top that looked down over the valley and the mountains in the distance.
One thing I adored about Widow’s Peak was the views.
I stopped when we reached the overlook, my hands resting on the railing, bracing myself for whatever Leon was going to say next.
“Are you okay? Is there anything I can do? I will hurt him if you want me to.”
I let out a choked sob before I broke down completely. Leon simply pulled me to him, holding me in a tight embrace.
“No matter what, I’ve got you. I don’t care that you bonded him. I just care that you’re safe and you’re happy.”
“I never thought I’d see him again,” I admitted in a broken voice. “He’s alive. He found me.”
“What do you want now?” Leon asked carefully.
I finally let him go, staring up at him. His eyes slipped down to the bite mark that was on full display before moving back up to my face. His cheeks reddened, his mouth tightening slightly, but he didn’t say another word about it.
“He went into a rut,” I admitted. “If I would’ve yelled, I know he could’ve been stopped. My omega seemed to be very on board with it, even when my brain was freaking the hell out. Twelve years is a long time. We know nothing about each other. But my body knows his and so does my heart.”
“He’s your alpha,” Leon stated simply, with a sad smile. “I just didn’t expect to share you so soon.”
“I’m sorry?—”
He cut me off, pressing his lips to mine, not caring that the alpha had kissed me not long ago.
“You being mine isn’t contingent on anything else. You are simply mine. I hope you understand that.”
“This just got so complicated,” I whispered in defeat. “Never in a million years would I guess that he’d just walk into Widow’s Peak. Add in the complication of him having a whole pack and I don’t know how to feel. Shouldn’t I just be overjoyed?”
“Nothing has to happen overnight. Just because he’s here doesn’t mean he gets to swoop in and claim a happily ever after. You’re the omega. You get to call the shots,” he reminded me. “And trust takes time to build, no matter if you had something back then or not. You’ve both lived far different lives in between.”
I certainly did not feel in control right now. Not that it was a surprise to literally anyone. Instead of saying anything else, I forced myself to start running again. Leon easily fell into step beside me.
Thirty minutes later, we’d done two laps around town. I was covered in sweat, but no closer to actual answers.
“So, what now? Where do we go?”
We were standing outside Club 21 again. I assumed the guys had gone inside to wait, probably getting the third degree from Lexi, Silva, Briar, Syrus, and Luna.
“I mean, Nik and his pack are inside. I have to talk to them, right?”
“At some point,” Leon agreed. “Though, I can’t promise not to punch them. Seems the alphas have a whole lot of audacity.”
I let out a soft laugh. “Don’t they always?”
He tucked me into his side, sweat and all. I was exhausted now. Despite the nap earlier, my body ached, my mate mark burned, and I could feel every bit of my confusion and turmoil reflected back at me.
My hand slid down to Leon’s, holding it tight. I needed the touch to keep myself grounded as I pushed the door open and walked inside.
