Page 73 of Hidden Fates

“You’re the king of carrying the weight of things that aren’t your fault, X,” Sly says as he sets his tray on the bench at the bottom of Skye’s bed.

Onyx grunts and rolls his eyes, finally removing his hand from my head before he takes a step back.

“Movie day.” Bellamy announces, pressing a button by the door that drops a projector screen from the ceiling. “Since our girl isn’t here, we can watch the goriest of gorefests.”

He grabs the cans of soda they brought up and offers one to me, pointing to the pills. “I would’ve grabbed beers, but, y’know.”

“Let’s not tempt fate,” Onyx grumbles, pulling a chair over from the corner of the room. He doesn’t hesitate to start piling pizza slices on plates and pass them out, accepting our mumbles of gratitude without a word in response.

Bellamy claims the middle of the bed, balancing his plate on one knee and patting both spots beside him. “Let’s chill, wrapped in our Omega’s scent, and fill our stomach with delicious food we may soon be tempted to puke back up.”

I open the soda and take the first pill after reading the directions. They melt under your tongue, leaving an awful, chalky aftertaste, and I’m grateful for the drink to wash it away.

Thankfully, they’re also fast acting, so we’re barely a third of the way into the horror movie he picked when it kicks in.

Unfortunately, I feel wiped, physically and emotionally.

After the movie ends, Sterling and Onyx clean up and take everything to the kitchen, leaving me and Bellamy behind. He helps me shift to the head of the bed, and I collapse into the pillows.

I definitely need that nap now.

Soft voices fill my ears, drawing me out of the haze of sleep. Blinking one eye open, my jaw clacks shut when I find my arm thrown over Bellamy’s stomach, his shoulder acting as my pillow.

Was I really cuddling him in my sleep?

“Oh, looks like he’s awake now.”

Bellamy shifts his hand until my phone is tucked against his chin. Skye beams at me from the screen, but I immediately note the tightness around her eyes.

If they’re going to be in Rhode Island for a while, I will have to drive up there and stay with her. Being apart clearly isn’t good for either of us.

“Hey there sleepyhead, did you have a nice nap?”

“Mhmm. What are you up to? How’s Emmett’s grandmother?”

When they first arrived, Silke had been reluctant to accept their help, but over the past several days she’s admitted her dependence on them. Losing the ability to be self-sufficient, even temporarily, is a sore spot for her.

I don’t move from my spot on the bed, soaking in the soft sandalwood scent of our pack Beta while he’s still willing to let me lean on him. As reluctant as I am to ask for their help, I can admit I would have been in a much worse place today without them. Without him.

Skye tells us about her trip into town with Emmett’s sister, Isolde, who had a rare day off from the hospital. They’re getting everything ready for the youngest Kingston sibling, Oskar, to return from college now that the fall semester is at an end.

Hearing her tell us they’re coming home in two days eases some of the tightness in my chest. I miss her, and I need her in my arms again.

“I’m going to run down and grab something to eat. Sterling saved dinner for us. Want me to heat yours up?” Bellamy asks as he shifts from beneath me and slides off the bed.

I miss him too, which is a silly thought when he’s standing a few feet away.

Shaking my head, I let him leave and return my attention to my Omega.

“I miss you,” she admits. “All of you. I… forgot how hard it is to be away from my mates after bonding.”

Flipping onto my back, I tuck one arm behind my head and shift up onto her pillows, propping myself up so that we can see each other better.

“You’ll be home soon. We all know how much it means to Emmett and his family that you were there when they needed you.”

Her eyes flicker over my face, bottom teeth digging into her lip. My fingers twitch with the urge to reach out and pull it free.

“Are you okay? Bell told me about your rut earlier. If you need me…”