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Alena’s brow furrowed before she tilted her head up to look me in the eye. “I thought we stopped all that type of talk?”
I swallowed, allowing the lump in my throat to lessen. “I didn’t know you left. I didn’t put something in place so if you left I would know.”
“That’s not your fault, Xavy.” Gods, I loved it when she called me that. She reached up and cupped my cheek, and I savored the feel of her soft skin against my rough stubble. “I should have told you I was going downstairs. That isn’t on you.”
“It isn’t on any of us. It’s on that piece of shit that we left behind for John to take care of,” Elias growled as his knuckles whitened under his fierce grip of the steering wheel. “I’ll be making sure that he’s put away for a long time, and that he suffers while he’s in there.”
Simon twisted in the front seat to look at us, before he looked back to Elias. “Something John said is bothering me. He said he pulled her out the moment he knew about her.”
None of what Simon was saying was making a lick of sense to my racing mind. I was focused on staying calm despite the scent of that asshole lingering on her clothes and skin.
And trying to get the self loathing from festering too much within my soul.
Elias nodded. “I was thinking the same thing. We’ll talk more to Alena when she’s rested.”
Our omega buried herself further into my chest, her nose rubbing up and down my neck. She was rubbing my scent on her skin, imbedding it into her very pores. But until I could tear the clothes free of her body and burn them, I wouldn’t breathe freely.
“Are we almost home?” Alena whispered softly, her voice thick with sleep.
“Almost, Princess. Almost.” I ran my fingers through her hair, so grateful she trusted us enough to allow this touch. We replaced the traumatic memories with ones of pleasure and love.
We arrived at the house in record time, the scene almost all too familiar. When that asshole had found her at the benefit and touched her.
I fought back the torrent of emotions swirling through my soul as we entered the house and started up the stairs. She barely stirred in my arms, both her mind and body exhausted.
“I’m so sorry, Alena.” I kissed the top of her head and squeezed her tighter. “So fucking sorry. I promise nothing like this will ever happen again.”
Fuck me. Wasn’t that the same thing I said before? And it still happened?
I couldn’t guarantee her safety, couldn’t provide for her. I should just leave now and save her the trouble of being mated to a fuck up like me.
“Xavier, enough.” The deep rumble of Elias’ alpha snarl tore through me and I halted in place before I could lay Alena down on the bed.
Several beats of silence stretched between us as I fought to control my mind from racing.
“Xavy.” Alena stirred and splayed her hand out over my heart. “Can you put me down, please?”
I complied, as if I was on autopilot, setting her down on the mattress. I helped her to sit up against the headboard and her wide dark eyes peered up at me with so much love my breath caught in my throat.
“Enough,” Elias repeated as he moved to sit on the edge of the bed. He placed one hand on Alena’s leg, almost as if it were an anchor or lifeline. “No more blame. You are worthy, I don’t want to see that look on your face anymore. Now silence those voices or I’ll smack you. Better yet, I’ll sic Julian on you.”
Alena gasped at the harsh bite of Elias’ words. I reached out and took her hand, squeezing it softly. They were words I needed to hear. I needed the harsh reassurance from our unofficial leader in order to put my mind at ease. Wait until she heard Julian actually talk to me like that too.
Because, it happened. Sometimes I needed the stern reminder. Years of abuse as a child, then spending a decade as a hired assassin would do that to a guy.
She opened her mouth to speak, but I leaned forward to give her a soft kiss. “It’s okay, princess.” I cupped her cheek and swiped my thumb over her high cheekbone. “Elias knows when to be harsh with me. It gets me out of my head so I can focus back on what’s right in front of me.”
Tears shimmered in her eyes. “You’ll always be worthy, Xavy. All of you are. When I walked into the KDC building, it changed my life for the better. I never thought I would have mates, or love, or a family. But now I do.”
Elias shuffled closer, his warmth surrounding me just like Alena’s. Julian and Simon entered the room, moving to sit on the other side of the bed.
“You are our family, love.” Simon leaned forward and tilted her face toward him. “Forever and always. Until the life leaves our bodies.”
“Agreed,” I growled. The despair I’d felt only moments ago was replaced with love and devotion. “I’ll say one final time, then I’m letting it go.”
Alena turned from Simon and cupped both of my cheeks in her small palms. Her hands were so soft against my skin. Despite all she’d been through in the last twenty-four hours, she still wanted to comfort me. Gods, how I loved this omega.
“I’m sorry and I won’t let this happen to you ever again.” I leaned down and pressed my forehead to hers. “I love you, Alena. My heart, my soul, and my knives forever belong to you.”
