This should be a time for us to be soaking in a hot bath together, for them to be tending to me and massaging my sore muscles.
Nottalking bond dissolution and pregnancy timelines.
I knew this was temporary.
Yet, as I lay my hand over the mark on my shoulder, there’s this tightness in my chest at the prospect of having it removed and the bond dissolved permanently.
I have no right to be upset, but my omega feels as though these alphas are rejecting me.
No matter how hard I swallow, I can’t hold back the whimper that leaves my chest.
Desmond darts forward, nudging Mason out of the way so he can wrap me in his arms. He nuzzles his cheek to the top of my head as he holds me tightly against his chest, rubbing one hand gently up and down my spine.
“We’ll fix it. As soon as it’s safe, we’ll fix it. I’m so sorry this happened,” he coos as he begins to sway like he’s rocking me.
He thinks the sound of despair was because Mason marked me.
I wish that were true. I feel stupid even contemplating asking them to let me keep it. I have no right. I refuse to admit it’s anything more than biology and a hormonal reaction affecting my emotions.
Wrapping my arms around his back, I fist my hands in his shirt and bury my face against his chest. I’m sucking in his pheromones, swimming in them, letting them settle me.
For now.
“Let’s get you cleaned up. Amy made us a big breakfast. Lunch. Technically it’s lunchtime, but she said you like pancakes and made you a heap of them,” Desmond says, pulling away only enough to guide me to the shower stall and reach in to turn on the spray.
It’s so odd. Moments ago, I was irate when my eyes landed on the red, bloody crescents on my shoulder. I even yelled.
Now? Now I find myself hoping I’m already pregnant so I can maintain the bond just a little longer.
CHAPTER 22
Desmond
Hudson is…bright in my chest. I can feel him through the bond Mason opened. He’s bright and warm and sunny.
And sad.
I don’t blame him. He made us promise not to bite him and our own pack lead had been the one to bond him to Pack Anders.
And yet, I kind of like the way he feels vibrating down that invisible thread. It’s odd, but it feels as though this piece had been missing and his presence completes the puzzle in my heart. Maybe even my soul.
We’d offered him a large amount of money to carry our child and told him he was free to do as he pleased after. We promised him we expected nothing more from him. Especially knowing he wasn’t into joining a pack.
Someone who looks like Hudson, someone so sweet and understanding and kind, could have a million alphas begging to court him.
Maybe I don’t truly know him. But how could I not think of him as a selfless person when he’s willing to sacrifice up to a year of his life simply to make our dream come true?
He’s still naked, but I have to remove my clothes and urge him into the shower.
The problem is the way he’s gripping the back of my shirt as though terrified I’ll disappear.
Pulling back enough to look into his face, I give him a soft smile and press a gentle kiss to his forehead. “Let me strip and we’ll get you cleaned up.”
I’ve already showered, but Hudson appears shell-shocked. He sounded angry at first. I heard his yell through the house. But now, there’s sadness rippling down the bond and my instincts demand I fix it.
He lets me pull away, but he keeps touching me, keeping a hand on my arm, moving it to my fingers, even touching my thigh at one point until I’m fully naked and can guide him into the shower.
When I first entered the bathroom, all I could detect was a bitter edge to his scent along with a whole lot of Mason’s pheromones. As I held him, I smelled shampoo and body wash.
