Shuffling to my bedroom, I flop onto my bed, then roll onto my stomach, burying my face into the sheets where Desmond’s scent is still strong.
It’s only a few seconds before the pain grows unbearable and sobs shake my body. I keep my face buried, though I’m not sure why I’m trying to hide the sounds. Not like anyone else is here.
No one will hear my cries. Though the pack might feel the pain.
My first thought is why would they care, but I’d seen the concern in Desmond’s eyes. I felt his concern through the bond.
Even now, I can feel pulses from all three of them, though Des is a little weaker without his bonding mark.
Rolling onto my side, I hug a pillow to my chest, draw my knees up as high as I can, and let my lids fall closed as I do as I’ve done for the past six years – comfort myself.
CHAPTER 38
Alex
It’s been a week since Hudson came to the house to gather his belongings while we were at work. And in that week, his scent has begun to fade.
It’s unsettling my alpha instincts.
Mason can pretend all he wants, but he’s feeling the loss of the omega, too.
Not just the omega.Ourfucking omega. He’s ours. Mine.
I’ve texted him a few times every day and he always responds, but the messages are so…impersonal. Cold. Even when I try to flirt with him, his replies are almost professional and businesslike.
Thing is, it’s not like we can simply show up at his house every day. We still have jobs, still have a firm to run, still have a stack of cases we need to be working on. Just like when he was at the pack house, we’re still returning home after he would be asleep.
Doesn’t mean I haven’t driven past his apartment building occasionally on our way home from work, looking up to see if there happen to be any lights shining through the windows of his apartment facing the street.
Much to Mason’s dismay, of course.
Asshole can lecture me all he wants. He can’t hide how he feels. He’s even attempted to slam the bond shut, but I plow right through that invisible barrier. I mean, yeah, I usually use my mouth to do the job, but it still works.
Des is the last one to have seen him face to face. If my sweet mate couldn’t talk Hudson into returning home, I’m not sure there’s a damn thing I can do. Flirting and seduction only go so far.
I can’t blame him, though. We promised him the world and gave him the bare minimum. Not by choice, of course. But I’m sure he would appreciate more than twenty-four/seven access to our money and a huge empty house.
“We should give Amy some time off,” I say as I pull my BMW X5 into the garage. Both Des and I made sure we purchased vehicles for our growing family, even buying newer models every few years.
Maybe all that wishful thinking is what put Hudson in our sights.
Nah. He wasn’t the first omega we approached when they’d sought an alpha or pack to help them through their cycle. We’d even approached a few omega resource centers in the state and put our names and scents on file, but once an omega read those lines about not seeking a permanent member but simply a surrogate…
And then came Hudson.
Yeah, we offered the same thing we’ve offered every other omega.
I had no idea I would end up falling for him. And that is exactly what’s happening. I’m falling hard for the beautiful omega.
I’m pretty sure Des is past the falling stage and is already head over heels.
And Mason can fuck off with the apathetic act; my pack lead and one of the loves of my life is hurting as much as me and Desmond over the loss of Hudson in our home.
There’s so little of that warm sweetness left in the house. Even the nest barely holds any remaining hints of his signature. Sure, it’s enough any omega who might enter in the future would become unsettled, but not nearly enough to keep my fucking instincts settled.
“Why would we give Amy time off?” Mason says.
“Maybe she can go to Hudson’s. Check in on him. Spend some time with him…talk him into coming home.”
