I’d never experienced this tidal wave of relief and gratefulness that I could hold them and hear them murmuring to me. Melanie and Caspian fed each other, blending their hearts with mine, creating a circle between us that could only be completed by a bite I still wasn’t willing to give.
I was scaring them with my sheer emotion. I wanted to stop, to give them space, but I didn’t know how when I finally confirmed that they were alive.
“It’s okay,” Melanie whispered. “It’s going to be okay, Sin.”
“What the fuck happened?” Caspian croaked. “Why are you acting like this? How long have I been out?”
It was that last question that finally brought me back to myself.
I couldn’t bear to let them go, but they deserved answers. I felt like a child as I pulled away from them, still clinging to their shoulders in case they disappeared. Even though Iwas exhausted, I still spread my aura over them to make sure Caspian stayed stable, and he didn’t influence Melanie too much through their fresh bond. Despite his external calmness, his rage swirled like a waiting storm.
“It’s been three days. For both of you,” I said, melting as Melanie wiped the tears from my cheeks. Despite being resolute in my choice not to bite her, after days of waiting for her with the insidious thought that their comas could be my fault, guilt pierced me. Even the act of holding herself upright on one arm caused her to tremble.
“Fuck,” Caspian spat out. “Are you serious? What the fuck?” The second Melanie gasped from the force of his hot fury, he jolted as he tried to contain himself.
He knew how serious it must have been for him to have been passed out for three days. But his guilt joined mine as Melanie worried her bottom lip. It ached that I couldn’t feel her like Caspian must, but her emotions were clear on her face.
With myself kneeling on Caspian’s right, and Melanie lying along his left side, we caged him in, and I prayed it would be enough for him to remain stable. I had to do everything I could to keep them safe and protect them, and that would be far easier to do now that his family was no longer an issue.
“How are you?” I asked Melanie, as it was obvious that Caspian would take even longer to heal than her. My face ached, eyes stinging from tears, but my hurts were minor compared to theirs. But she still reached to cup my cheek, her brow furrowed.
“I think I’ll be okay,” she said softly, and I didn’t believe her.
She adjusted herself, wincing as she straightened her body, and Caspian jolted as well.
Her attention fastened back to him. The first stage of their mating bond was still in full effect, and I would be low on her list of concerns for at least another week.
There would be no chance to bite her until then.
With a soft smile I thought I may never see again, and a calmness that felt unnatural considering everything Melanie had endured, it confirmed again that my decision not to bite her was the correct one. But it was barely a passing thought as relief still reigned inside me, sweeping through me like a wind to vanquish my fear.
I wanted my own week with her, beyond what Kai had with her. No matter how mature I attempt to act, I become a possessive alpha with her. Even her gently stroking Caspian’s jaw, soaked in love as she ignored the chains, irritated me to some degree. Caspian and I bit Kai together, but if I bite her too soon, she may spend the rest of our pack life obsessed with Caspian, and there was only so much I could endure.
When she and Caspian were fully bonded, when Kai had come to terms with his anger, when I knew for sure that we were safe, then I would offer her my neck.
Rather than demanding her attention, I focused on pouring them water, offering her a glass, which she immediately held to Caspian’s lips.
“You must drink as well,” I said to her, but the haze in her eyes said everything.
“Where’s Kai?” she asked instead. I reached for him as well, but there was nothing there.
“Sin…” I could feel her panic rip through her via Caspian as she tensed. “What happened to Kai?”
“He is somewhere in the house, though I can’t tell where. How much do you remember?” I asked.
She finally took a drink, licking Caspian’s taste from the rim before finishing the glass. She returned it to me with a hand shaking as much as mine. Her eyes wide, her body slumped, and her tears quicker than mine.
“Sin,” she whined, reaching for us both. I could take her hand, but Caspian was torn between glaring at me with questions and his concern for her.
“Caspian, I—” she choked out. “I’m so sorry.” She suddenly threw her arms around him and shivered against his chest.
“Ssh, ssh, it’s alright,” Caspian said with a softness that would make Kai furious. “Your alpha is here now. Just tell me what happened, Mel.” But she shook too hard to answer.
Caspian’s stark look said it all. I never expected him to know how much damage he had done when he awoke.
“You better tell me why the fuck my omega is crying like this. Because if you were the one who hurt her, I swear to fucking God I’ll break out of these cuffs and rip your head off.”
It’s no longer bizarre that I was more relieved that he threatened my life than remained quiet. It showed that Caspian was still with us. Though usually, when he woke up from his rogue state snarling, Kai would fuck him until he had settled. It seemed we no longer needed that.
