I want to respond right away, to say something like: it’s bad, we’re fucked if we don’t decide what to donow, but I suddenlyremember that Eliano functions differently. He needs time to think things through first.
And there’s another strange shift happening in real time, the realization dazzling, almost transforming.
I’mnotalone now.
I don’t have to fend for myself.
I havemyalpha, and a strong one at that. I can sense his fierceness and unrelenting energy smoldering in him, almost palpable under my fingers as they rest on his hot skin.
My need to raise more doubts, to pile on complications, to dig into potential problems slowly melts away, dissolving in his energy.
I have to trust we’ll push through the situation, even if it will be a difficult challenge.
Trust. Almost a new word for me, but it seems strangely important.
So I let it go and slowly rest my head against his shoulder again.
"I believe you’ll find a solution," I blurt out. The old Salt wouldneverhave said something like that, would never have relied on someone else to take the lead. And yet, somehow, it feels natural, even safe, to leave it in Eliano’s hands.
I turn my head and brush my lips against his neck.
"So now… can we? Go back to…?"
"Of course," he murmurs. "Gladly."
???
We show up to breakfast a little late, but with two more orgasms under our belts.
When we enter the dining hall, all eyes turn toward us in surprise, and I feel proud as a peacock. I’m no longer the ‘abandoned’ beta, looked down on.
What the fuck? It sounds so absurd in my head!
Before, I was independent and proud of that!
The very idea of belonging to one ofthem, a guy from this hostile, dangerous, unpredictable group of people like alphas, would have felt deeply insulting. I kept my guard high around them. But, well. He is…half of my soul!And that changes a lot. I’d say it changes everything.
We sit down with Roman, Evan, Bashir, and Fred.
The alphas exchange handshakes.
"So how did it go?" Evan asks, getting straight to the point.
I listen carefully, because Eliano still hasn’t told me what he’s been trying to handle on the mainland. From time to time, I get vague flashes of what it might be, but honestly, I’m afraid to put those thoughts into words.
"It went even better than I expected," Eliano says briefly, leaning over his plate. "An epic discovery."
I stare at him, puzzled. Fuck, now he’s almost making me believe he went there to hunt Tanner. What else could be epic? But I rein in my excitement. There will be time to ask for details later. Here, in public, it wouldn’t be wise.
"That’s… great news," Evan says uncertainly, clearly confused.
Well, if it really involves killing Tanner, I understand why Eliano doesn't want to explain. It makes sense.
"What’s up with the scar?" Bashir suddenly asks, and I instinctively glance at Eliano’s cheek.
The cut isn’t freshly scabbed anymore. It’s faded into a thin red line. A scar, not a wound. Wow. Did the TM magic healing kick in already?
"I got into a scuffle. Kendo stuff."
