We finally make our way down to the lobby, and the doorman holds it open for us with a concerned expression at my state, but thankfully, there’s a black car in front. A man in pink scrubs and a medical mask waits on the street and opens the car door for me. “Madeline for Omega’s Comfort?”
I can only nod, having lost any ability to use any sort of words. The nurse gingerly helps me into the car, taking my bag from Harper, and comes to sit next to me in the back seat.
Harper waves and blows me a kiss. “Enjoy your alphas! I love you!”
Somehow, I manage to wave before the door shuts. My alphas will be at Omega’s Comfort. I’ll get to see them again.
Shit, I didn’t tell them which location. I try to find my phone in my purse, but my limbs are heavy. The car starts to move and the nurse takes something out of his medical bag. “I’m going to give you a shot that’ll make you feel better, okay?”
I close my eyes against the car seat and nod in agony, only briefly feeling the sting of the needle. The car makes a sharp, unexpected turn, and my eyes fly open to see what caused the driver to respond like that.
It’s only then I realize that Jensen is driving the car.
Chapter 31
Alric
No one has said anything, but we’re all thinking it. Today is her heat and we aren’t fucking her. Instead, we’re at an overpriced hotel a few blocks from Harper’s apartment, preparing for tonight’s party. I should care about it, but my only thoughts are a maddening loop of Madeline.
I might never recover from the emotional blow of her choosing a medically induced coma over sharing her heat with the three of us. Had we failed her so egregiously she would choose to suffer over having it with us? The insidious question repeats in my head.
We know she has her reasons. I can’t begin to understand them, but it’s her life and her choice. Being her scent match doesn’t give me a claim to that without her permission.
My body knows she’s going into heat a few minutes away, as if her omega side is calling out to me. I have to force myself not to return to Harper’s apartment and beg Madeline to give us a chance to prove we’re everything she could ever desire, even if she doesn’t know it.
Tonight’s event starts with a five-course dinner, after we’llall move to the grand ballroom for a night of celebrating the app’s success. As CEO, I’m scheduled to give a speech, but seeing how it currently feels like every atom in my body is being ripped apart, I’m not sure how I’ll manage to do that. Poorly, I imagine.
There’s a knock on my hotel room. Typically, I wouldn’t stay in one for a party, but since I can’t be with my own fated mate during her first heat, my plan is to overindulge in whiskey to the point that I forget who I am and what I’ve lost.
Is it a terrible coping mechanism? Undoubtedly.
I open the door to Hunter and Zachary, both of them just as miserable as I am.
We’re all in suits for the evening. Mine is a classic black and white, while Zachary’s is a deep burgundy with gold buttons, and Hunter’s is dark blue. They follow me back into the room.
“How are we supposed to get through tonight?” Zachary asks, leaning against the dresser.
Hunter motions for us to join him. “Come on, guys, group hug.”
I sigh deeply. “I don’t think that’ll make us feel any better.”
Of course, he doesn’t listen. He grabs my wrist and pulls me towards Zachary, who obliges him with a small smile as Hunter wraps his arms around both of us, our faces much too close.
“I know this sucks.” Hunter pulls us even closer. “We’ve all come so far, and let’s not forget that. Seems like yesterday we were bright-eyed college kids with big dreams. There’s a lot to celebrate tonight on a business level. I know we’d all rather be fucking our omega’s brains out, but for tonight, let’s try to relax and enjoy what we can. We need to trust that Madi will return to us when she’s ready. We’ll be there whether it’s tomorrow or fifty years from now. Damn, I really hope it’s notthat long.”
Zachary chuckles at that.
It better not be. I miss Madeline more than I can articulate. I’m not sure I can last fifty more minutes, let alone years, with my chest ripped open like this.
Our phones all chime at the same time and we step away from our little moment, quickly checking the notifications. We work in different parts of this company. There’s no one who would be texting all three of us at the same exact time, except her.
My heart stops for a moment and it feels like the world stops spinning.
Madeline:
I’m sorry I ruined everything. My heat is here and Omega’s Comfort is picking me up. They’ll take care of me, but I want you there. If you can’t make it because of your event or you changed your mind about me, I understand.
“Let’s fucking gooooo!” Hunter yells and the room explodes into chaos. All three of us rush towards the door, sprinting down the hallway.
