I wish I could see his face to tell if he knows this is a bit ridiculous. His voice is totally deadpan.
“For real?”
“For real. Promise me.”
I shake my head. “Fine. I promise. You’re definitely not getting details, though.”
“Good. I don’t think I could handle that.”
I want desperately to ask him what he means by that, but nothing good will come of getting hopes up again, so I fumble with my key in my pocket. “Hey, I’ve gotta go make some dinner. It was good to talk, though.”
“Vera. I mean it. Just be safe, OK?”
The gravity of his tone stops me at the bottom of the stairs, and a girl from up the hall pushes past me with an eye roll.
“Yeah. I promise. Thanks, Bas. You’re always looking out for me.”
“Always will.” His two gruff words ring in my ears long after I’ve hung up the call and eaten dinner.
Rather than get on an app or call anyone, I lie on my bed and touch myself, shutting my eyes and picturing my grumpy bearthrusting into me, leaning down to nip at the spot on my neck that has healed but still somehow feels tender. I cum with a rush, gasping his name, and my chest feels warmer than it’s felt all week. I sleep better that night than I have in ages.
FOURTEEN
Bastien
I tuck my hands under my head and stare up at the dark ceiling of my bedroom, my conversation with Vera still circling in my head. I feel lighter after talking to her. My muscles have lost that heavy, dead weight feeling that was making me sluggish. The same thing that’s made me into a very grouchy bear this week. Lucky I work alone at this time of year. I swear every interaction I’ve had with someone since Vera left Mosswood has ended in me feeling like I’d like to tear their heads off. That’s how I know it’s me and not them.
Absently I rub that point in the center of my chest where my rib cage feels too tight, as if my heart is trying to escape and go upstate to find her.
I wasn’t sure after I bit her if the mate bond would form properly since she’s not technically a shifter. Well maybe it hasn’t formed for Vera, but it sure as hell is alive and well in me. There’s more to it, though, because when she was in heat, Ipurred for her, and not that I’ve had a lot of experience, but I’ve sure as hell never had a knot for anyone else.
Because I don’t have a lot of options, I pick up my phone and send a message to my father. I don’t expect a fast answer. If he answers at all it could be days. But he might be able to help here.
Bas:Hi, listen. I’m sorry to bother you, but I need some information. What can you tell me about a beta being able to knot an omega? Do you know anyone it’s happened to? I didn’t know who else to ask
As expected, there’s no response. I sigh and put the phone aside.
Not for the first time, I wonder if Vera would respond very badly to me simply driving up there, storming into her dorm, slinging her over my shoulder, and taking her home with me, where she belongs.
Gods, I’m being pathetic. She doesn’t want that. She doesn’t want me.
Rolling over I read her messages once again, smiling at the part where she says I helped make her feel better.
She wrote it off as getting sick, but what if she’s feeling it too? The thought of her suffering like this is unbearable, but she’s still fighting it. I feel it—feel her straining against the connection so hard it hollows me out inside.
A message notification pops up, dragging me out of my funk.
Riley: hey man, I’m back in town at the weekend. We should go out and watch the game at The Den.
I grimace. Do I really want to go out to watch the game where it’s crowded and drinks cost four times as much as the case in my cellar?
Bas: Why don’t we stay in?
Riley: So being a homeowner really does suck the life out of you, huh? Come on, why are you acting like such a boomer?
I know he’s just shit stirring, but I can’t even find a smile. I don’t even reply. Instead I go back to the string of texts between me and Vera, reading hers for the hundredth time.
Riley, not to be put off, keeps trying:come on it’ll be fun. I’m not taking no for an answer. You know that, don’t you?
