Second Assault — Bond And Treason — novel Chapter 22

Kitchen of the New Facilities, 3:25 p.m.

FREDEK

I should be happy. Yeah, I should be very happy. Xander's finally back, my brother and I have managed to work things out after many years apart, and I've finally found my partner... Or is it the other one? Or is it both? Oh, my God! I don't understand a damn thing that's going on.

Before this morning, I was clear about what I had to do, had a horizon, steps to follow so that I could, at last, be with the Alpha of my dreams, and perhaps, in the future, have many puppies. To live in a nice house in the country, to get out of the organization, and have a normal life. But now... Now what? All those fantasies have vanished into thin air since he showed up. Ever since his gaze connected to mine, my legs wavered and my world turned upside down. Angelo Dalaras.

What's this supposed to mean? Derek's not my bonded partner after all? But if he isn't, then my body shouldn't have reacted the way it did when I first met him, or shouldn't be in my thoughts constantly, or I wouldn't dream about him every time I go to sleep. I don't understand. I'm stuck in a limbo with no hope of getting an answer to help keep my sanity safe. I don't know what I need to do. Do I keep trying to win Derek over, or do I let Angelo court me? At least he seems genuinely interested.

Derek gives me a bunch of confusing signals. During the time that Xander was kidnapped, he remained indispensable at my side, offering me the shelter my soul longed for and the protection I required. However, whenever there was even the slightest chance of a breakthrough, he would immediately step aside, totally frustrating my attempts. It hurt every time that happened, and the advice Xander gave me was the impulse and the initiative to keep trying, but now, I just don't know... I don't know if it's worth it.

When I hurried out of the meeting room to avoid being questioned about something that I did not know the answer to, I ran straight to the new arsenal. It was a relief that neither Xander nor Alexei followed me, because honestly, I have no head for dealing with anything or anyone now. And if it weren't for the fact that after hours without touching food my stomach wouldn't demand it with a roar that even I was surprised, I would still be there bathing in my unsolved sorrows and riddles.

—What's the matter with you, boy? — Mrs. Ewa, the cook, asks me with concern, patting me on the shoulder, pulling me out of my reverie —. You've been sitting there for half an hour and you've barely taken a couple of bites out of that sandwich.

I look down at my plate and realize she's right. I don't even remember taking that couple of bites in the first place. I let out a heavy sigh, unsure of what to say, or if I want to do it.

—Would you like to tell me about it? Maybe I can help you — the good woman smiles at me, and even though I try to smile back, I know that it probably came out more like a deformed grimace.

—I don't know — I sigh again —. Even I don't understand the situation I'm in.

—Well, tell me about it then — by taking a seat next to me on the kitchen isle —. Sometimes talking about our problems is better than keeping them quiet.

—It's just that it might surprise you once I tell you. Seriously, it's not something you'd hear every day.

—Boy, this old lady has managed to see a lot of things in this place over the years — says, pointing a thumb at herself —. There's nothing you can tell me that will surprise me — her confidence gives me a little comfort —. Now, what is it?

—Well — I start, although I'm not quite sure how I'm supposed to continue —.It's just that, a few days ago, I met someone, he and I had this sort of... Connection.

—Continue.

—I felt... You know, all that tingling in my body, his smell drove me crazy and I couldn't stop thinking about him for a single moment. It was something really special — I smile when I remember the first time I met Derek —. But today...

—But today...? — she makes a gesture with a hand to encourage me to continue, I run a hand over my frustrated face and wet my lips as they suddenly become dry.

—I met someone else today and... Something similar happened to me with him. His smell drove me wild and my Omega was almost desperate too, it's like he was... I mean — I babble uncontrollably, old Ewa looks at me so intently that I begin to get more nervous than I already am —. I mean... It's possible that…

—Is it possible for you to have two partners? — ends up for me. I nod, unable to utter any more words and a little surprised by her calm reaction while I'm about to go into spontaneous combustion.

—. Yes, it is — her serene expression, with a gentle voice, while I almost choked on my tongue —. These are quite peculiar cases, they don't happen all the time, but yes, they can happen.

—Are you...? — my mouth opens and shuts like a fish, I'm sure if I spread my eyes a little wider, they'll pop out of my head —. Are you serious?

—Do I look like I'm joking, kid? — Even the corners of her mouth don't move when she sees me with a firm, severe expression —. I'm completely serious, I'm almost a hundred and thirty years old. My father used to be the shaman of my village and when I was a child, I saw a case like yours.

—Really? — She nods —. So, what happened? — Genuine curiosity rising within me.

—Well, like in your case, they were two Alphas, but the Omega wasn't a he, was a she. A beautiful, pretty girl with dimples on her cheeks, one of the most precious in my pack — suddenly her countenance becomes dark and distant —. The two Alphas fought each other to claim her, which is understandable, no Alpha would expect to have to share their partner with anyone else.

I try repeatedly to swallow the knot that has been created in my throat, although, I fail miserably.

—In the end, they challenged one another, and as a result of the duel, one of them died — her gaze fell on the hands and her voice dropped a little —. As a result, the girl suffered a lot, and despite the fact that she still had one of her partners around, her misfortune was so great that she was unable to overcome it.

—What happened to her? — I ask, after a few long seconds of silence, though I don't want to hear it, I need to know.

—Her heart could not bear the sadness and helplessness no matter how much her other partner tried to encourage her. And one day it just... It stopped beating — the breath stayed halfway down my neck and a cold shiver ran through my body from head to toe.