Arranged Salvation: Arranging Love Book Three, page 18
My eyes followed his, and I saw what he saw. Leaning against the wall, one arm crossed over his chest, casually smoking a cigarette was Soren’s guard, Remy, the one who was with him the night of the Christmas Eve dinner. He had a pretty brutal scar running across his face that wasn’t there the last time I saw him. It looked very reminiscent of the ones on my Bastion, especially on the claiming bite. It looked like Soren Tennyson was none too pleased he let Bastion escape.
The growl reverberated from my chest, and I was standing in between Bastion and the alpha before I could blink. In my periphery, I could see the doctor pushed against the wall, still holding an ultrasound wand. He looked and smelled genuinely terrified. I pushed him out of my mind as a problem to deal with later.
“What the fuck are you doing here? Leave now!” My voice was laced with my bark and more growl than anything else. I made sure to direct it all to the fucktwat, as not to scare or accidentally compel Bastion. Still, I could practically feel him shaking behind me even though we weren’t touching.
The alphahole just laughed. “Yeah, I’m not going to do that. I knew there was something going on with this. Though, I’ll admit, I was surprised to find that the useless hole not only managed to produce one heir for my boss, but two.”
Two? I didn’t have time to process that. My canines extended and I pressed up closer to Bastion, completely blocking him from this monster. My eyes flashed around the room. Could I get us to the door before he stopped us? Unlikely. I was prepared to fight the fucker, but I couldn’t risk leaving Bastion unprotected. My phone was in my pocket, and I wished I thought to alert Malik before barreling back here.
“This has nothing to do with you or your boss. You’re violating the restraining order by being here. This is your chance to leave now.”
“Without the two whelps in the hole’s belly? I don’t think so.”
I lost all semblance of control. My growls were so loud that they shook the room. I couldn’t hear anything above them. My visions blurred on the edges, and all I could see was the fucking alpha trying to take my omega. My babies. Nothing else made sense.
Save my mate. Protect my pack.
Just as I was about to launch right for his throat, consequences be damned, two thin arms wrapped around as much of my chest as they could manage. A face I could detail with my eyes closed buried itself in my neck.
“Alpha, please. It’s okay. I’m safe. He hasn’t hurt me.”
The words penetrated through my thick skull, easing some of the haze that had taken over me. My eyes fluttered shut and the tension in my shoulders eased as my omega scented me. Honeysuckle, much stronger than it had been since he’d been here—fuck, probably stronger than it was back in December—filled my nostrils.
Bastion. Mate. That inner voice that had been quiet all this time finally spoke up. It had to be mistaken, but right now, it was too much to fight my own mind. I opened my eyes and stared right into the other alpha’s face, who watched us with disgust.
“Such a short amount of time and the hole already forgot his place. Don’t worry, whore. Alpha Tennyson can’t wait to remind you.”
Bastion shivered but still didn’t let me go. I took one of his hands and brought it to my lips, kissing it.
“It’s okay, little mouse. I’m good. Thank you.”
He nodded into my neck before slipping back.
“You!” I said, pointing to Remy. “You don’t speak to or look at him. Bastion belongs to me now and I will not have you speaking to him like that. Or at all. I’m trying to respect his wishes and not snap your fucking neck, but if you’re not out of here in five seconds, I will without a second thought.”
The alpha snorted, but I could see a flash of fear in his eyes and smell it in his scent. We were about the same size, but I could tell I was stronger, even if I didn’t use my whole strength. I wasn’t sure if I could compel him, but I felt confident I could take him in a fight. I was only hesitating because I didn’t want to leave my omega unprotected.
“I don’t give a fuck about the slut, but he’s carrying my boss’s property. And that I do care about. So unless you want me to cut them out half cooked, I suggest you move the fuck out of my way and let me take the slut back where he belongs.”
“He belongs with me. You try to touch him and I’ll break your fucking arm.”
Bastion’s hand slid down my leg. For a second, I questioned it, and then I saw what he was reaching for. My phone. Gods, even with how afraid he was, my boy was so fucking clever. He could tell Malik to get his ass in here, then I wouldn’t hesitate to rip this fucker to shreds.
“Yeah, well, the council won’t hold up the terms once they realize it’s pregnant.”
I felt Bastion flinch. My nails were biting so hard into my palm, I was sure it would start bleeding soon.
“They’re not your alpha’s children!” The doctor finally fucking spoke up from where he was still cowering in the corner.
The other alpha wrinkled his nose. “What?”
“They’re not Alpha Tennyson’s. I examined the omega when he first came to live with the Strongfires and he was not pregnant. The children are Alpha Zambrano’s.”
I kept my face and scent neutral and hoped like hell it overpowered Bastion’s surprise. I figured the doctor was the one who tipped off Tennyson’s man on where to find us, but maybe not.
The guard’s eyes widened slightly before he got himself under control. “Even if I believed for a second that was true, then it’s adultery. Either way, the omega is a dead man once the whelps are cut out.”
Once again, Bastion shuddered behind me, and I was fucking over this shitbag scaring my boy and talking about my family like that.
“It would only be adultery if the council ruled he wasn’t my fated mate.” It would mean I broke the terms of the investigation, but I was sure Mr. Strongfire’s lawyers could make that go away. “Either way, that’s a council decision and not mine. Only way you’re getting your hands on my omega is if I end up in a body bag.”
The guard snarled and, for the first time, dropped his canines. “That could be arranged.”
Both of our growls vibrated through the room. I straightened to my full height and took a step toward the dickweed, making sure my big body fully blocked Bastion.
Just then, another person all but launched themselves through the door, panting heavily. I grinned, welcoming the sight of Malik, teeth already extended.
“You okay in here, boss?” he asked, eyes bouncing back and forth between the other alpha and me, fully aware we were about to challenge each other. “I called for backup. They’ll be here in three minutes.”
“Thanks, Mal. Take Bastion and get him out of here.”
Malik took a step toward us, even as Bastion wrapped a hand around my arm. I got he didn’t want to leave me, but I could never fully focus on the fight with him there. Malik barely entered the room when the guard put his hands up in surrender.
“Yeah, the whore isn’t worth it. We’ll do this the legal way. Expect to hear from us soon.”
He started to walk toward the door, and I shook my head slightly when Malik went to reach for him. Let him go. I would gladly kill him if it meant protecting Bastion and the babies, but if it wasn't self-defense, I couldn’t risk it right now.
The fucking asshole walked out with his head held high, lighting another cigarette, and I hated myself a little for allowing it.
And then Bastion let out a sob, and he was the only thing in my world.
CHAPTER 17
Arden
I swooped my boy up in my arms and glared at Malik.
“Deal with him.”
I jerked my hand toward the doctor, who was stinking up the room with his fear and sweat. If anything, it seemed worse than it did when the alphahole was in the room, which made no sense since Dr. Brulin just helped us, but he wasn’t my problem right now.
“I swear I had nothing to do with that! I didn’t tell them anything! I helped you!”
Ignoring him entirely, I stared at Malik until he jerked his head in a nod. “I got you, boss. We’ll figure it out.”
I gave him a sharp return nod before stalking out of the room.
Bastion was shaking in my arms, but he was silent, no more crying, yelling, nothing. He stared straight ahead, his eyes completely unseeing.
“I got you, little mouse. I got you and I’m not letting you go.” Ever.
I stormed right out of the office and into the street, completely forgetting that it was raining. Bastion blinked as the drops hit his face, but there was no other indication that he had any idea what was happening.
A car pulled up to the side of the road and I tensed, getting ready to fight, only to breathe a sigh of relief when Mr. Strongfire jumped out of the back seat and three of my guys followed.
“What the fuck happened?” Mr. Strongfire snapped, his alpha energy leaking all over the place.
Bastion finally reacted with a small whimper and curled closer into me. I glared at my boss. “Can you rein it in, sir?” I said through my teeth.
He did so immediately. “Fuck, sorry. Malik gave no details. What happened?”
“I need to get him home, sir. Mal can fill you in some, and we’ll talk later?”
Mr. Strongfire’s eyes widened as he seemed to finally take in his brother in my arms. “Of course. Take the car back with you. We’ll go home with Mal.”
“Thank you, sir. And we might have more trouble coming our way.”
My boss just laughed. “What the fuck else is new? I’ll handle it. Go on and take care of my brother.”
He reached out like he was going to touch Bastion, but something stopped him. Probably my canines dropping and the rumbling in my chest. I winced apologetically at him; I kept doing that lately. But he just squeezed my shoulder and walked on.
The rain was soaking both of us, so I quickly slipped into the waiting car, not even bothering to see who was driving us. “Take us back to the cottage please. And can you have someone go into my rooms at the main house and get the blue blanket that’s lying on the bed?” I asked gruffly, not even looking away from Bastion. I wanted him in my space. Not only because it would make us both comfortable but because the lazy fuckers only bothered placing one bug in my home, and Damian had warded it, so I felt safer speaking freely there.
“Sure, boss. I’ll let them know.” He drove off without another word, and I completely tuned everything out.
Bastion still wasn’t talking, but I was relieved when he adjusted himself so that his nose was in my neck, right up against my scent gland. At least he wasn’t completely catatonic.
I tilted my neck, giving him more access. If this was what he needed, I was more than happy to give it to him.
“That’s it, little mouse. You keep on scenting me for as long as you need to know you’re safe.”
Bastion moaned a little and buried himself even farther into me, if that were possible.
I felt completely helpless. This was supposed to be safe. Bastion should have been able to have an appointment with his doctor without being violated in such a way. If I found out that Dr. Brulin was involved at all . . .
Not important right now. I held tightly onto Bastion and rubbed my hands up and down his back when he started shivering. It was hard to tell if it was because he was cold from the rain or just in shock.
The ride back to the cottage seemed to take lifetimes. All I wanted to do was get my omega into my space, nice and warm and dry, where he could bury himself in his nest of blankets and know I would never let anyone touch him ever again. But it was taking so fucking long.
Finally, we pulled up directly in front of my cottage. I didn’t wait for the driver to get out, or even shut off the car before I had the door open and was carrying my boy to the safety of our cottage.
I probably should have thanked the driver, but my instincts were so close to the surface, I couldn’t focus on anything but my mate.
Mate.
There was that word again. What did that mean? Did it matter, really? Bastion was mine. That was all there was to it. He always felt like mine, even last December, but now? It was more than a feeling. It was pure fucking fact.
I carried Bastion through the living room and right into the bathroom and immediately started the water to the tub. I tried to put him down but he clung to me, his nails digging into my neck.
“Sweetheart, I’m just putting you down to get you undressed.”
He clung tighter. “Daddy, please don’t leave me.”
Daddy. Fuck, that word did things to me. I just wished it weren’t this situation that put him in the headspace to call me that. His voice was so shaky, like he was on the verge of hysterics, and I knew it would be physically painful to let go of him. But I needed to get him out of these clothes before he got sick.
“I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be right here the whole time. Daddy just can’t undress you while I’m holding you.”
“Promise?” he whispered into my neck.
“I promise, sweetheart. I’m not going anywhere.”
This seemed to relax Bastion enough that he loosened his death grip on me, and I quickly sat him on the toilet bowl before he could change his mind.
Once he was settled, I knelt in front of him and started to take off his shoes. Bastion whined a little as I began rolling down his knee-high socks. “We’ll get them washed up and you can have them back.”
He didn’t respond, but he let me finish taking them off. Then came the pants and his underwear. He was wearing the blue ones I had left out for him that first day. A little choked up, I got him naked from the waist down, glad he was cognizant enough to lift up so I could get them off easier.
Before I helped him undress on the top, I dug in my bathroom cabinet, finding a bottle of vanilla-scented bubbles. I dumped them in, probably using way too much, before turning back to Bastion. He was watching as the tub filled up with the bubbly water, eyes wide. I quickly brushed his soaking wet hair out of his eyes and pulled his shirt up over his head.
Once he was naked, I went to lift him up to get him into the tub, but he stopped me. “What about you?”
“I’ll shower after.”
He shook his head rapidly, eyes even wider. “Please, Daddy, don’t leave me alone. I-I can’t be alone right now.”
Fuck. “I’m not, sweetheart. I’ll be here the whole time.”
Bastion swallowed with so much force, I could see his Adam’s apple bouncing up and down. “Can you please come in with me? I need to feel you.”
Gods. Despite the situation and how not sexy any of this was, my dick twitched at the request because it apparently did not get the memo that this was not the time.
“Are you sure? You just had a big scare . . .”
“Daddy, please. I’m trying to be brave, but I’m scared. And everything is less scary when you’re with me.” Bastion sobbed and looked away. He wrapped his hands protectively around his body, breaking my heart. “I want to feel safe again.”
Fuck. I knelt in front of him again and cupped his cheek, forcing him to look at me.
“First of all, you’re the bravest person I’ve ever fucking met, Bastion.” He scoffed and tried to pull away, but I wouldn’t let him. “Do you know how much you survived? Someone who wasn’t brave would never be able to do that.” He pushed his lip out in a pout. It was so fucking adorable. “I think once you’re in a better headspace, we’re going to discuss adding a rule about talking down about yourself.”
That caused him to look up at me, surprise on his features. “Really? Why?”
“Because no one talks badly about my boy, even him.”
All at once, Bastion relaxed, the tension leaving his body and a small smile teasing his lips.
“I’m your boy?”
“Yes, little mouse. You’re mine.”
“Only yours?” I swallowed around the lump in my throat. It fucking killed me that had to ask that question. Though, of course I would understand more than most.
“Only mine, Bastion. No one else’s. No one will ever take you from me or use you again, understand?”
Pupils dilated and lips slightly parted, Bastion nodded. “I understand, Daddy.”
My cock twitched again, and I was glad I was still kneeling so he didn’t see.
The water was getting high, so I leaned over and shut it off. “Come on now, let’s get you in the tub. And yes, I’ll come too. Just, if you change your mind, please tell me. I won’t be upset. I promise.”
“I know you won’t, Daddy. But I won’t change my mind either.”
Emotion threatening to get the best of me, I quickly shed my clothes. As I went for my jacket, I noticed a lump in the inside pocket. With everything that happened, I’d completely forgotten about it. I didn’t want to ruin the surprise for Bastion though, so I kept it in the pocket and carefully placed the jacket down in a way where he wouldn’t see. I just hoped the plastic bag kept it from getting wet.
I hesitated at my underwear. I didn’t want to leave them on, but I wanted Bastion to feel safe more than I needed to be comfortable. I turned toward him.
“Sweetheart? Can I take off my underwear? I promise I won’t do anything.”
Eyes wide, Bastion took in my body. I didn’t want to use the term “eye fucked” because I didn’t think that was what he was doing, but he was doing something. Bastion wasn’t hard, but I would be very soon if he kept looking at me like that.
“Bastion?” I asked again, putting enough authority in my tone to get his attention. His cheeks flushed and he batted his eyelashes sheepishly.
“Sorry. Take them off. Please.”
I didn’t make a big deal about it. I pulled them down with my back turned so my dick wasn’t right in his face. I did have to turn around to pick Bastion up, but I did so quickly, not giving enough time for it to become awkward.
