Page 53 of Dark Goodbye

I stand there, scalpel in hand, poised to cut, but I can’t. My body trembles as everything blurs. Ladria has to be okay. She just has to. I don’t know what I’m going to do if she’s not. Setting my tools down, I turn to one of the nurses, noting the look of concern in her eyes.

“Grab Aeron or Brathier. I’m unable to perform this surgery.” Sliding out of the room, I ignore the startled gasps from the nurses and other betas.

I have no choice. As I strip off the surgical pieces and place them into the sanitation bin, I dissect everything I felt from her. Somehow, the bond hasn’t allowed me to see into her mind — not like the teachings made it out to be. I can’t tell if she’s shielding or if it’s because the bond is not complete. But even that’s conjecture.

Pausing outside of my transport, I close my eyes, reaching out. Again, there’s nothing, but it’s a normal nothing. I can still feel her, hear her heartbeat. It’s strong and steady, allowing me to take in a deep breath. Hopefully, it’s nothing. Hopefully, she just had a moment of panic over something inconsequential that eventually passed.

I glance down at my communicator, looking for anything from Mogen, but the screen is blank. If it was bad enough, or if Ladria was injured, the elderly beta would have contacted me right away. Sagging against the metal frame, I force a deep breath into my lungs.

Ladria is okay.

My omega is safe.

Still, though, I need to see her for myself, to touch her, skim my lips across every inch of her body. No doubt she will be in the room, her eyes glimmering when I come in. What a nice surprise this will be for her.

Now that my heart is beating in a normal cadence, I make my way home, forcing any negativity out of my mind. My omega is alive and well. I repeat it over and over again until I internalize it. One thing is for sure, however, the first moment I can, I’m giving her my claiming mark, whether she wants it or not. I never want to go through this again.

My canines itch as I slam open the front door, startling Mogen. She hobbles over, her lips curling into a smile.

“Master Davix. I wasn’t expecting you home so early. I was just about to gather food to take to Ladria.”

“No need. I’ll take it myself.”

“She’ll like that. Poor thing has been missing you.”

I pause on my way to the kitchen and turn to spear her a curious glance. “Has she said something?”

“No.” A sigh eases past her weathered lips. “But a woman knows heartache when she sees it. You might want to consider giving her a bit more freedom to move about. It can’t be easy being cooped up in that bedroom for so long.”

“Why didn’t you say anything sooner?” Irritation flashes in my brain as I stare down at the older woman.

If she held some knowledge that would make Ladria’s life easier, then she should have revealed it to me. Gods know Ladria reveals nothing of herself. Scowling, I push my way into the kitchen, forcing Mogen to follow behind.

This ends tonight. I will claim my mate, damning any consequences. With our bond being more solidified, it puts her at risk, but it’s what has to be done. All I can do is pray that I’m not executed for my crime against Malus. With a full bond, it would kill her.

Either way, I cannot continue to live this half-life, blind to my omega’s needs. The fact that Mogen knows more about Ladria than I do is telling.

“Sorry, Master,” Mogen murmurs, shuffling in behind me to make up the tray. “I didn’t think it was my place.”

“Your place,” I seethe, pulling the tray from her, “is to make sure I know everything going on in my household at all times. Is that clear?”

“Yes, Master.” Tears shimmer in her wizened eyes, cutting me to the quick.

“Sorry for my outburst. I just hate the idea of Ladria being miserable.” I force my tone to soften. None of this is her fault, and I shouldn’t take it out on her.

“I know, Master.” She pats my hand, peering up at me with her watery gaze. “That’s what makes you such a good Alpha.”

I don’t feel like a good Alpha. Not at all. My stomach clenches as I grip the tray, holding it as still as possible as I make my way to the bedroom. After I claim Ladria tonight, things will be much better for her. I’ll be able to push past whatever this resistance is and show her just how much I love her.

The moment the door opens, however, an unnamable fear grips me. Something isn’t right. The room no longer smells like sex and pleasure from the night before. Most of all, it doesn’t smell like my omega. Only faint wisps of her scent linger, and what remains is an acrid stench of fear and unease that teases my nose. But worse than all of that is seeing the dangling chain hanging from the headboard.

My omega is gone.

The tray clatters to the floor, slipping from my fingertips. I ignore the mess and sharp shards as I sink to my knees, despair flooding my system until I can no longer breathe. Agony splinters through the bond rattling through my body.

She’s not dead. My soul would have told me that by now, but she is certainly out of my grasp. Tipping my head to the ceiling, I bellow out my rage and pain, gripping my fingers into fists.

Why?