Page 45 of Hidden Fates

Aren’t mini-heats taxing and dangerous in ways normal ones aren’t? I remember Bea talking about them before and what she had to say wasn’t good.

“The last symptom is weight loss.”

Hanging my head, I stay quiet as he explains. Skye has been underweight most of her life. When we were in high school, it didn’t bother her, but as we got older, reaching our twenties, it became an issue.

The barrier holding my tears at bay cracks.

Hearing she still struggles with her self-image wrecks me. Is the stress from our hidden fate the reason she can’t gain weight now? Am I the reason she isn’t comfortable in her own skin?

“Based on what Skye has experienced over the years, I can guess what you’ve been dealing with.” Sterling pulls my attention back to them, not saying anything about me silently crying. “You’ve been depressed. Lost your appetite easily. Never fit in with other packs or Omegas.”

“How do I help her?” I ask quickly, not wanting to go down this path. Any side effects I’ve experienced are well deserved. I chose to leave, but I won’t make that mistake again.

Whatever it takes, I won’t let her suffer another minute because of me.

Sterling stares, his brow wrinkled, before he leans back on his palms with a rough sigh. “Be here. Hold her. Make sure she has your scent. Bonding is the only permanent solution, but you aren’t ready for that.”

When I clench my jaw, Onyx jabs a finger at me. “Do not rush. Staying here is enough. For now.”

“Yeah, I get it.” Scrubbing my face with the backs of my hands, I push to my feet. “Thanks. For letting me know. I promise I’ll fix it.”

Bellamy stops me as I round the couch, his hand wrapped around my upper arm. “You didn’t know, dude. About your connection. No one blames you, so don’t blame yourself.”

Jerking my head in agreement, I shake off his touch and head through the house. They may not blame me, but this is my fault.

Crawling beneath the heavy peach comforter on Skye’s bed, I tuck myself against her back. She rolls toward me, face pressing into my armpit before she melts, soft snores puffing against my skin.

This is where I always should have been.

With the woman who holds all the best parts of my soul.

Chapter Fifteen

The stubble on Caleb’s jaw tickles my finger as I trail it down his face, keeping my touch light.

It’s hard to believe he’s here. I thought the chapters of my life with him were over; that I was destined to obsess from afar as he found another mate. Then the most magical thing happened, and Fate finally saw fit to unveil our connection.

He’s mine.

Or he will be. When he is ready.

There are things we need to work through and talk about. We aren’t in the same place now as we were when we presented. I have other mates and a flourishing career, and he’s just left his band.

A finger taps against my nose, pulling me from the swell of anxiety budding in my mind. Caleb’s steel-blue eyes are open and pinned on me. “Good morning, bunny,” he rasps, thumb brushing against my stomach where my sleep shirt is pushed up. I shudder from the combination of his deep, sexy voice and his touch.

“Good morning,” I whisper back, hand still hovering by his face. He leans into my palm, smiling softly at me. “You’re here.”

“I am.”

I want to ask how long he’s going to stay, but I’m terrified the answer won’t be forever, so I keep my mouth shut and just enjoy having him close. His eyes flicker between mine, concern written into the grooves of his furrowed brow. “How did you sleep?”

“Amazing,” I admit, pressing myself closer to him. He’s so warm; his body radiating heat to stop the chilly morning air from reaching me. And he smells delectable. Sweet, warm, and fresh.

I want to lick every inch of him.

Map all his new tattoos with my tongue.

His ringtone slices through the lust rolling through my body. He shifts over to grab it from the bedside table, giving me an open view of his abs and the deep V leading beneath his shorts. My thighs clench, mouth watering as I bite back a needy whimper.