Talons

Chapter 140: The Bite

Rhea's POV

I had no doubt that Dolton was telling the truth, especially after he told me his version of an event I'm only just remembering.

"How could you have forgotten that?" Miracle asks, but neither Dolton nor I have an real answer.

"She was little, so I understand how she forgot, and as for my brother…"

I did not want to hear what Dolton had to say, so I physically covered my ears, and he got the point.

"I need to get out," I suddenly say, but the couple physically restrains me and it's only then that I realize I'm having a panic attack.

"B, please relax. We won't say anything to Colt for now, but you need to calm down."

"I'm scared," I reply, which seems to shock Dolton.

"Listen, I can't imagine how it must feel to be fated to someone you spent most of your life avoiding, but Colt is a victim in this too."

"What?!" Miracle practically shouts, and I'm glad her outrage is on full display because it successfully stopped me from punching her mate in the neck.

"Miracle, my brother was punished every time he even played with her. Eventually, only I could spend time with the twins."

"So? What does that have to do with how he treated her?"

"Nothing really, but could you imagine where they would be if they were allowed to stay close." Dolton looks at me and I start to melt into the bed. "Colt would have marked you by now, and you two would have had your own-"

"Enough!" I say loudly. "Please stop." Dolton frowns before allowing Miracle to pull him away, and I find myself curling into a tight ball again.

I just want to cry, and based on the silence of my wolf; she is also having trouble processing what we now know.

Colton declared me his mate before I even understood what that meant and while that means nothing, I can't ignore the fact that it may have some significance.

"Little Miss Talons," I hear, and my head snaps to an older gentleman who must be the physician on duty. "I haven't seen you since your diagnosis."

"Sir, I'm in no mood to be ridiculed or mocked. If you value your neck, please wait until I'm in a better head space." The man chuckles before sitting at the edge of the bed.

"I didn't mean it that way, but I can understand why you would think I did."

"What do you want?" I whisper, still not sure the man will survive.

"Nothing at all. Honestly, I just want you to get better. Alpha Jay helped me through med school after I wasted nearly five years getting my master’s in psychology."

"Why?"

"He and I used to be good friends."

"Used to?" I prepare to defend myself, but the man doesn't look like he wants to attack me at all.

"I left Claw to be with my fated mate, signed a contract with Alpha Stone, and here I am… overworked and undervalued."

"You're an omega," I say, and the man smirks at me.

"Your father tried to warn me, but I just thought he didn't want me to leave, and because my mate didn't want to be away from her family, I was swayed."

"Sorry," I reply, actually feeling for the man.

About?" the man questions, and I frowned deeper.

"I was just trying to express my empathy."

"My mate loves me very much, thank you. Even when people would ridicule her, she would always tell me I was worth every difficult day she ever had."

I'm confused now, so I ask the doctor why he is telling me all of this and he goes into a rant about being just like me and asking his fated mate to reject him all the time.

Omegas feel the bond, just not as intensely, at least, that is what we are told. For all we know, they could be so afraid of rejection that they guard their hearts therefore preventing themselves from feeling the bond fully.

Julee seemed to feel the bond just fine, and while she wasn't all over Brent, she definitely had s*x with him within a few hours of them meeting, and that's pretty intense if you ask me.

"I guess I just want to tell you that what you're doing to your mate isn't healthy for either of you."

"Do you know what he did to me?" I question and surprisingly the man nods.

"I counseled the young alpha for many years, and you were a recurring topic in our sessions.

The man continues to tell me that when Colton was young, he would describe me as small, cute, sweet, kind, and gentle, but then he would take those same words and turn it into a negative.

"It was almost unreal. He would compliment you the whole session, then turn around and tell me how weak and pathetic you were." I feel my heart spasm, and panic.

"It's happening," Sylvia says. "You're feeling the bond."

I don't know if my wolf is right, but I definitely felt the doctor's words. However, it could be because those are words I hate to hear, especially since they no longer fit.

"What are you saying doctor?"

"I guess, and I hope this stays between us, but I have a feeling that Alpha Colt was never in control of his own actions toward you."

"Does that make it better?"

"No, but the goddess works in mysterious ways. This pack needs someone like you, and you cannot deny that all the things you've been through have made you the woman you are today."

I really want to kill the doctor in front of me right now, but he seems to sense my anger and moves far away from me.

"Forget I said anything… just look at this." The doctor tugs at his collar and reveals an ugly bite mark on his neck and I'm immediately startled. "My mate got so tired of me asking her to reject me that she lost control."

"Why are you trying to scare me?" I whisper, and the man seems to be taken aback by my change in demeanor. He comes to calm me, gently patting my back before Colton's nurse walks in.

"Welcome back B. I see you’ve already managed to charm my dad." The woman’s words don’t irritate me, in fact they make me sad for the man who I know must be embarrassed.

He tells his daughter to show respect, but when the two of them get into a passive aggressive argument, I cut in, and ask to be released. The doctor looks worried, but I promise him that I will go straight to my room, which I do.

I’m altogether worried, anxious, and tired, so after eating and drinking more than I’m used to, I climb into bed to take a much-needed nap.

Colton’s POV

With sparring set to start within the next few hours, I head to my suite and change into something more appropriate for a fight. Absolutely no one is going to challenge me, but just in case Dolton gets any ideas, I want to be ready.

My mate’s scent is strong in the room, and while I could be imagining things, the dishes drying by the sink let me know that she is home. Instead of knocking, I open her room door and find her peacefully sleeping.

I know that it's creepy, but I had the urge to kiss her, so I sneak forward as quietly as possible and with the utmost gentle touch, I pressed the slightest kiss on her forehead.

Her whole-body shivers from the gesture, and now I know that her dislike toward me is at least partially preventing her from feeling the bond.

Rhea may never get her sense of smell back, but she may feel something toward me and that is all my wolf and I can ask for.

“Colt, you need to get here fast,” Carter links, and I slowly retreat from my mate’s room and sprint to where he indicated.

Jessica is causing a scene with my beta, and she is demanding to file a complaint against Mandy, who apparently slapped her.

I have never seen Mandy hit anyone without good reason, so I use a command to get the truth out of Jessica, who tells her version of events as she saw them. I then turn to Mandy who corroborates the story.

“Why are you so against your sister coming for dinner?” I question, and Carter links me with information about his wife I hadn’t known. “You are my beta female, and friend. If she comes here to start anything with you, I will address it with the council personally.” Mandy looks relieved but Jessica looks annoyed.

“Thank you alpha,” she says, pulling her mate away, but Jessica isn’t done.

“I want to file a formal complaint. She struck me without provocation.”

“And you put your future luna in the infirmary.”

“What?” All three people ask at the same time.

“That’s right, after your little stunt, Rhea became sick with grief.” Technically I’m lying, but Jessica doesn’t need to know that. “Not that you’d care, but when fated mate’s hurt one another emotionally, they can also feel it physically. I was just preparing to send word to the council about-”

“No,” Jessica says in fear. “Please Colt, she said she didn’t want-”

“Enough,” I shout, not wanting the woman to finish what I know she was going to say. “I will leave this decision up to my betas.” Jessica takes the hint and leaves, but instead of relief, fear is still on the face of Mandy.

“Rhea was in the infirmary for dehydration. She is in bed now; only half of what I said was true, but there is something emotionally wrong with her,” I mind-link, and the woman nods.

“Should I go talk to her?”

“If you want, but don’t do it on my behalf. I think she’s beginning to feel the bond but it's depressing her.”

The pair have some experience with being depressed by the bond. They understand what I mean, so Mandy goes to see if she can help.

“Are you sure?” Carter asks, “Should I call my flower guy?” I know my beta is just trying to lighten the mood, but it's an excellent suggestion.

Rhea has nothing for her garden, and it might help to at least get a list from a male expert who I can confidently say isn’t interested in me.

Right now, my mate thinks that I’ve screwed every woman in the pack. While there are a few, it's only because I thought I was unfated and they all mean nothing.

“Get me his details,” I reply.