The Alphas Omegas

Don't leave me

Brayden

“Well, well, well, look what the cat dragged in,”

“Cyro,” I tip my head at my brother-in-law as he walks towards me. He does not look happy to see me. Not that I can blame him; I wasn’t exactly the easiest person to get along with in the past.

Why would Cyro think I’m here for anything other than to cause trouble?

“Wanna tell me what the hell you’re doing here? How did you get past the front gate?”

“I told them who I am, their Luna’s brother. Not many deny a Dalgaard entrance when they ask for it. As for what I’m doing here? I’m here to see someone.”

Cyro rolls his eyes. “Not your sister?”

Okay, perhaps I should have started with that. I am here to see Angel as well at Xavier. I didn’t expect a warm welcome, and I’m not even holding out any hope my sister would come near me. But I have to try and put right what went wrong.

“Yes,” I nod my head. “Of course, I want to see Angel. I have a lot of making up to do, and I only hope she’ll hear me out. Where is she?”

Cyro takes a step closer, gritting his teeth and fighting off a growl. I would have smacked him in the mouth a year ago for daring to growl at me. We’ve come to blows in the past over Angel, and I deserved the cracked rib he gave me. But I’m not the man I once was and won’t start a fight on Cyro’s territory. I learned to be patient on my travels and not flip out at every little thing.

“What the hell makes you think I’ll let you anywhere near my mate?”

“Because she’s my sister,”

“You think I give a shi.t about that? After everything you put my mate through, you are going nowhere near her! I don’t buy the act you’re selling, Brayden. You’re vile and cruel, and I won’t allow you to hurt my mate ever again!”

“Brayden?”

I look past Cyro to see Angel standing there, looking very different from the girl I remember. She looks healthy, happy, everything she never was until she mated with Cyro.

“Angel.”

“I-I didn’t know you were back; no one mentioned anything.”

“I haven’t been home; this is the first place I came.”

Cyro wraps his arm around Angel’s shoulders and pulls her close. Her eyes haven’t left me yet, and I see the fear within them. It churns my stomach because I put that fear there – me, no one else.

“Please don’t be scared of me; I didn’t come here to hurt you.”

I look at the sky for a second. This is harder than I thought it would be, and I have a feeling Angel will think I’m saying this stuff because I want my mate. It’s not the case, but I can understand why she’d believe it.

I look at my sister and note that she’s staring at me with her lip between her teeth. I have to fight the urge to vomit. Having people scared of me is typical for an Alpha. But my little sister should be the last person afraid of me.

“I’ve done a lot of thinking and soul-searching since I’ve been away. I’m not the man I once was, Angelica. I don’t expect you to believe me, but I am truly sorry for everything I ever did to hurt you. It was wrong; I was wrong. You’re my beautiful baby sister,”

A small smile plays on the edge of Angel’s lips. She’s shocked by what I said because I have never in my life once said anything nice to her.

Why didn’t I say something nice?

“I need you to know that I’m proud of you, and I love you. I always have, Angel,”

Her lip quivers, and a tear falls from her eye.

Cyro pulls her even closer and kisses her head before turning to me. “What are you really doing here, Brayden. Your little speech was all well and good, but you already told me you were here for someone else.”

I nod. “I came here to speak to Angel and to collect my mate.”

“Your mate?” Cyro narrows his eyes. “You’ve never stepped foot on my territory; how the hell do you even know your mate is here?”

“Xavier,” Angel gasps, and I nod my head.

I don’t know how she came up with Xavier’s name, but she’s smarter than I gave her credit for.

“Xavier? What the hell?”

“That’s why you left, isn’t it?” Angel prods, ignoring Cyro. “Because you were confused about having a male mate?”

I nod.

“It hasn’t been easy, and I know it’s been over a year. But I have my own pack now, and I’m ready to talk to Xavier.”

“You have your own pack?”

“Yes, Angel. It’s a long story, and I’ll explain everything later. But right now, I have some groveling to do. Is Xavier here?”

Cyro and Angel share a look.

Something doesn’t feel right; something is off.

“He’s not with someone else, is he?”

Angel sighs. “Brayden,”

My gut churns, and I have a horrible feeling something is very wrong here.

“What’s going on? Where’s Xavier?” My heart is pounding too hard, and I feel as though I’m having a heart attack. “Angel, please!”

“You need to come with us.”

I follow Cyro and Angel into their packhouse with a pounding heart. If something happened to Xavier because of me, I will never forgive myself!

The packhouse is a nice place, and I can’t help smiling as I realize Angel’s taste isn’t too dissimilar from mine. The marble floors and light-colored walls are a testament to that.

Angel and Cyro lead me down a super long corridor, and the smell of sickness chokes me. Angel shoots me an apologetic look, and my eyes widen. We’re in the infirmary, and I know why before I ask who’s behind the door we just stopped outside of.

“What’s going on?”

“We thought that Xavier had found his mate recently and that she’d rejected him. We had no idea he’d found you fifteen months ago.” Angel bites the inside of her cheek.

“Angel and I noticed Xavier getting weaker about a month ago. Long story short, he doesn’t have long, Brayden.”

I slam my hand over my mouth as shock sets into my bones.

How can Xavier be dying?

I didn’t even look at him; the bond could not have been that strong. He survived for fifteen fuc.king months!

So why is this happening now?

I want to scream and smash things; the old me is trying to break free. But I won’t let him; I have worked too hard to keep him at bay.

“Can I see him?” I swallow back the urge to sob. I don’t even know Xavier, but I know that I need him. I can’t fight it any longer. “Please?”

Angel nods. “Follow me, but be warned, he’s in a bad way.”

I tip my head and follow Angel through the door.

I don’t know how long I’ve been staring, but I must have blacked out for a while. It feels like I’ve just regained my sight after being blind for a year.

Xavier is propped up in bed, shirtless, a blanket wrapped over his waist and a feeding tube stuck up his nose. His hands rest by his sides, and his blond hair is pushed back from his face. He’s pale, so pale he looks dead already.

I sense people talking all around me, but I can’t hear their words. My feet carry me over to where Xavier lies, and I can’t help but reach out and take his hand. I close my eyes while holding his hand against my chest.

‘He’s dying, Rory.’

‘He’s not gone yet; I feel his wolf is still with me.’

‘What do I do? I waited too long, and now I’m going to lose him.’

‘Take off your coat and jacket, and climb onto the bed beside him. Hold Xavier in your arms because he needs to feel you, Brayden.’

‘Will it work? Will it bring Xavier back to me?’

‘I don’t know, but it’s worth a try.’

Anything is at this point.

Taking a deep breath, I let go of Xavier’s hand. I then remove my coat, suit jacket, and tie.

“Brayden, what are you doing?”

“Who the hell is he?” Some woman asks before I can answer Cyro.

“Xavier’s mate,” Angel mumbles.

“Are you kidding me? Get him away from my boy!”

“Stand down!” Cyro yells, silencing whoever that woman is.

All the while, I ignore them, pretending they don’t exist. All I care about is Xavier. I open the top three buttons of my shirt, hoping skin-to-skin contact will bring Xavier new life.

I pull back the blanket enough for me to sit on the edge of the bed. I then slip my left arm under Xavier and lift him enough for me to lie down, then pull him against me.

The second his head touches my shoulder, sparks rush through my body like electricity in a wire. I curl my body around Xavier’s and kiss his head.

“I’m so sorry,” I whisper in his ear, hoping he can hear me. “I’m so sorry, Xavier.”

I stroke the back of my hand down his handsome face as I look at him. Fifteen months I fought the bond, fifteen months I left him alone. All the while, Xavier fought to stay alive, and he did, which shows me how strong he is.

The fact he’s now lying in a hospital bed at death’s door also shows me that our mate bond is strong. I’ve never known anything like this in my life. I never rejected Xavier, so I shouldn’t have found him like this.

I take Xavier’s hand in mine, and his fingers twitch instantly, letting me know he’s still with me.

“Come back to me,” I whisper while closing my eyes. “Don’t leave me, please.”