His Isolated Omega Luna

Chapter Twenty

Axel slumped forward, miserably watching the bus take the corner at the end of the street. He waited on the pavement until it completely disappeared from view and blew out a deep sigh that seemed to shake his whole body.

The alpha hated the painful sense of helplessness that somehow managed to slink all the way under his skin when he wasn’t looking.

He had no idea what it was that made his heart skitter every time he looked at Cassandra.

The almost crushing desire to keep her by his side to make sure she would never have to be alone again was becoming dangerous.

Axel knew there was nothing he could do to stop it now. How desperate Cassandra looked when she told Axel she didn’t want to have to face the world on her own anymore. Axel didn’t think he would ever be able to erase that image from his mind, and he didn’t really want to. It gave him hope.

He should have stopped Cassandra from going off all alone knowing she was still vulnerable and Axel felt like he had let her down somehow.

Axel pulled his collar up, dropping his gaze low when he crossed the street back to their apartment building with a heavy heart. He picked up an evening paper and a couple of cans from the machine in the lobby before heading back upstairs, intending to catch up on many hours of missed sleep.

Nervous exhaustion had seamlessly taken over his life since he first touched that soft omega skin, letting himself be lost forever to the deep blue pools of seduction that lay hidden behind Cassandra’s eyes.

Axel was surprised to see his brother appeared to be packing some provisions into a small hamper when he walked back in. He gave his brother a cursory glance but didn’t ask what he was doing.

Axel threw himself down on the couch in an untidy heap and tipped his head back. He shut his eyes and brought one arm up across his face.

Lucas could see his alpha brother was trying very hard to pretend he was okay. The silence was broken only by the soft rustling of plastic wrap as Lucas worked away in the other room. He gave Axel a few minutes before deciding to distract him from sulking with a few well-aimed questions.

“Cas get off alright, then?” Lucas tried lightly.

Axel never moved and Lucas only knew he was still conscious by the muffled grunt of assent offered as a token response. Lucas smiled to himself while he continued to load the box. “You tell her to be careful?” Axel started to manipulate the skin on his temples with firm circles to rid himself of an imaginary headache.

"Hmm."

“You know, you could actually try and get some sleep, Axel. I don’t think you’ve managed more than a couple of hours over the last two days and that stuff starts to mess with your head. Are you going to meet her in the morning?”

“Obviously.”

Neither of them spoke again for several long minutes. Lucas finished off in the kitchen and Axel heard his heavy footsteps approach. He sensed a shadow descend at his side.

“Axel? What’s really bothering you? What else did you read in those letters?” The question was unexpected, and Axel was too tired to make up a lie. Lucas always seemed to know what he was thinking anyway.

“I don’t want to talk about it. There's just something not right,” Axel mumbled wearily. Lucas sat down next to him and prodded his knee hard into Axel’s thigh.

“Okay. Later then, when you’re not so grumpy – here,” Lucas said gently. Axel felt a heavy weight suddenly drop onto his stomach. He opened one eye and peered out from underneath his arm. Lucas had balanced the box across his body.

Axel sat up and reached for the base to stop it falling off and tumbling to the floor. He pushed himself up and popped open the lid at one corner so he could take a look inside. There was a flask of coffee, some loaded sub-rolls wrapped in plastic film, and a reasonably varied selection of fresh fruit.

“Right,” Lucas commanded. “Four hours shut-eye, and then you're going to go check in on your girlfriend,” He teased Axel with a small smile. “May I also suggest you tell her you just brought her some supper because you wanted to see if she was okay. You can’t even imagine the amount of kudos points you’ll get for that, and it'll give you an excuse to see Cas without her thinking you’ve gone all fatal attraction on her!”

***

Axel actually slept for over ten hours and Lucas didn’t even attempt to wake him until it was almost time for Cassandra’s shift to finish. He gently shook him awake and sent him off to pick up Cassandra from the stop and give him what would now have to serve as breakfast instead of supper.

As Axel walked through the main entrance, he noticed a man hanging about by the mailboxes. He looked vaguely familiar, but Axel was certain he hadn’t seen him there before.

He watched him for a few minutes while he moved along the row with his head tilted to one side. Walking up and down, like he was trying to read something. Axel thought it a little odd, but it was soon forgotten when he saw Cassandra jump down from the bus and wait on the sidewalk until it was safe for her to cross.

Axel rushed out to meet Cassandra before she even reached the front steps. He gave her a shy wave as she approached.

“Hey, Cas,” Axel bent forward to place a hesitant kiss on her cheek. “How was it? Were you okay? Did anybody say anything to you?” Cassandra smiled wide and giggled happily while pretending to push Axel away.

“Which one do you want me to answer first?” She laughed.

“Sorry. I just missed you. Here, I brought us some breakfast,” Axel said proudly. He thrust the hamper towards Cassandra and allowed her a quick peek inside.

“Axel... that’s so kind, thank you,” Cassandra answered, a look of genuine appreciation and joy in her eyes. No one had ever done anything so thoughtful just for her, she thought.

Axel preened all the way up the stairs while Cassandra continued to gaze up at him in awe.

They were only a few meters from Cassandra’s door, when Axel realized the man who had been loitering in the entrance was now standing directly in front of them.

Axel was about to tell him to move along, when he felt Cassandra reach frantically for his hand and dig his fingertips into his palm.

She seemed like she was desperately trying to say something to him, but nothing actually came out.

Cassandra slowed down as they approached and narrowed her eyes, trying to process what she was seeing in her head.

“Gabriel?” Cassandra eventually managed a whisper. “Wh… what are you… doing here?” She stammered. Axel felt her tighten the hold around his fingers.

“Gabriel?!” Axel echoed in disbelief, turning to look at Cassandra. “As in your d**k brother, Gabriel?”

“Hey! Who the hell are you?” The man demanded. “As if you care about my sister!”

Axel was now standing between them, his head dropped low in an aggressive posture that sent a small shiver of fear down Cassandra’s body. Even though she knew Axel was a powerful and dominant alpha, he had only ever shown her gentleness and patience.

Axel set his shoulders square when he faced up to Cassandra’s brother and held both arms in readiness at his sides. His chest was hitching with the effort of having to control his emotions enough to prevent himself from lunging straight at him.

“f**k you, I care.” Axel forced out, sharp teeth glinting with every word.

“Axel, please don’t…” Cassandra tried in a shaky voice.

It was so fragile, it seemed completely lost in the oppressive air.

“Cassandra,” Gabriel said slowly. His golden gaze remained fixed disapprovingly on Axel who was now glaring back at him with such a deep frown, it pulled at the skin around his eyes. “Control your mutt.”

Cassandra gasped in a choked breath, eyes flicking back and forth between the two men in alarm. The cornered omega reached hesitantly for Gabriel’s arm and pleaded with him not to antagonize Axel any further.

“You and I need to talk.”