His Isolated Omega Luna

Chapter Nineteen

“Yeah, well,” Lucas almost apologized with the look in his eyes alone. “That was before I saw you two together.”

It was clear from Lucas’ voice he had already accepted Cassandra as a potential mate for his brother and that made Axel’s mouth form a warm and genuine smile that made his eyes crease up at both corners. “If she really is your true mate, then you were always destined to find her anyway and for your information, Axel, it says that suppressants don’t work on pair-bond couples. Apparently, they don’t really have much of an effect anyway, and if the omega is in heat then the vasopressins counteract it. Kind of like nature is trying to outsmart all that artificial crap they might take so it will get them to mate regardless. Clever, really.”

Axel’s eyes were shining when he slammed his hand down hard on the page. He had seemingly experienced a moment of unprecedented enlightenment.

“Well, there you go...” Axel grinned wide, trying hard to subdue his excitement. “Isn’t that answer enough? Cas had a s**t-load of those stupid tablets in her bedroom, and I actually wondered if she took them properly ‘cause she always smells absolutely f*****g delicious to me,” Lucas couldn’t resist a smile at that. He could see the little lines of happiness pulling at the edges of Axel’s lips. He hadn’t seen him look so animated for many years.

In Axel’s mind, his long and relentless search was finally over and he could dedicate all that time and effort into trying to captivate Cassandra instead of just looking for her.

“One thing I just don’t get though, is why it seems to come and go like it does.”

“What do you mean?” Lucas asked, continuing to run his finger along the lines of text. He didn’t look up.

“Like she’s pawing at me one minute and sobbing the next. She runs away from me at the slightest thing and then five seconds later she’s gazing at me with those blue eyes and I swear, Lucas, sometimes she looks like she wants me to drown in them.”

Lucas sighed.

“Yes, Axel. They’re called hormones.”

“Oh. Right.”

“Hmm,” Lucas still believed it was Axel who had set free all of those latent omega instincts as soon as he had marked Cassandra. He hadn’t dared to say anything to him yet, but Lucas really was genuinely concerned for Cassandra’s safety.

“Just keep an eye on her, Axel, is all I’m saying. It’s hardly possible to keep you two apart anyway, so it shouldn’t be too hard for you to watch her. At least ‘til she gets on the bus, if she insists on going in tonight.”

Axel replied with a quiet okay but he was clearly distracted. Lucas wondered where he went when he seemed to drift off like that. He had no doubt at all it had something to do with Cassandra, and everything Axel would like to do to her. He was probably better off not knowing.

***

I waited anxiously in the lobby that evening, aimlessly watching people pass me by while I tried to muster up enough courage to go outside now dusk had started to fall.

My throat felt dry and tight again, and I could feel the beads of cold sweat starting to settle on the back of my neck. My palms were wet and sticky and I realized with growing alarm that the fear had never really gone away at all. It was just masked by the intoxication of Axel’s presence and the way his attention and care had made me feel almost invincible.

I understood now just how much I had let Axel indulge me since I had been sent home and it felt like I had been living in a soft warm bubble that made everything else in the world seem so unimportant and far away.

I suddenly felt my heart sink. It wasn’t real, any of it. That blissful peace that ran effortlessly through my veins when I was with Axel.

It was a perfect illusion, that in reality was fragile and impermanent.

Smoke and mirrors. I thought, realizing just how easily it could all be lost in an instant.

I gasped in a shuddering breath and slowly moved forward, bright glare of the traffic in the street beyond flooding my sensitive eyes and filling my head with light and noise. I brought one hand up to rub at my forehead, but it didn’t really help and everything started to fade in and out of focus again.

“Hold my hand, Cas,” A deep voice whispered at his side. “Let’s go together.”

I glanced up to see Axel standing beside me. I was so happy, I could have hugged him right there in front of the bay window for everyone to see.

All the anxiety and fear suddenly dissipated like it had never been there at all, and that alone was enough to seal my fate. I didn’t just want Axel anymore, I needed him like a life’s breath.

“Axel?” It was the only word I could force out while I gazed up into those soft green eyes.

“Hey. I really wanted to catch you before you left. Lucas thinks I should walk you to the stop so... I’m gonna walk you to the stop. Come on.” Axel smiled. He reached out one hand and stretched all his fingers to show me he wanted me to take it.

I hesitantly lifted up one arm and slid my hand into Axel’s. Axel grabbed for me as soon as they touched, folding his fingers firmly around my palm, and giving it a gentle squeeze. I had no intention of letting go.

Axel pulled me closer, stroking my thumb affectionately up and down the side of my hand where it was resting in my own.

We walked through the lobby and out into the street as I gasped in a chest full of fresh air. Axel felt me grip his hand a little tighter when we crossed the road to the bus stop.

“I’ll come with you, Cas... if you want me to,” Axel offered willingly. “I don’t mind.” I smiled, but shook my head.

“No, it’s okay. I can’t hide away forever and I can’t ask you to do so much for me. I have no right to expect it.”

***

“Hey,” The alpha said quickly, Axel took Cassandra’s face in his other hand so the omega was forced to look up at him. “Don’t talk like that. I told you about that,” Axel added impatiently.

He wasn’t certain if the light that flickered briefly across Cassandra's eyes was fear or desire. It didn’t last long enough for him to be sure but he softened his voice anyway, just in case.

“You don’t have to accept anything less from anyone... especially me,” Cassandra never spoke a word in answer. She just let her eyes flutter shut with her face resting in Axel’s hand, mouth slightly parted. Axel hoped she was waiting for him to kiss her again, but before he was able to capture those lips against his own, the moment was gone and Axel cursed himself for not taking the chance to steal just one.

Cassandra would never ask for a kiss, but she had always seemed willing to return them. Axel could see the bus coming round the corner, so he reluctantly released Cassandra’s hand and gave her a wink. “Listen. You call if you need me. Promise me, Cas.” The bus pulled up.

“I promise, Axel.”

“I know I upset you earlier, and I’m real sorry I stirred up all that s**t about your brother,” Cassandra seemed to linger on the pavement for a second, pushing both hands deep into her pockets.

“Axel, it’s fine. It was all a very long time ago and I haven’t seen him for years. I don’t even know why I got so upset. It’s forgotten.”

Cassandra stepped up onto the platform and gave Axel a little wave of farewell. Axel watched her move down the aisle and take a seat by the window.

***

I stared out into the early evening as the bus pulled away.

I was trying hard to ignore the knot of anxiety in my stomach and the dull ache behind my eyes.

Gabriel was just a distant memory of another life.

I watched the twinkling blurs of light and color pass by with my head pressed against the glass.

I wondered absently if I would ever see my brother again.