Page 99 of Bonds of Fate

Leo stares, still catching up. “How did you figure it out? Because, Nix, that’s insane. Holy shit—I wonder if you could kick Rowan’s ass.” He exhales sharply, shaking his head. “This changes things. Come on.”

He grabs Nix’s wrist and pulls him up, dragging him toward the door. Down the hall, down to the main level.

The others—except Gideon and Jay—are huddled on the couch. They stand when they see them, expectant faces tinged with lingering sadness.

“Hey, come with us.” Leo heads back toward the gym.

Someone—Jay—has cleaned the room, clearing away the destroyed heavy bag and propping the door just inside against the wall.

Oh. The door.

Didn’t Nix take that door down?

Well, that woulddefinitelygive him an inkling about omega strength.

Leo spins them around just as the others enter.

Grayson’s eyes and nose are red from crying, and Finn still has his arm around Luca.

Rowan smells extra spicy, his scent still simmering with anger.

Nix flinches a bit at his mates’ obvious distress up close, but he snaps his spine straight and tries not to meet anyone’s eyes. It hurts to see that he fears their emotions as much as he does being locked up or even cast out, but Leo thinks they can fix that with a demonstration.

“Bear with us.” Leo pulls Nix over to the weight bench and gestures for him to kneel, and Leo mirrors his position. “Watch. Okay, Nix? Just do what you showed me before.”

“I trust you. I’ll use my other arm if that’s okay?” It’s his non-dominant arm, and in theory, it should give Leo an advantage.

“Why am I watching my baby arm wrestle when I’m dying inside?”

“Luca, just give us a minute. I promise. Ready, Nix?”

When Leo moves to use both his hands, Grayson protests the cheating and the potential to injure his soulmate. “Leo, no.”

But Nix wins.

It’s silent for a moment as they all process, and Rowan catches on the quickest. “Let me.” He changes position with Leo and exudes cockiness because, without a doubt, their baby alpha wins more contests of strength than he loses, no matter his opponent.

“Hi, Nix.” He smiles a tiny smile—doing his damnedest to keep his earlier frustration and fear under wraps.

“Hi, Rowan. You okay?”

“Not so good, if I am honest, but I am going to win this.”

Nix takes the offered olive branch. “You think? Bring it, baby.” It’s said in a low voice, and Rowan’s spicy rum scent swiftly changes to reveal how attractive he finds this competitive version of their mate.

Nix wins—again and again.

“Want to use both hands?” He props his head on his free hand like he could do this all day. Their mates have drawn closer, and Luca has taken to weakly cheering Nix on despite him not being the underdog at all.

Finn is observing a few paces away, mental wheels turning.

“What do you think, Finn? He’s strong—says omegas are built that way. Arlo told him they were the original protectors of the pack.”

“There’s nothing in those books about it, that’s for sure, but I’ve already texted Baz and asked for a meeting.” They’re watching Luca team up with Rowan, and together, they still can’t beat Nix, who should have tired by now but is only enjoying it more.

Leo nods. “Maybe we can find out more of what he can do. I have to admit I am less worried about him than I was when I thought he was…”

“Frail? Me too. But Leo, strength is only part of it. There’s all the trauma. He couldn’t even think about Hayes a few days ago without puking his guts up. He told Erin Christie he didn’t want to testify.”

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