Page 22 of Love in Excess

He reaches for me again, his fingers grazing my arm.Fuck that.I drop the blanket and bolt, pushing past displays andthe bell jangling as I shove through the door. Darting down the sidewalk, I make a beeline for my house, weaving through trees and grassy lawns only to see Carter’s vehicle parked in the driveway.

Just the thought of that man anywhere near me has bile sitting at the back of my throat. I don’t even know where he is but going home is no longer an option. I rush back the way I came, digging my hand into my pocket for my phone when I remember I had been holding it with the blanket. Which means it’s at the store and I have no way of contacting anyone.

I don’t think. I just run. My heart in my throat, fear taking over my thoughts as I hope and pray one of mates is near enough to catch me.

Tears stream down my cheeks as I push myself harder, my legs burning as cars screech and someone yells ‘watch it!’ None of that matters as I dart around another corner, only to find Carter’s car zooming toward me from the other direction. “Why the fuck is he chasing me?” I scream out, turning on my heel and making a sharp left.

It takes me away from the main streets and through more wooded area. However, at this point, I have absolutely no idea where I’m going, tears running down my face as I trip up on a crack in the path. Pain shoots through my foot but I push on anyway, unsure of what Carter truly wants with me. I choke on a sob before darting into a tall building off to my right, stumbling to my knees as someone from the reception comes to my aid.

“What’s wrong, hon?” She gently pulls me into her chest, my sobs softening slightly until Carter’s voice rings through the entrance.

“My omega’s having a panic attack.” He sounds like he’s laughing, enjoying my terror

“I’m not his!” I shout, my voice breaking as I spin to face him, my vision blurred with tears. “I’m not his. Please don’t. I’m nothis.” My body is shaking so hard I can’t stand still, my breathing so ragged I’m gulping at air but not finding relief. “Please,” I plead with the woman, the Alpha slowly drawing me away from Carter and further into the building.

Security intercepts the Beta as I’m sat down in a chair, a calm hand placed on my knee. “You said that he’s not your Beta. Is there someone we can call for you? Do you want us to call the police?”

I shake my head, trying to get out that I need to call my mates but it comes out as a garbled mess, my shaky hands doing nothing to explain my situation. Carter’s voice rises as he argues with the guard, my heart in my throat as I realize there’s a very real possibility that the Beta gets past the puny guy trying to stop him.

The lady scurries back to her desk and produces a phone, my shaky fingers making it take longer to dial a number. I’m just about to pressdialwhen the rich scent of hazelnut coffee skids around the corner, Lincoln barreling toward me like he’s been summoned. He seems frazzled and strung out, his gaze wildly searching the open area before those hazel eyes fall on me. Once again, I don’t think. I just move, darting into his arms, my face pressed against his chest.

He hoists me up against him, my legs wrapping tight around his waist as I cling to him, my tears soaking his shirt. “Sweetie,” he purrs, “How did you know where I lived? I didn’t think we’d be seeing each other until dinner.” I can’t find the energy to say anything but when he tenses against me, I know he sees Carter. “I thought we were very clear you weren’t to touch Celeste again.”

“She’s gonna spit you out like she does everyone else,” he laughs from the entrance. “You’ll see.”

“And that’s her choice. This is also a private residence and you don’t live here as far as I know. So kindly please leave. Martha, she’s with me, okay? If he doesn’t leave, call the police.”

Lincoln doesn’t wait for an answer as he carries me down a hallway and into an elevator. No words are shared between us as he keeps his lips pressed to my forehead, the lighting changing and dimming. It only settles once he steps off the elevator and into a room down the hall, the lights off. He sits into one of the armchairs by the window before tightening his arms around me a little bit.

Everything in here smells like him, the happy pant of a puppy telling me that we’re in his apartment. I somehow ran right into one of the safest places on earth–intomyBeta’s arms.

“What happened, sweetie?”

“I don’t know. He was there and said I was being a tease. I just…” I don’t know what else to add. I just know that I need my mates, surrounding me, holding me, assuring me that the world isn’t closing in on meagain.Hunter’s definitely going to kill Carter this time and if not, the steady growl rumbling through Lincoln’s chest tells me that he will.

“You’re safe with me. I got you. I’m just going to call Hunter so he knows where we are, okay?”

Fuck, he’s probably freaking out, no doubt feeling my terror through the bond. I manage a small nod, placing my lips against his neck so that I can drink in more of his scent, my Omega calming as I’m smothered in it. “I didn’t know where to go. He parked at the house,” I murmur.

“You did so well, Celeste. You’re a fighter, you know that?”

He tilts my head back just a little before dipping his chin to kiss my cheek. I drag him in for more, needing his taste. The sobs soften until I’m just trembling against him, Lincoln letting me direct the embrace until we’re just sipping from each other.

“I got you, sweetie. I promise,” he whispers, the terror in my chest muted beneath his touch. I knew he would help protect me but I hadn’t expected it to feel like home.

LINCOLN

I’m not sure how long we sit in the dark, Celeste curled against my chest, her small frame tucked into my lap. Her breathing’s still a bit erratic, hitching every few seconds, but it’s calmer now than when she first crashed into my arms in my apartment lobby. Every now and then, she mumbles “please,” her voice barely a whisper before relaxing again, my heart aching for the terror she experienced.

Fucking Carter.

The worst part was the sudden surge of emotion I felt after a walk with Jasmine. I just had to get to Celeste, regardless of anything else. It makes me wonder if we’re not already bonded in some way, as if fate already has plans for me—telling me that this is it. That this ismypack. One can only hope.

Something buzzes on my chest and I reach to silence it before trying to get to my phone again. Celeste digs her fingers into my chest, halting my movement. “Don’t leave me!” The broken cry has me sighing and relaxing as I explain to her what I’m doing.

“Sweetie, I’m not going anywhere but if I can’t get to my phone then I can’t call Hunter.” I press my lips to her forehead, damp with sweat, a low, rumbling sound coming from me that I’ve never made before. The purr takes me by surprise, like my body knows how to soothe her even if my head’s still catching up. She sighs, her breath warm against my neck as I tighten my arms around her, the purr steadying us both. “I need to call your Alpha, okay?”

She shifts, her face nuzzling closer, her lips grazing my collarbone. “OurAlpha,” she whispers. “He’s ours. But yes, I need him. I need both of you.”

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