Page 91 of His Gentle Omega
I couldn’t shift, I was past the twelve-week point in my pregnancy. Throwing my arms up in a defensive move, I screamed, using all my strength to land a glancing blow to the side of his head before his teeth could rip into me. It was enough to knock him off balance, and he landed inches away from me, shaking his head to clear it.
Stumbling to my feet, I ran, turning to see where Edward was. I got a glimpse of snarling fangs and gray paws slashing at me, before razor sharp claws ripped into my arm, tearing flesh away as I jerked back, trying to break free of his powerful hold.
Chapter Thirty
Shay
My phone rang as I was standing in the check-out line, and I couldn’t help the huge smile that lit up my face when I saw Bennett’s name on the caller I.D. I wasn’t sure what had possessed me to flirt with him this morning, but I wasn’t sorry about it.
There was a court hearing scheduled in two weeks’ time. Both Alex and Tessa were pleased with the progress I had made, and honestly so was I. I loved my job, and Lo, while no-nonsense and a straight shooter, was a fantastic and understanding boss. Lucas was thriving in first grade, and I had passed my G.E.D. exam three weeks ago. I was an official high school graduate. About damn time.
And Asher and I had gone to a counseling session together. It had been hard as hell, but it had helped to have a non-biased mediator in Tessa. I hadn’t told Asher every detail of what wenton between Edward and me–and I probably never would–but I had been able to explain some of what I had been feeling when Edward and I had met.
Explain that since therapy and my support group, I had come to understand the manipulation that hadn’t felt like manipulation at all. That suddenly, one day, I realized Edward had systematically managed to isolate me from all my friends and family. That I hadn’t even realized it was happening at the time, and how stupid I felt afterwards.
The hardest part was looking my brother in the eye and saying that even after the first punch Edward had thrown, that I had still loved him. Believed his tears, and his ‘I’m sorry’ and his ‘It will never happen again’. And that when it did happen again–because it always happened again–that I had still loved him, still believed him, still thought somewhere, deep inside, was the Edward I had fallen in love with. That I could love him enough for both of us.
I hadn’t told Asher everything, but I had told him enough. Enough for both of us to be sobbing, and for me to see the anger in Asher’s eyes. Not directed at me this time, but towards Edward. Then realizing Asher blamed himself for not trying harder, not doing more, thinking he somehow could have saved me had he just known.
We were in a good place, my brother and me, and I wanted to keep striving towards good places with everything in my life. Being happy was a hell of a lot better than whatever I had been, for longer than I could remember with Edward.
I still had nightmares, and flashbacks, for lack of a better word. There were still times where I could get triggered by nothing at all. Like the skeletal hand of a ghost reaching up froma grave, suddenly I would find myself in the midst of a panic attack, not even sure what had caused it.
But always there was Bennett. Thinking of his smiling face, and gorgeous green eyes, would center me. Bring me back from the brink and calm me. Knowing Bennett was there, even if he was just out of reach, made me feel like I could survive. I could start to heal. I could someday be the alpha he deserved.
Smiling as I answered the phone, my eyes fell on the carton of mint chocolate chip ice cream he had asked for with glee in his eyes. Maybe I should ask him on a proper date. My mate bond with Edward was well and truly severed. The court case was coming up, and Alex was confident Edward wouldn’t get custody. Though he had warned me to be prepared for the judge to grant some kind of visitation arrangement. He had assured me he would do everything in his power to get it supervised. I trusted Alex, and believed he could do what he said he could in court.
There was really nothing holding me back from asking Bennett on a date except me. Even Tessa had agreed it was time I thought about whether I wanted to pursue things with Bennett, since we were fated.
I was going to do it, I decided in that instant, standing in the grocery line. I was going to ask him to dinner, and I’d bring him flowers. Tulips, like my mom had planted. And I would tell him the story of why tulips were my favorite flowers.
“I have your ice cream,” I teased into the receiver, “but I’m in line so if you want something else, your options are limited to candy bars—”
“Daddy!”
The terrified scream of my son interrupting me had me standing up straight, my heart pounding wildly. Fear raced throughme because there was no mistaking the pure terror in Lucas’s high-pitched voice.
“Lucas? What’s wrong?”
“Daddy, you have to help him!” Lucas sobbed uncontrollably, to the point I had a hard time understanding what he was saying. “He’s hurting Bennett!”
Abandoning my cart of groceries, I pushed past the people in front of me, ignoring their grumbles as I ran out of the store. Digging for my keys, my hands trembled, and I dropped them, watching in horror as they skipped and spun on the pavement.
Even as I asked the question of Lucas, in my heart I knew who he was talking about. No one could frighten my son like that except for one person.
“Papa Edward!” Lucas hiccupped, sniffing loudly. “He’s here and he’s hurting Bennett! Help him, Daddy!”
For a brief few seconds, terror froze me in my tracks. I stood staring at my keys, abandoned on the asphalt, hands shaking so hard I almost lost the grip on my phone. He had found us. How had he found us? Then I remembered Alex’s warning that my address had to be on the court filing papers and Edward’s legal team would have access to it.
Stupid me, thinking a restraining order would stop Edward. Knowing he was in rehab had caused me to let my guard down. To think we were safe and could live a normal life.
Mate, my tiger roared, like he hadn’t roared in years.Get to our mate. Run! I’m with you, Shay. I’m here.
“Daddy, please help us!” Lucas cried, shaking me to my core.
Grabbing my keys in my fist, I ran to Trixie, starting her up, tires squealing as I raced out of the shopping center. Anger, fear, and adrenaline raced through my blood, my heart pounding nearly out of my chest.
“Lucas, where are you? Are you somewhere safe?” My voice was surprisingly calm.
