Page 23 of Shifting Fate
Dallon
Someone shook my shoulder. I moaned softly and curled a little deeper into the blankets, not wanting to leave my dreams. Another nudge, more insistent this time, followed by, “Dallon? Honey?”
I burrowed my face into the pillow. “Five more minutes,” I mumbled, but the pleasant dream I’d been having was already beginning to fade. I puffed out my lips on a sigh and rolled over, then peeled my heavy eyelids open one by one.
I found myself staring into the worried face of…Brenda Beckett?
She frowned. “Are you okay?”
“Uh… Yeah?” I blinked a couple of times. Propping myself up on one elbow, I glanced around a room I didn’t recognize, painted in pastel pinks and blues. Even the sheets were frilly—and that’s when I realized I was half-naked and crusted with sweat and cum.
Christ on a bike, she probably thought I’d been roofied or something.
I sat up with a soft yelp, dragging the blankets over my hips, but I didn’t have the balls to look Brenda in the eye after defiling what was likely her daughter’s room. My face burned hotter than the depths of hell, rememberingexactlywhat Arias had done to me last night.
“Are you sure you don’t need me to call the cops?” She glanced back towards the door, which stood slightly ajar, like she was trying to save what few scraps of dignity I had left. Too late for that.
“No!” I gasped. “No, I promise, it was completely consensual. Oh my god, I’m so sorry, Brenda.” Where were my pants? I sure as hell didn’t remember taking them off, but my “tail” was on the floor, discarded. I groaned under my breath. “Sorry about this.”
She smiled. “Oh, honey, I’ve been there, trust me. Truth be told, before I met William? I was quite the hussy myself. You’re absolutely sure you’re okay?” she asked, for what I hoped was the last time. I nodded firmly. “Not very gentlemanly to ditch you like that. You’re welcome to shower off the party if you’d like.” Her blue eyes twinkled. “Breakfast will be waiting for you in the kitchen.”
“Thanks, Brenda. You’re the best.”
The door no sooner snicked shut behind her, when my mind began to spin. Thoughts and memories of last night surfaced to crash against my skull like waves battering the shoreline. Shit. Arias. Arias was my mate. The truth slammed into me like a sledgehammer, shattering everything I thought I knew in one fell strike. He was my mate. Had he known the whole time? Why would he hide something like that from me.
My mind spun in dizzying circles. Jesus Christ. I had amate…and he’d come dangerously to attacking Colby last night.
Colby.
Guilt seared through me. What was wrong with me? One taste of my fated mate and I’d jumped headlong into danger, leaving my friend all alone to lick his wounds. How could I be so heartless?
“Shit!” I tumbled out of bed in search of my pants. Locating them halfway beneath the bed, where they’d probably been kicked, I tugged my cellphone free of the back pocket. The battery was nearly dead, but there was still enough juice to send a few texts.
In fact, there were three unread messages from Colby waiting on me.
Dallon?
Then fifteen minutes later:Are you okay? I swear if he hurts you, I’ll kill him.
And nearly an hour after that:Dallon, please text me back when you get this. I need to know you’re okay.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. Damn it. I quickly tapped out a reply.I’m okay, I promise! Sorry for ditching you last night. Things got crazy.
My phone buzzed instantly.Did he hurt you? I’m serious, Dal. I don’t care if he’s Espen’s brother. If he laid a hand on you, I’ll make him wish he’d never been born.
No. No, I’m okay. Honest to god.But something inside of me was all twisted up, my stomach in knots. I didn’t want to ask, but I needed to know that Arias didn’t hurt him.Are YOU okay?
Nothing.
Colby?
Still nothing.
You’re freaking me out. He got inside your head. I know he did. Are you okay?
Crickets. I growled and punched the call button, determined to see this through. It rang once, then went straight to voicemail. Rejected. “Damn it, Colby. NowI’mthe one who’s worried. Ugh!”
Fine. If he wasn’t going to answer my calls, then I’d just drive my happy ass over to Westwind and demand the truth in person. The thought of Arias really hurting him made me feel queasy. He’d been so…angry last night, his emotions out of control. His fury had been palpable. It’d fizzled over my skin when he crushed me to his chest and kissed me like an animal in heat.
