Page 52 of His Temporary Alpha Mate
I saw it just up ahead on the edge of town. I gritted my teeth, determined to get there. The truck behind us shot forward, closing the distance.
We wouldn’t make it. The portal was too small.
A line of elves suddenly appeared as we were shunted again. With their magic, they widened the portal. They prepared themselves to fight.
Our truck hit the guardrail and just crumpled.
The aviary didn’t stop. They plowed into us, sending us toppling onto our side.
Metal scraped across the tarmac, causing sparks to fly. Glass shattered, littering the road.
Close. We were so close to safety.
My head hit the steering wheel just before the truck slammed to a halt against the rocky hill on the opposite side of the road.
Everything went black.
“You better wake up soon so I can yell at you! Just what were you thinking?” Dalton’s shrill voice pulled me out of the blackness.
So I was alive, then. Also in a shit-ton of trouble if the expression on my mate’s face was any indication.
“What happened?” I croaked.
Dalton helped me drink some water.
“‘What happened?’ he asks. “Well, what happened was that you went on a risky supply run and nearly died!” Dalton was trembling from head to foot.
Shit. I was in the dog-house.
“Dimples, I’m fine,” I tried to assure him even though every part of my body ached. I felt like road-kill.
He screamed a long, pent up sound that seemed to come from his very soul.
James peered around the corner. “Oh good! You’re awake. I’ll go find Aldrin so we can check you over. He’s working on the others.” His gaze fixed on Dalton who was still shaking and letting out little growls. “Are you okay? Do you need to shift and run it off?”
“I’m… too angry to be rational at present!” Dalton went to the corner of the room and thunked his headagainst the wall, his back to me. “I think I’ll just stay here and take some breaths.”
“If you’re sure,” James grimaced. “Let me know if you need anything.”
“What I need is a mate who isn’t a giant dumbass!” Dalton broke into sobs.
It killed me not to go to his side, but I was hooked up to equipment, and one look from James said I wouldn’t be welcome.
“Dimples, please,” I tried. He at least turned around, though he was still too far away to touch.
“Do not try to be cute with me right now, Lark. I’m too mad at you to even look at your swollen face!” He sniffled, then sighed. “James, could you please get Aldrin or Hiroshi to do something about his face? I just—“
“Of course. It must be riling those coming omega instincts. You’re so close to your first heat, your hormone levels must be through the roof. Remind me to do some tests before you leave. There’s so much going on with the missing shifters being found.”
“Missing shifters?”
“Ricky and Rudi, the birds who fled from the aviary,” James explained. “They were following the truck, ready to step in if they could help. They’re injured, though. Rudi might never fly again after what they didto him the first time.” He said the last part sadly. I knew he wished he could have helped them sooner.
“Ugh, I feel so happy for Nova and Sofia, but poor Rudi!” Dalton’s tears flowed faster. “Dammit!”
“Yeah, sounds like those omega instincts are really kicking in. Right on time, too. That month long transition is hard, but worth it. Tests after. We’ll deal with your mate’s face first.”
Dalton gave a watery chuckle. “If this is what being an omega is like, I’m not sure I made the right choice.”
