Page 155 of Claimed By the Rival Alpha
I stretched my arms over my head, feeling so much lighter now that I had some kind of plan for our next steps. I glanced the sky and found the sun beginning its descent toward the horizon. I headed back toward my cabin and enjoyed the breeze. My life was so different now from how it’d been just a couple of months ago. The girl who had grown up reading fantasy novels and longing for a place to call home now had the chance for not only a home but a large, loving family. I was so grateful to have the opportunity to do all this.
“Bryn!” Tavi was calling for me.
I turned, and gasped out loud. She wasn’t alone—Pax was with her! He let go of her hand and ran to me. I crouched, and he ran into my arms.
“Bryn, I missed you so much,” he said, sobbing into my shoulder.
“Oh, Pax, Pax, Pax,” I said, hugging him tight. “I missed you, too, brave little boy.”
His tears soaked into my shoulder as I held him as tightly. Tears stung my eyes thinking of how close he’d come to death, but my joy and relief at seeing him safe and sound allowed me to be strong enough to hold them back.
“His mom said that they were going to attend your binding ceremony, but he wanted to see you today. He was determined to make me take you to him,” Tavi said. “I couldn’t say no to him.”
I stood with Pax in my arms and looked up at her. After our talk, she had seemed in better spirits. But of course, the darkness lingered in her gaze. There was a smile on her face, but it seemed exhausted. My joy at seeing her and Pax was tempered by my concern for her.
“I’m glad you did,” I said, “but are you sure you’re okay?” I hadn’t forgotten that she’d told me that going around the compound alone made her uncomfortable. I imagine it was worse with a little boy in tow.
But she nodded. “More or less. There are a lot of people going back and forth, which is both really nice and a little overwhelming.”
“Ah.” I took in her hair and her clothes. “You look great, by the way, Tavi.”
Her raven-black hair was braided down her back, and the long-sleeved, smoke-gray sheath dress she wore went down to her ankles. My chest warmed knowing that the ceremony meant so much to her that she would dress up for it.
“Thanks.” Her smile was still more a reflex than a genuine expression of joy, but I wouldn’t let myself mourn that. I knew from experience that it was a huge undertaking to get dressed orshower when depression hit its hardest. I was so proud of her for doing this.
“You have to get ready, too, Bryn,” Pax said suddenly. He pulled back and wiped his eyes with his fists. “The Alpha ceremony is gonna start any minute!”
I laughed. “Well, we still have some time to get ready, but you’re right, I should get my butt in gear.”
I spotted Dom heading toward us over Tavi’s shoulder. I raised my free hand to wave at him. Tavi turned to see who was coming, and stiffened.
I glanced at her and saw a flash of something like shame cross her gaze as she looked down and away from Dom. Quickly, she schooled her features to form her usual, impersonal mask. I looked at Dom, and saw that he had also seen her face fall. Concern was clear as day on his face; he wasn’t even trying to hide it. I knew that he wanted to reach out to her, to make her okay again, but she wasn’t even close to being there yet.
Before Dom could open his mouth, Tavi turned to me. “S-sorry, Pax, we should let Bryn get ready for the ceremony. I’m sure your mom is missing you.”
“Okaaay.” His voice was full of disappointment. Of course, he had no idea of the interpersonal drama that was happening between the adults around him.
He let Tavi pull him into her arms, and she quickly turned away from us. “I’ll see you at the ceremony, Bryn. Dom,” she said.
“Tavi, wait just a sec—” Dom stepped toward her, but when she began to speed-walk away, he stopped himself from following her. Seeing him long for her, watching him clench and unclenchhis hands, the veins standing out from the muscles in his arms, I knew it must have taken everything in him to let her walk away.
It pulled at my heart to see him like that.
After another beat, he tucked away the torrent of emotion I’d just seen and turned a small smile to me. “You headed my way?” he asked, offering his elbow to me. “I’ve got a certain Alpha to escort around the compound.”
The gesture was so gallant, it made me laugh despite myself. I really, really liked Dom, which was part of the reason this thing between him and Tavi hurt so much to watch. He was like the brother I never had and never knew I wanted.
I took his arm with a slight curtsy. “Please, good sir, lead the way.”
He chuckled and we walked together to the Alpha cabin. We were silent for half of the walk, both of us in our own heads.
“So, Tavi,” he began, at the same time that I said, “I’m kinda worried about?—”
We stopped, and then our surprise became understanding, saddened smiles. “I guess we were thinking the same thing,” he said.
I nodded. “I’m worried about her, too.”
He gave a deep sigh. “I’ve been trying to give her some space, but I don’t know if it’s helping or just making her feel more alone.”
