I sit up again. “She’s really back. In my life. And she doesn’t hate me.”
“How could she?” Nate asks. “It’s nearly impossible to hate you.”
“Thanks,” I reply with a giggle. “But considering what I did, I wouldn’t blame her.”
His face softens. “You have to stop blaming yourself, Ally.”
“It’s hard not to,” I sigh, feeling the adrenaline start to leave my body. “She thought I didn’t care. She was alone, Nate. I should have been there.”
Emotion fills me, and I feel myself start to cry.
“Hey, hey.” Nate comes in, sitting on the edge of the bed. “Shhh.” He pulls me into his lap, and instead of sitting on it, I straddle him. I can do that now. Because fucking hell, this man is finally mine. I don’t even think we need to have a conversation about it. It’s like our souls just know. It’s right. It feels so damn right.
“I hate her,” my voice breaks. “I hate her for taking that power from me. For making me stay away from Lulu.”
“I know.” He rubs his hands up and down my back. “I hate her too, baby.”
My lower lip wobbles. “She took so much from me,” I rasp.
“I know.” His voice is thick. “I’m so sorry, baby.”
I bury my face in Nate’s neck, the adrenaline crash a lot stronger than it normally is.
We stay like that until the tears dry and the crying stops.
My hormones are already all over the place. Add in the new development of a scent match, and I’m a fucking mess.
There’s a knock at the door that has me pulling away from Nate.
“I’ll get it.” He kisses my forehead. “Get in bed. I’ll be right back.”
Nodding, I crawl off his lap and back under the covers.
Curling into a ball, I stare out my window, tears staining the pillow as I start to cry again.
Murmurs sound from the other side of the bus. For a moment, I think Liam or the guys are back, but then Nate steps into my room. “Kitten, there’s someone here to see you.”
“Who?” I whisper.
“Brady.”
My eyes widen, and I scramble to sit up. “Brady? He’s here?”
Nate nods. “Is it okay if I let him in?”
The need to have my Alpha—to smell him, hold him—has me nodding frantically, my lower lip wobbling as I try to hold it together.
Nate steps away again, and some words are exchanged before Brady appears in the doorway.
“Hey, Sweetheart,” Brady’s husky voice has me falling apart all over again. “Don’t cry, baby,” he sounds torn. “Can I come in?”
For a moment, I’m wondering why he’s asking. I clearly need him. But then I see him looking around the room. This isn’t just my room, it’s my nest.
I nod my head, welcoming my Alpha into my safe place.
Without another word, Brady slips off his shoes, pants, and shirt, crawling into the bed with only his boxers on.
Any other time, I’d be slicking and ready to ride him like a pony. But right now? I just want him to hold me.
