Free Web NovelChapter 45: Sugar Plum
Lorali Pov
"He is here to help you get better, Sugar Plum," Torin says, standing tall at the doorframe, his hand gesturing toward Oracle, who lingers just behind him. Oracle looks as though he has been run over by a bus and stomped upon a thousand times, his face battered, his posture heavy, his presence almost ghostly like mine. I wonder what could have happened to him to leave him in such a state. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
"The doctor said you need to be in close contact with your bonded mate for you to actually start looking better." Torin steps into the room, his grip firm as he drags Oracle by the wrist, pulling him inside.
I instinctively move further back into the bed, pressing myself closer to the headboard, the distance between us shrinking as they approach. My thoughts race. Did the doctor tell Torin about my venomous bond? How could he possibly know when I purposely avoided every question that might lead to its discovery?
"There is no need to be afraid. I’ll be with you the entire time," Torin says, his voice filled with so much warmth I could melt into it. He releases Oracle’s wrist and turns to me, his hands cupping my cheeks with surprising gentleness.
"Would you please sit up and turn your back? You don’t have to face him." His tone is not commanding, it is asking, soft, even polite. He even said please.
I can bring myself to protest after being shown such kindness so I nod, obedient as ever and do exactly as he asks. I push the blankets aside, sit cross‑legged, and turn my back toward Oracle.
"Good girl. Thank you," Torin growls gently, the sound vibrating low in his throat. A whimper almost escapes me, but I bite it back, stopping it from surfacing. What I cannot stop is the heat rushing to my face and my cheeks burning bright red. Torin chuckles at the sight, leaning down to press a kiss against my forehead.
Goodness. I am really falling for this man I’ve known for less than twenty‑four hours. But in all honesty, it was always Torin. He is the reason I chose this pack to begin with. That dance we shared, those few minutes of conversation, the way he made me feel seen at the gala all that was enough to make me fall for him. So it’s no surprise that I’m already in love, or at least feeling something dangerously close to it, even though this could all be a trap.
Suddenly, the bed dips behind me. My back makes contact with another back, presumably Oracles back, since he is the only one behind me. I want to turn, to look at him, but Torin’s hand presses lightly against my jaw, forcing my head to remain facing him.
"I figured this would be the best way for the two of you to have contact without having to see each other. This contact should help you feel better."
And he is right. Now that Oracle’s back is pressed against mine, the pain in my shoulder and throughout my body vanishes. The ache dissolves into nothing. I know that physical contact with my bonded reduces the pain, but one question remains in my mind which is, how did the doctor know?
"I’m sorry," Oracle croaks suddenly, his dry voice breaking me from my thoughts. "I never wanted things to end up the way they are now. If I could turn back time, I’d make sure none of this ever happened."
Though I cannot see his face, I can feel through the bond that he is on the verge of tears. It is strange, I have never felt anything from him before, never sensed his emotions through the bond. But the textbooks say it is normal, even common, to feel your bonded’s emotions. Perhaps I only feel it now because of how close we are.
"So you regret marking me," I say grimly, the words slipping out before I can stop them.
I feel his back shift uncomfortably against mine.
"No, I’m sorry—you don’t have to answ—" I rush to cover my mistake, my thoughts swarming with excuses. Why would you say that, Lorali? You might as well have asked why he rejected you. Now you’ve made this whole situation uncomfortable for everyone. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
"Yes, I do. I regret marking you." Oracle’s voice is heavy, each word dragging. "I truly believe we all would have been happier if the mark was never placed upon you."I know what Oracle said is true, we would all be happier if this mark had never been cast upon me. But even knowing that, I cannot stop the tears from streaming down my face. It hurts in a way that feels unbearable, to know that the person you’ve been waiting for your entire life, the one fate promised you, wants nothing to do with you. My chest tightens, my throat burns, and I lift my hand to wipe away my tears, but Torin’s hands are faster. His touch is gentle as he brushes the tears from my cheeks, his voice lowering to a whisper that grazes my ear.
"Don’t cry. I am here and I want you."
The warmth in his tone makes my heart stumble. Oracle, unable to continue, excuses himself quietly, his voice breaking as he mutters something about needing air. I watch him go, my gaze lingering on his retreating figure, and something about the way he leaves feels off. His shoulders are hunched, his movements stiff, as though he is carrying a weight too heavy to bear. I feel bad for him even though I know I shouldn’t, because he is behind most of the suffering and the reason I have stayed in this penthouse for so long.
But before I can dwell on Oracle’s strange behavior, Torin suddenly moves. He steps closer, his arms sliding around my waist, and in one swift motion he lifts me from the bed. A startled gasp escapes me as he sits down on the mattress and places me firmly on his legs, holding me there as though I belong. My face burns crimson, my heart racing wildly.
"Torin!" I squeak, flustered beyond belief, my hands instinctively pressing against his chest as if to push him away, though I don’t truly want to.
He chuckles at my reaction, the sound rich and amused, his fingers brushing against my hair. "I love it when you say my name, one day you’ll be moaning it out" He pushes the strands back from my face, tucking them neatly behind my ear, his touch lingering just long enough to make me shiver.
"Tell me, Sugar Plum," he says, his voice warm and crisp, each word sinking into me like honey. "Are Oracle and I your only fated mates in this pack?"
His question makes my stomach twist, butterflies flapping their wings furiously inside me. My lips part, but the words stumble out in fragments.
"N... no," I manage to stutter, my voice trembling. "You guys aren’t the only ones."
"Oh really?" His brows lift slightly, his tone curious yet teasing. "Who else is there? Mind telling me their names?"
I swallow hard, my hands tightening against his shirt. "Walter and Keion," I admit softly, my voice almost breaking. "But... I don’t think they feel it."
I feel him nod behind me, his chin brushing lightly against my hair as he murmurs faintly, almost to himself, "I’ve never heard of two omegas becoming fated mates before." His words are quiet, but I catch them, every syllable sinking into me.
"Promise me you won’t tell anyone about this or who you are bonded to until I get this all figured out, okay?" His tone is gentle, coaxing, yet firm enough to leave no room for argument.
I know I should probably find that suspicious. I should question why he wants secrecy, why he insists on keeping this hidden. But I don’t care. Not right now. All I can feel is the closeness of him, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath my palms, the way his arms hold me as though I am precious. I am just happy, happy that my mate is this close to me, happy that he has not rejected me, happy that he actually cares.
My cheeks burn hotter, my breath uneven, and I lower my gaze, unable to meet his eyes. Torin chuckles again, clearly amused by how flustered I am, and his hand lingers against my cheek, his thumb brushing softly across my lips.
"You’re adorable when you blush," he says, his voice low, almost playful.
I bite my lip, my heart pounding so loudly I’m sure he can hear it. My thoughts swirl in chaos and comfort even though I know this could all be a trap, even though I know I should guard myself, I cannot help but lean into Torin’s touch, my body betraying me, my heart whispering that maybe, just maybe, this is where I belong and this is all true affection that I fill have the life I have always dreamed of.
