Page 16 of Petals and Strings (Broken Melodies #1)

“You know, one button click and you’d be out,” Theo hissed, his voice low and meant only for us. He was certainly bold when he knew he wasn’t going to be heard.

Asshole.

Rydell stood, his chair scraping across the floor before another growl echoed out. I hid my smile in Ansel’s hair, whispering reassurance.

“That’s just Rydell making sure no one touches us,” I promised. “That’s a protective growl, not an angry one. You’re still safe.”

“I’m sorry.” His words were followed by a cough. I grabbed the bottle of water from our tray and uncapped it, pulling back and gently guiding his head back. He was so compliant, a gentle tug had his head moving back, the bottle touching his lips had his mouth opening.

The look in his watery, dark blue-green eyes was enough to tear my chest open. So much fucking pain haunted them. A pain that echoed within me, wishing I could take it away from him.

“Drink.” It wasn’t a question, but an order. His lips parted immediately, eyes staying on mine as I held the bottle to his lips and tipped it, helping him drink.

He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing slowly with each swallow. With that small victory, it was time to attempt food. I stabbed a bite of steak before holding to his lips. He looked reluctant, until I raised a single eyebrow. He sighed, but let me feed him.

There was a power in this dynamic. We were both bruised and broken, at very different levels of our healing journeys, but he was handing me control I needed, while entrusting me to care for him, getting out of his head and letting his control slide to me.

It was humbling that he could trust me like this. I felt like I hadn’t earned it yet, but I wanted to treat it like the gift it was.

Something had shifted between us, changed. The moment brought us together in a strange but intense way that we couldn’t easily turn away from.

His scent sweetened as I fed him. The hint of char became a rich, smoky undertone as he settled further.

I had simply trusted Rydell to scare off Theo. When I turned my attention back to the room, he was gone. Ry was watching me, nodding once when I met his gaze and mouthed a ‘thank you’ to him.

Everyone tried to label him as a monster. He was anything but. Maybe he just needed someone to ground him, to trust him.

This connection I felt to the others was different than mine with Ansel, but no less intense. We’d all been so wrapped up in our own trauma. Now that our meds had left us vulnerable and laid bare, it was impossible to ignore.

It was hard. I trusted no one.

Even my family that was supposed to love and accept me was included in that. Yet, here I was letting Ledger be alone with me, feeling the warmth of Rydell’s protection, and melting for this beautiful boy in my lap.

An hour later, another shrill whistle echoed out before they started to systematically dismiss us, telling us to return to regular activities.

When it was finally our turn, I ignored the looks from staff and lifted Ansel as I stood. Ledger moved to my side, not touching the omega but steadying me under his minimal weight.

I’d been weak for so long I wasn’t sure I could handle it, but maybe a few weeks of working the garden and the weeks I’d spent in and out of the streets had given me some muscle tone.

“Our wing?” Ledger asked gently. He even pitched his voice low and soothing. I think in another life, he and Ansel could be good together, but in this one, they could at least be friends.

“No.” Ansel’s answer was good enough for me.

“Conservatory?” I asked gently. He nodded against my neck and I walked that way, ready to give him anything he wanted.

My omega needed him as close as I did. We longed for a nest to wrap him and ourselves in, alphas protectively at our door while we found our own safety within the soft fabrics and scents wrapping around us.

When we stepped into the glass room, my arms were shaking and Ledger had to help me sit.

“I’ll grab your violin,” he said, hurrying away.

Ansel scooted back enough that I could play but was still touching me, his fingers clenching around my calf as he kept eyes on me, never looking away. As if I was the center of his whole world.

I smiled softly, fingers brushing down his cheek. He made me feel so fucking strong. I liked it, but I liked his presence more.

Rydell never left our side, blocking our path with his frame like a bouncer at a club. He was giving us time to recover without scaring Ansel while he was already on edge.

The sight of an alpha keeping us safe from the world was slowly rewiring my brain, reminding me that the alphas I knew were not the majority, but a sick and very twisted minority.

Ledger came back a few minutes later with my violin, and surprisingly, Ansel’s sketchbook.

He crouched down, setting my violin aside and holding out Ansel’s sketchbook and a few loose charcoal pencils.

“I didn’t look inside, but I’ve seen you sketching, so I thought it might help.”

Ansel was stunned and I bit back a smile as he swallowed hard and nodded once in thanks. Ledger returned it before unbuckling the case and helping me take the violin.

This time I didn’t let the notes carry me off, eyes closed. Ansel needed me to stay present and I’d give this omega anything.

My gaze stayed on Ansel as the song unfolded, one of strength and growth, hoping it helped us both.