Page 147 of Retribution

“Hush. It feels odd to have this conversation right now,” Lucas says.

“Alesso and I exchanged bites recently, and I’m certainly not opposed,” I say. “I like to know how he’s feeling and vice versa. Even if I don’t necessarily want to talk about what’s going on in my head.”

Alesso rolls his eyes and doesn’t reply, but I can feel smugness coming from him. Ugh.

“I’m down,” Grant says. “Bonds are very complicated things. For some reason, I thought it would be able to tell me where Isolde was if she was hurt. She was feet away from me, and I couldn’t tell.”

“It’s still new,” Alesso says. “I also think that when she realized that she was projecting, Isolde began trying to lock us out. If she thought that she’d hurt you with her pain, she’d try to pull up her walls.”

“That’s what it felt like,” Lucas breathes. “But the pain was too much, and it felt as if I was being electrocuted. Now, I can barely feel her at all.”

“It may be due to the distance,” I say. “We’re still in the beginning stages of building our relationships with Isolde. I’m not bonded to her at all. We have to work together to find her.”

Lucas gives me a sympathetic look and nods.

“Let’s do this and get on the road. I’ll call the pilot to let him know to get ready,” he says.

Grant takes a breath and steps forward, holding out his hand awkwardly. Lucas rolls his eyes with a smirk and bites down on the fleshy part of his hand, between his thumb and index finger.

“Fuck,” Grant growls. “Maybe I should have given you my non-dominant hand, asshole.”

“Fuck off, you know you can shoot with both,” Lucas says, lifting his head with a chuckle.

Grant shakes his head and leaves the room to shower, and I take his place. I threw a sweatshirt on before going outside, and Lucas pulls it off me as he gazes at my skin as if it’s a canvas meant just for him. It’s an oddly intimate moment, and goosebumps pebble my skin.

Lucas’ thumb grazes Alesso’s healing bite with a wry grin, before moving up to my throat.

“Competitive shit,” Alesso chuckles.

“Can you blame me?” Lucas asks, leaning in and biting me.

Groaning, it takes everything in me not to throw him onto the bed and fuck his ass. There’s no time, it’s inappropriate, and?—

You like pain, baby. No shame in that,Lucas growls through the bond, releasing me. Damn that was fast.

“I’m not fighting the bond,” Lucas explains. “I think our girl is wrestling with it in a way though. Isolde has been alone for a long damn time. I don’t know if she thinks she’s a burden in some way, but I would rather know if she’s struggling with something. I think my staff were terrible to her, and not once did she say a word against them.”

“She’s too good for the world,” Alesso mutters. “Isolde sees all the parts that are broken inside of her, but I see the people that she fights for. If she’s not willing to fight for herself at times, I’m more than willing to tell them to go fuck themselves.”

“Oh I did,” Lucas says. “I fired two of my staff for being cunts to her. Isolde never would have been out on that parapet if they hadn’t been gossiping about her.”

I shift out of the way to allow Alesso to move closer, knowing he probably has a lot of thoughts about this.

“Feel free to drop me their addresses so I can scare the shit out of them once our girl is safe with us again,” Alesso says. “I’m not someone who skirts away from violence, but Stefanie’s presence earlier today shook me. Mothers should want to burn the world down for their children. I can handle two bitches who disrespected my girl.”

“You’re their boss,” I add. “You did what you could within the frame of your position. I’m with Alesso. Now hurry up so we can get our asses moving.”

“Ugh, I hate when you all are so logical. Let’s see that gorgeous skin, Alesso. I’m a picky fucker,” Lucas mutters.

Alesso pulls off his shirt, and it’s hard not to react. My mouth waters as I gaze at his muscled chest, and Lucas grabs him behind his neck and kisses him stupid. Alesso’s dazed and adorable when they come up for air, and Lucas takes full advantage, biting down on his upper chest.

Alesso’s groan of pain and pleasure has me biting my fist, and I leave the room as I adjust my pants.

Dicks get hard, but I don’t have to do anything about it. I have a flight to catch, after all.

Lucas

Do breathing exercises work?I don’t think they do. Grant is pushing calm through the bond, and I find out that I can channel that to the other alphas while locking down my anxiety. Fuck, I even try to push it at Isolde, hoping that whatever she’s going through, I can help her. The more I practice, the easier it becomes.