Omega Bound Chapter 82

Thane

Seeing Ayla breaking in front of me is enough to gut me. After everything said, and her forced actions, she is concerned about how I will feel losing a friend. It should never have gotten this far, and now Little Wolf has to live with this on top of everything she has gone through. I am trying to give her the life she deserves, and I just allowed my problems to become hers and force her to do something that could very well haunt her for life.

Your first kill will always stay with you. Whether justified or not, it will always linger. It is a catalyst. A changing point in our lives that can either make us stronger or ruin us and I refuse to let it ruin little wolf and the life she will have here. I will need to rectify this.

"Don't be sorry, Little Wolf. Don't allow your mind to take you to a dark place. She forced our hand. I don't know the Della that was outside tonight. I don't know what changed within her, but that darkness you saw and heard can spread like a disease. Putting her down had to be done."

Ayla is still visibly shaking while I help her out of her robe and wipe her tears away. I kiss her on the forehead and think about all the reassuring words I need to give her to prevent her from panicking.

"Let's get into the tub. Let me take care of you." I speak softly to her. Trying to pull her back and calm her down.

"No. I can't. I can't. I need...I need to," she trails off, not able to complete her sentences.

I can see her thoughts racing through her mind and feel her fear climbing through the bond. I undress myself and pick Ayla up. She clasps her hands around my neck, and I lower us into the tub and start the jets. The water is scalding hot, and I can feel her start to relax in my arms.

I turned her around, put her between my legs, and let her sit a moment before starting to wash her body with lavender-scented soap I picked up. I wash the blood away, the dirt away, but unfortunately, I can't wash the words away that have no doubt been planted like seeds, awaiting the perfect time to take root and devour my little wolf.

"Is this okay?" I asked. She has gone too quiet, and I am concerned. Ayla nods her head and I can hear her sniffle. I hope she isn't regressing. I won't be able to handle it if I can't hear her words anymore.

The water turns red and brown, and I decide to let the water out and refill the tub without alerting Ayla to what I am doing. She is staring into space, tearing up. Motionless and quiet. I don't like it.

As the tub is filling, I mind-link Cyrus to figure out who among my elite trusted is sober enough to take care of Della's remains. I will need to call a pack meeting and get everything out in the open.

The poisoning and Kian must be addressed, and they need to be informed. I cannot allow rumors or the telephone game to spread false information about these deaths and shifters forming their conclusions. I know once the pack hears me, it will be final, and they will hear the truth in my words.

I start washing Ayla again. She leans back into me more while I pour water over her head to wash her hair.

*"What are you talking about? Della's body? What the hell kind of party are you having out at your cabin?"* Cyrus mind-links me. His lack of concern for Della is expected. He warned me several times, but I refused to see it.

*"Della showed up tonight making demands of me. She tore Ayla down and threatened to turn the pack against her. She spewed a lot of hurtful words and Ayla snapped. She pulled Della's heart through her chest cavity Cyrus. She didn't even blink. She was cold and calculated. Not a trace of Ayla, full wolf control. She used her gift on me as well. We must find more information on this and a way to help her control it. She laid me clean out. I lied about how bad it was. Her power is strong."*

I massage the lavender-scented soap through her hair and give her a scalp massage. Little Wolf is still sniffling, but also groaning with how good the massage feels. "

*"Maybe that was a trace of Ayla. She and her wolf are still bonding. Ayla didn't get to grow into herself because she was abducted. She is doing that now. We just need to find a way to make sure she doesn't kill someone all the time. I see no problems here. A little murder never hurt anybody."* Cyrus replies.

I roll my eyes, but he is right. Ayla and Aramana are still figuring it out, much like we do as teenage pups. She is still becoming her shifter self, and I have all the time in the world to be patient and watch and help her grow.

I also don't fault her for defending me or herself. Had Della been a male wolf, I would have struck him dead as soon as he mentioned one wrong word to her. I just found myself wanting to give Della every last shred of possible doubt and hope I could.

Not for me, or her, but for my parents. Unfortunately, Della made her bed.

*"I know. I don't fault Ayla. I was hoping for a better turnout for Della."* I link back while washing out Little Wolf's shampoo and starting on her conditioner. She is relaxed against me now and her tears have dried up. Unfortunately, she remains quiet.

*"Yeah, baby. Just like that. Go deeper. Fuck. Now, Nicky, you come over here and stick this titty.."*

I startle a little while working my fingers through Ayla's hair, which she notices.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Cyrus forgot to close the mind-link and I was hearing things I didn't want to hear and now I am scarred for life." I jest and she lets out a small breathless laugh.

*"Close the damn mind-link down dumbass."*  I remind him while finishing Little Wolf's hair. His failure to close the mind-link reminds me of something that might help the little wolf feel better.

*"My soul has traveled long and far to find yours.*

*No mountain, nor sea, no thing of this world could keep us apart, because this is not my world*

*you are."*  

I mind-link Ayla while washing out her conditioner. Her audible gasp and her wide-eyed expression let me know she heard it. Ayla has never mind-linked before, because she wasn't connected to her wolf before her abduction.

*"I can hear you,"* she shouts, and I give her a sly grin.

*"You can hear me, but can you use it too?"* I ask her, curious and waiting.

*"How do I do it?"*

*"Reach into your mind and think of me when you are talking in your head. The rest happens."* Ayla takes a few moments. I find her concentrated face, much like the one she has on her knees in front of me, adorable.

Little Wolf needs rest. *"Can you hear me? Am I doing it?"* Ayla's voice comes through the mind-link and hearing it causes a sense of peace to wash over me. Joy. I'm joyful. Something I haven't been in a long time.

*"You are beautiful. I am so proud of you."* I watch her face light up. I give her a quick kiss and pull her out of the tub, drying her off before curling her up next to me in bed. The rest can wait until tomorrow.