No sign of him.
I walked back to Celeste’s hospital room slowly, sniffing the air as I went and not coming up with anything from my Alpha.
When I arrived back at the room, I took a big, careful breath, then informed my Omega and our mate that he was gone.
Dane gaped at me. “What do you mean, he’s gone? Gone where?”
Celeste sighed, “What does it matter? He’ll be fine, wherever he is.”
I turned on her and growled. “You don’t understand. Tayte has lost his pack, his mate and his baby, or so he thinks. And he has a bear den who wants your blood. How do you think he’s going to solve it?”
Celeste’s eyes began to widen and then her mouth dropped open.
“He wouldn’t…” She licked her lips, “He wouldn’t do anything stupid, would he?”
My heart began to pound like a runaway train.
“He’s going to sacrifice himself to the bears, I just know it.”
“But how… why?”
I growled at her again and she paled. “Celeste, you aren’t getting it. Tayte is an Alpha. He lives only for his pack. If he believes it will keep you safe, us safe, he’d sacrifice himself a hundred times over. If those bears want someone’s head, then he’ll go serve it up on a silver platter.”
Oh fuck.
What had I done?
I’d been angry… so angry that he’d put Celeste’s life in danger. But I’d never wanted this.
“But he can’t… I mean…” She swallowed hard, her eyes turning glossy from unshed tears.
I groaned, feeling frustrated and impotent. Just like I had last night when Celeste’s life was fading away before me.
Now it was Tayte whose life could end soon.
“I know you’re still mad at him and you can’t forgive him for lying about such an important thing, but you need to think. What if it was you? What would you do for someone you truly loved? Our daughter. What level would you stoop to? What lie would you tell? Would you die for her?”
Silver tears slipped down Celeste’s cheeks. “I’d do anything to keep her safe.”
I nodded once, feeling the strange calm of an impending battle descend over me. “Then you have your answer as to why Tayte did what he did, and now why he’s gone to sacrifice himself.”
Celeste let out a sob and I turned away.
“I need to go. I’m not losing Tayte. Not today.”
Celeste grabbed for my hand as I tried to walk away. “What can I do?”
I squeezed her hand. “You can keep our baby safe and get better. Because you are the only thing that matters to us.”
“I…” Celeste swallowed, “I didn’t realise he would…”
I cupped her face, willing some courage into her.
“None of us did. But you need to remember that we grew up knowing about the Fated Mate bond and you didn’t. You don’t understand it the way we do. It is love at first sight, in every way for us. We will die for you.”
She sobbed loudly this time, more tears flowing down her cheeks. “I’d rather you lived for me.”
I pressed a kiss to her lips. “I’ll bring him back.”