11. Vera
11
Vera
This is bad. This is really fucking bad.
It’s hard to see where I’m going, since I’m way shorter than most people. But being this short also helps with slipping between the moving bodies as I make my way across the room, hoping they don’t notice me.
I keep pushing in the direction where I spotted Mathew, Jorge and some Alpha. I recognised the stance Jorge had taken, and the look on Mathew’s face. Jorge has reached a frenzied state, triggered by Mathew being in danger.
And while Mathew is trying to appease Jorge —which isn’t possible with his low pheromones, but is something Omegas instinctively do when their Alpha is frenzied— he’s also preparing himself to defend against not just the Alpha opposite them, but also against one of his own Alpha mates.
My heart races as I try to get to them as quickly as possible, still remembering how Caleb couldn’t snap out of the frenzied state the first day we met Mathew because Mathew’s pheromones couldn’t get through to him.
If Jorge doesn’t snap out of it, he could come to see Mathew as a threat while also trying to protect him at the same time.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
We really should have talked about this sooner, but with everything else going on, it kind of slipped my mind.
I duck away as a struggle breaks out in front of me, nearly tripping over a dead body, but I manage to stay on my feet.
Shit. The floor has gotten slippery with blood and my heels are not helping one bit. Fuck.
“Vera!” Mathew’s voice is tight and when I look up, he’s staring my way, holding out his hand the same way he did that first time. Even in this state, he seems to recognise me and knows I’ll protect him.
As I get closer, I sense Jorge’s angry pheromones coming off him in waves. This way, he lets everyone around him know that he’ll kill anyone who threatens his Omega.
Which is good, because it shows their bond is strong, but also really fucking bad when he can’t differentiate between his Omega and any attackers because he can’t sense Mathew’s pheromones.
Someone bumps into me from behind and I go sprawling over the floor, the beautiful dress now covered in blood as it sticks to my skin. Ugh. Gross.
“Vera!” Mathew’s voice peaks and when I look up my heart sinks.
Jorge has noticed Mathew’s outstretched hand to me and has grabbed it, his growl deepening. To Jorge, Mathew is some unknown person behind him, threatening not just one but now two of his Omegas.
The unfamiliar Alpha uses the moment of distraction and stabs Jorge in his arm, making him groan out in pain, his attention now split in three directions.
Before they can do anything else, Riley appears a little while off and shoots the attacking Alpha through the head. Because of the silencer, there isn’t much of a sound, and she’s gone the next moment, almost before the body has even hit the floor.
I quickly get up and make my way over to Mathew, sending out calming and determined pheromones as I come closer, hoping to break Jorge out of his frenzy.
He’s still holding Mathew’s wrist, now fully turned to him, staring at him without recognition, not saying anything. Mathew is staring back at him in fear, wisps of his appeasing pheromones come out, but they’re not strong enough to get through to Jorge.
I wrap my arms around Mathew, sending out my pheromones again, hoping to be able to snap them both out of it, or this could go so wrong.
Come on, please.
Snap out of it, please.
“Jorge!” I try to get his attention and he takes way too long to move his eyes from Mathew’s face to mine. “He’s your mate. This is Mathew. Don’t hurt him.” I swallow hard, carefully reaching up and slowly trying to move each of Jorge’s fingers so he’ll let go of Mathew.
My heart is beating loudly as this could easily backfire and could make Jorge turn on Mathew even more, but slowly but surely, Jorge is letting go.
“Jorge?!” Derrick’s voice booms from nearby and Jorge snarls at him, his grip tight on Mathew’s arm again.
“No!” I jump between Jorge and Derrick. “Don’t!”
I know that Derrick only wants to protect Mathew, but this isn’t making it better. If he hurts Jorge, shit is going to go down and we’ll only be in an even worse situation.
“I can fix this. Let me fix this,” I plead with Derrick. I’ve done this before, but it only works if nobody else interferes.
Jorge’s growl intensifies and he wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me closely against him, his gun trained on Derrick. His pheromones nearly trigger my appeasing instincts but I’m too amped up.
This is good and bad. Good, Jorge has let go of Mathew’s arm. Bad, he still hasn’t broken out of his frenzy and now thinks Derrick is threatening me .
“Mathew?” I carefully call out to him. I need to know that he’s okay.
“Here.”
“Are you back?”
“Yeah. Somewhat.”
“Get from behind us. Show Jorge that you’re safe.” My pheromones alone aren’t doing it, not as long as Jorge’s instincts still think that Mathew is in danger.
I focus on sending out calming and confident pheromones, letting Jorge know I’m safe, that his mates are safe. That we might be in a dangerous situation but that we’re not in any immediate danger ourselves.
Mathew appears on the side away from the fight and I feel how Jorge’s attention shifts to him.
“We’re all safe. See?” I put my hand over Jorge’s, trying to soothe him. “We’re all safe.”
The growl in his chest softens and his grip on me lessens.
“We’re all safe.” I look up at him and he stares back down at me, his light blue eyes finally seeming to focus.
Then I catch a movement out of the corner of my eyes. Someone is behind Mathew, has grabbed him, because all his attention was on us.
“No!” I try to jump forward, but can’t because Jorge is still holding me.
Then the female Alpha’s brain explodes all over Mathew and I look up to find Riley keeping a close eye on us.
We have to get out of here. We can’t stay here any longer.
“Jorge?” I try to move in his arms and he lets me go. “Are you okay?”
He nods, out of breath, then holds up his arm where he was stabbed. “Hurt, but otherwise okay. What happened?”
“I’ll explain it later. Don’t get into a situation where Mathew is stuck behind you. Just, don’t .”
He nods again, looking at Mathew who slowly comes over to us. “Are you okay?”
Mathew pulls a face as he wipes brain, blood and strands of hair from his face. “I feel gross, but I’m not hurt.”
“Good.” Jorge looks around, back to himself and trying to get an overview of the situation.
There are still fights going on, but the heaviest fighting has now eased. Riley is helping some from the security team to get rid of the last of our attackers as Caleb is coming over to us.
“We have to get out. I have no idea if more of the Hearts’ people are coming, but I’d rather not find out.” He looks me up and down and when I glance down, I realise that my light purple dress is now dark red.
“It’s not mine. I promise.” I take his hand and hug his side.
“Good.” He wraps his arm under my ass and lifts me up against him, tucking me against his side protectively.
I quickly wrap my arms around his neck and take in his pheromones, trying to calm the roller coaster of emotions down. As soon as I’m in his embrace, the tension from the last minutes leaves me and I’m crying.
Fuck. That was scary. That was way too scary.
I’m fine with physical fighting. I have no problem with death. But having to step between Mathew and Jorge was draining. That fear was way stronger than I’ve ever felt.
Caleb lets out a calming rumble as he rubs my back in soothing motions.
“Let’s get out of here.” Mathew clears his throat. “Before the cops or more of the Hearts’ people arrive.”
“Let’s go.” Caleb rubs his large hand over the side of my head, pulling me against his shoulder more.
As Caleb starts to walk towards the —now broken— door to the staff hallway, Mathew steps behind him, his eyes on me filled with worry.
I reach out to him and he takes my hand, softly kissing my blood-covered fingers. I’m so glad he’s safe, that he’s fine now.
We really have to come up with a solution soon.
Him not being able to use his pheromones to calm his Alphas down when they go into a frenzy trying to protect him is really dangerous. This has happened twice now and both times I had to resolve it. But no matter how well we plan things, I won’t always be at his side to help him out.
“Riley, are you—” With a jolt, Caleb’s words are cut off and he turns abruptly, ripping my hand out of Mathew’s. Within moments, he’s grabbed Mathew and has dropped all three of us to the floor, covering us with his body.
Then I hear the bullets as they hit the floor and wall just above our heads.
I glance over Caleb’s shoulder and some bastard is looking down at us from one of the large vents high up in the wall.
Next to me, Mathew’s moves are fluid and precise. He grabs his gun and shoots the attacker, hitting the man in his shoulder as he tries to get away, but not killing him.
That slows the shooter down for long enough that the second bullet hits him in his head and he slumps down. He’s dead.
Fuck.
“Caleb, are you okay?” I crawl from under him, looking him over, but I have no idea what blood is his and what blood is from other people.
He lets out a soft chuckle as he pushes himself up. “I’m okay. I just landed poorly and got a few extra bruises. Are you okay?” He reaches out and takes me in his arms.
I nod, not able to say anything anymore. I’m too tired and just want to go home with my mates. Just…
Home.