Chapter 12 Ren
TWELVE
Ren
“I need you,” Faye pleads.
It took everything I have not to claim her against the shelves.
She’s always smelled incredible, but this?
It’s intense, thick with lust, and the heady aroma of melted vanilla with honeycomb.
Her perfume has a comforting edge, bringing out my caretaker side, making me want to tuck her into bed and curl up beside her to keep her warm.
But it’s also buzzing with an undercurrent of something else.
A deep, primal element that makes me want to strip her naked until she claws my back and moans my name.
“You’ve got me, Faye,” I try to sound reassuring. “I’m right here.”
It’s hard to think straight with my aching teeth and every urge screaming to claim her.
Her glimmering brown eyes are filled with terror, confusion … and lust. God, I could drown in those exquisite pools of hers.
I don’t let her go as I usher her out of the library, shrouding her in my scent. I’m not a violent person, but I’ll kill any alpha who so much as looks in her direction while she’s like this.
I release extra pheromones into the air in hopes of concealing her. While it’s not something I’ve done before, I’ve read about it—though it usually only happens when an alpha is bonded to an omega—and it seems to be working.
As soon as we’re out of the library, I get ready to call Cole, my pack leader.
“Please, Ren,” Faye tugs on my sleeve. “I need you. I need a knot.”
She doesn’t know what she’s saying. This is the heat talking, and as much as I’d like to give her what she wants, I won’t take advantage of her when she’s in this state.
“You don’t know what you’re asking, Faye.”
Her bottom lip quivers. “Y-you don’t w-want me?”
I’ve never wanted anything more than I want her right now, but she won’t even remember this conversation in a few days. When an omega enters heat, it’s like going into a trance with the sole goal of chasing desire and relief. As an alpha, it’s my job to take care of her.
“Of course, I do.” I hope I’m saying the right things. “But we need to get you somewhere safe. Someplace comfortable where you can rest, all wrapped up in blankets. Okay?”
I’ve never seen an omega’s nest before, but in case we ever find one who wants to join our pack, I’ve done enough research and stalked enough forums to know exactly what most omegas like.
“I could take you to the wellness center?” I offer. It’s not too far away, and I worry we won’t make it back to Stella House before Faye enters full-blown heat.
“No!” She pouts like a toddler having a tantrum. “You said you wouldn’t leave me!”
When she holds onto me even tighter, I pat her on the back, feeling like a total dick for even suggesting it. The SVU wellness center has strict rules on unauthorized alphas entering for safety reasons.
“It’s okay.” I run my palm up and down her spine. “I’m here.”
“No wellness center,” she insists. “Promise me. Promise you won’t leave. I need you.”
In that moment, she perfumes again. And I’m fucking gone. I can smell her slick through her sundress. I know this omega is mine, so I’m not going anywhere. Who was I kidding? There’s no way I’d ever leave her at the wellness center.
“I’ll take you to my pack house.” I turn us that way. “Does that sound good, baby?”
It’s closer than anywhere else I can think of. We can’t rent a cabin with this short notice, and I can’t enter Omega Village. But I’m still out of my depth. I’ve done my best until this point, but I’ve got no experience with omegas in heat.
“You smell so good.” She rubs her cheeks into my shirt, scenting me, then she doubles over in pain. “It hurts so bad.”
“How long do your heats normally last?” I ask. “Do they come on quickly?”
“I-I I don’t know,” she whimpers. “I’ve only ever had one true heat before. My first time. I’m… I’m scared, Ren.”
“Come on.” Thankfully, I don’t see many alphas around. “I’m going to call for some help, okay?”
“But you’re not leaving.” She looks up at me, her chestnut eyes frantic. “You promised!”
“I’m not leaving.”
Managing to get my cell and dial with one hand, I call Cole who thankfully answers on the second ring.
“Ren?” He sounds confused. “What’s up?”
In the background, I hear Damon and Laz having a loud argument over the sound of the pinball machine.
“I was with Faye in the library, and she’s going into heat.” I speak in a rush. “She wants to stay with me and—”
Laz hollering in the background amplifies.
“Hang on, I can’t hear you.” Cole shushes the guys. “Laz, Damon, shut the hell up for a second! Ren’s in trouble.” He turns his attention back to me. “You’re on speaker.”
“I’m with Faye, and she’s going into heat.” I get to the point. “We’re on our way to the pack house.”
“Faye?” Laz asks. “You mean, Sabs’s housemate, Faye?”
“How many other Faye’s do you know? Yes, Sabs’s housemate.” I snap. “Look, I need you to make some kind of nest. I offered to take her to the wellness center, but… Um… She wants me to stay with her.”
“Fuck.” I hear panic in Cole’s voice, and he’s not easily rattled. “Who is this omega?”
“Look, I know this sounds crazy, but…” I gulp. “I think she’s my scent match.”
Daring to voice my suspicions aloud makes them more real.
The first time I met Faye, I thought she smelled amazing, but I thought it was probably just some kind of odd reaction.
However, after seeing her again at the party coupled with what’s happening now, I can’t ignore what every bone in my body is telling me.
“Your scent match?” Cole sounds incredulous.
We all know what this means. If Faye is my scent match, it’s pretty much guaranteed that she will also be a match to the rest of my pack. Not even scientists understand how it works, but there must be something underlying in our biology at play.
“We don’t have time to talk about it now.
” I roll my eyes impatiently. “I need your help. She’s in pain.
Can you get something ready? I also left all our things in the library in the group study area.
Can one of you run to get them and maybe grab some snacks?
She has a sweet tooth. Her heat hasn’t fully come on yet, so I think we can put a stop to it if we can get her a heat patch quickly.
She’s been taking suppressants, but they’re failing. ”
“Okay, we’re on it,” Cole says. “Leave it to me.”
“She smells…” Her scent clogs my throat leaving me unable to finish the sentence. I clear my throat then try again. “I may need some help to escort her through the alpha quad. I’ve done my best to cover her scent, but we may attract unwanted attention.”
“Stay calm, Ren.” Cole returns to his usual level-headed self. “Laz will meet you. Just keep her safe, okay? Leave everything else to us. It’ll be okay.”
“Thanks.” I blow out a heavy breath. Despite Faye mewling and clutching at me, I feel a little less nervous with Cole’s support. “We’ll be about ten minutes.”
Cole is a born leader and always knows what’s best. Although he doesn’t like to call himself the boss, he’s the one we trust to make the big decisions.
He studies political science and has a strong moral compass.
He has an unwavering desire to do the right thing, including protecting others, making him easy to follow.
“I don’t know how much longer I can cope with this pain,” Faye groans.
“Keep walking, baby.” I give her a squeeze. “You’re doing so well.”
Whatever happens, I won’t let her go.