Chapter 12
Twelve
Jarek
Very rarely are we all at a loss at the same time. Never in our eight years together has Vivian zoned out so damn hard she fucking left the house. It's been nine damn hours, and she's only mumbled incoherent things in her sleep.
It's been a restless sleep which also isn't normal for her. Cuddling her has been the only thing that helps. As much as I want to wake her up and see if her eyes would be clear when she looks at me, I can't. Kade might actually hurt me if I woke her anyway.
It's just me and Vivie in her nest; the other two got up a while ago. Kade wasn't able to settle, so I'm assuming he went to the basement gym. Silas followed closely behind, and judging by the pleasure through their bonds, I'd bet they found some release in each other too.
The three of us want to wrap ourselves around our omega, but it's not a viable solution. We feel horribly useless and need to do something to make this better.
Tickling my fingertips down her soft arm, I beg my mind to come up with something, anything I can do to help her. Would therapy be beneficial? She told us it wasn't when she was a teenager, but could it be different now?
After everything with the corrupt academies coming to light, there are more laws. Awareness has increased for omegas, so Vivie might feel safe to share her secrets now, but her gift and the qualities that make her different could catch the wrong kind of attention.
How do I help Vivie without risking her? I can't force her into therapy if she doesn't want to.
It feels like every possible move is risky these days. I've tried to push the memory of her hissing at me out of my mind, but it lingers. Especially in the silence of her nest after the scary day we had.
My butterfly hasn't been herself lately, and it's tearing me up inside.
Keeping my pained grunt quiet, I dip my head into her neck to breathe in her scent.
Kade's bite mark surrounds the spot where her scent is most potent, creating a perfect visual that makes me nuzzle further into her creamy skin.
I'm anxious to hear what happened when she left the house in the middle of the big storm, but the peacefulness of her body is more important right now. There's also an undercurrent of worry that she might have made herself sick out there. She was soaked and freezing...
Kade's been itching to feed her some soup to warm her from the inside out too, but we're past that. She's a little toaster oven tucked against my body, making me lowkey sweat in the cocoon of her sweet nest.
Pulling back, I study her features. Sometimes I count her smiles. Maybe it's not healthy, but that's how I track her happiness. I'm always so damn terrified the next day she'll slip so far into her depression we won't ever be able to get her out.
It's unrealistic as fuck. Vivian has a great handle on her depression, and we're in tune with her so much that we catch the hints that something is wrong.
Except this time...
Vivie twitches, making me tense, but she settles almost immediately with a soft hum.
Blowing out a breath of relief, I tuck her back further into my front. Spooning her is my favorite position because it's the easiest way I can surround her and block the world from my precious mate.
Continuing to beat myself up over the fact that we've missed some clear warning signs that something has been wrong, I miss the next sign.
Vivie rotates her head, seemingly to get more comfortable. I soothe her with a soft pet through her tangled auburn hair. The color reminds me of how fiery my tiny omega can get sometimes. I yearn for a world where she can be the wild and happy version of herself I know is locked away in there.
Another hum draws my attention and a small smile to my lips. Her neck arches with her back ever so slightly so I pull back to give her some space to find a cozy spot. Big mistake.
What I heard as a contented hum flips a switch into a raspy wheeze that yanks my alpha instincts right to the fucking surface. Shooting upright, I shove my long hair behind my ears so I can see all of her.
"Vivie?" I ask, not trying to stay quiet. She needs to wake the fuck up. I don't like this. With horror, I watch as she rolls onto her back and releases a silent scream. "Vivian!"
I'm too slow to stop her hands from flying up to her neck. As if she's trying to get something off her neck, she claws at her throat. "Vivian, no!" I gasp, removing her rigid fingers, but I'm not fast enough. Eight red scratch lines glare at me in the low lighting of her nest.
"Stop, shit," I hiss, her bony foot striking my calf. Transferring her wrists into one hand, I grapple to grab hold of her kicking legs. "Butterfly, wake up! Fuck you're going to hurt yourself even more."
"Even more?!" Kade growls, jumping into the nest to help me along with Silas. I didn't hear them coming in, but they aren't my concern.
"She's not breathing!" Silas comments, panicking and moving around me in the nest. He's right. Her whole body is fighting for breath.
Vivian's eyes are squeezed shut and the fucking awful wheezing sound comes and goes as we try to get her body to settle.
Silas rushes around to the top of her head and begins cooing near her ear.
With one hand over her heart and the other tracing gentle patterns on her forehead, he talks her through her nightmare.
Slowly, so painfully slowly, Vivian settles into the sheets again. Never once having woken up from the situation that has most likely traumatized us.
Hesitantly, as if we're afraid she'll strike out again and hurt herself, Kade and I release her. Her soft whimper drives me to snuggle her once again. She may not have been lucid for whatever the fuck just happened but she needs us.
Reaching out, I grab Kade's trembling hand and tug him down to snuggle her front.
He does so but with a stricken face and wild eyes.
Glancing up, I'm pleased to see my beta understand the assignment.
Sitting on his ass with his legs crossed above my head and Vivian's, he plays with her hair and ears. She's always loved pets and tickles.
Locking eyes with Silas, I send a rush of warmth and appreciation through our bond. He nods, eyes a little glassy but he accepts my affections. I do the same with Kade, but he won't look at me—he's locked in on watching every twitch of our omega.
I don't blame him, but I hope he feels my love. This was fucking awful and terrifying. We need each other more than ever.
Vivian has never once had a nightmare. Nor has she struggled to breathe in her sleep.
The questions keep piling up as do our anxieties, but we're in this together. We're a pack. No matter how far into the unknown we go, I trust we'll support and love one another unconditionally.