11. Chapter 11 - Dahlia
" A re you fucking kidding me right now?" I mutter to myself as Evan storms out of my room.
I sink onto the edge of the bed. The nerve of that man! First, he slut-shames me, then kisses me like his life depends on it, and then gets a mysterious call and bolts. What the actual hell?
My phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out to see missed calls from Onyx. Great. I hit redial and wait for it to ring.
"Where the fuck have you been?" Onyx's deep voice growls the moment he picks up.
"Hello to you too," I reply dryly.
"I've been calling you for days. Your heat could have come back. You could have been kidnapped. You could be dead in a ditch somewhere!"
"As you can hear, I'm perfectly alive," I sigh, flopping back on the bed. "Just dealing with... a lot."
"Where are you?" His voice softens slightly.
"I'm not entirely sure. Some fancy safe house owned by Evan Blackthorn. After you triggered my Omega awakening, things got complicated."
"Complicated how?" His voice drops dangerously low.
I rub my temple. "Well, let's see. I went into heat again at a safe house with a bear shifter detective named Leo. Then I snuck out to a concert where I hooked up with a rock star. Now I'm back at Blackthorn's place where he just kissed me and ran away after getting a weird phone call."
Silence stretches between us.
"Onyx? You still there?"
"You've been busy," he finally says, his voice tight.
"Not by choice," I defend myself. "This Omega thing is... overwhelming okay and my body keeps betraying me… though sometimes I actually want it."
"You need to come to me," he says firmly. "Now."
"Actually, I was thinking the same thing. I could check on your cousin while I'm there."
"You remember my cousin?" He sounds surprised.
"Of course I do. You broke into my apartment because she's sick with the virus. How is she?"
"Worse," he admits quietly. "The shifts are happening more frequently. She can't control them."
My heart twists. "Text me your address. I'll come right away."
"Be careful."
"I'll see you soon," I reply, ending the call before I can say something embarrassing.
A knock at my door makes me jump.
"Dahlia? It's Leo. You okay in there?"
I open the door to find him leaning against the frame and waiting.
"I'm fine," I say, grabbing my jacket. "But I need to go out."
His eyebrows shoot up. "Out? After everything that's happened?"
"Onyx's cousin is getting worse. I need to see her, assess her condition."
"Blackthorn won't be happy."
"Blackthorn can kiss my ass," I snap, then soften at Leo's surprised look. "Look, I'm going whether you approve or not. You can either drive me or I'll call a cab."
He studies me for a moment, then sighs deeply. "Let me get my keys."
Thirty minutes later, we're driving through a neighborhood I've never seen before. The buildings become more widespread, trees more abundant, until we're practically in the woods.
"This is pack territory," Leo explains, his knuckles white on the steering wheel. "Bears and wolves don't always mix well."
"Will you be, okay?"
He glances at me. "I can handle myself."
"I know you can," I say. "That's not what I asked."
A small smile tugs at his lips. "I'll be fine. Just stay close to me."
We pull up to a large compound surrounded by a high fence. The gate opens as we approach, as if they were expecting us.
My heart hammers against my ribs as we park. I haven't seen Onyx since that night in my apartment, when he awakened something in me, I didn't know existed. Part of me wants to run into his arms. The other part wants to punch him for turning my life upside down.
Onyx steps out onto the porch as we exit the car. He's even more imposing than I remember.
"Dahlia," he says my name like a prayer.
"Onyx," I reply.
His gaze shifts to Leo, and his expression hardens. "Who is this?"
"This is Leo Byers," I introduce them properly. "He's been... protecting me."
Onyx's nostrils flare slightly, and I realize he can probably smell Leo on me. Wonderful.
"Come inside," he says curtly, turning to lead us into the house.
The interior is surprisingly cozy. It's built with wood and stone with comfortable furniture and the lingering scent of pine. Several people move around the space, casting curious glances our way.
"Where's she?" I ask, focusing on why I'm here.
"This way."
He leads us down a hallway to a bedroom at the back of the house. Inside, a young woman lies on a bed, her skin glistening with sweat. Even from the doorway, I can see patches of fur appearing and disappearing on her arms.
"Oh god," I whisper, moving quickly to her side.
"It's getting worse," Onyx says. "The episodes are coming more frequently."
I press my palm on Mara's forehead. She's burning up. "How long has she been like this?"
"The fever started three days ago. The partial shifts began yesterday."
I examine her carefully, noting her rapid pulse, the dilated pupils, the way her skin ripples with aborted transformations.
"I need to get her to the lab… I can monitor her there, run tests, maybe try some experimental treatments."
"You want me to bring her to Blackthorn's facility?" Onyx asks.
"It's the best equipped lab I've ever seen," I admit. "And time is running out for her."
He studies Mara's face, then nods sharply. "Fine. I'm coming too."
"I expected nothing less," I say. "We should leave soon… Can you show me around first? I'd like to see your pack."
Leo steps forward. "I should call this in, let Blackthorn know…"
"Give us an hour," I cut him off. "Please, Leo."
He looks at Onyx and me, then sighs. "One hour. Then we head back."
Onyx leads me outside while Leo plans for Mara's transport. The pack grounds are beautiful. There are cabins nestled among trees, and there's a large fire pit in the center, and children playing in a grassy area.
"It's not what I expected," I admit as we walk.
"What did you expect? Wolves howling at the moon and raw meat hanging from trees?"
I laugh. "Something like that, maybe. This is... nice and peaceful."
"We try to live normally," he says, guiding me toward a path that leads into the woods. "Most of us have jobs in the city. We come here to be ourselves."
"To shift?"
He nods. "To run. To be free."
We follow the path until we reach a small clearing with a bench overlooking a stream. It's secluded and private.
"This is beautiful," I say, sitting down.
Onyx remains standing, watching me. "You've been with others."
It's not a question.
"Yes," I admit, seeing no point in lying. "After you left... the heat came back."
"I should have stayed," he says quietly. "I should have explained more."
"Why didn't you?"
He sits beside me, close enough that our thighs almost touch. "I was afraid."
"You? Afraid?" I can't hide my surprise. "Of what?"
"Of what I feel when I'm near you." His voice drops lower. "Of how much I want you."
My heart skips a beat. "Onyx..."
"I can smell other alphas on you," he continues.
I swallow hard. "My body... responds to Alphas now. It's not something I can control."
"I know." He turns to face me fully. "But it started with me..."
"Yes…" I whisper, meeting his gaze. "And I... I missed you."
The words slip out before I can stop them. I'm not used to being vulnerable to admitting need.
Something shifts in his expression and his hand comes up to cup my cheek. I lean into his touch without thinking.
"I missed you too," he murmurs.
I don't know who moves first. Maybe we both do, but suddenly his lips are on mine. I kiss him back with an urgency that surprises me, my hands finding their way into his hair to pull him closer.
He growls against my mouth, a sound that vibrates through my entire body. He lifts me up and presses me against the trunk of a nearby tree. My legs wrap around his waist instinctively, pulling him against me.
"Fuck," he breathes against my neck. "You taste even better than I remember."
His hands grip my thighs, holding me up effortlessly. I can feel how hard he is through our clothes, pressing exactly where I need him.
"Onyx," I gasp as he nips at my collarbone. "We shouldn't…"
"Tell me to stop," he challenges, his eyes meeting mine. They're glowing gold now.
I can't. I don't want him to stop. Instead, I pull his mouth back to mine, kissing him with everything I have. His tongue slides against mine, and I moan.
One of his hands slides up under my shirt, and I arch into his touch, wanting more, needing more.
"I wanted to hate you," I confess between kisses. "For changing me."
"Do you?" he asks. "Hate me?"
"No," I admit, looking into his eyes. "I can't."
He kisses me again, softer this time. "I never meant to hurt you."
"I know." I run my thumb across his lower lip. "But my life is completely different now."
"Better or worse?" His eyes search mine.
"Just... different." I sigh. "More complicated. More intense."
His hand moves higher, brushing the underside of my breast. "Like this?"
"Exactly like this," I breathe, pressing into his touch.
The sound of a throat clearing makes us both freeze. I look over Onyx's shoulder to see Leo standing at the edge of the clearing.
"Time's up," he says flatly. "The medical transport is here for Mara."
Onyx lowers me gently to the ground but keeps one arm around my waist. "We'll be right there."
Leo nods stiffly and turns to leave.
"That was awkward," I mutter, straightening my clothes.
"He wants you," Onyx says.
"And you don't mind sharing?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.
His grip on my waist tightens. "I didn't say that."
"This is all so confusing," I admit. "I've never felt this way before. About anyone, let alone multiple people."
"It's the Omega in you," he says. "But it's also you, Dahlia… it's your choice."
I look up at him, studying his face. "And if I choose you?"
"Then I'll fight for you," he says simply. "Against anyone who tries to claim you."
The intensity in his eyes makes me shiver. "And if I choose all of you?"
He stiffens slightly. "That's... uncommon."
"But not impossible?"
"No," he admits. "Not impossible."
I take his hand, lacing our fingers together. "Let's go help your cousin. Then we can figure out the rest."
We walk back toward the house in silence. Just as we reach the porch, my phone buzzes. I glance at the screen and it's a text from an unknown number.
"You shouldn’t have trusted him, Dahlia. He’s lying to you."