Chapter 29
TWENTY-NINE
CHRISTMAS DAY
I feel like I had just dozed off when a pained whine stirs me awake. It takes a few seconds for me to adjust to the dark of the nest, the only light a string of white Christmas bulbs that stretches across the window.
Another whine from beside me reminds me of why I woke, and I look down to see Felix curled in on himself, panting, face scrunched in pain. I brush his hair off his forehead and suppress a swear at the heat pumping off of him.
“Felix,” I coo, keeping my voice sweet and calm so I don’t stress him out. “Omega, I think you’re going into heat.”
“No, I’m not,” he murmurs, rubbing his face against my palm. “I just went off my suppressants. It will take a few weeks for my system to regulate.”
“Regardless of what it should take, you’re burning up and whining, and your scent is flooding the nest.”
He sits up, wincing, and wraps his arms around his abdomen. “I can’t be in heat. It’s Christmas! We have plans. I have so much I need to do today.”
A growl from his other side alerts me that Gabriel is awake. He wraps his arms around our Omega’s waist and kisses down his neck.
“You’re not doing anything, Omega. You’re going into heat.”
Felix’s body melts at Gabriel’s touch, a quiet whine escaping him. “But the dinner.”
“I’ll tell Hazel it’s off,” I say, scrambling to stand. “She’ll understand.”
“What about the casserole? And the prime rib?” Felix has his priorities all wrong, but I get why it might be tough for him to change course from what he planned. I don’t think any of us expected him to go into heat.
“I can get the casserole started while I call Hazel,” I tell him, searching the edge of the nest for my phone. “And I’ll do the prime rib today, too. It’s not like it’s an involved cooking process.”
I can see that he wants to object, that he thinks he needs to push through the heat and take control of Christmas, but neither Gabriel nor I is going to allow it. Before Felix can object, Gabriel tenderly raises our Omega’s chin, his thumb caressing his cheek as he presses their lips together.
“Let me take care of you while our Beta gets everything sorted, yeah?” the Alpha whispers. “Can you be a good boy for me? I owe you a reward.”
This phone call needs to be fast, because I don’t want to miss this.