Chapter 69
My breath puffs through Sarah’s hair as I hum against her forehead, once more cursing my inability to purr for my mate.
Sweat breaks out across her flushed skin, her whimpers growing louder in the quiet room.
She’s burning up in my arms and my mind spins out in a frantic scramble to figure out how to fix this.
I can help, we’ve already discussed that, but this came out of the blue and she doesn’t have any of her normal suppressants to make it easier.
Maybe if she hadn’t been spending so much time around alphas she’s attracted to, but even that’s just guesswork at this point. My only clue is that these spikes are happening after she spends time with them, and they’re getting worse.
She moans quietly, her body contracting where she’s curled up in my lap, shudders wracking her system.
I pick up her phone again and call Teddy, since he’s the only one I know who has experience with her heats…
or any heats really, short of calling her family, and I’m pretty sure they would just say “I told you so” and gloat. Fuckers.
The phone rings four times before he picks up, laughing.
“Hey Shorty, I know it’s early, but you could have just walked down the hall, as long as you put on clothes first.” I hear his footsteps out in the hall and a deep huffing inhale before he comes back on the phone.
“Greg, is Sarah starting her heat? Have you already called the hotel? Do you need Sam to drive you both? It smells like she’s already pretty far gone. ”
My composure cracks and my voice comes out croaky and broken.
“I don’t know what to do. The hotel canceled her reservation since she hadn’t checked in yet.
They suggested a heat clinic a few towns over, but I don’t know anything about those and she started shaking like crazy when he brought it up.
I know we can’t stay here.” This last part is a half desperate plea for him to assure me that it’ll be fine for us to crash, but I know that’s not plausible either.
We don’t want to risk messing up his cycle with her hormones flooding the house.
“Plus, it’s Saturday, I don’t even know what doctor I would call, or if they could get her emergency suppressants right now. I don’t know what to do, Teddy.”
My voice cracks again at the end, and I hear his reply of a loud, heartfelt “Fuck!” through the door and the phone at the same time. His footsteps trail away, but I can still hear him calling Sam’s name from the other room.
A few minutes later the big, grumbly alpha arrives, and I can hear him inhale loudly.
Without Teddy even saying anything, he lets out a low growl and his voice is muffled when he talks to Teddy.
“Holy shit, Sarah went into heat? Do we need to take them to the hotel? Is she gonna be ok? It’s alright, Omega, just breathe.
I’m here. We’ll get your friend fixed up.
I know she’s in pain, but we’ll get her some help.
” He must take the phone from Teddy because his voice is more level as he speaks to me.
“What’s going on, Greg? What can we do to help?
” Thank fuck for level-headed people who aren’t emotionally involved in the situation, because I’m tempted to break down on the alpha right now.
Instead, I try to be as clear as possible when I explain the situation to him.
His replies are mostly the same as Teddy’s, with a bit more creative cursing involved.
“Ok, lemme just…Shit. There should be channels for this shit. I’ll call Joseph and ask him about services in the area, since he’s been mated the longest of anybody I know.
Then I’ll reach out to the station. They should have a list of numbers for emergency services, and hopefully something that will point us in the right direction.
Don’t worry. Just take care of her as best you can, and we’ll get this figured out.
If it’s bothering Shaggbutt, just let me know and somebody’ll come collect him from you at the door.
She doesn’t need a strange alpha in her space right now, but you can pass the little fuzzball over.
One of us can watch him, or Kelly can take over when she gets home; they get along pretty well. ”
I nod before realizing he can’t see me through the phone. “Thanks Sam. I…I can’t tell you how much I—”
He cuts me off. “Not a big deal, kid. Your girl there is my omega’s best friend.
As far as that goes, you’re pretty much family now.
It’s what family does. Now, I’m hanging up so we can get this shit sorted and get her back on her feet.
” The line goes dead before I can try to thank him again and Sarah continues to shake against me.
I do the only thing I can think of and rock back and forth, rubbing my hands down her back and singing her favorite songs to her while I wait for someone else to help me figure this out.
I feel like shit that she’s in pain and there’s no way I can help.
This is so fucking far out of my depth, and I’m surprised I’m not curled into the fetal position right next to my omega.
Panic must burn a lot of energy, because I jerk awake to Sarah’s phone ringing.
She’s still curled in my lap, little whines slipping out instead of her normal soft snore.
Bringing the phone to my ear, it looks like it’s been less than an hour since I talked to Sam, but Teddy is the one on the other line, and he doesn’t wait for me to answer before he starts talking.
“So, I’ve got good news and bad news. Which one do you want first?
” Fuck my life, I tried this joke earlier and it sucked, but he doesn’t wait for me to answer, his own voice frantic as he steamrolls on.
“I talked to Brice and he’s going to call around to any unmated packs in the area who might be willing to help.
Unfortunately there aren’t a lot of social services in this direct area, because there aren’t a lot of omegas who might need them.
We’re a pretty small town in a sparsely populated county.
” He waits for this to sink in, and I don’t argue against it, waiting to hear what the good news is.
He takes my silence to continue. “Not good news, but awkward. The main emergency services we have in the area revolve around that hotel that canceled your reservation and the heat clinic they told you about. My guess is that someone else used the heat hotline and since the room was available, they got it.” He huffs out a sigh.
“Lastly, the…maybe good news. I don’t know, I mean it’s more awkward than good, specifically.
I don’t even know if I should say it ’cause it comes back to what Brice said earlier. ”
If I could reach through the phone, I’d probably throttle Teddy for drawing this out.
It’s not his fault, but dammit, I’m frazzled.
“Anyway. Sam was calling the non-emergency number at the police station to get information, and Paul’s partner picked up.
I guess Paul mentioned Sarah a few times since he’s been back at work full time, and this idiot suggested that Pack Miller might volunteer to help her through her heat.
Now, normally I would say that’s batshit crazy, and don’t trust a random third person on this, but have you tried calling Spence?
I know how much he likes her; it’s pretty obvious. Even having one alpha might help.”
It’s like playing telephone as a kid. I don’t know if Sarah would go for that or not.
I’d like to say yes; I haven’t exactly been subtle about my nudging her in that direction, but she still holds some fucked up sense of loyalty to John—despite the fact that he’s been stringing her along for the last few months.
Still, if it’s them or strangers, I’m sure she’d rather have them.
I know she says that she’ll be fine with just me and toys, but I don’t think she realizes that this is gonna be worse than normal without her suppressants, and I’ll do everything I can to help her not hurt anymore.
Besides, at least these guys already know we’re a package deal, so they won’t get butthurt and try to kick me out.
I’ll call Paul and ask. I’m sure Spence would agree immediately, even if he was uncomfortable with it.
He doesn’t seem the type to turn down anybody who asks for help.
But that’s not what she needs right now; she needs someone to take care of her for real, not just sympathy.
I’m in my own head for too long, and Teddy prods me through the phone.
“Do any of those sound plausible? I don’t want to rush you to a decision, but you’re going to need to sort something out soon because she probably won’t be lucid for much longer with how strong her scent is.
Seriously, the hallway smells like slightly burnt cake and overripe strawberries at this point. ” I’m sure he’s not wrong.
“I appreciate it, thanks. Paul gave me all their numbers to put in our phones a few days ago, so I’ll give him a call first while she’s still asleep.
I don’t want to risk getting her hopes up if they say no, and then have to pivot and figure something else out while she’s in pain.
We might need a ride over there ’cause I can’t hold her and drive at the same time…
hold on, the stupid phone’s ringing.” Speak of the devil and he shall appear…
or at least call you. “Hey, Teddy, Paul’s calling.
I’m gonna hang up now.” He lets out an affirmative hum before I can slide my finger over the accept call button.
Paul’s voice is frantic as soon as I answer.
I shouldn’t even be surprised that everyone knows it’s me on the line.
“Greg, hey. Cedric just stopped at my desk. He said that Sarah was going into heat and the hotel can’t take you two.
Do you need to borrow Spence’s nest?” Oh holy fucking hell, yes!
“I mean, it’s not great, there aren’t a lot of blankets and pillows and stuff, but I’m sure he wouldn’t mind. ”
Finally, something going our way. “If we can, please. Yes, he’s already put so much work into it, neither of us would be comfortable invading his space that way without his say-so. Um…I have another problem though. I don’t know if you can help with.”
His voice is wary now. “You know we’ll help however we can.
Spence is already…” His voice trails off, like he doesn’t want to admit the big alpha’s feelings.
“Yeah, let me check with them first. Just tell me what you need, other than the nest, and I’ll do whatever I can to help.
” He sounds nervous about making a blanket offer like that, but I press on regardless. What other choice do I have?
“Y’see…Normally Sarah goes through her heats alone.
We haven’t known each other long enough to have shared one, but usually she can take care of it with toys.
That being said, she normally has suppressants that she takes to make it easier on herself.
I don’t know if it’s too late to do that, or where I would even start getting some since it’s the weekend and her doctor is back in Los Angeles at the omega center.
Fuck…what I’m saying is she might need more help than I can give her with my built-in equipment and toys.
I’m only bringing this up because she’s asleep right now and I want to avoid her feeling bad later, or asking one of you to loan a knot to the cause if it makes you uncomfortable.
I doubt it’ll be awkward at the time, but climbing a stranger and demanding they fuck you might be a bit much for even my spitfire to think about once she’s done. ”
His bark of laughter is a bit of a shock, and then comes sarcasm, which I haven’t heard from him before.
“Oh no, an omega who needs a knot. Whatever is a self-respecting alpha to do if she wants to take advantage of me and ruin my virtue?” He chuckles.
“I can’t say the same thing for the others without asking, but I also can’t think of any unmated alpha that would turn down the offer from a girl as sweet as she is.
She tries to hide it, but it’s there. So if you need a knot for the cause, I can help out.
I’ll ask Spence when I call about the nest and get back to you in a couple of minutes.
Don’t sweat it beta, we’ll get our girl through thi—your girl.
I meant your girl. We’ll make sure she’s ok. ”
He hangs up the phone without waiting for an answer and Sarah starts purring, snuggling into my chest. Her skin isn’t as red, but she still feels feverish. She says this isn’t a spike, and I believe her. So, now we wait.