Chapter 18
Massimo
T he second the door opens; her scent hits me like a wave. It’s stronger than before, thicker, sweeter, hotter. The burnt edges are gone now, replaced by something lush and ripened. Honeysuckle and peaches soaked in sunshine, layered with that warm, cobbler-rich nutmeg that curls low in my gut. It’s heady. Overwhelming. It wraps around me and doesn’t let go.
Sébastien stands in the doorway, his expression strained. He’s flushed, his collar slightly damp, like he's been pacing. Or sweating. But it’s the scent rolling off him that makes us all pause. Rowan. She’s all over him, honeysuckle, juicy peaches, warm nutmeg, so thick in his skin it’s like he’s been living in her breath. But layered beneath it, twined in every breath we take, is Sébastien himself. Wild honey. Rain. Vanilla with the soft edge of musk.
The scent combination is devastating. Laurent shifts beside me, jaw tight. Cole’s nostrils flare. I feel the pull low and deep, instinct flaring sharp behind my ribs. That scent isn’t just pheromones. It’s theirs . It’s ours .
"She’s asleep," he says, voice low and tight. His accent is thicker now. "Just passed out a few minutes ago. Her fever’s high, but she’s stable. For now."
We step inside, each of us crossing the threshold with careful steps. The apartment is beautiful, but I barely register it. All I can feel is her. The hum beneath my skin that started in my office and hasn’t stopped since.
Cole’s jaw ticks as his gaze sweeps the room. Laurent inhales deep and shudders slightly. We all feel the attraction tugging, snapping taut now that we’re close again.
Sébastien gestures toward the bedroom. “She’s in there. Her heat hit hard. I stayed with her until it eased enough for her to sleep.” He hesitates for a beat, then adds quietly, “I’m an Omega. I did what I could... but she’s going to need more. She needs Alphas. She needs knots.”
Massimo is the first to speak, his voice low and steady. “Does she know what she is yet?”
Sébastien exhales, then shakes his head. “She’s starting to question it. I told her about someone I knew who presented late. She’s scared, confused... but I think she’s beginning to understand what’s happening. She’s not in denial. Not anymore.”
Cole exhales slowly, then offers the smallest smile. “That’s good. She’s not alone in this anymore, either.”
He steps forward, peeking through the cracked bedroom door. The moment he sees her curled up in the sheets, her face flushed, and her body curled in on itself his expression shifts. The smile fades, but the softness in his eyes lingers.
“She needs more than this,” he says, glancing around the apartment. “It’s a good space. It’s hers. But it’s too damn small for what’s coming. No room for a pack. No room for her to nest the way she’ll need to.”
His gaze sharpens as he looks back at the others. “We can bring her home. To our home. The penthouse at 35 Hudson Yards.”
Massimo nods immediately. “It’s the right call.”
I watch as Cole crosses the room, his expression set with a kind of reverence. He moves with purpose, but gently, like if he’s too loud or too quick, he might scare her even in sleep. Rowan doesn’t stir as he carefully gathers her into his arms, tucking the blankets around her body like she’s the most precious thing he’s ever held. Maybe she is.
“She’s burning up,” he murmurs. “But she’s holding on.”
The scent of her slick still clings to the sheets, but it’s the mix of her and Sébastien that hits me like a punch to the chest. My own instincts rattle against their cage, but I push them back. Not now. Not like this.
“Elevator’s ready,” Laurent says from the doorway, phone in one hand, keys in the other. “Garage access is clear.”
Cole nods once and moves past us, Rowan cradled against his chest. I follow, but just before we reach the hall, a thought strikes me.
“We need supplies,” I say. “Nest materials, comfort items, the works. She’s going to need to build soon, and she should do it with things that feel like hers.”
Cole glances back at me. “Good point.”
I glance at Cole, then at Sébastien. “Drop me off at 30 Hudson Yards,” I say. “Seb, want to come with me? We can raid the vault. Get everything she’ll need to start nesting.”
Sébastien nods immediately. “Yes. She should have a choice in textures and scents. It needs to feel like her, not a sterile setup.”
“Exactly.” I meet Cole’s gaze. “We’ll meet you at the penthouse with everything.”