Chapter 26 #2
Her mother really fucked over her self esteem, something I understand from experience. The difference is that my mother has never beaten or abused me. She simply doesn’t care how her societal machinations impact me.
Abusing someone with your words and disinterest also causes harm. My old scars on my inner thighs and inner elbows mock me as they itch. My pack helped me stop cutting, and I almost threw that all away when Abbott found me in the shower after our omegas were detoxing.
I hate that I let myself get that low without asking for help, but I’m glad he’s the one who found me.
Shaking off my memories, I force myself to focus on the present.
“I told Nina about your omegas,” Riley says.
“He did,” she says breathlessly. “Is Winter really trying out for a play?”
“She is, I think the next audition is tomorrow,” I say. “Sometimes it helps to be someone else when bad things happen.”
“I get that,” she says sadly. “If I had a talented bone in my body, I’d try it.”
“You’re a writer. Of course you’re talented,” Cooper growls, his tone refusing to hear anything else.
He always makes me a little nervous. Feral alphas are unpredictable, and he’s very possessive. I tend to be affectionate, which means I have to remember to keep my distance instead.
This is how it needs to be. I know that. Plus, I have my own omegas waiting at home for me.
Our run lasts longer than usual since we all keep each other motivated, and we’re headed up an hour later.
“Think our omegas are still sleeping?” Abbott asks as we walk, cooling down as we drink water.
Pack Thornefield is headed to their home in the other direction, and I said we’d find a time for them to meet Bellamy and Winter. They’re still figuring things out and I don’t want either of them to feel overwhelmed.
Meeting new people might be good for them, and Pack Thornefield will always be our friends.
“Bellamy texted us an hour ago,” Shiloh murmurs, checking his phone. “I guess they’re up now. He said that they didn’t feel so hot. Ugh, why are we so fucking far from Jones Road?”
“I have enough in the tank to keep going,” I offer, ready to get there faster. I can’t feel much through my bond with Winter outside of her anxiety. “Winter doesn’t feel right. Maybe we’re too far.”
“Same for me,” Ansel mutters. “Race you home.”
The four of us burst into motion as Abbott curses, the oldest of the pack at thirty-nine.
“Let’s go, old man!” I tease him, forcing speed into my strides because he fucking hates when I call him that.
“Someone’s going to get spanked!” Ansel yells, ignoring the glances we’re getting as we tear down the sidewalk.
“You have to catch me for that!” I yell back, crossing the street as we continue.
“For God’s sake, look both ways, Cass!” Abbott yells.
“Yes, Alpha Daddy,” we chorus back.
Our banter is easy as we bicker with each other, and from the outside it appears as if we don’t have a care in the world. However, I’m starting to get a cramp in my side, something I’ll typically pull back on my speed to be able to work through.
I don’t believe in hurting myself to prove anything to anyone. Not anymore.
“Almost there,” Shi grunts under his breath. “Doing okay?”
“Nope,” I gasp. “Fuck.”
We run around people as we make the final dash to our house, and up the stairs. Abbott unlocks the door, while we all fight to get inside.
“Stop, stop,” he hisses. “We have to be their calm if there’s something wrong. Take a breath, get your breath back, and we’ll head upstairs.”
“Think it’s their heat?” Ansel asks as we finally make it inside.
We get our answer as soon as the door shuts behind us. The entire house smells like arousal and needy omega.
“Definitely,” I whisper. “Lock the door and set the alarm, Abbott.”
“Who’s bossy now,” he sighs, making sure to do as I demand. “Do we all go?”
“Yep.”
My feet are already moving as I reply, and I hit the stairs to begin climbing them. I focus on keeping my steps even so I don’t seem out of breath once I get to their nest. Abbott’s right. We need to be calm for them.
The closer I get to the nest, the more my body begins to ache. My chest feels really fucking tight too, showing me how Winter feels.
“Shit,” Ansel whispers as we pass our bedroom. The bed is destroyed, and I can’t see any of our dirty clothes in the hamper.
“They need our scent,” I say calmly. “There’s food and water in their fridge, but will you grab my strap-on with the new knot attachment and some of the toys that came in, please?”
“Yes,” Ansel says, already walking through the door.
“Keep your clothes on,” Abbott calls out. “You did laundry with Cassidy last night.”
“Goddamnit, why did we do that?” Ansel grumbles, making me huff out a laugh.
“We’ll plan better next time,” I promise him, continuing down the hall to the next set of stairs.
This house is constructed in a manner that forces you to get your steps in. My heart is pounding from exertion as we get to the stairs that lead to Winter and Bellamy’s nest, and I freeze as I hear Winter cry out.
“I know,” Bellamy soothes. “I don’t have any toys. Take my cock and come for me, Beloved. It’s just you and me. I got you.”
“Dammit,” Shi mutters under his breath.
“We should have been checking our phones,” Abbott agrees. “Let’s see if they want their alphas. Winter doesn’t sound great.”
The saddest whine I’ve ever heard makes the three of us bend over in physical pain before we begin to crawl up the stairs. None of us can stand well enough as Winter cries, and Bellamy tries so desperately to keep her calm.
“We’re here,” I rasp as soon as my head clears the top of the stairs. “I’m so sorry, our run was longer than we expected.”
“I didn’t check my phone until twenty minutes ago,” Abbott confesses. “We ran back.”
“I don’t fucking care,” Bellamy growls, turning to glare at us. “I want someone to come help her. So strip, shut up, and give her a goddamned knot.”
We blink at him for half a second before we take off our shoes, kicking them down the stairs to deal with later. Stepping into the nest, I pull off my cropped t-shirt, leggings, and socks, while Shi and Abbott crawl naked onto the bed.
Ansel will have to get on board as soon as he makes it up here.
“We’re sorry, baby. Can we make you feel better?” Abbott croons to Winter as Bellamy pulls his cock out of her cunt.
She whimpers as she reaches for Abbott, and I relax slightly. I was worried Winter would reject him. She’s laying naked on the bed, her hair sticking to her skin as she sweats. It’s not overly warm in the room, which means that her heat is making her miserable.
“Where were you?” Bellamy asks softly. “You smell like an omega.”
“Me?” I ask, sniffing myself like crazy. I didn’t touch Nina, why would I smell like her?
Fuck.
“I’ll go shower,” I say quickly, rushing to the bathroom as I tear my hair tie out of my hair. It doesn’t matter that I didn’t do anything wrong, I trust Bellamy’s sense of smell.
I don’t even wait for the water to get warm, despite how much I fucking hate when it’s cold, and hiss as it hits my skin.
I can see Bellamy watching me as I scrub my skin with their soap and a brush, intent to get this elusive scent off me.
“We crossed paths with friends while we were running,” I explain. “It’s why we took longer, and Nina is an omega. She’s a friend, and very happily packed up.”
“I don’t know why I reacted like that,” he groans, dragging his hands through his blonde hair. “I haven’t started to cramp yet, but I feel angry and annoyed at everything except Winter.”
“You’re fine,” I murmur, continuing to scrub my skin. It’s beginning to turn red from the cold and the brush I’m using, but I don’t stop.
I deserve this, right? We should have known something was wrong. Fuck, I should have known.
The door opens to the shower and a curse is uttered before the water gets warmer. The brush is pulled from my hand and thrown to a corner of the shower. It’s one of those brushes with rough bristles meant to clean the dead skin off your body, but it also works in a pinch to punish yourself.
“Stop,” Bellamy growls, his hand holding my chin as he forces me to look at him. “I had no right to accuse you. I fucked up and I’m not myself. It’s no excuse, okay? I’m sorry.”
Tears burn in my eyes as I nod, gasping as I attempt to hold back a sob.
“We shouldn’t have left,” I whisper.
“There’s no harm done,” he promises. “Our alphas are with Winter, and you’re here with me. I don’t want you to focus on what I said to you. I fucked up and snapped at you.”
“It’s kind of sexy that you’re this possessive,” I say, using humor to get ahold of myself as he releases my face.
“I appreciate that but don’t change the subject,” he murmurs, pumping some soap into his hand to rub all over his body.
“Nina really is a friend. She’s Riley’s omega,” I sigh. “She’s in our run club and wants to meet you and Winter. She asked about you.”
“Oh,” he says, making a face as he scrubs his cock with soap. My lips twitch as he focuses on that, but it may be a while before he washes it again. “That would be nice, once I get over my embarrassment for being a jackhole.”
“The guys don’t get jealous anymore, they just kill anyone who looks at me wrong,” I say with a smirk. “Now that you can remember you and Winter are the only omegas I want, it’s kind of cute.”
The water runs off his strong, lithe body and I sigh at how gorgeous he is. Smirking, he steps toward me before his face crumbles.
“Fuck,” he hisses, his body collapsing in on itself. “Oh that sucks. I don’t want to do this. Could we not and say we did?”
“I’m sorry, Lovey,” I say, smelling his scent thicken in the air. “I can fix it though. I promise.”
“I thought only knots could fix this?” he gasps, his eyes becoming predatory as they narrow as he becomes aware there could be relief from his heat cramps.
Damn, this omega is going to pounce at any second, and I’m so ready for it.