Chapter 45
Liam
The flashes were blinding as we stepped out to the waiting sea of the public, the press, and anyone who was nearby who had been watching the livestream from Celeste’s account.
The roar of voices blended together as the questions were thrown at us faster than we could answer.
I planted myself at Celeste’s side, shoulders squared, a warning to keep distance rolling off me.
Vigo and Sterling flanked the other side, and Dante stood guard behind her.
Cameras surged forward despite the police barriers as every reporter attempted to get a reaction from us.
Celeste stood tall, calm in a way only she could manage after everything that had happened.
She had just dismantled Gideon’s plans, reclaimed her seat, and now was a part of Manticore Tech.
Even I had trouble keeping everything straight.
I knew how much she’d been through in order to stand here, and I wasn’t about to let anyone bother her now.
“Celeste! Any comment on your uncle’s arrest?” someone shouted.
“How long have you known there was a conspiracy against you?” another added, each person trying to out-shout the others. The questions piled up, pressing down like waves.
“I think the livestream speaks for itself. We will be working with the authorities until all parties are held responsible. As of right now, I am still CEO and have no plans on changing that.” She said, her voice polished like she hadn’t just been through the most stressful twenty-four hours of her life.
“Pack Lockwood, did you really blackmail Miss Harringday into a fake relationship?” I cringed eternally. Deciding to out our contract was going to make us look bad, but in the grand scheme of things it seemed so small now.
I leaned forward, voice cutting through the noise. “We will make a statement soon. For now, Pack Lockwood stands by Celeste. We have complete trust in her and her capabilities as the newest stakeholder in Manticore Tech.”
Vigo smirked at the crowd, adding with that cocky edge of his, “And trust me, the story’s a lot juicier than what you’ve seen on your feeds. But that’s all you’re getting for now.”
A ripple of laughter went through the mob, but it didn’t ease the hunger in their eyes. Cameras kept flashing, pens scratching against paper, the air alive with speculation.
Celeste gave a small, steady nod. “There will be a time for full explanations,” she said, voice clear but short. “This is still under investigation. That’s all for now.”
And with that, we turned to leave. I pressed closer, protecting her as we passed the reaching microphones and flashing of cameras. Sterling cleared the way, and soon we were close to the SUV. We were almost there. I thought the worst was behind us, that is, until I felt her stumble.
“Celeste?” I asked, catching her elbow. Her pupils were blown wide, and her skin was flushed. I could feel the tremor in her body as she righted herself.
Vigo swore under his breath. “Oh, hell. Not now.”
The scent hit me a second later. The most beautiful, delicious, pheromone laced scent in the world. Her heat was here.
Dante’s eyes darkened, his jaw tightening as he leaned closer to shield her. Sterling’s hand pressed firm at the small of her back, urging her forward faster.
“Liam-” Celeste’s voice broke, breathless and needy.
“I know, love,” I said quickly, pulling her tight against me as if my body alone could block out the scent, the stares, the danger of her unraveling here in public. “We’ve got you. Just hold on a little longer. We’re almost to the car.”
A rogue reporter had broken away from the crowd, rushing over toward us. The alpha in me bristled. They would not see her like this.
“Move,” I growled, rearing up so tall that the reporter quickly blanched, turned, and scurried away. Our car waited at the curb, barely ten feet away. Dante yanked the door open while Vigo slid in, pulling Celeste with him as I followed. Sterling slammed the door shut.
Celeste sagged against me, her body trembling. “It’s starting,” she whined, looking up at me as she dragged a hand down my chest.
“I know,” I murmured, pulling her into my lap as I tried to remain in control. Her perfume burst out of her scent glands, and every single man in the car was alive with the red-hot response to her need.
“Fuck!” Vigo growled, driving as fast as he could to get us home. “Celeste, I’ll give you everything you could possibly need. Just name it!”
Her heat pulsed off her in waves, dizzying, primal.
Every instinct in me howled to respond, but this wasn’t the place, not yet.
Then, I remembered something. When Celeste asked us to help her through her heat, it was before she’d run off after finding the documents.
It seemed like we were forgiven, but I had to be sure.
“Celeste, do you still want - I mean, I know you asked earlier, but after everything…” I said, gritting my teeth as my dick grew harder with every single moment that passed.
“Celeste, do you forgive us?” Vigo quickly blurted out, not wanting to delay the response.
Celeste groaned, her face beaded with sweat. “Yes, alright! I’m going to need you for this heat, and I won’t be going easy on you! You have plenty of time afterward to make it up to me.” She groaned, and I smiled despite all of it. She was, after all, still quite the demanding princess.
I felt Dante shift beside me. She’d sent him away before, and I could tell he wasn’t sure if he was welcome. He reached out, taking her hand tenderly, a little unsure.
“Celeste, I know what you said earlier. I can sit out until we are in a better place.” He murmured, and I had to admire his resolve. Celeste gave him a look.
“Dante, we still have a lot to work through. But you are my mate, and I NEED YOUR KNOT!” She yelled, gripping his hand and staring at him with eyes that were equal parts irritated and lustful.
Then, she folded over, clutching her stomach and whimpering.
I pressed my face into her hair, grounding myself in her scent while Sterling reached across to squeeze her hand, his steady presence a balm.
Vigo tried to lighten the air, though his voice was strained with desire. “Figures you’d time it for right after a press conference. You like to go big or go home.”
Celeste let out a broken laugh that shifted into a shiver, clinging tighter to me. She needed us, and this time, not one of us would fail her.
Finally, we arrived back to the safety of our home.
“Go,” I barked the moment the car slowed. Sterling swung his door wide, already moving to open our door. I kept Celeste in my arms, her legs curling instinctively around me as I ran toward the front door.
“Even nicer than I remember,” Sterling said with an impressed look at our house. “The nesting room?” He asked, and I motioned down the hall. “At the end.”
“And the kitchen?” He asked.
“Opposite end.” I answered, then rushed Celeste down to the room, the rest of them following me. We burst into the room, which had sat empty now for years. It was bare, basic, but it was something.
“I’m securing the house.” Dante said before rushing to lock everything down. Vigo appeared with blankets and pillows from our rooms, the best we could do on such short notice.
“I’m so sorry, Celeste. I wish you could have had time to make this yours.
” He said, trying to hastily make somewhat of a nest for her as he lined the large bed.
I waited until he’d laid down soft bedding and pillows before helping her to lay down on the mattress, already missing her skin as soon as I set her down.
Celeste winced as she rolled onto the large bed.
“It’s fine. I just… it hurts.” She gasped, and looked up at us with those big, beautiful vulnerable eyes. I laid down on the bed next to her, grabbing her hand in mine. Her skin was so soft, and I couldn't wait to help her.
“I promise, I’m going to make you feel so good.
” I said, pulling her in and kissing her forehead.
She gave a little shiver, and I smelled her slick as her perfume started filling the room.
Although the alpha in me wanted nothing more than to take her right away, I knew that I needed to go slow and carefully with her.
This was a big deal - this would be our first heat together, and since Celeste was my scent match, no other omega would ever compare.
Not that there would be another - I had every intention of making Celeste the happiest omega in the world, and fulfilling her needs throughout this heat and every one after.
“It’s too hot!” She said, her voice rasping as she grabbed at her shirt.
“Let me help you.” I said, carefully taking off each item of clothing as she sighed in relief.
Sterling stepped into the room, moving with efficiency as he pulled heavy curtains across the window and checked the locks before returning to the bedside.
“Water. Towels.” He said, looking at me as he pressed a cool cloth to Celeste’s forehead.
I should be agitated that a non-pack member beta was here with us.
But I wasn’t. Sterling always thought ahead, and he fit in.
So much that he really should be pack, I thought.
A shared glance with Vigo and Dante told me that they felt the same way.
Both of them were at the edge of the bed, proceeding carefully as we fought our drive to claim Celeste as ours.
That would be the most challenging thing about this heat - the innate desire to make official what our bodies already knew.
That she was the one for us, that no other pack would ever be as right for her as we were.
And that no other omega would ever complete us like she did.
I was entranced as I stared at Celeste’s skin, now covered with a sheet of sweat as she writhed on the bed.
She was down to her panties now, and with a deep breath, I gently pulled them off of her.
We surrounded her, the room full of pheromones and desire as Celeste held on to the last remaining threads of her mind before the heat fully took over.
For me, I knew as soon as she began the heat, we’d get lost with her. The house was secure, the nest was as good as it could be on short notice, and now Celeste was looking up at us with eyes full of lust and desperation.
“Please… don’t make me wait anymore. I need all of you, inside me, in every way possible.” And with those words escaping her lips, I fell into the heat, the wave pulling me in and demanding that I satisfy my omega.