Chapter 12
twelve
Wren
Wren stands in the hallway with his hands on his knees as he does all he can to control his urges. To convince himself there isn’t a helpless omega on the other side of the door. That he doesn’t need to run in there and beg on his knees for her forgiveness.
She’s a Rossi.
She came looking for Charles.
She’s mated.
She’s going into heat.
Whatever she was using to block her scent was still working, but it didn’t matter. The signs were there. Her flushed face, dilated eyes, the way she unconsciously pushed herself closer and closer into Pierce.
She has to leave.
It was morning now, she had slept through the entire night, much to his chagrin. But that didn’t mean anything.
It’s still snowing.
He hadn’t looked outside yet, but he could hear it.
Raveling himself back up into a neat knot, he straightens to his full height before forcing himself away from the omega. Acutely aware of how each step is more challenging than the last, until he finally makes it to the living room.
Staring out the back sliding glass door, his mouth opens at the sight. The entire land is covered in a thick towel of snow. He can barely make out the barn and building next to it in the distance.
And yet Luther still hasn’t returned.
Ever since everything went down with Charles, Luther had continued to stay away from his other pack mates. Leaving Pierce and Wren to handle everything.
Wren snaps himself out of it. He doesn’t blame Luther. He wishes he could just bury his head and hide away too, but someone has to keep their lives afloat. Ensure the bills are paid, the land is maintained, the Rossis are kept at bay, Pierce doesn’t run directly into trouble.
Wren’s attention flicks back to the hallway, in the direction of the omega.
The three of them had always wanted more than anything for an omega to be in this space, to fill the empty hole in their hearts.
But then life had taken the reins, and they were forced to grow quickly, too quickly.
By the time there was space in their lives for an omega, they were all well past their prime.
They had all accepted that an omega would never be in their cards.
So her being here? Already mated? To a Rossi? And going into heat?
It was as if the world were mocking them. Throwing one last cruel curve ball directly at their faces.
She’s going into heat.
The thought solidifies Wren’s intent.
The snow isn’t stopping. There is no way to take her away from here. But they can at least set her up in a different space.
He just needed to get Luther out of the cabin first. It was small and cozy.
She can manage her heat out there alone.
Wren ignores the way the idea of her alone nearly debilitates him. Instead, he slips on his shoes and a coat as he forces himself out the back door and directly into the snow.