Chapter 18 #2
“Maeve,” Ivan says gently. “Do I really need to point out the obvious?”
I groan in defeat and place a hand to my rapidly beating heart. I know it wouldn’t make sense to try and grab Agnes and her kittens tomorrow and drive back. It would be a mess, in more ways than one, if I’m actively in Heat in the back of car for four hours.
“I’m worried about them,” I murmur in defeat. I sit up and lean against the headboard, sighing.
Ivan takes my hand, squeezing it and running his thumb over my knuckles. “I know.”
I’m ashamed. Ivan is so patient with me. Fang hasn’t seen this side yet, doesn’t know about how…irrational I can get when it comes to the cats.
“I was worried about them, too,” Fang says, which makes my head whip back to him.
“Really?”
He nods. “Yeah. I mean, I knew they would be okay, but Ivan, Logan and I reached out to their temporary foster while you were sleeping.”
My eyes widen. “What?” I ask in delight.
“We made sure they have more than enough supplies and funds for the next week,” Fang says. “They’re going to be okay.”
I gape at him, my eyes wide, while he shrugs.
“You think you’re the only one that panics? I love the shit out of cats; if there’s a possibility that one could be in distress, I sprint into action. Just like Stormie, remember?”
Ivan chuckles. “Oh shit, you may have just become her favorite person, Fang.”
And while I ride high on the knowledge of what Fang has done, that still doesn’t quell the panic altogether. It’s like an undercurrent in me, an obsession that is hard to explain to anyone that doesn’t relate to it.
Even being knotted doesn’t help completely—it does for a while, but the thoughts manage to creep back up, even in the midst of my Heat.
“Two more days,” I acquiesce. “And then we will go get them.”
“A week,” Ivan says.
“I can’t be away from the rescue for that long. Neither can you or Logan!”
“Doctor Jolie has it taken care of, and Piper, Blair, and Mari have it handled. Apparently, you have a part time volunteer now, so there are plenty of bodies to make sure everything is running smoothly.”
A new volunteer? I have so many questions, but my brain is still foggy.
I turn back to Fang. “Your classes.”
He snorts and waves his hand. “Cancelled.”
“I…what—”
“I have a checklist saved in my phone,” Ivan interrupts, grinning. “If you want to go through every possible argument for not staying here.”
I place my head in my hands. “You are an unlimited well of patience.”
“Patience is my middle name, sweetheart. Now lie back down.”
There’s the smallest bit of command in his voice, subtle enough that I could push back if I wanted to.
I choose not to.
I burrow back under the blankets, but keep my arms out, extending my hands. On my left, Ivan laces our fingers together, and on my right, Fang does the same.
Rumbles fill the air, and I realize they’re both purring for me at the same time.
I’ve never experienced a double purr before, but it may be the closest to true peace I’ve ever felt.
Leather and apple aromas mix together, and it’s delicious and mouthwatering.
But there’s a certain scent missing, an Alpha I haven’t asked about yet.
I’ve been too lost in Ivan and Fang, desperate to be knotted.
Now that I have a few moments of clarity back, I can voice what’s missing.
My inner Omega longs for the bourbon-soaked vanilla essence that is Logan.
“He’s been waiting on you,” Ivan says, as if reading my mind. “Waiting for permission to see you.”
Oh.
“Of course he can see me,” I murmur. The longer I focus on that scent, the richer the aroma grows, and the stronger ache in my heart. “Why would he think he couldn’t?”
“All of this is unexpected,” Ivan reminds me. “And he’s not the best socially when something is planned.”
“The guy is terrified of fucking something up with you,” Fang shrugs. “He’s scared.”
I frown. “Are you scared?” I ask, noticing a flicker in his expression.
His eyes soften, and he swallows. “Fuck, yeah, I am,” he laughs softly. “I’m really fucking scared, baby.”
I blink in surprise, then focus on the ink that runs down his neck and stains his chest and abs. I trace the patterns with my finger, stopping when I see a familiar image near his heart.
“That’s a kitten,” I murmur.
“It’s a baby Eevie,” he says softly. “The best picture I ever took of her.”
I smile softly. “So, I’m in bed with a big bad Alpha named Fang that’s covered in tattoos of cats and scared of his scent match?”
He grins, then grabs my finger and pretends to bite it. “Pretty much. You’ve got your work cut out for you.”
A subtle cramp aches in my womb, and I let out a small hiss.
The purring stops, and both Alphas sit up, concerned.
“Sweetheart?” Ivan asks. “What do you need?”
Bourbon. Vanilla.
Warmth pools in my core, slick spilling out of me, my cunt beginning to ache again.
Alpha!
Dirty blonde hair, kind brown eyes…
“He’s waiting on you. Waiting for permission to see you.”
There’s no sounds from behind the door. The entire time I’ve been awake, the cabin has been eerily quiet.
Yet his scent is still there, strong as ever, tantalizing and welcoming.
“I think…I think I need to see him. Alone.”
I’ve been knotted by my two scent matches, but one is still missing.
He doesn’t need to wait any longer.
He may not know it just yet, but he has me.
Just as much as he’s my scent match, I’m his too.
Logan has me, and it’s time he knows it.