Chapter 23
“No,” I whispered in horror as the screen lit up to announce the newest member of the Ridgeview Rockets. Henry’s cocky face was smiling out at the crowd like he fucking won something.
“How could they hire him?!” Taryn gasped.
“Oh, hell no,” Bea protested. “Everyone record tonight. If he so much as says the wrong thing I’m fucking blasting him. Exposing his true nature.”
She looked so determined that I knew she’d follow through.
“Don’t leave me tonight,” I pleaded. Both omegas pushed in closer, their touch soothing me just enough to not freak out.
“We’ve got your back,” Taryn promised.
“So do we,” Holt added. “No one is going to bother you tonight.”
“Thanks,” I said, blinking away tears.
Ash returned from the snack stand at the end, eyes flashing with anger. “For now, focus on the game and have some snacks. You’re safe with us.”
He handed over a huge tray of snacks loaded to the top with hot dogs, nachos, and popcorn. We all sat back down and I picked at my popcorn while I watched the game.
It took about two seconds for Henry to lose it and I nearly dumped my popcorn when I saw Cy jump between him and the ump.
I don’t think I breathed again until he grinned at the camera and waved.
The rest of the game I was wound tight, my body flushing with the heat of anxiety until I felt downright dizzy. My hands were clammy and I barely spoke, but my friends didn’t call me on it. They simply stuck close to me, offering silent reassurance.
The Rockets’ coach tore into Henry for a moment after the first round and he seemed to be behaving for the rest of the game, though tension was palpable throughout the stadium each time they got close.
I could already hear the gossip videos going viral, speculating about the reasons behind the fighting and glares.
“Um, Dani, are you okay?” Taryn hedged. I looked over, startled.
“Yeah. Why?” I tried to play it off but my voice shook anyway. Who was I kidding? I was a mess. “No.”
“It’s going to be alright,” she promised. “He’ll move onto something else, assholes like him always do.”
I didn’t believe her. She didn’t see the way he looked at me, like I was a prize to be won. He hated Cy enough that he’d set his sights on me.
“Okay, I get the nerves, but what’s with your scent?” Bea asked, nearly choking. My cheeks flared and I glanced around, noticing the way the guys were shifting back out of range as subtly as possible.
My horrified glance finally landed on Taryn. “Sorry, girl, I think this sent you into a heat spike.”
“No,” I gasped, glancing out at the huge crowd. There wasn’t a worse place for an omega to suddenly go into heat.
“It’s not your fault. It’s early and this stress just kicked it into gear,” she tried to talk me down but I was already too far gone.
“Everyone out!” Holt barked. The few staff who had remained hurried out, leaving us alone. He was scary when he tried. “We’ll wait outside until the end. Only one inning left then they’ll get you home.”
“Okay,” I whispered, tears breaking free. This was embarrassing enough but the guys having to leave and knowing my pack had games coming up, was only piling onto how bad I felt at the moment.
“Stop the pity party,” Bea said as blunt as ever. It wasn’t mean, just firm. “You know this isn’t on you. None of it is. So, just handle it like the badass omega you are. Let them kick Henry’s ass, then we can get you into your nest.”
“My nest isn’t even ready and it’s so far away,” I groaned.
“They made you one here, right?” Taryn asked carefully.
“Yeah, they got some clothes and necessities in, but it’s not everything I would need if this is a full heat.”
“Shopping time,” Taryn said as she pulled her phone out of her pocket and got to work. “Give me something to work with. Colors? Fuzzy, satin…?
“I like bright colors,” I admitted. They helped ground me when I was starting to lose my mind to the heat fog.
But this time it would be different. I’d have my pack.
“Leave it to us,” they promised, picking out things and whispering until the end of the game. I was too antsy to intervene, eyes darting to the door the moment they were celebrating and hurrying off field.
I had never been more on edge than I was right now.
Where were my mates? I needed to nest and I needed them.
Taryn and Bea taking lead on ordering stuff helped but now I was antsy.
The compulsion to get it all just right was starting to take over and I was beginning to fail at keeping it at bay.
My foot started to tap just as the doors flew open.
There were my guys rushing towards me before they surrounded me and pulled me to them.
"Sorry, we weren't here," Jackson said on my left.
"What do you need?" Cy asked.
"You," I told them breathlessly.
"We started a nest at our place, in case this happened. What else do you need for it?" Griff asked.
"Taryn and Bea have it covered, unless you want to get snacks and water," I answered.
That got a laugh from them.
"Don't worry, you get her to your place and we will get you what you need," Ash said from the doorway.
I glanced back to see Taryn's guys were all holding their noses. A laugh bubbled up at the sight.
"Sorry," I managed once the laughing stopped.
Griff let out a little growl.
Taryn spoke up before they could get territorial. "Get her home. The deliveries are going to start arriving any moment."
My guys didn't need to be told twice. Cy picked me up and carried me towards the door. I mouthed a thank you to my crew as we passed and they all nodded.
"Sorry it took us so long, peach," he said as we headed to the exit.
"Don’t apologize. I'm just glad you were able to kick Henry's team’s ass first," I managed to laugh through the growing pain in my abdomen.
"You’re more important than him, sweets," Jackson told me.
"It did feel nice to knock him down a peg or two, gorgeous," Griff added with a grin as he opened the door that led to the parking lot.
The cool air felt nice and I shivered a little at the temperature change but Cy just held me closer.
Jackson ran ahead of us to open the back door for me when a figure popped out in front of us.
"You three cheated. There was no way that you didn't cheat," Henry spat at us.
"You're just a sore loser," Cy told him through gritted teeth, a growl echoing out in warning. "Get out of the way."
"Not until I teach you all a lesson and take your bitch from you," he stated. He stepped closer and his eyes widened, then his expression shifted to something more terrifying. Lust and glee. “Oh, she’s ready for me, isn’t she? I’ve got your knot right here, omega!”
Fear shot through me, blood running cold at what he wanted to do.
"If you take a single step closer, I’ll break your fucking neck," Griff growled.
"Cy, set me down," I whispered to him.
"Sorry, peach, my alpha won’t let me,” he protested, squeezing me tighter. “Even if you weren’t in heat, I’d probably say the same thing. This is our job.”
"I have an asshole to deal with," I argued.
"Peach, we got this," he started but I wiggled in his arms and he set me down. Griff and Jackson moved to my sides, flanking me. They didn’t let me get closer, but that was enough.
"Did the granny mafia not teach you anything?" I asked.
"Those old bitches just got lucky," he sneered. I could see the yellowing of the bruises that were still healing.
"Nah, you're just a pussy," I shot back. It was dangerous with all of our instincts on the edge, even his. An omega in heat was a powerful drug even to those who weren’t scent-matches.
Henry growled and swung at me. The others moved faster, Jackson shocking us by hitting him first, right under the chin so he was stumbling backwards.
If he was mad before, he was practically feral now.
Yet, still coming forward.
Cy was the next to hit, even though I hadn’t even noticed him moving closer. Right to the jaw on top of the old bruises.
Griff waited until Jackson and Cy were holding me back to move, his arm wrapping around the asshole’s throat.
"You'll just never learn will you?" I asked. "I suggest that you get your ass out of here and run home with your tail between your legs."
I could see the wheels turning and he must have decided that he didn't want to get his ass kicked again. He’d have to explain it to the new team.
He looked ready to argue and I was so fucking over it. I just wanted to be home. To be free of this insanity.
“Go!” I screamed loud enough my voice turned raspy. Griff let go of him and I struck, kicking him right in the stomach. The force of it knocked him to the ground so he had to scramble to get away.
"Shit, gorgeous, what’s gotten into you?" Griff asked with a chuckle.
"Heat. Plus, he was in the way of me getting to my nest," I told him as he picked me up this time.
"Where did you learn those moves, peach?" Cy asked as we all got in the car.
"I used to take kickboxing classes," I said as Jackson helped me with my buckle. “A single omega has to know how to defend herself.”
"Just when I thought you couldn't be more perfect for me," Griff mused from the passenger seat. “Though, I really need you to not engage with other alphas this close to heat. I almost killed him.”
"Drive," I ordered Cy as a cramp hit. My adrenaline was pumping enough to dull it before, but I was ready to lock myself and this protective pack—away from the rest of the world.
"Anything for you, Peach," Cy said with a little salute and he peeled out.
It didn't take Cy long to get us to their place and the deliveries were already arriving. Betas carrying supplies to the elevator while we pulled into the usual spot.
Jackson unbuckled the pair of us before he jumped out and opened my door.
"I'm going to take you to the nest and the others are going to start bringing things in," he said as he held out a hand for me.
"Perfect, you guys are the best," I said loud enough for everyone to hear.
Jackson kept a hold on my hand as we headed up. He led me towards his room and when he pushed it open. I noticed that they had taken all of his stuff out and placed a giant bed on the floor. It wasn’t just the nest I saw, but a new, bigger one.
There were new blackout curtains and some cute little string lights hanging from the ceiling, and bookshelves lining one wall.
With books on them.
This was going to be heaven.
"Where is all your stuff?" I asked as I stepped in.
"It's in the smaller spare room we had for company," he answered.
"I hate that you got kicked out for me," I told him.
"Nah, I offered it up for you. You have to know that the three of us will do whatever we can to make you happy," he said, caressing my cheek.
I leaned into his touch, fighting through the overwhelming emotions. He swiped the tear away that was leaking out.
How did I get so lucky?
I glanced around, trying to think of the changes I could make with so little time. I’d seen pillows and blankets coming in with the deliveries, so that was covered. I could make more changes after this, but for now, I needed pieces of my alphas in here.
"Can you bring back your little R2-D2 pop? I want one thing of each of yours in here," I told Jackson, glancing his way.
"You know R2?" Jackson smiled at me like I told him Christmas was coming early.
"Yes, and before you ask, I'm a Star Wars and Star Trek fan. You can't make me choose," I told him.
Cy and Griff appeared with arms full and smiles.
"Where do you want this?" Cy asked.
"Just inside the door please. I’ll put it all away myself. Do you have some scissors?" I asked. That one got a few confused looks but they didn’t question me.
"I'm on it," Jackson said before he headed towards the kitchen.
Cy and Griff laid the boxes where I pointed and headed out to grab more.
"Wait, I want something of yours in here. Jackson's bringing R2-D2," I told them.
"You got it, Peach," Cy agreed, Giff nodding along.
They came back, Griff with an old jersey that was so well worn I could barely read the name, and Cy with a stuffed bear.
“My first Jersey,” Griff explained, looking down at the tattered jersey like it was made of gold. I took it carefully and tucked it between pillows where it wouldn’t be disturbed.
“This bear I won myself. It was after our first win,” he said with a grin. “There was a carnival in town and it felt symbolic so I kept it around.
“It’s perfect,” I promised, finding the place for it.
They left me long enough to grab the rest, stepping in to help open up the packages and getting rid of the trash.
Everything was new and I needed more of their scents. Apparently, pre-heat me was bossy as hell.
“Roll around now, get those pink blankets extra good, they smell like the store,” I ordered. They listened, doing as I asked with grins on their faces.
Finally, I nodded my head. “I think it’s ready.”
“Good, because we need a talk,” Griff said. He was serious now and I swallowed hard, glancing his way.
Were they having second thoughts?
As if reading my mind, Jackson pulled me into his lap, stroking my hair. “It’s about what you want during heat, nothing bad.”
“What limits do you have with sex, Dani?” Griff asked. It was blunt, but I appreciated that they wanted to be prepared.
“I don’t like feeling trapped when I’m in heat,” I admitted. “I’m open to new things, though. I don’t have a ton of experience.”
“Alright, we can work with that,” Cy said. “What about when you want us all? Is anything off limits? Because I’ve had some dreams about that ass, peach.”
“Now the nickname makes sense,” I snorted. “I’m not… against it. Just go easy on me, be gentle.”
“Always,” he promised, leaning forward and kissing me. I could feel his reassurance in the bond. It was nice when it was wide open, letting them see parts of me that would normally be hidden. I kept it locked down during games but otherwise I was trying more to let them in.
“Fuck,” I cursed as I doubled over, a cramp hitting me. “I think it’s here.”