Chapter 26
“Has she eaten anything?” I asked, even as my heavy eyelids slid closed again.
“A little bit, but not enough,” Jackson admitted.
“I think I need a shower while she rests,” I said around a yawn. What I really needed was coffee.
“I need sleep,” Griff said as he pulled a cover over him and Dani, eyes already shut again.
“I’ll make something else to eat, meet me in the kitchen,” Jackson said, leaving them to sleep.
I stumbled to the shower, not keeping my eyes open until the hot water had chased away some of the exhaustion. Steam filled the bathroom, washing away some of the dull ache lingering.
Knowing there was food waiting I forced myself out of the shower and into a pair of boxers. There was no real point of putting on real clothes when they’d just be tossed aside.
I snagged my phone from the charger when it went off, expecting to see Coach. Instead, it was a message from Bea and Taryn.
Bea: You better be treating our girl right.
Taryn: What Bea means is you guys are probably exhausted, the town pulled together and we just delivered a cooler full of food and drinks! Stay hydrated!
Cy: Thanks guys. All is going well, but this is a huge help, thanks!
I hurried to the kitchen. Jackson was dazed, staring at nothing, when I arrived. He had coffee in his hand and I seemed to startle him into action. He shook his head as he drained the mug.
“Fuck, I needed that.”
“Same, but it has to wait. The girls dropped off some goodies,” I said as I breezed past, grabbing the cooler that was waiting along with a few fluffy blankets to add to her collection. I tossed those to Jackson who followed me out.
“Oh, she’s going to love these,” he said, pulling them out as he led the way back to the kitchen. He wrapped one around himself and held out the other. I snagged it, doing the same as he was and scent-marking it for our girl before trading.
We probably looked like deranged burritos as we wrapped and unwrapped ourselves, but if it made Dani happy, I accepted that fate.
“Alright, I’m taking these in,” he grinned. “Then taking a quick shower since the girls handled food.”
“I’ve got it from here,” I said as I started unpacking it.
There was an insane amount of meals in little bento containers.
They weren’t kidding, it looked like the whole town got together to prep ‘easy to heat’ meals, cut up fresh fruit, and added a supply of electrolyte drinks.
The girls had even driven it all the way into the city for us since her heat was here this time.
Willow Lake was awesome. It wasn't the first time we’d seen them go to bat for our girl. You couldn’t beat that ‘small town’ vibe. It was honestly starting to grow on me.
It was nice that Coach wasn’t the only one checking in. Though, I knew damn well he was doing it for selfish reasons. He wanted to know when he’d have some of his biggest players back.
They already had to postpone a game or two, which was expected in the league. We couldn’t exactly appeal to the omega community and boast about family values if we weren’t willing to give our players the same respect.
It did mean our seasons went on a little longer than normal sometimes, but no one really minded. Honestly, it gave players a chance to unwind a bit.
Deciding on chicken alfredo, I followed the instructions to heat it up.
It’d be a miracle if I could get Dani to eat anything. We had to resort to feeding her on a knot last time to have any success. She was passing out after a round or two, so we had to time it perfectly if we wanted to have any real hope of getting nutrients in her.
I swear I was catering in a feast when this was over just so I knew she was eating. It was stressing my alpha out.
When it was warm, I quickly scarfed down my own food before joining Griff and Dani in the bedroom with the rest. He was still snoring, but my omega was wide awake.
Her eyes lit up when she saw me. “Alpha.” It was so sweet on her lips, like she couldn’t imagine anything better than seeing me.
That was one way to boost an alpha’s ego.
“Hey, peach,” I said as I sat down next to her. She moved closer, laying with her head in my lap so she could look up at me. I gently brushed a loose curl behind her ear. “How are you feeling?”
She seemed a little better at the moment. Definitely more coherent than she had been before she fell asleep. Her skin was still flushed but not as burning hot as before.
“Oddly, clean for being in heat,” she joked. “Usually, I’m a sweaty mess.”
How could anyone let their omega be in that condition? At least outside of heat clinics, and even then, nurses should step in.
“We’ve been taking good care of our omega,” I said with a wink.
“It’s not over, but I think I’ve got a bit of a break. Do you think you could help me to the kitchen? Maybe I can get some food and water in me. I feel like I haven’t had anything in years.”
“Of course,” I promised her. “Anything you need. I brought in alfredo but we can eat in there instead.” I was just happy that she wanted to eat.
She wasn’t as unsteady on her feet as I expected.
Though, she clung to me as we stopped in the bathroom for her to brush her teeth, though she kicked me out to use the toilet.
Once she was done, I led her slowly to the kitchen.
She didn’t stop to grab clothes or protest being naked.
There was no hiding now like she would have before.
Dani let out a squeak as I picked her up by her hips and set her on the counter. Her eyes tracked my every move as I poured her a glass of her favorite strawberry watermelon drink and heated up her alfredo again.
The moment I pressed the straw to her lips she drank it down, not stopping until it was empty. She let out a happy little sigh of relief.
“I needed that,” she admitted. “I never realized how much a heat takes out of me.
“How did you handle them before?” I was almost afraid to hear her answer. The idea of her riding it out alone and in pain was enough to break my heart.
“Suppressents sometimes. I didn’t like the idea of heat partners,” she admitted. “My self-esteem in that regard was too fragile to risk it. I’d be hurt and I didn’t want to do that to myself. Heat clinics were also out. They weren’t my style. Too cold and clinical.”
“Well, you never have to do either of those things again. You have us now and we aren’t going anywhere,” I promised, leaning in to brush a kiss over her lips.
She caught her lip between her teeth when I pulled back, a flush creeping up her chest and cheeks.
“What’s wrong?”
“You guys aren’t ready to run? I haven’t been too needy?” she asked. Her voice was quiet now, subdued.
I didn’t answer until she looked back up at me. My eyes narrowed slightly. “No, of course, we aren’t. You aren’t too needy, you're in heat. We are not only honored you chose us to help you through it, we’re loving it. Soaking in every fucking second.”
That appeased her, a grin spreading across her face. “Good. Just checking.”
“You’re doing so good for us,” I said as I refilled her drink. I set it beside us and twisted her noodles around her fork, holding out a bite.
She opened easily, chewing and groaning at the taste. “Who made this?”
“Your friend sent us some meals. This one was marked as your favorite,” I explained with a grin. “There might be some merit to this ‘small town’ thing.”
“Holt made this for sure,” she said as she took another bite. The scent of garlic and herbs filled the air. I was just relieved to see her back to herself and eating.
When the bowl was empty, she patted her stomach and groaned. “That was so good. Remind me to send them flowers or something after this is over.”
“Is our omega back?” Jackson asked as he walked in.
Her smile lit up again at the sight of her other alpha. She held her arms open and he quickly put himself between her legs, pulling her close and hugging her. He only had on a pair of boxers, not one of us bothered much with clothes over the last few days.
“Cy was being a good alpha and feeding me,” she said. “I was feeling a bit better but I can feel it coming back. I’m hot and…” Her word cut off as she shifted.
“That’s not surprising, we’re only a few days in,” he said, kissing her again. He moved to her chest, his tongue ghosting over the marks we’d given her. The omega’s entire body shuddered, goosebumps dotting her pale skin.
Then her scent was swelling in the air, that sweet edge to it telling us she was definitely not out of the woods yet.
“Please,” she begged. Her eyes were glassy again as she gave back into the heat.
“Come here, omega, I’ll take care of you,” I promised, helping her off the counter and turning her. I gently put a hand between her shoulders, pushing gently so she was bent over it, her cheeks resting on the cool countertop. She let out a relieved breath at the feel of it.
I dropped my boxers and kicked them aside while I shifted her legs apart.
“Your alphas are going to make you feel so good,” I promised as I lined myself up and slammed forward. Her fingers fought to grip the countertop, finally wrapping around the edge as she lifted to her tiptoes, deepening the angle.
Jackson watched, completely enraptured by her. She was letting out soft little gasps with each slam of my hips, her scent so strong now I drank it in with each breath.
“You’re so gorgeous, Dani,” Jackson said, voice husky now. His hand wrapped around his cock and the move didn’t go unnoticed. Dani was watching him now, her moans growing louder.
My own balls felt like they might burst if I didn’t come soon. I snaked a hand around her hip, giving it a squeeze before continuing until my fingers found her wet pussy. I barely brushed my fingers over her when she lost control, shattering with a sob and flooding slick around me.
As much as I wanted to knot her, I held back, knowing Jackson needed her, too. She protested, but it was hard to be mad while shaking with the aftershocks of an intense orgasm.
“I want both of you at once,” she demanded.