Chapter 50
50
brIAR
I’m melting from the inside out.
That’s the only appropriate way to describe the heat that’s smothering me the longer I go without a knot locked inside of me and a pair of teeth buried in my throat.
The guys have all the windows rolled down in the SUV, but not even the evening air is helping.
I’m positive they knew that going into this drive.
Still, they kept it to themselves when I demanded they roll them down the moment we got out of the parking garage.
Jasper’s behind the wheel while Landon fiddles anxiously with the directions on the GPS.
I can’t focus on what they’re whispering to one another, and fuck me, I don’t care.
Not when Ronan’s palm is searing into my thigh, anchored there like the cruellest form of torture.
I swallow for the thousandth time to try and bring some moisture back to my mouth and throat before groaning at the strength of the cramp that rocks through me.
They’ve grown in intensity and are no longer centralized in my stomach.
Now, they spear outward and pierce me everywhere, mostly between my legs, before fading.
The relief lasts only a few minutes.
By the time I’ve gotten myself under control again, another strikes.
Even with Jasper’s cum inside of me and pooling in the cheap panties I slipped on before heading to the game.
I never thought to bring a backup pair or thicker ones meant for a heat.
Now, I’m left heading into my place of work with soiled panties, perfume that won’t disappear, and my pack’s last name on my back.
If I didn’t own half of Harbour of Hope, I’d be fired on the spot.
With a tight exhale, I reach forward and grab the back of Landon’s seat.
The moisture sticking to my forehead gets wiped away with a soft fabric while I grit my teeth.
“What can we do to help you?” Dash asks, pressing the extra shirt from his duffle bag against the back of my neck.
“Just get me to the clinic. I’m worried out of my mind for Sadie.”
Jasper clenches the steering wheel, knuckles blanching.
“Are you sure it’s safe to take you there like this?”
“Don’t turn against me now, Jasper,” I hiss.
Dash uses one of his extra shirts to rub my forehead again.
“He’s not, Bright Eyes. We’re just concerned.”
“I’ll live. Clover said she’s already seven centimetres dilated. She has supplies for me there. Some heat panties and ice packs, at least.”
My temperature breaks finally, and I accept the abrupt break with a breath of relief.
Being sandwiched between Dash and Ronan is great for my omega and her neediness, but not for the unbearable heat.
For now, I close my eyes and focus on the wind whipping through my hair and over sweat-slicked skin.
“There’s a security team there. An alpha, right?” Ronan growls, hold tightening possessively.
Landon’s scent spikes, deeper than usual.
Darker. “There’s what?”
“Duke and his team are professionals. They’re not there to focus on me, and they won’t even be anywhere near the delivery room.”
“It’ll be fine,” Dash says, his voice tight enough to betray the calm facade he’s going for.
I don’t have it in me to get any further into this right now.
“You’ll have to get over it. The team is there as another layer of protection for Sadie. With Thorne involved, I’m not going to turn away the help. It’s not like I expected you all to be there for this,” I snap.
God, I’m a mess. My nipples won’t soften, and the constant heave of my breaths forces them to rub against my shirt over and over.
Not to mention that my every breath is accompanied by strong scents that make me want nothing more than to climb onto Ronan’s lap and ride his cock while Dash helps.
“ Fuck ,” Jasper groans.
Ronan grips me tight, that deep rumble I love so much starting up in his chest. “You’re perfuming again, Petal.”
“I’m sorry,” I whine, wiggling into the leather seat.
Dash leans forward and stares at the GPS.
“We’re only three minutes away.”
I nod and bite down on my lip hard enough for it to burn worse than the last spike did.
Landon twists in his seat and stares at me, his eyes dark and aroused but focused.
And weary. Definitely weary.
“You need to take care of yourself for me, Briar. I mean it. The moment something isn’t right or you’re in too much pain to be on your own and taking care of someone else, I want to know about it.”
Before I have a chance to argue about him trying to make this about me instead of Sadie, he shakes his head, mouth downturned.
“I know how important this is to you. This isn’t me doubting you or your capabilities. I’m just looking out for my omega. My scent match. That’s my job. Your safety is my top priority always, and I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that I don’t cross your boundaries, but I also need you to know that I will if it’s the only thing I can do to keep you safe.
“This is your first heat after finding us, and from what I’ve read, it’ll be the worst you’ve ever had.
The pain will be stronger, and your temperature will spike higher than it has before on your own because your omega knows we should be there helping you through this.
”
The backs of my eyes burn as I drop my head to hide the gleam in them.
His words crash over me, tearing through the fragile confidence I’ve built like waves swallowing the shore.
“You’ve read about heats?” I whisper.
Jasper releases a breathy laugh.
“It’s what he was doing while you were gone with Ronan to try and keep busy last night.”
My heart triples in size and punches against my ribs.
It’s almost too much to handle just how much Landon has changed in such a short period of time.
The Landon I met that night in the restaurant never would have said those things to me, and he certainly wouldn’t have been spending his night waiting up for me while reading about heats.
“It felt like the least I could do. None of us have to go through what you do.”
“I wanted my first heat with you to be special. So if you wanted to . . .” A sob catches in my throat.
My mind doesn’t belong to me right now.
It’s overrun with hormones and this itch screaming beneath my skin to be scratched with knots and teeth and painted with cum.
I want the safety of my nest and not to be stuck in this SUV surrounded by all the men that I can’t have yet.
Sadie’s delivery will be hell for me.
I knew that from the moment I bent myself over the bed in the treatment room and let Jasper knot me for the first time.
“We haven’t even talked about whether you’ll all bite me!” I cry out, shaking as another cramp grows low in my belly and my core tightens, slick gushing into my thin panties.
“Let’s talk about it now, then,” Jasper soothes.
I whip my head side to side.
“No! Now you’re just going to say what you think I want because I’m in pain!”
Ronan’s hand grows slack around my thigh, and I stare up at him, another sob jumping for freedom.
“Why don’t you want to touch me anymore?” I blubber, a wave of pain stealing my breath.
“Is it because I mentioned biting?”
“Ronan!” Landon hisses.
Ronan’s hand squeezes, the veins in his tattooed forearms flexing.
“Fuck. I’m sorry. That’s not?—”
“We want to touch you, Briar. You have no idea how much we want to touch you right now and help take all of this away,” Dash rushes out.
“So do it! Touch me already. I feel like I’m going to die!”
My legs are already parted.
It smells like someone’s just zested a lemon in here as I gulp for air and tear at my shirt, desperate to free my nipples.
They feel scraped raw from my bra, and I can’t take the restriction anymore.
“We’re at the clinic, baby,” Landon murmurs.
I find his eyes peering into my face and freeze, settling slightly.
“You’re really going to stay close?”
“We’ll be as close as we can be while keeping our distance from Sadie. The moment you need us, you’ll have us. I promise.”
“Okay,” I whisper.
I believe him. Through the thick fog in my mind and the pain in my body, I have no doubt that he means what he’s saying.
Jasper pulls the SUV into the parking lot, and I focus on my breathing, zoning in to what’s about to come.
An omega is in need, and I’m going to help her have the most amazing birth.
The one she deserves despite all of the crap she’s gone through in her life.
I’ll get what I need after we’re finished here.
My pack isn’t going anywhere.
“That’s Duke out front,” I tell them, already unbuckling my seat belt.
The others do the same and step outside.
When I join them, my knees are shaky, but Dash is there with an arm around my shoulders before I collapse.
I give him a weak smile and steady myself, leading the way to the entrance.
“Briar,” Duke greets me.
He’s on full alert, standing before two men who Clover and I approved back when we first hired him.
His expression is blank, giving nothing away but a graveness that confirms how seriously he takes his job and position.
The atmosphere is intense already.
Every second that we’re outside and I’m exposed to this many men that aren’t members of my pack makes it worse on me and my omega.
Landon’s in front of me before I can get myself to walk around the men and into the clinic.
All the men around us except for Duke are betas, but my scent is stronger than ever and clearly having an effect on them regardless.
The one directly behind Duke inhales deeply and swallows, taking a voluntary step back before Landon has a chance to shove him away.
Ronan’s moving next, shouldering a path through the men.
He snarls at the one closest to the door when he opens it for me.
The beta shuffles backward, not interested in being Ronan’s punching bag tonight.
I clear my throat, drawing everyone’s attention.
Dash stays exactly where he’s been since we got out of the vehicle and hovers at my side.
The weight of their eyes threatens to crush me, but I push past the discomfort.
“Nobody steps foot inside the clinic unless there’s an emergency. And even then, only Dash or one of the security team members will be authorized. There will not be any alphas in this clinic tonight, is that clear?”
“Crystal,” Duke answers crisply.
With a nod, I start for the door.
If I stay out here any longer, I’m going to be the one breaking that rule by begging mine to come in with me.
“Briar,” Jasper calls before I can clear the doorway.
There’s a sharp tug in my chest, drawing me toward him.
I plant my feet firmer to the ground.
His eyes don’t waver as he says, “One call.”
“One call,” I promise.
Then I’m turning and walking away.