31. Sidney
Sidney
T his room was all wrong. The sterile white walls and tiled floors made my skin crawl.
The bed was itchy, even if it was soft, and too big to be alone.
My stomach cramped painfully and I bent over with a whimper, tears brimming in my eyes as my actions truly sank in.
I could have stayed, been with my pack and rode out this heat, but I left them.
Would they ever forgive me?
Did I want them to?
“Fuck,” I cursed, clutching at my abdomen and curling up on my side.
Nurses had been in a time or two and had offered different options, but I kept telling them I didn’t know.
These rooms were meant for omegas to ride out their heats, but the way they rode it out was up to them.
I wasn’t willing to suppress it and it was only a fifty-fifty shot if it would work anyway.
They would call in heat partners if I wanted but the thought of anyone else touching me only sent panic through me.
My omega wanted them and only them.
Yet, I’d ruined my chances.
A loud knock on the door had me glancing up to see Arden poke his head around the corner.
“Sidney, can I come in?”
He had on a mask to block out the pheromones I was giving off now and it was Avery’s mate, so I nodded.
Only mated alphas could enter these rooms. There was something about the calm way he approached everything that settled some of the panic attack threatening to pull me under.
“The nurses tell me you turned down medication and heat partners. I hate the idea of you suffering, what can I do to help?”
Anyone else saying those words might have had me taking them wrong, but the pure concern in his voice told me otherwise.
“Avery called and is worried, but I didn’t tell her anything. We have confidentiality here, so we don’t share anything unless you give permission.”
“Tell her I’m safe,” I said with a sigh. “She’s going to kick my ass.”
He let out a small laugh but that calm, concerned look never left his face.
“What happened with the pack? Do you need help?”
“It’s not like that,” I promised. “This is all on me. If you look at my file, it outlines my struggles with scent and scenting.”
“I’ve skimmed it,” he reassured me, stopping me before I could explain more.
“They scented me or some of them had. They’re positive I’m theirs.”
“Then why are you here?” His question was asked in the same calm tone, devoid of judgment. He was simply trying to help me cope and this is what I needed.
“Because I’m terrified, Arden,” I whispered. “I’ve been left before, always the one left behind. I won’t survive if they do the same.”
“So, you left them first,” he concluded, frowning but still not holding judgment. “Sidney, I know there’s always a chance for things to go wrong. That could happen scent match or not. There are ups, downs, and misunderstandings. But, people who love you, truly want you, won’t simply throw you away.”
Tears fell freely now. I couldn’t keep my mask in place when I was in pain and falling head first into my first real heat of my life.
Already, this felt different. My body was shaking and covered in sweat. Cramps hit me on and off, the amping need intense enough I couldn't ignore it.
There was also a hollow in my chest. I felt broken and empty, more so than ever before.
The worst part was that I could have avoided it.
That reality was stark and cold and I fucking hated it.
“You’re not weak, Sidney. This is a vulnerable, tumultuous time and no one will hold that against you,” Arden reassured me. “Now, I can tell we’re at the edge of needing to act quickly if we want to do something different. How can I help?”
His question was loaded and I curled my hands into fists to stop them from shaking as I looked up at him.
“Can I have my phone?”
“Yes,” he said, giving me a warm smile. “This is the right choice, Sidney. Sometimes life is about taking chances and letting someone else catch you when you fall. Everyone deserves that, especially you.”
With that, he stood and walked out.
I’d never felt so terrified in my life. Heat emotions aside, I was even more scared of how angry they’d be.
Leo would be hurt, I’d just promised him I was his.
Bennett would be disappointed that I didn’t trust him.
Taylor would be worried and just as hurt.
Maverick would be livid, but relieved to see me.
If I truly thought about it, my own worries aside, I knew they would forgive me.
God, I was so stupid.
The door opened ten minutes later and Arden was back, breathless, as he handed me my phone.
“Sorry, I had to track down your intake nurse and call Avery. They’ll know by now. Call your pack, Sidney. Give them the chance to prove themselves.”
“I will,” I promised, pulling up Taylor’s contact first. He’d be the least likely to yell.
The phone rang once before he answered, voice desperate and full of pain.
“Sidney?”
“Taylor, I need you guys. Please? I’m so fucking sorry,” I choked out before breaking into a sob.
“Sidney, we’re already on our way,” Bennett promised. “We’ll be there soon.”
“Call Leo, Sidney. He and Mav are together. We’ll meet them there,” Taylor said.
“I will,” I promised before ending the call.
Maverick didn’t even let Leo’s phone ring once, answering immediately.
“Sidney Vance, where the fuck are you?” he thundered into the line before Leo said something and snatched the phone from him.
“Sidney, please, tell us where you are. Let us help you,” Leo pleaded.
“I’m at the Network clinic. They know to let you in. Come to me, please,” I begged right back. “I’m sorry.”
The sound of screeching tires echoed down the line and Leo cursed.
“We can’t fucking help her if we’re dead!” Leo yelled, his breathing ragged.
“You’re fine,” Maverick bit out and I couldn’t help but smile.
My pack was coming.
Maverick
Hearing Sidney’s voice had never had this big of an effect on me. My entire body was tense, the sound of her begging us to come, taking me from frustrated and terrified, to relieved and in a rush to get to her.
When I came to a stop in front of the clinic, Leo practically jumped out, shooting daggers at me with his eyes.
“You drive like a psycho!” he yelled.
I didn’t bother to argue as I stalked past.
“You’re alive,” was all I said as I opened the door. Bennett and Taylor were steps ahead of us and I picked up the pace, leaving Leo to rush after them.
“Wait up,” Leo said, but not one of us paused.
We had to get to our girl.
Arden, Avery’s mate, was waiting behind the desk, pacing back and forth. When he heard our stomps on the tile he turned, waving us over with wide eyes.
“She’s close to full-blown heat, gentleman. There won’t be time to leave, but here’s a stack of blankets, give it to her for her temporary nest. Get it as saturated in your scent as you can before you reach her.”
“Where is she?” I asked as Taylor and Leo took the pile of blankets.
“Third floor, take the elevator. The nurse will lead you to her, I’ll call up there now,” he said before turning serious. “If you guys let her down, I’ll castrate you all and Avery will kill you after.”
“Noted,” I said, shoving past them to get to the elevator.
I heard the alpha call up to his nurse as the others piled in. The elevator was too slow, my fists tightening further as I waited for it to reach the top floor.
A nurse was waiting on the other side. The beta smiled at us and waved for us to follow, not bothering with small talk as she hurried us along.
“All I need is to confirm IDs and snap a picture of them and you can go in. The nest is yours for the duration of her heat, and I’ll need at least one of you to go over the amenities that you’ll need to know,” she said as she paused at the nurses station. “This is for your omega’s safety.”
The last line was delivered like an ax on the chopping block.
We all turned to Leo who simply nodded, squaring his shoulders instead of fighting.
“Thanks, Leo,” I managed to choke out, finding a new appreciation for the beta. It was a long way from wanting to punch him.
I shoved my ID at her and let her snap a pic before tucking it away and stepping away, screaming in my head for everyone to hurry the fuck up.
My omega needed me, dammit.
I was two seconds from screaming her name up and down these hallways in a fucked up version of Marco Polo.
“Okay, this way,” she said, leading three of us to the room while Leo stayed behind with another nurse at the nurses’ station.
The moment she pushed open the door I was hit with a wall of Sidney’s scent. It was as if the entire world stopped spinning in this one moment. I closed my eyes for a single blink, savoring the scent and committing it to memory.
It had a sweetness that was overwhelming, laced in fig, earthy moss, a hint of jasmine, and fresh mountain air bringing it from too sweet, right back to perfection.
She smelled like heaven.
Then I was moving, shoving past the others to scoop her off the bed where she was frozen, curled on her side and staring at us like a deer in the headlights.
“Sidney,” I said her name, holding her tight and burying my nose in her neck. My body was wrapped around her, curled in to shield her from the world, and unintentionally, her other mates.
“Maverick,” she sobbed. “You have a scent.”
Her cries tore me open. My eyes burning with unshed tears on her behalf. My poor, sweet omega was so alone and hurting so deeply, yet hid it all. Now here she was falling apart but the difference was, I…no, we...were here to hold her together.
“So do you, sweetheart. Smells like home.”
“You do, too,” she sobbed again. “I’m not broken.”
“You never were, Sidney,” I reminded her. “And you were always mine.”
The others moved closer and I knew I couldn’t keep her to myself this time. It took everything in me to pass her off to her other alpha, but I knew she needed him, too.
“There she is,” Bennett soothed, holding her just as tightly as I did. Taylor reached for her as if he couldn’t hold back any longer.
“We told you that we were yours, Sidney. I wish you would have trusted us,” he said gently.
She let out a shaky breath. “I know, I’m so fucking sorry. I had a dream and it mixed with heat hormones and I just… ran.”
“You scared us. We tore this town apart looking for you,” I told her.
She blinked over at me. “Really?”
Even now she wasn’t sure how to believe that anyone was going to take care of her, watch out for her, and love her like we did.
“We’ll always find you, angel,” Bennett vowed.
“Just talk to us,” Taylor begged. His own voice was laced in emotion and I wasn’t even surprised when he let out a soft sob. Sidney moved out of Bennett’s arms to pull her omega in close, hands running up and down his back as she soothed him this time.
“I will, I promise,” she said, kissing his cheek and holding him tight. I expected to feel jealous or possessive, but I could only feel content seeing them together. I guess all that fell away when it came to pack. Perhaps that was why Leo and I hadn’t killed each other already.
Then she let out a breathy groan that had her scent swelling in the air and my cock thickening as I breathed it in.
“Tell us what you need, Sidney.”