Chapter 20
TWENTY
JUNIPER
The police and the GPRE had a lot of questions, which I got through with Kit by my side.
The ambulance had taken Ez and Vander to the hospital, and Adrian drove us to see them when we were done.
Vander was at Ez’s bedside when we arrived, his arm in a cast, and watching Ez with a haggard look. He stood up when he saw us, and Jhin folded him into an embrace, pressing his forehead to Vander’s in a deeply intimate gesture. I could see the tension bleed from Vander’s face as they stood there together, and then Jhin tipped his chin up to give him a kiss.
Vander shot me a nervous grin after, his cheeks a bit pink and I smiled back. Jhin laced his hand in Vander’s as we followed Adrian to Ez’s bedside.
Adrian reached out, sweeping a stray lock of golden hair out of his brother’s eyes, and swallowed thickly.
Ez’s scent was off, somehow, his watermelon lemonade was tainted with a metallic tang, and his aura was… messy.
He was suffering, and I felt a pull toward him, an urge to hold him close. Kit gave a whimper and climbed onto the bed next to him, while I hugged myself, rocking on my feet. Kit reached out to me.
“He needs us,” he said, but I wasn’t sure. Kit, yes, with his sweet almond buttercream and his soothing aura. But me ?
Would sour cherries really work to help him?
A doctor came into the room, the clinical smell of scent dampers around her. She peered at us with mismatched eyes, one white and one red. A seer. Her eyes lingered on Kit, eyebrows raising a bit.
“Well, that aura certainly will help him,” she said, and looked at me. “Go on, then. Two will be faster than one.”
I glanced at the pack and made my way toward the bed.
“I don’t know if I’m going to be helpful,” I said, hovering at the side.
“You are. I can see it, even that close,” she said briskly, as Kit grabbed my arm and tugged me down to Ez’s other side. I was reminded of our movie night, when Ez had pulled us both close. I wasn’t sure how I stood with the pack, but it felt right to be here. I looked up at Ez’s tanned skin, his messy golden hair, and relaxed into his watermelon lemonade scented chest.
For the first time, I let myself feel it.
Mine.
Ez stirred beneath us, his face softening, and my heart skipped a beat.
“I’m Dr. Rover, Arkologist. I have a couple of questions I’d like to confirm with you.”
Jhin nodded. His face was tense.
“It’s my understanding that Mr. Delaney was injected with a substance against his will?”
“Yes.”
“Could you describe his behaviour after the drug was injected?”
“He looked like he was in pain,” Adrian answered, voice hoarse. “Kit went to try to help him. He yelled at him to get away, and then he knocked him back.”
Dr. Rover was writing some notes on her notepad.
“Um, then he attacked Kit,” Adrian went on, his voice growing more unsteady. “He didn’t seem… present. Like he was in a rut. It took me and Jhin to hold him down and knock him out.”
“Will he be alright?” Jhin asked. Dr. Rover nodded, and Adrian sagged in relief, sitting down heavily in a chair.
“The drug is almost fully out of his system. From what we know, it has an intense but entirely temporary effect.”
“What was it?” Jhin asked. “We’re paramedics and we’ve never seen anything like that.”
“Rofetamine. Commonly called rut rager. It induced something akin to a rut spike—destabilizes the aura. It showed up in the underground fighting scene about a year back, and it mainly stayed there. I’ve never seen it used as a weapon like this before. You said the assailant seemed to anticipate the effects?”
Jhin nodded. Ez stirred again, drawing me away from the conversation. I looked up to see him blinking awake, finding me and Kit curled up next to him. His bloodshot eyes welled with tears, and I found myself being squeezed like an omega teddy bear for the second time in a week. Maybe I should start getting used to it.
“You’re all okay,” he said, his voice cracking. “I was so scared. I kept waking up and dreamed I’d killed Kit, or Adrian, and Juniper had been dark bonded and— fuck ?—”
He was full on bawling now. My eyes teared up, too, and then all three of us were crying together.
“His tests all came back clear, and the only thing he needs now is his aura to settle. That’s better done at your nest, so it’s my recommendation that you head home,” Dr. Rover said, and started giving Jhin a list of symptoms to watch for.
Adrian helped Ez up and back into his clothes. He gave his brother a big hug before me and Kit reclaimed our places on either side of him to help him walk toward the door. Ez seemed very pleased that me and Kit were practically stuck to him, and he couldn’t have been feeling that bad because his hand kept slipping down to my ass.
“I’ll get the car,” Vander said, and Jhin pulled him in for a quick kiss. Vander flushed, but there was another grin on his face as he pulled away.
“Hang on,” said Ez, standing up straight. “Am I dreaming still? You guys saw that, right?”
He looked at Adrian, who shrugged.
“You can take a picture if you want,” Vander said, flipping him the bird.
“I fucking knew it.” Ez grinned.
Vander scoffed. “You’re so full of it.”
“Why does no one ever believe me!” Ez said. “I know things! I live with you guys!”
“There’s no fucking way,” Vander repeated, and before we could stop him, Ez had launched himself at Vander.
“Ow! You maniac, I’ve got a broken arm!” Vander snapped as Ez hung onto him gleefully. One arm was around Vander’s neck and the other was scrubbing his hair affectionately.
“Proud of you, V! Way to go, my man.”
Jhin plucked him off Vander’s back, and Ez dangled in the air for a second like an excited puppy. Then he stopped and saluted Jhin.
“Congratulations, Grand Lord Alpha, sir.”
Jhin gave him an indulgent smile and placed him back on his feet. I hurried up and slung my arm around Ez, making sure he wasn’t going to fall. Ez turned and winked at Vander.
“So, are you available? Cuz you know I’m a flirt and you’re pretty hot, V?—”
“Keep dreaming,” Vander said, turning toward the door.
“Just kidding,” Ez called. “Unless…?”
Vander’s middle finger returned to wave Ez goodbye.
Ez turned to Jhin, waggling his eyebrows. “Eh, what about you? Want to be my Daddy Jhin?”
“Ezra, I’m going to assume you’re still slightly delirious,” Jhin said, arching an eyebrow, “and pretend you didn’t say that.”
“I dunno dude,” Ez said with a yawn. “It’s got a nice ring to it.”
Surprisingly, Jhin stepped forward and pulled Ez into a tight hug.
“I’m glad you’re alright,” he said softly, pressing a kiss to Ez’s head.
“God, you’re such a sap,” Ez protested, pushing him away, but he looked very pleased.
“He didn’t ban Daddy Jhin, though,” Ez added to us in a whisper when Jhin was out of earshot. “I think he’s low-key into it.”
It was past midnight when we finally made it home, and we all piled into the nest together.
I laid there, surrounded by them, wondering if I could die from being happy. It was like every frayed thread that had been ripped apart was whole again. I was here, in our nest, and all of our scents were woven together.
Kit’s hand found me in the dark, curling into mine and I moved closer so that our foreheads were touching.
“I thought I’d lost you,” I whispered to him.
“Me too,” he said back. “I came back here and broke up with them. If it wasn’t for Vander… I wouldn’t have come after you.”
“Fucking Vander,” I said. “That’s the second time he’s saved me from psycho alphas.”
“May it be the last,” came Vander’s muffled voice, and I was smacked with a pillow. “Now can it, lovebirds. We’re trying to sleep.”
Me and Kit dissolved into giggles.
VANDER
I shifted over to find Jhin sitting on the edge of the bed, awake. His tousled hair was hanging in front of his face, and he was looking over his shoulder at us sleeping in the nest, a gentle smile tugging on his lips. My eyes trailed down the lean muscles of his back, the sculpted expanse of pale skin, my gaze roaming over his body.
The usual stirrings of arousal fluttered within me, but this morning, I didn’t have to hide them. His deep, black eyes flicked to me, and I felt my breath catch as he took me in, coolly arching an eyebrow. I could feel him too, responding in the bond, a flicker of amusement coupled with steadily growing lust.
Slowly, as to not disturb anyone else, I crawled to him and rested my head on his lap, looking up to meet his dark gaze. I breathed in his blackberry and sage, and watched his eyes flash as I nudged his morning wood with my cheek.
“Very well,” he said, but caught my head for a second, a small frown on his face. “But you must not wake the others.”
Fuck, his steely voice sent a shudder through me, my skin prickling.
I slipped off the bed in front of him, my hands coming to rest on his thighs. He leaned back slightly, the firm muscles of his abs tensing, his expression expectant. I was kneeling for him, letting myself be completely stripped down because I knew he had me.
For a moment, I could only stare at him. I didn’t fully believe this was real, that I was here, that Jhin was giving me a single, sharp nod of his head to allow me to start.
My hands were trembling as I removed his boxers, biting back a moan as I drew out his cock.
The stolen glimpses of it I’d seen over the years and during Juniper’s heat were nothing compared to the sight of it here. Like the rest of him, it was long and elegant, hardened enough to bring a purple tinge to the tip.
I must have been staring, because Jhin’s hand curled around my head and firmly brought me forward, sending another spike of arousal straight through me. My lips bumped the tip, and I opened. There was a bead of precum that dissolved on my tongue, salty and strange, and I surged forward, needing more. He let out a faint groan, his eyes fluttering closed as I took him right to the back of my throat; too fast, though, and I pulled back, choking out a cough. His eyes flew open, brows furrowing as his fingers pulled on my hair in a silent admonishment at the noise.
His head cocked to the side, and I nodded, my eyes streaming.
I tried again, slower this time, revelling in the feel of my mouth around him, of the way he settled again. My dick was throbbing, leaking as I kept my eyes on his face, on how his lips were parted in bliss. Fuck. I took him right to the back of my throat again, trying to relax. I had to back up again; I wasn’t good at that.
Yet.
I pulled back right to the tip, licking along his slit, and slowly lost myself in a lust-filled haze as I just explored him. Working to stay quiet, though it was getting harder and harder. I’d waited so long for this, and it was so good to just suck, to serve, to revel in his glorious body. Jhin’s eyes flew open as I let a small popping sound slip, and then I groaned as his hand painfully fisted my hair again, holding me in place. He took over, his pace merciless as he started to fuck my mouth. I went lax, tears streaming down my face, just letting him use me.
Punish me.
Something shifted on the bed. My eyes flicked up to meet Juniper’s hooded gaze and then I was gripping Jhin’s thighs, white-hot pleasure surging through me, tightening my balls as I spilled out my release. Jhin grunted, and then I felt him stiffen, holding me tight as he poured straight down my throat.
Then he was guiding me back, pulling me off and leaning down toward me. He tilted my head up to face him, and his thumb stroked my cheek.
“Are you alright?" he asked, his eyes searching mine. “Was that… too rough?”
“No,” I said, and I couldn’t help but smile at him. His posture softened, and he stroked my cheek again, taking in my face.
“Very pretty,” he said lightly, and I rolled my eyes, pushing him away.
“Oh, fuck off,” I replied, but a smile still stretched across my face as I stood up. I looked at the bed, where—thank fuck—everyone appeared to still be asleep. There was nothing in the bond from Ez and Adrian, but then my eyes flicked back to where Juniper’s eyes were closed, her breaths coming slow. Did I imagine her looking at me?
She didn’t stir as me and Jhin went to clean up, and she was still in the same spot when we returned.
That was odd, right?
* * *
Okay, things were weird. I was grabbing coffee from the kitchen, and everyone was really quiet. I’m sure it was partially because we were worried about Ez—he was still sleeping heavily.
But that didn’t fully explain Jhin’s behaviour. He’d shut down as soon as Juniper joined us, his face stiffening and his posture tense. He’d switched to being even more formal than usual, and not speaking unless addressed, which meant he was really stressed about something.
Juniper was too preoccupied to notice. She scarfed down her breakfast and jumped to her feet. She went into the other bedroom and came out with an armful of smooth, heavy pillows. Then, she marched toward the nest room.
“Woah, slow down there,” I said, taking a few steps toward the hall, “Ez is still sleeping.”
She rounded on me with a snarl, her expression almost as feral as it had been in the park. I took a reflexive step back.
Kit hurried over, laying a hand on her shoulder.
“He just means Ez will have to move,” Kit said.
“No, I—” I cut off as Kit shook his head frantically, out of sight of Juniper. He opened the door, and Juniper marched in.
Kit gave me a guilty look.
“So, I forgot to say with everything going on, but Juni saw the doctor and apparently she’s going into heat again. So don't mess with her nesting, ” he told us.
“Heat?” I echoed, staring at him. “She just finished her heat.”
“Yes, and I re-triggered it by leaving early,” Juniper said curtly as she came out of the room again, a sleepy-looking Ez following her. She paused, thinking.
“Hmm. I’d guess I’m about two days out still.”
I gaped at her.
“How on earth do you know that?” I asked. She shot me a cool look.
“I’m over emotional and nesting. That’s phase two. Then I always get this strange calm gap right before everything hits.”
“But—”
“I don’t want to talk about it, so no more questions unless you want to get barred from attending.”
“That’s a thing?” Ez asked, looking alarmed.
“She’s just jokin g , ” Kit said, taking her arm as she walked back to the other room. Juniper snorted.
Ez crossed over to grab some coffee as Kit and Juniper returned with more armfuls of nesting stuff.
“I’m taking some of your clothes!” Juniper called from the bedroom.
“You want me to tell you where we keep the underwear?” I called back with a grin. An angry face poked out of the door.
“I grabbed those while it was dark ,” she hissed. “And they were clean .”
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of,” Ez said. “Lots of people have a thing for underwear.”
“Barred!” Juniper pointed a finger at him, face flushing.
“Oh man,” Ez said, his face falling. He looked at me in panic. “She serious?”
“You can’t bar him from your heat!” I snapped. “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.”
“ Barred ,” Juniper hissed, her finger pointing at me now.
Ez kept darting worried looks toward the bedroom as he got his coffee.
Adrian had left, saying something about nesting supplies and leaving us to deal with Juniper.
By the afternoon, all of us except Kit had been barred. Adrian had been barred because he’d been out all day. She’d told him over text.
She was sulking in the nest as Kit tried to reason with her. I was in the living room, working very hard to pretend I wasn’t hanging onto every word that came out of the half-closed door.
“Juni, I’m not even an alpha,” he pleaded.
“I’ve got toys.” Her voice was resolute.
“You barred Jhin because he asked you if you were done with your water glass.”
“It was a very aggressive question,” she said, her voice wavering.
“I know that, and I love you,” said Kit. “But you’re honestly telling me you don’t want any of them at your heat when it comes?”
There was a pause, and then the sound of sobbing. “N—no,” she said thickly. “I want them.”
Ez would be relieved. He’d been convinced she’d actually follow through with barring him.
“I just… I know you claimed me, and they’re fine with me joining the pack. But I don’t know if they really want me, you know.” She sniffed. “I just… you’re their scent match.”
“Oh, Juni, of course they want you.” Kit’s voice was sure. There was another sniff from Juni and then it was quiet.
I ran my fingers through my hair. What the fuck was with these omegas and thinking we didn’t want them?
Kit had told Juni we wanted her, but Kit was a glass-half-full kind of person. Juniper was more of a that’s-not-even-water-it’s-poison kind of person. We hadn’t really talked about any of this. It seemed that she didn’t know where she stood with us, and that was a bad spot to be in, especially since Jhin had continued to be so weird around her. I needed to talk to him. Actually, I needed to talk to all of them. And soon. The beginnings of a plan was starting to form in my mind.
Adrian arrived back at the house, finally, arms full of boxes of lava lamps.
“You’re a genius, dude,” Ez said, eyes wide. Adrian gave a small smile and made his way over to the nest, putting the boxes down and knocking on the door. Juniper stepped outside and stared at Adrian for a second, eyes darting to the lava lamps then back at him. Kit stepped outside as well and squeaked in surprise.
“I picked up a bunch of stuff, it’s in the van. You don’t have to use it, but I thought?—”
He didn’t finish, because Juniper literally pounced on him, her hands cupping his face as she pulled him into a fierce kiss. He stumbled one step back, arms wrapping around her so she didn’t fall. God, why hadn’t I thought of going nest shopping?
“Inside. Nest,” she panted, breaking the kiss to say that while tugging off his shirt. He happily obliged.
“Hey, Kit, come with me,” I said, ready to take the first step in my plan.
KIT
“You can do this,” Vander said. He’d taken up a position standing in front of me, his hands on my shoulders and forehead pressed to mine; it was oddly comforting.
I nodded, but glanced nervously at the run-down townhouse I’d grown up in. I always started things like this with resolve, but grandmother had a way of mixing up my words and making me feel guilty.
“Maybe,” I said. He’d taken me to a park and told me his plan, and I had suggested coming here after a quick stop at the bank. It was time, and it fit in perfectly with what he was thinking.
“I thought you’d say that.” Vander reached into his pocket and pulled something out. It was a small patch of fabric, ripped from one of Juniper’s former nest pillows. I took it from his hand.
“I can do this,” I amended. Before I could lose my nerve, I walked up to the front door and knocked. It was probably best to do this now, before I thought too hard about it.
We waited, and then the door opened, her foul cigarette and perfume scent assaulting my nose.
“Kristofer—”
“My name is Kit,” I cut her off. Her face pinched into a scowl.
“To what do I owe the pleasure? Two years, you’ve skulked around?—”
“Stop,” I said. “I’m here to get what Dee left me in her will.”
“Those trinkets were lost, Kristofer. God knows why you’d think I’d have them.”
“And,” I continued, “I’m letting you know I’m done with you. For good.”
“God, is this about the restaurant? Stop overreacting, that was a joke, darling.” She sniffed and raised her chin. “Besides, have you forgotten what you owe me? The debt you left me with.”
“I never asked you to do that. And I didn’t want you to do it, which is what I told you at the time,” I snapped, then took a deep breath. “But, I have a trade.”
I held out the envelope I’d been holding. She snatched it and ripped it open, her eyes narrowing as she scanned it. It was a cheque, covering the rest of my loan and some extra besides.
“You give me Dee’s stuff and I’ll sign it,” I said.
She sniffed again, folding her arms as she considered.
“Fine,” she finally said. “Turns out most of her junk was worthless anyway.”
She opened the door wider, but I took a step back.
“We’ll stay out here.” I rubbed the fabric in my hands for strength, and my grandmother shrugged, disappearing inside.
“You still feeling good with this plan?” Vander asked.
I nodded. It may not be right, but I knew it was what I had to do to fix things.
A few minutes later, grandmother came down the stairs again with a shoebox. She held it out to me.
I opened it up, my throat tightening. It even smelled a little bit like Dee still. There were a few bits of jewelry, and a crystal rose. A photo album that I’d spent days searching for in Dee’s place. God, that wasn’t even worth anything—had she just taken it out of spite?
“Right,” I said thickly, handing the box to Vander. She held out the cheque and a pen she’d grabbed. Steadying myself, I inhaled deeply and took the cheque from her… and tore it in half.
“Fuck you,” I said, my voice only shaking a little bit, and I spat at her feet.
I was speaking for my mother.
For Dee.
For Juniper.
And for me, too.
“Why you little—” she shrieked, launching forward, but Vander stepped in front of her with a snarl.
“Give me a reason,” he said, his voice cold as ice. He bared his teeth, and she took a step back, her face red and twisted with rage.
“You ungrateful bastard! You useless fucking—” she continued, but I was done with her. I turned around and walked back to the car, her vitriol now falling on deaf ears. She’d be the only one listening to it now.
“Good job, Kit,” said Vander as we climbed into the car. “Proud of you.”
“Thanks,” I said, bouncing up and down on my seat as he started the engine. He took me to a coffee shop and got me a mocha with extra whip.
“Oh, that’s so nice,” I said, smiling at him. “Thanks for being there with me. I really appreciated it.”
He shrugged, looking a little uncomfortable.
“It’s the least I owe you,” he said.
“What do you mean?” I asked, picking up some whipped cream with my finger and popping it in my mouth.
“Well, I was such a dick to you,” he replied.
“Oh, it’s fine. I don’t really hold a grudge,” I said.
His eyebrows rose. “I called you a slut. Multiple times.”
“Well, I liked that.”
“I didn’t know that!” he said, incredulous. “And I ignored you and treated you like shit. Made you feel like I didn’t want you.”
“You literally told me you wanted me,” I replied.
“No, Kit,” Vander said sternly. “I told you I wanted to fuck you and nothing else! That’s not okay! You can’t just move on like it didn’t happen!”
“Oh,” I said, hugging my knees and looking at him. “Right. Um, so what do I need to do?”
He blinked at me.
“You need to be mad at me. Make me grovel at your feet or something.”
I scratched my head. “I don’t think I’m gonna be good at that. Maybe you could just get Juni to do that part?”
Vander went white as a sheet.
“But that means… I need to tell her everything I did,” he said, aghast.
“Yeah, she’s probably going to be really pissed,” I said, scooping more whipped cream into my mouth.
“Fuck,” he groaned, putting his head in his hands.