Cassidy #3
His growl is more than enough torture.
“Okay, well, instead, we’ll head to your office—”
Harlan’s growl is louder now, and my scent perfumes around us, fear rolling off me in nervous waves.
“She can barely fucking stand,” Harlan snaps. “And she needs—”
“Her nest,” Isaac says sternly. He turns, and I can’t see his face at all, but Harlan’s anger fades into recognition.
To my complete surprise, he nods in agreement, and I have no idea how to react.
“Perfect,” Isaac says after a moment, his voice gentler again as he grins at me. “We’ll make sure you’re comfortable in your nest and then get working on these goals, okay?”
My nest.
It sends fresh embarrassment crawling up my neck. I’m no longer a normal employee who got overwhelmed. I’m an omega who needs her nest because she can’t manage herself.
Harlan’s office suddenly feels too small, too full.
Isaac’s right, even though I wish he wasn’t.
Isaac rises smoothly to his feet before offering me his hand. “Come on, shortcake. Up you get.”
I hesitate, biting my lip, as my eyes flicker between him and Harlan.
Isaac isn’t judging me—I know he won’t, even if I’m still mortified he’s had to see me this way.
But Harlan can’t pay me for a day of doing nothing.
I can feel him across the room like a storm waiting to break open again, his attention fixed on me even when he isn’t looking, and I know it’s up to me to fix it.
“I can walk back to my office,” I insist weakly. “I really am okay now. I just got overwhelmed earlier, and I can go back and finish my work—”
Harlan makes another sharp sound, cutting off my words.
“Get her in that nest,” he demands.
Isaac ignores him with impressive ease.
“You fainted,” the beta says patiently. “That’s generally considered a sign things are not okay.”
Heat floods my cheeks again.
“I’m sorry.”
“Cassie.” Isaac’s expression softens painfully. “You’ve got to stop apologising for having a body. We’ve had this talk, remember?”
Something tightens painfully in my chest, and I nod.
Isaac doesn’t seem to realise how hard it is to do this, though. If I don’t apologise, if I don’t smooth things over, then people leave.
They realise how much effort I take, how little I do for them, and then they’re done.
With a careful nod, I place my hand in Isaac’s and let him help me to my feet. He holds me against his chest, letting my dizzy spell fade as he supports me.
Harlan turns away completely during it, dragging a hand down the back of his neck roughly.
Like even looking at this is frustrating him.
Isaac notices, and I squeeze his hand, begging him not to say anything. To not cause trouble.
I couldn’t bear it if the two of them fought because of me.
“Get her to her office, and I’ll bring water,” Harlan says.
I freeze, Isaac’s touch the only thing grounding me into this moment.
“And food,” Isaac adds.
My heart is hammering against my ribs, and I open my mouth to complain, but Isaac squeezes my hand, and I take the hint.
Even if I want to protest.
Isaac’s brows lift subtly before he nods once. “Something easy to eat. And electrolyte drinks if you can find them.”
Without another word, Harlan grabs his keys from the desk. But before he reaches the door, his gaze snaps back towards me.
The intensity behind it makes my pulse stumble.
“You’ll be going home after we’ve got you fed and watered,” Harlan says.
“I…” Automatically, I glance towards my laptop, now on Harlan’s desk rather than the floor. “I still have some things to finish before Monday.”
Harlan’s expression hardens instantly.
“No.”
Isaac sighs softly. “Harlan.”
“No, Isaac. This is fucking crazy. She’s not working at all this weekend,” Harlan says flatly, eyes still locked on mine. “She can barely stay conscious.”
Shame burns hot beneath my skin again, and the nausea is getting harder to ignore.
“If I stay today, I promise not to work this weekend,” I offer.
I have a gala tomorrow night anyway, and the twins’ birthday on Sunday. I won’t really have time to work much.
That way, everyone gets what they need.
“No. You’ll not work today or this weekend,” he says, his jaw tight. “You’ll rest, like a good little omega, and on Monday, we’ll go over the shoot details. Understood?”
The words shouldn’t affect me the way they do, but something about the force behind them makes my chest ache.
“Okay,” I promise quietly. “I’ll eat properly and rest this weekend. I swear.”
Harlan stares at me for one second too many, then he nods before leaving.
The door shuts behind him.
Isaac watches it for a second before looking back towards me slowly.
“Well,” he says lightly, though tension still lingers beneath the humour. “I must thank you for getting me out of my meetings today, shortcake. Evander’s suffering through them alone and that’s such a good punishment for the man.”
Despite everything, a weak laugh escapes me. For the first time all day, the panic in my chest loosens slightly, and I know it’s because he’s here by my side.
I might not be enough for my scent match, but for now, I’m allowed to be Isaac’s friend.
And for now, that has to be enough.