Chapter 20
Twenty
Riot
Ibarely register the sound from the stairwell, but the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Protein powder forgotten, I ditch my stuff in the basement kitchenette and tiptoe over to the stairs.
Before I even register what's happening, Vivian is flying down the stairs at me and crashing into my arms. "Fuck, Firefly!" I grunt, wrapping her in my arms and trying not to fall back on my ass. The pain in my shoulder flares up, but it's not enough to pull me away from her.
Dread pools in my gut when a back-cracking sob explodes out of her. Wetness drenches my shoulder forcing me to acknowledge that my omega is crying on me.
"Hey, hey, hey," I whisper-croak because now I'm fucking terrified. Cradling the back of her head in my hand, I steel my spine to be her savior. "What happened?"
More cries and whimpers of sorrow drown out any explanation I might receive. I know I need to hold my shit together and make sure she's comfortable, but I also need to know if she's hurt. Or if someone else is hurt.
Thinking fast, I lift her by her ass and breathe a sigh of relief when her legs wrap around me. Rushing to my bedroom, I kick the door shut behind me and peel her arms and legs off to set her on the bed. She fights to keep hold of me, and it goes against my nature as an alpha, but I pry her off me.
"Vivian." Crouching in front of her, I place my hands on her knees and squeeze.
My first glance at her face makes me want to go on a fucking killing spree.
My omega's eyes are bloodshot and dripping with tears.
The bags under her lashes look even more pronounced, and her shoulders are trembling so damn hard I'm worried she's going to hurt herself.
"Remember when we were escaping and I needed you to be strong for just a little longer? I'm going to need you to do that again, little Omega."
Kade's voice growls in my mind, a reminder not to push her into speaking or anything else she doesn't want to do, but I'm fucking over it. She's mine too, and right now I need her to use her damn words so I know if I need to find a gun and hide her in the bathroom.
"Right now, Firefly. Tell me who hurt you before I completely lose my shit and find a weapon." Oops. I didn't mean to get that aggressive, but what the hell else am I supposed to do when she's sobbing like someone died?
Vivian sputters and wipes her cheeks with rapid movements. "They—they said they can't handle me."
My forehead throbs with the force of my frown. "Who said this? Your mates?"
"Y-Yes. They said, fuck—" She chokes and covers her face with her shaky hands.
Is this anxiety choking her up and pausing her words or is it her sadness? Either way, she's doing a fantastic job, and I'll cheer her on no matter what. "You got this, Vivian. Just breathe through the tension, okay? I'm here with you and we're safe in my bedroom."
"They said..." She sniffles and sighs with her head flung back as if she's trying to make her tears stop. "Ugh. They said I h-have PTSD, some sort of food disorder, insomnia, and mood s-swings. They're—they're diagnosing me!"
Shit. The hurt and rage that slams into my chest just from our small connection shocks me. There's a story here, but I write off getting it right now when I see her gulp and her hand clutch her throat like she's losing it again.
"I'm sure there's more to this story, but for now?—"
Vivian glares daggers at me and flashes her canines. "They promised! S-Said they would never label me!"
What do I do here?
"VIVIAN?!"
All the rage in her face fizzles away when Kade's voice echoes through the house. Silas and Jarek shout next, and I watch with so much worry as Vivian recoils.
I may not know what to say or how to be in the middle of an omega and her mates, but one thing is for certain: I'll advocate for her.
"Do you want to talk to them right now?" She shakes her head. "You know you'll have to talk to them at some point, right?" This time she nods. "Stay here," I whisper, and kiss her forehead as I stand.
It's good timing too because just as I close my bedroom door behind me, Kade comes barreling down the stairs like a fucking elephant.
"Where is she?!" he gasps. "She's crying!"
"Yeah, because of you, asshole." I'm finding when my mate cries I have no fucking tact. Which becomes very apparent when Kade growls and rushes me. Jarek leaps down the last few stairs and snatches his pack alpha before we can brawl.
"Kade, stop!" Jarek snaps, dragging him away.
Silas bypasses both of them and zeros in on me. "You have her?" he asks quietly, methodically. Where's his emotion when he upset his woman?
I nod, matching his standoffish attitude. "I do. She wants to be alone."
Silas doesn't so much as blink. "Why?"
This is why I was worried about becoming part of a pack. How do I know if I'm betraying her trust if I give them clues? They're her mates, so they should know when they've fucked up. But do I leave that to Vivian to explain?
"Why do you think?" Maybe I can get them to admit it and save myself the worry of sharing something that could be a secret.
Silas narrows his eyes and clenches his jaw. "I don't know. We were talking in the office when we felt her distress. She wasn't in the living room or upstairs."
"Right, and what were you talking about in the office?
" Come on, give me something. Show me you aren't as big of a dickhole as I'm thinking right now.
When he doesn't say anything, I step forward and pitch my voice low.
"She was crying so hard I almost went looking for a fucking gun.
So before you try hiding shit from me, you should know Vivian already told me she overheard your conversation. "
"Fucking shit!" Jarek curses, dropping his chin to his chest. I almost feel bad for the guy, but I have someone else to worry about right now.
"I'll ask one more time," I snarl, stepping so close to Silas I can feel the heat radiating off his body. Now isn't the time for my dick to perk up, but when do I get a fucking say? "What could you have possibly been talking about that upset her?"
Just when I think Silas is going to snap with the tension he's carrying in his shoulders, he deflates. "We're worried about her appetite, sleep, and mood swings. She probably heard us talking about diagnoses and how some of them are outside our wheelhouse."
I grunt and step away. "I'll bring her to her nest when she's ready. For right now, she asked for some space, and I think it would be best if we all respect her wishes."
"And what will you be doing?" Kade demands, only made more ruthless by the flexing of his hands at his side.
Images of Vivian curled up in my bed make my lips lift into a genuine smile. "If she lets me, I'll brush her hair, have her wash her face, and rub her hands until she falls asleep."
"Good," Kade grunts.
Grinding his teeth like it's taking everything in him not to go after his woman, he steps around Silas and into my space.
His whiskey scent sinks into my bones and weighs me down with his dominance.
Before I can blink away the sudden realization that Kade smells fucking amazing, his arms are around me in a hug.
I'm shocked by the strength with which his hand encompasses the back of my neck and his other one winds around my back.
Unable to push him away or ignore how good he feels against me, I match his gesture. My hindbrain cocks my head to the side when he rumbles and blows a warm breath over the spot where my neck and shoulders meet.
My cock is painfully hard between us. When the ridges of his erection press against mine, precum soaks my boxers. Fuck, fuck, fuck.
With his fingers winding into my hair at the base of my skull, I have to bite back a groan. His cheek brushes mine, scent marking me. "Be good to her, mate." Kade punctuates his statement by grinding our cocks together, not once, but three times.
Oh fucking motherfuck son of a—Cum explodes from my sensitive dick tip, soaking my gray sweatpants and making me go weak in the knees.
"Good, Alpha," Kade murmurs, and kisses my earlobe. "Maybe she'll join you in the shower too."
Cool air replaces his heady presence, making me sway and take a step toward him when he backs away. Jarek has a shit eating grin on his face, and Silas looks like he wants to be eaten alive by the dominant asshole who struts his ass up the stairs.
"Tell her we love her," Silas mutters and trails after Kade. Their whiskey and green tea scents cling to my clothes. I almost beg Jarek to come kiss me.
Jarek chuckles as if he read my mind. Running his hand through his beard, he hums with appreciation while staring at my soaked pants. "I'd lick you clean if there wasn't a beautiful omega waiting for you."
His words almost make me pant, but I hold it together. Barely.
"Bring her to the pack nest when she's ready. Vivie doesn't sleep well unless she's in it," Jarek advises before following his male mates.
Mates.
I suppose I need to get used to that...