5. Bea
My eyes fluttered open at movement across the room. Corvin was walking in, boxers hanging low around his hips, body still wet from a shower.
Then his scent hit me. It was so strong that my entire body shuddered as it filled my senses.
Scent-matches.
Are you fucking kidding me?! How had a one-night stand turned into scent-matches?
Scent-matches automatically meant strings. The exact opposite of what I’d asked for.
They also triggered heats. That explained how mine had hit so fast and unexpected.
Fuck, this was not supposed to happen. It went against everything I fought for.
Corvin’s hands went up as he approached me, clearly noticing that I was starting to freak the fuck out.
“Hey. Breathe. Nobody is putting pressure on you right now, Bea. If your heat is breaking, let me draw you a bath. Ezra went into a nesting store in town and found some bath salts for post-heat. They’re supposed to soothe some of the aches you’re likely feeling.”
I hated that they were being so nice to me. It was such a stupid thing to think, but it would’ve been so much easier to push them away if they were assholes.
Then maybe I’d feel justified. Right now, I felt like a jerk for being so combative about everything.
“Ezra is making lunch now, so you’ve got some time to relax. Can I draw you a bath?”
“Yes,” I managed to choke out. He stepped away slowly, chuckling when I narrowed my eyes.
“Look, we’re trying to not send you running here, omega. We’re not pushing you into anything. We just want to take care of you. That’s all. We can talk about everything later. You are in control.”
An alpha was giving me control. What kind of alternate reality did I walk into?
Yet, everything about Corvin screamed that he was telling the truth. This alpha was genuine and perfect. It was me that was the problem.
That shouldn’t scare me so much. God, I really was a mess.
He continued backing away, finally turning and heading for the bathroom. A few minutes later, I heard water running.
When he came back, he held a hand out for me. I slid mine into his, letting him help me up.
“Is the heat over now?” he questioned. He sounded almost disappointed, which was wild since this was thrown on them out of nowhere.
“Yes,” I replied. “Thank you for helping me.”
“You don’t have to thank me for doing the right thing. We took good care of you, omega,” he promised. “I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”
He winced as if he didn’t mean to say that out loud, but my omega sighed contentedly in my head. She was so happy with this pack.
Fuck, this was so complicated.
It was all a little bit too much for me to process right now. I needed to clean up and fill my stomach because it was gnawing at me from the inside.
Then I had to get the fuck out of this packhouse.
All three sets of eyes were on me as I ate. Did they know that I was still thinking of running? Did I give off that vibe? Shit.
"What?" I asked before I took another bite of my breakfast burrito.
"Nothing," Corvin smirked as he took a bite of his eggs. Apollo took a bite then eyed mine again.
"Jealous of my burrito?" I asked, shaking it towards him.
"Yes, I miss carbs," he mused, practically salivating over the burrito I waved around.
"That's a sad life to live," I teased, moving it closer to his face.
What the fuck am I doing? Why am I flirting with him?
I need to get out of here.
"I need to get to work," I said suddenly, standing up and looking around for my phone. It was so abrupt they all three startled, blinking at me and unsure how to respond.
"Easy, tiger," Ezra laughed. "What do you need? We can help."
"You three are too helpful and nice. It’s freaking me out," I stated honestly. My filter had fallen away as the panic rose. “I don’t know how to handle it.”
This earned a laugh from the three of them.
Only, I wasn’t joking. When I didn’t laugh with them, that sobered them a bit.
Oh good, cue the concern.
"Don't you make me call the granny mafia. I just have to say that you're being mean to me and they'll take you three down in minutes with their purses," I promised.
"Did you really just threaten us with grandmas?" Apollo asked, incredulous. He looked like he was teetering between laughter and thinking I was ten shades of crazy. I wasn’t exactly giving them the best impression of myself.
"Yes, plus my besties and their packs, too," I answered. "Now where are my underwear?"
Ezra pulled the lacy material from his pants pocket and spun it on his finger. "These are trash. You got a little wild and ripped them off."
My cheeks flushed at the scrap of lace that was obviously unwearable now. "Fine. What about my phone? Purse?"
"All on the counter. We told you that we aren't going to push you into anything, but I wouldn't complain if you stayed," Corvin told me. I hated the gentleness in his tone. I wasn’t a cornered animal.
"This is all just too much, I'm sorry," I told them. "I need to get out of here. Thank you for your help with the heat."
I raced to the counter, grabbed my stuff, and ran out. The walls were closing in on me and it was getting hard to breathe. How did I go from having a fun night out to scent-matching with three Greek godlike firemen? My feet carried me outside and three blocks before I stopped and caught my breath.
Once my heart rate slowed, I pulled out my phone and dialed Taryn. She answered on the first ring as tears slid down my cheeks.
"Bea, answer me. Are you okay?" Taryn yelled into the phone.
"Yes, no. Fuck," I finally answered.
"Take the day. Dani and I can hold down the fort. Whatever you need," she told me.
"I don't know what I need," I said as I wiped my face.
"Shower and come to work, then. You can hide in the back and Dani and I will be there for you. I'll have Holt cater lunch," she promised.
"Damn, you know how to bribe me," I laughed, though it was a pitiful, needy sound.
"Anything for you," she said. The sincerity in her tone didn’t help my jumble of emotions. Everyone had to stop being so fucking nice.
"Thanks for talking me through this. I’m going to shower and then I'll grab some frappes before I head in. Think Holt will do burgers and fries? Oh, maybe fajitas?" I asked, getting excited for his cooking. That was one way to earn my heart… good food.
Taryn laughed on the other end and said, "I'm sure he can do either. Go take care of you and we will handle the rest."
"How'd I get so lucky with you?" I asked.
"Because I'm cute and persistent," she told me before we ended the call.
I started to walk again and headed in the direction of my apartment. I was doing just what I always did, overthinking everything. Cameron had fucked me up and I knew that I needed to work past that. The nightmares didn't help and with them so recent, it messed with my head even more.
My phone started ringing just as I was about to pocket it.
The name that popped up had a smile forming on my lips.
"Hello, Dolly," I said as I accepted it.
"Do I have some firemen that I need to beat down?" she asked, skipping a greeting.
"What? No. They were gentlemen," I promised her.
"Good, you deserve that," she told me.
"Why do I need them when I have you?" I countered.
This got a laugh from her, "I just wanted to check in. Are you going to be at the bookstore later?"
"I am. Are you going to grace me with your sweet face?" I asked her.
"Always. It's a hot spot for men. All that social media about the bikers and books. I've seen some coming in and I enjoy the eye candy," she said.
"I'm hurt. You're not there to see me?" I teased as I made it to my apartment.
"Silly girl. You know what I mean," she told me in her usual huff.
"I love you, Dolly but I'm at my place. My shower is calling me," I said.
"I love you, too, dear. See you soon," Dolly said before she hung up.
Talking to Taryn and Dolly had eased my nerves enough that my chest loosened up and I almost felt normal again.
On my way up to my apartment, I tucked my phone in my purse after turning it on silent. I needed some me time away from anyone calling and to go through my normal routine. That was the only thing that would keep me sane after all I went through.
The odd night out didn't upset that, but I'd never gone into a heat with them, either. I knew this was just one thing to add to the pile of shit I needed to talk to a therapist about.
I opened the door and breathed in the familiar scent of my place. Just being back here in my little safe space eased the stress. I stepped in and locked the door behind me and turned on my record player, letting the music wash over me.
Singing at the top of my lungs, I headed towards the shower and got my day started off the same way I normally did.