Chapter 37 #2
Loz scoffs. "The fucker insisted on helping Ruby with the sex swing. He threw his fucking back out. He swears it's fine. I'm trying to get him to see a physio, but he's insisting he can't be too far away from the nest this close to… y'know. Kick off."
I feel the question in the bond Dellie doesn't want to ask out loud, but our bond is lit up with her urge to help and the warring fear of overstepping. James obviously feels it, too. He shifts closer to the camera. He glanced at Dellie.
"Lauren, I have my essentials bag with me. If he wants—uh, and if you want—I can come across the yard and check him out. See if he needs anything urgent. Work on the muscle a bit, tape him up if he needs it. Would that help?"
Relief washes through Dellie's bond. Then echoes through James'.
Loz frowns. "Yeah. He definitely needs to be looked at, the idiot. But…" She sighs and stills. "Um, no offence, but you lot really don't do it for my omega." Her voice is softer, less strident. She seems… slightly smaller. A little more human.
"What if he sticks to the formal lounge? With the outside door left open to air out the room? That's well away from the nest," Dellie asks, concern radiating through the bond and writ large across her face.
Loz purses her lips and nods. "That'll work. And Dellie should still have your account details. I'll make sure you guys get paid."
"Lauren," James rumbles, anger flecking through his bond, "you have single-handedly done more for our pack in three conversations than just about anyone else. Ever. You're our mate's best friend—"
I send a pulse of support through the bond, and feel the echoes of similar pulses from the others. There's a squeal and another clatter and blur. The phone is pointing up at the recessed lights again. Allen can't suppress his smile. I can feel Dellie's relief and amusement coursing through her.
"Oh thank fuck!"
Her face hovers over the screen again. "I was worried you lot wouldn't get your shit together, but thank fuck you did."
The background shifts again. James glances at Allen, who nods.
Allen clears his throat. "Anyway, uh, we obviously aren't the right pack for your heat—"
"Fuck, you can say that again. I'm not a fucking lunch cutter," Loz mumbles. Allen takes the phone as Dellie buries her face in Seb's shoulder, her back shaking with laughter.
Allen clears his throat. "Uh. But maybe we can still help out. Free up your support pack to take care of you. Make sure they are in their best form."
Loz sighs. "Oh yeah? Like, how?"
Seb clears his throat. "Believe it or not, aside from being absolutely hilarious and thoroughly charming, I've got my nursing degree—"
"Doctorate," Ralph mutters.
"And heats sometimes get a bit… dicey. I know Pack Zed know their shit, but it can get a bit much sometimes when you're right in the thick of things. In a pinch, I can slather on some descenter and they can bring you out of the nest for a checkup if they get too worried."
Warmth courses through Dellie's bond.
Lauren makes a non-committal noise.
James nods. "I'm happy to help keep them limber, even if there aren't any more injuries."
Ralph sticks his head up. "I can keep an eye on the stuff they need to keep ticking over." He glances at Dellie. "Won't take more than an hour or so, once or twice a day." She nods, pulling him back against her chest.
I sigh. Fuck. I hate getting stuck doing laundry.
"Heat laundry takes up way too much time.
" I let out a resigned breath. "You get Pack Zed to dump everything in a washing basket in a spot you let me know about, I'll make sure there's always a fresh pile of clean sheets and towels and mattress protectors and stuff—"
"Let me lift the wet, heavy stuff," Allen murmurs in my ear. My nostrils flare, but I bite down on the urge to snap at him that I'm fine, and nod stiffly.
Loz lets out a huff. "Shit. I'll talk to the boys.
I mean it sounds great to me but, frankly, kinda their call as I really won't be having anything to do with any of youse.
" She sighs again and runs her hands through her hair.
"You okay with your men helping us out like that, Dellie?
Fully clothed o'course—but still technically in sniffing distance? "
Dellie frowns. I feel uncertainty quiver along the bond.
"Yeah. I… think so. Maybe? They won't all be out at once and it's not like they're, you know, um, servicing you.
And it's only for an hour or so at a time.
But, uh, please don't take this the wrong way, but, um, please shower when you come back in, and I reserve the right to rub myself all over you every time you come back. "
Seb laughs wickedly. "There's no wrong way any of us could take that, Balga."
Loz frowns again. "You know you'll be on camera, right?"
We all either nod or shrug. She sighs again. "You fucking lot. I swear. Fine. I'll talk with the boys. But if you won't let me pay you, at the very fucking least let me help you negotiate you an appearance fee."
Allen's smile is gentle. "We would be very grateful. Thank you, Lauren."
"You're all way too fucking soft," she adds, muttering under her breath. The screen goes dark and the phone beeps as it disconnects.