Chapter 27
CHAPTER
TWENTY-SEVEN
Marigold
My ride home arrives much sooner than I want it to and the bubble of bliss we’d made for ourselves pops without fanfare.
One minute, I’m waiting for Reece to come back to the cellar and the next, he’s showing me Heath’s frantic texts on the new phone, the ones needing me to come home for an emergency.
When I peeked at my own phone, it was also buzzing with tons of texts and missed calls from Heath and a few from Iris.
At first, she was warning me that Heath was asking where I was, and that she was covering for me, since she’d been the one to drive me here in the first place.
But they became just as worried as time went on, saying that something big is going on and she’ll meet me at home.
Now my chest is tight with panic. I have no idea what’s going on, but whatever it is, it’s big. So, when Heath’s black SUV makes its way up the gravel drive, I hold my breath until it rolls to a stop and one of our servants climbs out of the driver’s seat to get my door.
Not Heath.
This must be really, really bad then if my brother can’t be the one to bring me home.
“Miss Gardener,” the servant says with polite neutrality.
I glance toward Reece and see him standing beside me with his hands shoved into his pockets, looking entirely too comfortable staying exactly where he is.
“You’re coming too,” I say.
His gaze flicks to mine. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“What if this emergency is about us?” I ask. I don’t know how Heath could know what’s happened between us, but knowing him, he may have me wired or something. “I’m going to need you by my side.”
Reece’s dark eyes narrow. “Heath didn’t make it sound like it’s about us, specifically.”
“I want you to come.”
The servant suddenly finds the distant trees fascinating.
Reece lowers his voice. “Your family is already worried, Mari.”
“My family is always worried.”
“This isn’t the same. I don’t want to make things worse if the situation is already bad.”
The way he says it makes me pause. But after everything that’s happened between us, after finally saying all the things we’ve spent years refusing to say, the idea of getting into that vehicle and leaving him behind is unbearable.
My stomach swirls and my hands clench and unclench.
“What if it’s about Mr. Moreau?” Reece asks. “What if he’s wants to go through with the claiming and mark you?”
Is this what he’s really scared of? Luca?
Does he not want to come with the me to the townhouse and stand face to face with the alpha who wants to claim me?
I take his hand and squeeze it. “I meant what I said earlier. I’m done hiding. I’m tired of pretending I don’t care about you or that what we have doesn’t matter because of what we are. I want you to be my mate, Reece. Only you.”
Anything else, anyone else, is unthinkable.
His eyes soften. “Mari.”
“And I’m ready to tell Heath and the rest of my family,” I add.
Maybe it’s the effects of the heat still scrambling my brain or a part of the device’s interference with my brainwaves, but I’m feeling more confident than ever.
Especially when it comes to how I feel for Reece.
I lock my knees, resolved. “If they don’t like it, they’ll have to deal with it.
I don’t care what people think anymore. It’s you and me. ”
Period.
Reece glances toward the SUV. I can almost see the wheels turning in his head as he goes through all the reasons this is still a terrible idea.
But eventually, he sighs. “Fine, I’ll go. But only if you’re sure you’re feeling up to this.”
“More than sure.”
“And what about your heat? How are you feeling now?”
I shrug. “Still good. A little jumpy…”
“Jumpy?” His attention immediately narrows on me, searching my face and body for signs of something gone wrong.
I admit it, I love his attention. I love how cherished his protectiveness makes me feel.
“Maybe that’s not the best word for it. But like…impulsive? I think Rue would say ‘unfiltered,’” I say. “But I don’t know if that’s from the device or just me.”
His brow wrinkles. “Going home while you’re technically still in heat, even with the device, is risky. You understand?”
I lean in closer to him and whisper, “The only symptom I’m still feeling is wanting to jump your bones, okay? I’m not nearly done with you yet.” When his cheeks tinge pink, I smile. The servant coughs and continues to strain his neck to look away. “Now that we have things settled, let’s go.”
Feeling no shame, I climb inside the middle seat, while Reece gets in the back.
Trapped in the confined space with him so close has his scent wrapping around me like a straightjacket. I squeeze my thighs together, slick instantly dampening my panties.
This is going to be a long drive back to the city. How the hell will I manage it without touching him?
I spend most of the time staring out the window, but my thoughts refuse to stay focused on the passing scenery. Instead they keep drifting back to Reece and the simple cellar nest we created together.
To his hands, his mouth.
To all the way his body felt slamming into mine and how good it felt.
Like we were somehow, against all odds, made for each other.
By the time we’re halfway home, the temperature in my body rises to an ungodly level. I move the air vents to point right at my face and crank up their power. I don’t know how I’m supposed to survive being around him for the rest of my heat without completely embarrassing myself.
The invention may be helping with the pain, but it certainly isn’t helping with that.
What will my family think if I throw myself on Reece in the middle of things?
When the townhouse finally comes into view, my nervousness returns full force. Every light in the house seems to be on, despite the late hour, and before the SUV has even fully stopped, the front door swings open.
Heath appears, and the second I see him, my heart sinks.
He’s a wreck, worse than I’ve ever seen him before. Dark purple marks stand out around his eyes like he lost a bad fight, but those eyes are also wild with worry. I’ve never seen him so undone, so stretched thin. And suddenly, guilt swarms that I didn’t tell him I was going to Pen’s.
I barely get the car door open before he’s striding down the front steps to meet me.
“There you are, Marigold.” The relief in his voice is clear and without anger.
I don’t think I’ve ever heard him sound like that before.
“I’m okay,” I say quickly. “I’m fine.”
His eyes sweep over me from head to toe, checking for injuries, distress, or signs that I’m about to collapse.
Then he pauses. His nostrils flare, and I realize exactly what he’s caught. My scent.
Even with the device helping, there’s no hiding how strong it is now while I’m in heat, not completely.
Heath’s gaze flicks toward Reece as he gets out of the car. It’s subtle, but I catch it; he’s checking whether Reece notices too.
Heath turns back to me. “You’re…” he lowers is voice. “In heat, Mari?”
I nod. “It’s why I kind of got stuck at Pen’s. I’m sorry I didn’t answer my phone, but I—”
“You don’t need to explain,” Heath interrupts, shaking his head. “What I don’t understand is how you’re here, talking to me.” He inhales again deeply, just to make sure. “If I were to guess, you should be in the middle of it.”
“I am, but luckily, Reece invented something that’s been helping.” I turn my head and point to the silver device under my headband. “It’s going to be revolutionary for Omegas.”
“You’re kidding.” He looks at Reece again, who nods. “That’s incredible. I wouldn’t believe it if I didn’t trust my eyes and nose. But you seem alright. I mean, are you alright, though?”
“More than alright.” I smile. I reach out my hand for Reece to take, but he hesitates. He may not be, but I’m ready to tell Heath about us.
But just when I’m about to open my mouth again, Heath’s head snaps to the front door and that same intensely worried look reappears on his face.
“We need to get inside. There’s a lot to catch you up on,” he says and turns, striding toward the townhouse. We follow, but once we pass the threshold, he stops me. “Go put on blocker. And then meet me in the living room. Immediately.”
I glance toward Reece. Concern flashes across his face before he can hide it.
My stomach hurts, but it’s from the unease stirring inside it for so long, not the heat. Whatever’s going on is huge and so far, no one is offering up any answers.
“Heath…I don’t like this. What’s happening? Can’t you tell me?”
He ignores my question and takes a left, where I can see Mom, Dahlia, and Rue sitting inside already. They all look miserable, and a coldness spreads through me. This entire scenario reminds me a little too much of what happened when we got the news that Dad had died.
Has someone…
I stop that thought dead in its tracks and hurry up the stairs for my bedroom. Telling the family about me and Reece’s relationship is going to have to be postponed, because whatever is waiting for me in that living room…it’s going to change everything.
I just know it.