Chapter 8
EIGHT
The next morning, my head kills.
I knew I shouldn’t have gone so hard the night before, but now in the early morning it’s hard to forget the reason why.
Losing myself in competing with my friends helped ease some of the confusion I was feeling, and the alcohol helped take away some of the sting.
Well, a lot of the sting, considering I don’t remember past the last round of beers I chugged with DJ.
Despite my throbbing headache, I get up to do my routine. I make a protein shake, do my morning workout, and then doomscroll until I feel that longing from last night come back.
Then my phone vibrates in my hand, an unfamiliar ding coming from it. My eyes widen as a notification from Heat Seekers shoots up at the top.
Emergency Alert in your area! Check out the omega’s profile.
My heart pumps faster than it did during my workout, my instincts clicking the notification and pulling up the app without hesitation.
Raivat, DJ, and I signed up for Heat Seekers because we felt a sense of duty to help omegas any way we can. There are some horrible alphas out there, so we wanted to offer a gentler approach.
Every omega deserves to feel safe during their heat cycles. Hell, they don’t get to choose this experience, but they should be able to choose who they spend it with. Throwing our hats in the ring is just a way for us to help in any way we can.
We all agreed and made an account that same night. Because it’s a new development (we signed up a month or so ago) we haven’t actually had any emergency alerts within the radius we set, so seeing it happen now leaves me a bit stunned.
When her profile comes up on my screen, my mouth goes dry.
Elsie, twenty-one. Her bio says that she goes to White Pine Crest and majors in Psychology. Her long, sleek white hair leaves me frozen in my tracks, my skin prickling with something powerful.
I squint, looking closer. I think I’ve seen that hair before…
Her selfies are beautiful, her lips displayed in a variety of different colors. Her light-blue eyes are wide-set, peering through the lens and deep into my soul.
Is it normal for my heart to be racing this fast just from one look at this girl? I’m not so sure.
I spring up from my bed, knowing immediately that I want to help her; I just have to convince my pack mates to answer the call as well.
Raivat and DJ are in the kitchen, pouring new mugs of coffee and quietly making their lunch. When they hear my heavy footsteps, they look over.
“We got an alert,” I say.
DJ drops his spatula and turns off the burner before strolling over to me. Raivat blinks, my statement taking a second to process. “On Heat Seekers?” he asks.
“Yes.” I hand the phone over to DJ, whose eyes immediately zone in on the omega’s profile.
“She’s pretty,” he comments, looking over her info. It’s subtle, but his spiced eggnog scent peeks out with interest.
“Very,” I agree.
Raivat finally snaps out of whatever stupor he’s in to join us, looking over DJ’s shoulder to observe the omega.
“It says she’s a student at White Crest,” he comments, pointing. “I’ve never seen her before.”
DJ can’t stop looking at her picture, his pupils dancing. “We have to help her.”
I nod, excitement thrumming in my veins. “Good. None of us have had sex since we signed up, correct?” I ask, looking at them.
Raivat shakes his head and DJ hums disapprovingly. “When we confirmed we were all clear of all STDs, we agreed to keep it that way.”
“Yes, I remember us all talking about going celibate, but I just wanted to make sure,” I clarify.
I look over at Raivat who looks more than a little bit uneasy.
“Are you having second thoughts?” I ask him.
He hesitates but ultimately shakes his head. “No, not if you’re not.” He pauses. “Do you… still feel strongly about this?”
The look he gives me is intense, knowing. I flick an eyebrow, wondering what he’s thinking. “Yes… if anything, I feel more motivated because of how strong my alpha reacted to her picture.”
He nods, mulling that over. His nutmeg and fig scent isn’t as complementary at the moment, the mingling between them not as smooth as it takes up space between us.
“If you don’t want to do this, Raivat, we won’t,” I say firmly. “You are just as much a part of this as we are. If you say no, we won’t accept.”
His eyes flash, his alpha obviously feeling defensive. “No, no way. We need to help her. I just…” He shakes his head. “Nevermind, it’s not important. As long as you’re comfortable with this, Brodie.”
“I am,” I decide. “Thank you for looking out for me, but this is what I’m feeling pulled toward. I think we’re meant to help her.”
His anxiety seems to melt away and a smile lifts in its place. “Then we’ll help her.”
DJ reluctantly lets me take my phone back from his hand, his cheeks reddening by the apparent possessiveness his alpha already feels. I snort and pat his back.
“Do you want to do the honors, D?”
His face lights up as he practically snatches the phone back and hits accept.
We all sit in silence after that, the energy reverberating around us as we wait. Raivat drinks his coffee quietly and DJ completely abandons the lunch on the stove to stare at the blank screen. It takes ten long excruciating minutes, but my phone finally pings that unfamiliar sound.
I let out a breath of relief when I see she’s accepted our request and her address is now sitting in our message chain.
“Can’t go back now,” Rai murmurs.
DJ beams. “Looks like it’s time to go shopping.”