Chapter 33
33
Hazel
My heat lasted for four days.
Four incredible, sex-filled days where my pack took me in every way imaginable. Until I was left boneless and practically comatose. Definitely dick drunk.
When I woke up on the fifth morning without any of the cramps or fevers, I was almost disappointed. Strange that I’d gone from my first heat being the worst experience of my life to secretly wishing heats would last longer.
The doctors all thought my body would finally begin to regulate like other omegas, which meant I probably wouldn’t have another heat for six to nine months.
And yeah, I ached from the roots of my disastrously unwashed hair to the tips of my chipped Champink polished toes, but now it was back to the real world.
“I can hear you thinking,” Kellan groused, nuzzling into me from behind. His cock pressed between the cheeks of my ass, and for the first time in almost a week, I shifted away .
Smirking, Kellan pushed himself up to one elbow to look down at me. “What’s wrong?”
“I think you guys broke me,” I retorted with a huff, glancing around. Crew was sound asleep on Kellan’s other side. Rhett was on my right with Jude curled against his back.
Kellan’s expression softened. He splayed a hand low on my belly. “Did we hurt you?”
“Only in the best ways,” I assured him, feeling his touch of apprehension and concern in our bond.
Leaning in, he kissed me gently. “How about I run you a hot bubble bath?”
My muscles were already rejoicing. “Yes, please.” Then my stomach rumbled.
“And we’ll make breakfast while you’re soaking,” he added with a wink.
“Have I mentioned I love you?” I sighed.
He pretended to think. “Not today.”
I pushed myself up and kissed him. “I love you, Kellan Dutton.”
“I love you, Hazel Dutton,” he replied.
“And I love you both,” Jude mumbled, lifting his head. His hair shot out in a riot of directions. His green eyes were bleary. “Time to go again?”
I laughed softly because my guys looked wrecked . I didn’t know how smaller packs did it—I’d been insatiable, and it clearly showed. “My heat broke.”
“There is a god,” Jude quipped with a snort. “Pretty sure you broke my cock, baby.”
Kellan snickered as Crew let out a rumbling snore that had the three of us cracking up. We were loud enough that it woke Rhett, who turned to me and palmed my breast. He absently stroked my skin as he blinked awake.
“Okay,” Kellan announced, pushing to his feet and standing over us, gloriously naked.
I licked my lips.
“No,” Kellan chided playfully, “you need actual food. You’ve had your fill of jizz smoothies.”
My nose wrinkled. “Put that way, it sounds really gross, Kell.”
His brows lifted. “Am I wrong?”
“No,” I admitted, ogling as he turned and strode toward the bathroom. “Hey, Kellan?”
He paused.
“I also love your ass,” I teased.
He gave his butt a wiggle that had me giggling while Jude made a gagging sound.
“Come on, pup,” Rhett said, tapping Jude’s chest. “We need to feed our omega.”
“Breakfast in bed sounds better. Why don’t you make breakfast and I’ll keep Hazel warm until it’s ready?” Jude suggested.
“Hazel has a bath with her name on it,” I cut in, hearing the water turn on in the bathroom.
Rhett sat up and glanced down at Jude. “If you’d like to be lazy instead of caring for Hazel?—”
“I’m up,” Jude interrupted, rolling to his knees before he stood up. He glanced around as he rubbed the back of his neck. His piercings caught in the glow of the twinkle lights. “Any idea where my boxers are?”
I looked around, but my nest was covered in our clothes and soiled sheets. “Uh…”
“Yeah.” Jude grimaced and rubbed at his hip, wincing as it came away dirty. “Maybe a quick shower first?”
“Good call. I’ll help you.” Rhett stood, somehow towering over Jude even though he only had an inch or two on the beta.
Jude grinned. “I could always use another set of hands.”
I groaned. “No fair being all sexy when my lady bits are on hiatus.”
Rhett and Jude chuckled as they climbed out of the nest, and I rolled onto my side to stare at Crew.
Long lashes fanned across his tanned cheeks. His lips were parted, and his face relaxed. He slept on his side, arms wrapped around a pillow that I was fairly certain had been under my ass at one point yesterday.
Like this, I could still see the boy I’d grown up with. He was all man now, with the bulging muscles and alpha energy that came with it, but the kid who had protected me when I was little was still there.
“You’re staring,” Crew muttered, his eyes closed.
“I like the view,” I confessed.
His eyes snapped open. “Mine’s better.”
I grinned. “Smooth.”
He grabbed the edge of the blanket I was laying on and hauled me over to his side of the nest.
I let out a small shriek that turned into a giggle as he maneuvered me on his chest so I was splayed over him.
“Morning, baby,” he murmured before dragging me down into a kiss that had me forgetting parts of me were supposed to be off limits.
“Nope.” A new set of hands wrapped around my waist and lifted me up.
Crew growled, the sound only half teasing as he glared up at Kellan.
“Hazel needs a bath and food,” Kellan said, carrying me to the bathroom. He set me down on my feet, dark eyes glittering. “Need me to wash your back?”
I inhaled the fragrant scent of the bubble bath and turned to see the tub nearly halfway filled.
“If I can’t help her, then neither can you,” Crew called.
Kellan rolled his eyes and kissed my forehead. “Enjoy your bath, sugar. But if you need any help, I’m around.”
“Deal,” I assured him, watching his ass flex as he walked out of the bathroom.
Turning to the tub, I let out a slow breath, feeling so loved and content that nothing could ruin the moment as I slipped into the hot water.
I should’ve known I was wrong.
As I came downstairs, each step was like walking closer to a ticking bomb. I could feel the stress in my pack even as they tried to mask it.
Something wasn’t right.
My suspicions were confirmed when I appeared in the doorway of the kitchen and saw my pack gathered around the island. They all turned with varying shades of unhappiness.
“What?” I demanded warily, leaning on the doorframe.
Crew stepped away, his expression grave. “There was a message from Oakley when I checked my phone.”
My breath caught.
“They found Carter Martin,” he finished.
“Oh. Um, okay.” I fiddled with the ends of my wet hair. “What does that mean?”
“It means I need to go and see what he has to say,” Crew admitted. “I hate leaving this soon after your heat?—”
“I understand,” I assured him. “If Carter knows something, then we need to find out. Where do you have to go?”
“About an hour north of the city. He was hiding out with a friend near Santa Clarita.”
“He’s in California?” My eyes went wide. “Nearby?” An icky feeling slid down my spine, wondering if it was a coincidence or intentional.
“He can’t touch you,” Crew assured me, wrapping his arms around me as the rest of the pack came over.
Rhett’s hand rubbed my shoulder. “He’s right, dove.”
“You’re safe here,” Jude added.
Kellan stayed silent, watching me with those fathomless eyes that conveyed he’d kill anyone that tried to get near me.
I drew in a shuddering breath. “You need to leave now?” I asked Crew.
He nodded.
“Can you do one thing for me?” I waited for his nod. “Don’t go alone.”
He laughed softly. “You think I can’t handle myself, baby?”
“I know you can,” I insisted, “I would just feel better knowing someone has your back.”
“You’ll be okay if we go?” he pressed, not naming who would come with him.
I nodded. “Yeah. I think I’ll go and hang out with Calla.”
Crew thought it over before looking around at the rest of the pack. “I promised my father we’d start working on the omega facility security. Rhett and Jude, why don’t you handle that while Hazel’s with Calla? Kellan comes with me.”
“That works,” Jude agreed, rubbing his jaw. “Haze?”
A grateful breath whooshed out of me. “Yeah. Thank you.”
Crew kissed me gently. “You know we’d do anything to make you happy.”
My insides melted. “I know.”
Rhett kissed the back of my head. “Let’s eat, all right?”
“Yeah,” I agreed, following my pack to where breakfast waited. I tried to ignore the worried twist of my stomach as I thought about what finding Carter meant.
Hopefully it meant we’d get some answers.
But somehow I also knew it meant there would be even more questions.