Chapter 30
River
Iglance over at the two bags I have packed.
I even snuck around and snagged some of the guys' clothing. Nothing big. A shirt, hat, anything I could find heavy with their scent. Yucky I know, but I want to feel safe, and they make me feel that way. One bag is full of my comfort items from here to make the nest feel a little more like home. The other is clothes. I’m sure that I won’t be wearing many, but I’d rather be safe and not have them with me just in case.
“Is it too late to back out?” I mutter to myself.
I turn back around and pull out my burner phone.
I need Storm!
Me: Hey, big brother.
Storm: Are you okay?
Me: Yes. No. I don’t know. I’m scared.
Storm: I’m going to be on the next plane out. There’s no way in hell I’m going to be able to keep my sanity knowing you're upset. This is big, and I should be there to protect you. Especially since I couldn’t before.
I hate that he feels that way. Who knows what would’ve happened if he had been there.
Me: Stop right now. You have always been there. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you. I just needed to talk to you before I leave.
I’ve barely sent the message when the phone starts to vibrate in my hand. Not notifying me of a text but a call.
“Rivvy, seriously, everyone can spare me for a few days, and I can hop on the first flight out of here.” Storm’s panicked voice filters through the speaker.
“I know you would. But Torin and the guys are here. You have to take care of your pack. They’re what’s important.” I remind him. He has to stop worrying about me.
“And you’re my sister. I see no difference. Family is family. I’m worried about you.”
I let out a sigh as a lone tear runs down my cheek.
“I thought about cutting last night—”
He doesn’t let me finish before his raised voice jumps in. “River. See, this is why I fucking need to be there. That’s it, I’m booking a flight.”
“No,” I snap at him, my voice raising. “I said I thought about it. But I didn’t. I processed how I was feeling and what was making me want to cut. I didn’t do it.”
“That’s amazing.” He praises me, but I can hear the slight catch in his voice, the way he’s trying to hold himself together. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Thank you. Honestly, I’m proud of myself too. But I need to finish getting ready. I just wanted to tell you I love you and that you’re the best big brother ever.”
“But if anything changes and you need me, just have them call. I’ll be on the first flight there.”
“I know.” I wipe the tears from my cheeks.
“Bye, Rivvy.”
“Bye, Stormy.” I don’t wait to see if he’s going to say anything else and hang up.
I put the phone back in my desk drawer, then stand and head to the bathroom to wash my face with some cool water.
Storm’s right; if I need him, he’d be here in a flash. But he needs to be with his pack. With his omega, especially after everything she’s been through. I thought what I endured was bad, but she suffered far worse than I did.
The cool water is refreshing against the warmth of my face.
When I’m done, I grip the countertop and gaze at myself in the mirror.
The scar on my face, thanks to my father, is a piercing reminder of my imperfection.
Of what makes me undesirable. I wonder what this pack will think when they see me.
When they get their look at the omega who is scarred and broken.
Not that it matters. They’re just a means to an end.
A way to get through the heat and then I can go back on my suppressants for a couple more years.
One heat. I can do this. They’re not going to be there until I’m deep into the haze, and when it’s over, they’re gone.
I don’t even need to talk to them. All I need are their knots.
But it's more than that. Even though I’m no longer a virgin, this will be the first time I’m having sex willingly. Even if I don’t really want it.
Flipping off the light, I head back to the living room, plop down on the couch, pick up my paperback of Entangled Beta and start to read. She’s the beta I wish I could be. She has a best friend who’s amazing. An alpha who loves her for who she is and not to mention she’s a fucking badass.
I don’t know how long I sit there wrapped up in this magical world that’s been created. I carefully turn the page, engrossed in the story. She’s about to help rescue the captive omega, and I’m here for it.
“Ready to go?” Torin asks, popping his head in the door, and I drop the book as I jump to the side, my arms coming up ready to defend myself.
“Fucking hell, Torin. Why did you scare me like that?”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to.” He holds his hands up in the air, as if he’s being held up at gunpoint.
“It’s okay. I’m just a little on edge. You know, heat and all. About to let some alphas have their way with me.” I give a forced, awkward laugh, but the scowl on Torin’s face tells me he doesn’t find my joke humorous.
“Don’t joke. I’ll tell the guys, fuck this shit right now.” He presses his lips tightly together as he glares at me.
“Torin, you’re getting your panties all in a bunch. I was just joking. But, yeah, I’m ready to go and get this over with.” I stand up from the couch, picking up my discarded book, and placing it on the coffee table.
Torin steps across the room, picking up my two bags. “Is this it?”
“Yeah, figured with what was ordered that I shouldn’t need anything else.”
“Let’s go then. The guys are upset they’re not here to see you leave, but they’re rushing to finish a job so that they can be there when we originally planned.”
I nod, both happy and sad that they’re not here. The next time I’ll see them my heat will be over, and I can put all this behind me.
***
The ride to the safe house isn’t exceptionally long, but with each mile we get closer to it, dread begins to bubble inside me.
I can’t explain why, but something didn’t feel right.
It has to be the hormones. My body feels like it’s on fire and Torin’s scent becomes stronger, overpowering me.
It isn’t bad. It is familiar, but it’s not a scent I want. I crave something else.
“We’re here.”
“Finally, I need to pee.” I shift in my seat, arching my back against the chair. It took us an hour to get here, but you would’ve thought it was longer.
Torin drives up to the gate, enters a code and waits for it to open.
“Are you letting the pack in?” I ask.
“No. They’ll have a special code to get in, separate from the main one. Once they get here and are securely in the room with you, I’ll change the code.”
I nod, as he drives through the open gate and continues down the driveway toward the house.
“Who else has it?” I ask.
“No one does yet. When we call Heatwave that’s when we’ll give them the address and the code.
They’ve already been made aware of your demands as far as the heat goes and have signed a contract stating they are aware.
” He pauses for a moment, and I go to ask another question, but I never get to.
He already knew to expect it. “And yes, they had both packs sign it.”
I give him a thumbs up as he comes to a stop in the driveway. We sit there for a minute in silence before he turns the car off and opens his door. He moves to the driver side passenger door and takes out my bags, before making his way over to my side.
“Come on, River, you can’t hide in the car forever.”
“Wanna make a bet?” I snap at him, before giving in and opening the door.
“Just keep an open mind about this, River. You might find that you enjoy it. Heats are amazing.” He gets this starry, far off look in his eyes before I swat him on the chest.
“Don’t count on it. Let’s go, I have a nest to organize.”
He smiles as we turn and walk along the pathway leading to the porch. He takes out his keys and opens the door, stepping back for me to enter first. The house is nice. But it smells sterile, like I’ve stepped into a hospital that reeks of disinfectant. Did they have the house sterilized for me?
“So where’s my nest? My boxes to unpack?”
He leads me down the hallway; prefabricated pictures of a happy family line the wall. At the very end is a stack of boxes and double doors.
“Here it is.” He turns to me and smiles, setting my bags beside the boxes. “There’s an ensuite bathroom and mini kitchen area that is stocked with food and plenty of fluids to keep you hydrated."
“Wonderful,” I mutter under my breath.
“I’m not going into the room so I don’t mess with any scents. But if you need any help just call. My bedroom is down the other hallway.” He pulls me into his arms, hugging me tightly. “Fuck, River, you’re even hotter than you were this morning.”
“Guess it’s almost time. I need to get to work then. I’ll come find you when I’m done.”
“Okay.” He kisses the top of my forehead before letting go. “I’m going to go make us something to eat.”
Taking hold of the knob, I open the door and step inside.
It’s almost like a mini apartment. When I walk in, I step into the nest area.
It’s a large round bed, piled with pillows and a sage green blanket.
Off to the right is a small kitchen area, and to the left is a door that I assume leads to the bathroom.
There are no windows, and fairy lights are hanging around the room, giving it a soft glow.
The room smells just as sterile as the rest of the house, with only my cherry and vanilla scent present.
I quickly use the restroom, my bladder begging for a release.
When I’m done, I step back outside the room and begin moving the boxes and my bags inside.
My plan is to make the room feel like home by adding my treasures from the guys to the nest. Then I’ll add the pillows and blankets from the boxes.
Satisfied, I stand back and gaze at my handiwork. As far as nests go this is pretty nice.