Chapter 31
River
After Torin and I ate I decide to go back to the nest. I’d say my nest, but it’s not mine. If it were, I’d be in my apartment and my whole body wouldn’t be tied up in knots about—well, getting knots. I’ve moved the pillows around a hundred times, but nothing feels right. Nothing smells right.
As the day progresses I continue to get hotter.
The cramps are becoming worse, and I know my heat is spiking.
It’s not going to be long now, but I need to do as much as I can alone before Torin calls the pack and lets the guys know they’re on the way so they can get here too.
Something about not having them all here protecting me has me uneasy.
Another cramp hits me, and I curl into myself, pressing my palm against my abdomen trying to alleviate the pain.
But it doesn’t help. Sweat coats my body and my breathing quickens.
A familiar ache builds in my core. One that I’ve tried to forget for two years, but now I can’t.
Not with the heat haze clawing at me, begging me to relent so it can take control of me.
Longer. I need to wait longer.
I shut my eyes tight, forcing my mind anywhere else, desperate to forget—just for a little while.
Eventually, sleep overtakes me. But it doesn’t last long.
Sometime during the early hours of the morning, I wake and I know it’s time. At least I think it’s morning. There’s no clock, no windows for me to check. Standing up from my nest, I slowly walk toward the door, my arm wrapped around myself as I try to control my breathing.
Gripping the knob, I turn and pull the door open.
“Torin,” I shout, my voice hoarse. He was in the living room the last time I saw him but I don’t know how long ago that was.
I wait at the door, bracing myself against the wall, waiting for his response, but nothing.
“Torin.” This time my voice is louder, and I start to move down the hallway to find him.
Has something happened? Why isn’t he answering?
“Torin!” I scream, fear clawing at my soul.
“River,” he shouts, running down the hallway, a towel wrapped around his waist, as he clutches it closed with his hand. “Are you okay?”
“I…I thought you left.” I sob.
“Never. I told you I’m here until this is over, and I’m going to make sure you’re okay.” He steps into me, pulling me into his arms, as I wrap my hands around his waist. Somewhere in the movement, his towel drops to the floor, and I clear my throat.
“Close your eyes,” he tells me as he lets go of me. “Okay, you can open them now.” When I do, he’s securing the towel around his waist.
“Close call. I almost saw everything.” I try to joke.
“You would’ve gotten a show,” he winks. “But you’re burning up. Are you ready for me to let the pack know?”
I drop my face, not wanting to look him in the face as I nod.
“Okay, I’ll do it now. I'll also let the guys and Storm know it’s time. Go back to the nest. Take a cool bath to relax, and soon this will all be over.”
I nod again. Not able to answer. I turn around and head back to the nest, taking small steps, as pain continues to overtake me.
Shutting the door behind me, I sigh heavily and head to the bathroom. Torin’s right, maybe a bath is just what I need to try and relax. A nice warm one to help with the cramping.
Removing my clothing, dropping each item to the floor, I turn the water on. Looking at the stand by the tub, I pick up the bubbles and pour some in. Torin really thinks of everything.
Stepping into the warm water, letting the heat ease my aches so that I can focus on clearing my mind of all negative thoughts and prepare for what’s about to happen.
***
Torin
I wait until River’s back in the nest before I turn and head to my bedroom. I quickly change then pick up my phone from the dresser and call the guys.
Tav picks up immediately.
“Torin.” The deep rumble of his voice always affects me, but right now I push it to the side. This is about River. I can tell when he switches to the speaker, because my pack’s voices become clearer.
“River’s heat has progressed, and she’s asked for me to call the pack,” I tell them.
“Fuck,” Callux blurts. “I fully expected her to ride it out on her own. Our sister is one strong omega.”
“That she is,” Josh answers.
“We’re almost done here. We just have a few last minute details to handle and the cleanup.
Then we’ll be on our way. Maybe two hours.
Less if we rush.” Tav tells me, but I can hear the hitch in his voice.
He’s concerned about River, but also me being alone with a pack of alphas.
Even though he knows I can hold my own, he still worries. God I love that.
“Do the job right. We’ll be okay. I promised Storm I’d keep him updated on everything. So I’m going to send him a message and then call Heatwave.”
“We’ll keep checking in with you. Let us know when they get there.”
“I know you will. Now let me go so I can handle everything.” They all say goodbye and I end the call. I switch over to my message app, and pull up Storm’s thread.
Me: She’s asked me to call the pack from Heatwave.
The response is immediate. I knew she talked to him before we came here and that he’d have his phone attached to him waiting for any updates.
Storm: Is she ok?
Me: Yes. She’s nervous as expected, but she’s strong, Storm.
Storm: I know. I’m just worried. It’s taking everything for me to not jump on a plane and come there. Keep me updated.
Torin: I will.
I flip through my contacts finding Heatwave and call. The phone rings three times before someone picks up
“Heatwave, how may I help you?” The voice is soft and comforting, a nice contrast to the bubbly voice you’d hear if you’d call The Omega Foundation.
“Maya Torres, please.”
“May I ask who’s calling?”
“Torin VanAcker, she’ll take my call.” I make sure to tell her.
“Oh, Mr. VanAcker, yes sir. Hold please.” She stumbles over her words before I hear a click and then the soothing, sultry sounds of jazz.
“Mr. VanAcker, how can I help you?” her voice drifts through the speaker.
“I was calling to tell you we are ready for the pack. I will be sending the address and gate code to you in an encrypted email. The password is the one we gave you in the office. Please remind the pack of River’s conditions of how she wants the heat handled.”
“Yes sir, I will. I’m contacting them now.”
“Thank you.” I end the call and send the information to her email.
If the pack is at their home, then they should be here within thirty to forty minutes.
I power on my laptop, turning on all the cameras, making sure that I am ready when they get here. Meticulously, I go through each camera in the house and on the outside perimeter, making sure that each and every one is working properly, and the angle is what I want.
When I get to the camera in River’s room, I pause.
The fear in her eyes is evident. This is more than just a heat for her.
It’s a way for her to reclaim what was taken from her.
She’s coming out of the bath, towel wrapped around her, and heads straight to her nest. I look away, giving her some semblance of privacy as she drops the towel to the floor.
My heart aches for her, and I wish there was something that I could do to help ease her anxiety.
I didn’t realize how much time had passed until I see a car pulling through the gate, making its way down the driveway to the house. Getting up from my chair, I head to the living room. My heart is pounding in my chest, as if it’s trying to take some of the load from River.
Three alphas are about to make their entrance into the home. But before they make their way to her, I’m going to make sure they understand the repercussions if they don’t follow the rules.
There’s a knock at the door just as I reach it. Taking hold of the handle, I open the door.
“Who the hell…” The next thing I know something hard is slammed into my face, knocking me backward.
My back slams against the floor first, a jarring shock that knocks the breath from my lungs.
The back of my head follows, cracking against the hard surface with a dull, hollow sound that sends a burst of white light behind my eyes.
Pain blooms sharp and immediate, radiating outward in waves.
River. That's all I can think about. Not the pain, but her.
Before I can gasp, before my vision can recover, there’s another impact—a swift, merciless strike to the same spot.
There’s a flash, like lightning, then everything in my vision grows smaller, like the end of a movie reel.
Sound narrows to a single hum, the edges of my sight blur, and the world fades to black.
River!