“Alpha,” I whine, a second before the orgasm hits me hard.
Rickon shudders, belly contracting with his release, breathing fast. “Red. I love you, Red,” he says, spasming with aftershocks. His eyes shine with the intensity of what he’s feeling. “Always will.”
And, for the first time during a heat, I hear something I can believe.
I collapse on his chest, sobbing and quivering with the comedown. The fire in my belly softens into a soothing warmth, and my eyelids droop. For a moment I think it’s the power of the knot and orgasm lulling me, but then I remember Samantha sedated me.
I let my head fall onto my alpha’s chest, breathing in his vanilla cake scent. “In my . . . pocket,” I mutter drowsily. Andthen I slip into oblivion, my heat and consciousness streaming away together as I evade Wild Red’s grasp.
Chapter twelve
Rickon
Red mutters a few additional words, so slurred I can barely understand them, and then she drops onto my chest, fast asleep. Bloody oath, it’s over.
As Samantha does a quick check on my omega, I clasp her with one arm and cover my eyes with the other, feeling more drained than any other time in my life. Everything Red felt, the terror, frustration, desire, rage, and relief, I felt too. Right in my chest, like an emotional soup poured into me with the force of a fire hydrant. No wonder my darling omega dreads going into heat.
Tears leak down my cheeks to catch in my ears. I know Red didn’t mean it, but some things she said echo like a chilling premonition in my soul. Is that how she truly feels under all the acting? What if she wants nothing to do with us when she wakes up? Through the bond I sensed flashes of regret, but also a raging hatred for the world in her storm.
“Well done, everyone,” the nurse says quietly. “She’s out, so we’ll get her settled in the bed as soon as you’re ready.”
I nod and clear my throat. My knot doesn’t take long to deflate, probably due to how worried I am. Callisto and Samantha lift Red so I can slide out from under her, and then the three of us release her handcuffs and turn her prone form onto her back. She looks so peaceful, her face slack and eyes closed. Like an entirely different person from the growling, thrashing omega of a few minutes ago.
But just as gorgeous.
Samantha takes over cleaning Red and settling the sheets. I’d prefer to do it myself, but my nerves are so shot I can barely walk. Not to mention just looking at my omega gives me another raging boner. I wobble as I stand up.
“You okay?” Callisto rumbles, catching me around the shoulders.
“I—” What do I even say? I swab at my tears and settle for “That was intense.”
“Yeah,” Callisto agrees, pulling me into his embrace. When my legs give way, he slides under my arm and helps me to the couch.
The tears I’m trying to hold back refuse to obey, pouring out between my fingers. The strongest emotion pouring through the bond was her terror. All our textbook introductions to heats talk about it being beautiful, but she’s never had a positive heat experience. A stunning, life-loving woman like Red shouldn’t have to go through this shit. No one should. The universe isn’t fair.
“Oh, Ricky,” Callisto croons, tucking me into his chest as the tears continue to fall. “You did so well. An omega couldn’t ask for a better alpha.”
That only makes me cry harder.
As I sob into his chest, I’m acutely aware I’m naked and sticky with cum and slick. And hard from Red’s haze rubbed on my chest. But I can’t muster the energy to untangle myself from his grip to go wash, and Callisto doesn’t seem bothered.
Samantha subtly drops a tissue box onto the couch beside us, and I choke out my thanks.
Once I calm down a bit and blow my nose, I tell Callisto, “You did a good job too.” It’d be impossible to miss the way Red responded to his voice. And having him there, pressing Red down into me, was so close to my best fantasies. Heat rushes to my cheeks and my dick. We’re pressed so close that even the slightest movement will touch my tip to his abdomen.
The nurse finishes fitting an IV drip into Red’s arm and attaching the monitors, and then quietly slips from the room, leaving us in silence.
If Callisto hadn’t rejected Red that day, this would be a normal position for us. Might even turn into something more. Still planted across his legs, I smack Calli’s arm. “You really fucked up, you know? Leaving Red that day.”
Callisto groans. “I did, and I regret it so much.” He dips his head to my neck, his coal-black hair brushing my cheek. “And I missed the chance to pack up with you, Ricky. I’ve been thinking about it so much, and I know I took what we had for granted.”
I freeze, clutching the tissue tight.
He looks up, dark eyes swimming with emotion. “I’m sorry, Ricky. I’m not saying this because I want in now.” He shakes his head, lips tilting wryly. “No strings, no guilt. I’m just sorry I didn’t consider your needs better. I guess I always expected we’d end up in a pack together, but I never told you that, did I?”
The tears leak from my eyes again. I jerk my gaze away as confusion pours through me. “You idiot,” I mutter, pouting a little. “You never said a word. Saved every decent speech for the bloody courthouse.”
Callisto snorts and drops his head onto my shoulder again, a heavy sigh shuddering through his frame. “You’re so right.”
