But the idea of them getting that close… my muscles lock up, and I swallow hard. I don’t know if I can cope with that. Arms wrapped around me, squeezing me, hurting me—
“Ava.” Max appears in my line of sight, his hands on either side of my face. “Breathe,” he orders, the edge of a bark in his voice.
I’ve always hated the alpha bark. Hated that a tone of voice can make my body react in ways I have no control over. But in this moment, I’m ridiculously grateful. I don’t want to break down here, in front of these people I don’t know.
Slowly, I move my hands up to cover Max’s. His brown eyes widen until I can see the barest glimpse of my own reflection, my own face staring back at me, looking frightened and pale. His hands feel warm under mine as I grip them.
No.
“Help me, Max?” I ask quietly.
His eyes scan my face before he nods. His thumb strokes down my cheek, barely touching me, but leaving a trail of fire in my wake. I force myself to stay still.I will do this.
“Okay. I’m going to put my arm underneath your back and lift you up. If you want me to stop, to sit down, if you panic or need a break, if you need anything at all, youtell me. Deal?”
My lips twitch as his bossy tone makes a return. “Got it, Doc.”
It feels good to let a little sass out.
I try to cling on to that little spark of bravado as Max carefully slides his hands under my back. His warmth sinks into my back like a brand, making me inhale sharply. He moves to pull back and I grab his other arm.
“Don’t stop.” It comes out as an order, and I mean it. Dragging this out won’t help me.
I breathe as he carefully lifts me, his arm cradling my shoulders. As I’m pulled into a sitting position, I become much more aware of the bump in my midsection. My new reality is right there, but I just… can’t. I can’t think about that yet. A tsunami threatens to overcome me at the sight, and I wobble in Max’s arms. He grips me a little tighter, and I lean into him despite myself.
“You’re doing so well, Ava,” his praise is soft, and it makes tears gather in the corner of my eyes. “I know it’s hard, but you’re being so damn brave.”
Luc nods in agreement from where he stands a few feet away, arms folded tightly. I glance down at the ground and gradually pull one of my legs over.
“Slowly,” Max warns me. “It’s going to hurt.”
I get both legs over and place my feet on the floor before I realize just how right he is. One of the new alphas – Nikolai? – steps forward abruptly at my groan, and the other yanks him back. He offers me an apologetic smile when I glance over at them.
Finally, I push myself up and onto my feet. I don’t expect to feel so off-balance, and I overcompensate, collapsing into Max. Fucking hell.
He’s hot against me as his arms wrap tightly around me, holding me close to him. “Steady,” he breathes into my ear. “You’re perfect.”
I glance up at the afternoon sun as he holds me. It’s a reminder of where I am.
You’re not in the nests. You’re not in the hospital. You have your own room right there, you just need to get off your ass and walk to it.
So I walk. And Max stays beside me, every step of the way.
ChapterTwenty-One
Bastien
Our new omega has fire in her blood.
Still gripping Nik, holding him back from offering the help he desperately wants to give, I pull him towards the ambulance as Ava and Max slowly make their way to the house, Luc hovering around them like a protective mama. A smile tweaks my lips upwards. My frosty brother seems to be quickly thawing towards our new addition.
Devlin and Ace Winter swing themselves down from the front of the ambulance, Ace going to the back to help his grandfather down. Devlin holds out a hand to me and I shake it firmly. We would never have pulled this off without them.
“Thank you,” I say fervently, glancing between them. “I can’t tell you how much we appreciate your help.”
Devlin’s face tightens as he glances after Ava. “It was our pleasure,” he mutters. “What’s happened to her…,” he trails off, his face a little pale.
Ace intervenes. “Let’s just say it was personal for us.”
