THEA
One more day. Jake should be back tomorrow night and it can’t come soon enough. I’ve felt so on edge. It’s more than the nesting and my upcoming heat; it’s him being so close to my stalker. It doesn’t matter what kind of mental gymnastics I do to ease my anxiety, it still lingers.
I wonder if they confirmed that Mark Henderson is my stalker. I get on paper it makes sense as far as what skills the stalker would need to be able to keep the kind of tabs on me that he has. But I just don’t understand why. I don’t remember even interacting with him directly. Maybe I’ll never know, but I can’t help but wonder the “why” behind all of this.
Taz has been my constant shadow during my shifts at work, alternating between talking my ear off and dropping his mask and checking on how I’m really doing. It’s been nice.
The other day the three of them on his team seemed extra cautious. I even overheard some of their conversation with their fourth pack member who’s working remote—River. What I heard was mostly about the perimeter cameras. Harrison told us yesterday they were all set and fully functional. Apparently that will be their biggest tool during my heat while we’re all occupied.Of course, with one of them monitoring them and another person checking the grounds. It seems like a lot, especially if we know the stalker is still in Florida. Yet, after everything that’s happened, I won’t speak against their caution.
It’s starting to get late and I should probably be in my nest but I wanted to check on Ben. He’s been working later at the lodge lately and coming home exhausted. Searching the house, I end up finding him in the small sitting room near the front door. He’s sitting on the chair closest to the lit fireplace, laptop on his lap, working away. I’m not sure if I’ll ever get used to having a fireplace in my house. It does have a calming effect, though. The soft warm light it emits in the dimly lit room creates a cozy enclosed feel, reminiscent of a nest.
Ben’s eyes are weighed down with deep circles, his normally vibrant blue eyes dull. As I approach, he takes his glasses off, rubbing at his eyes. Catching my scent, his head turns in my direction, softening his tired expression.
“Hey, how are you feeling?” He reaches his hand out for me to take. It’s typical that he’s worried about me. Taking his hand in mine, he pulls me close so he can hug me from his seated position. His head rests on my chest as I run my free hand through his dark hair. His eyes close at the touch.
I ignore his question. “You look exhausted. What have you been working on so much?”
Letting out a sigh, he sits back against the chair, releasing me from his hug but still holding my hand. “Just making sure the lodge’s New Year’s Eve party is all set. I normally do some of the planning in November, but other things took priority.” He smiles softly at me at that last remark. My brows scrunch together in confusion. I didn’t know the lodge did a New Year’s Eve party. I remember hearing some of the staff talking about one this past week, I just assumed it was a personal party.
“I’m sorry. You should have said something, I would have helped you,” I apologize, feeling bad he got behind because of me.
His lips turn down at my apology. “Nothing to be sorry about. Life happens. I got everything I needed done. Rebecca will pick up any last-minute emergencies for it. We are likely to miss it this year depending on when your heat hits.”
I still feel bad. Moving to rest on the floor beside him in the chair, I kneel down and rest on my heels. My hand is still intertwined with his, now resting atop his knee. Unsure how to respond, I stare into the fireplace, watching the wood logs burn and crackle. His hand releases mine, his fingers brushing along my jaw, lightly guiding me to face him. The yellow orange flames dance in his icy blue eyes.
“Don’t worry, everything is fine. I much rather be with you than a party we have every year.” His fingers linger lightly along my jaw. He sees right through me. It can be unnerving sometimes, since I’m not used to anyone but Connor being able to do that. Yet, the longer I’m here, getting to know these men, my pack, the more that uneasiness quiets. I’ll be bonding almost all of them soon. I couldn’t let myself do that if I still felt the way I did in the beginning.
A sudden realization hits me. My eyes widen in surprise before I’m blurting out, “Ben, I want to bond with you during the heat.” I can’t believe I hadn’t actually said that to him until now. I should have told him a week ago. So much has been happening.
The heat in his eyes is not just from the dancing flames. His fingers along my jaw now brush against my bottom lip, making me perfume. His lascivious smile stretches as my scent surrounds us. Leaning down, he goes to kiss me but stops short, so close that I can feel his puffs of breath.
“Nothing in this world would make me happier than to bond and be yours completely,” he says then kisses me so passionatelythat if it weren’t for his hand twining in my hair, holding my head, I’d have toppled over.
My breathing is heavy when we eventually part, my body screaming for more. I chase his lips, not willing to part for more than a few seconds.More. The hand that was tugging on my hair before is now on my forehead. He breaks away. “Thea, breathe, you’re burning up. We can’t do more right now.”
A whine escapes me, and cramps start deep in my stomach. No. I don’t want to feel this again. Panic surges. Before it can take root, fresh oak fills my senses. Protection. Keelan. I’m so caught up in his scent and my own body freaking out I don’t really hear what he or Ben says.
Suddenly an icy cold compression is placed on my head and covering my eyes, making me nearly jump out of my skin. “It’s okay, this will help bring your temp down,” Keelan says, voice as soft as he can muster. He must have felt what was happening in the bond and came. I don’t know what kind of contraption this is that has to cover my eyes. My hands move automatically to try and push it up so I can see but Keelan’s big callused ones grab them in an instant.
He’s lifting me up and carrying me towards what I can only assume to be the pack bed or nest. Hopefully not an ice bath. I’m feeling more levelheaded already. Instead of holding me under my legs and back, he puts me in a firemen’s carry, causing me to let out a shriek. “Keelan! Put me down.” I feel his laughter before I hear it. That big jerk. It’s a quick trip up the many stairs until he’s laying me down in my nest. Before I can even take this thing off my head and yell at him properly, I feel Ben wrapping around me from behind. Absolutely not fair. It somehow releases the tension in my body. What sorcery is this?
Ben, whose arms are wrapped around my middle, squeeze in reassurance. “Don’t think I’m not mad at you too,” I pout.
A small kiss is placed on my neck. “I’m sorry. We couldn’t risk you having a mini heat. It’s a good thing Liam got these migraine caps. They’re made for people who suffer migraines. You just need to put them in the freezer and then wear them. He thought it might help bring down your temp quickly in a pinch. He was right as always.” That explains that, but I’m still annoyed. Though more so that we had to stop. Again.
“Is Keelan still here?” I ask, not sure if he is since I can’t see. His scent is here but it’s my nest and all of their scents are here.
“Yeah, he’s by the door since he knows you’re mad at him,” Ben says teasingly. These men. How in the world am I supposed to deal with seven mates? I’ll be driven insane at some point, I know it.
I release a sigh. “Keelan, I’m not mad anymore and you’re no longer a big jerk.”
I feel his amusement in the bond, which tests my last statement. “When did you call me a ‘big jerk.’” Inside thoughts Thea. I roll my eyes, not that anyone can see. I ignore his question and reach my hand out for him. He wastes no time in lying down on my other side.Sandwiched between these two, safe and protected, it’s not long before I’m falling asleep.
13
PARKER
The entire pack is huddled in the small hallway outside Thea’s nest. I did ask why we aren’t in the pack bedroom where there’s more space. But I was met by most of them saying that being here is closest to the nest in case she needs us. Everyone is on edge because she’s refusing to leave the nest and won’t let any of us in.
