“Jo?” His hands catch mine and he looks at me as I pout up at him. “Is everything okay?”
I was hoping I wouldn’t have to admit it, but the longer his shirt is on his body and not in my hands, I feel like I might start tearing up.
“I…” I clear my throat, blinking rapidly as I try to swallow my embarrassment. I’m not used to being a slave to my instincts. “I was hopin’...couldIhaveyourshirtplease?”
“You…” West’s brows furrow in confusion as he tries to make sense of my word vomit. “You want my—oh.” His expression morphs to one of understanding. “Of course. But are you sure you don’t want one of the alphas? Their scents will be much more—”
An omega growl rips out of me. “No, I wantyourscent, Doctor Monroe. Don’t you dare for one single second imply that you’re somehow less important to me because you’re a beta.”
West chuckles softly as he peels off his shirt. “That’s not what I meant, Siren. I just meant that they might be more…potent.” He holds the black t-shirt out to me in offering, and I snatch it from him before lifting it to my nose and inhaling greedily.
I swear my eyes must roll in the back of my head as a groan of satisfaction leaves me. West’s scent instantly soothes me, his chamomile-mint signature making all the tension in my shoulders disappear.
“Shit, is she nesting?” Sam’s voice comes from the doorway.
“Sheis right here,” I snap, then wince at my harsh tone. “I…I might be.”
“You said you’ve never had a heat, right?” West asks, tilting his head as he watches me practically molest his t-shirt.
I shake my head. “No. Dec’s doctors thought my omega never felt safe enough…oh. Shit.”
“And now Mabel’s been rescued,andyou’ve scented four true scent matches.” West huffs a breath. “Do you want us to see if Declan can get us heat suppressants?”
Biting my lip, I take another hit off West’s shirt. My omega finally feeling safe enough to have a heat should be a good thing, but all I can think about is the fact that we’re literally on the run. What if I go into heat and then they find us?
I can see Sam holding his tongue. I know he wants to make the executive decision. To point out how catastrophic it would be if I went into heat before this mess is settled. But…he’s not going to fight me on making my own decision.
“Yeah, let me call him though. I doubt he’ll respond well to you talkin’ to him about my heat.”
Sam’s shoulders slump in relief, and West gives a nod before going through the duffels to find a new shirt to wear. “Here, Trouble.” Sam digs the burner out of his pocket and hands it to me. But, I find myself moving to grab his shirt too. Without a word, he removes it and passes it to me.
My cheeks flush at my lack of restraint, and he only winks at me before going into the other room, still shirtless. Funny how I can tell him to his face that I want to get spitroasted by Hayden and Kole without blinking an eye, but the second my omega nature comes out,that’swhen I’m embarrassed.
“You’re not used to your omega side being so front and center, are you? Even before you came to Thornfield, you were the one who took care of Mabel. Nobody took care of you, did they?” West asks gently, and I arch a brow.
“Mabel took care of me in her own way, but not in the traditional sense, no.” I playfully scowl at him. “You tryin’ to shrink me right now, Doctor?”
“No—not intentionally anyway.” He sighs, rubbing a hand over his hair. “You’ve gone through a lot of changes and trauma over the last year…well, lifetime. Even if it’s not with me, I think it would be good for you to talk tosomeoneabout it.”
“If I talked to you…” I trail off, playing with the fabric in my hands. “Would I be talkin’ to Doctor West Monroe, PsyD? Or would I be talkin’ to my mate who happens to be a very good listener?”
“Which one would you prefer?” he asks, a small smile tilting at his lips.
“I’m always down for a little bit of role play,” I smirk, “but I think I’d like to talk my feelin’s out with my mate.”
“Noted,” West chuckles. “But I’m curious,” his voice drops as he takes a step closer, “Miss Harding, what kind of secrets I could get you to confess in this role play of yours.”
A shiver runs through me at his gravelly tone. “Doctor, you’re gonna send me into heat right this second if you keep that up.” I hold up the phone. “Let me get these suppressants requested, and then we can uh…continue this conversation.”
West shakes his head with a laugh as I pull up Declan’s contact. He answers on the first ring. “Jo? Is everything okay?”
I grin, rolling my eyes at his protective, big brother nature. “Dec. Yeah, everythin’s fine. I have a question though.”
“Shoot.”
“What are the odds of gettin’ some kinda heat suppressant delivered? We uh…we may have an issue comin’ up.”
He sighs heavily. “Fuck.”
