I never thought I’d see the day where I didn’t listen to my alpha. But I guess not even I could have predicted Auryn with all the evidence in the world.
“He ismine,” Auryn snips at Gage, “and I will be damned if you sideline me, Gage, I—”
“No one—” I say, sliding my hand into hers and pulling her towards me, flashing my gaze at Gage for a moment “–is sidelining anyone.”
Auryn growls but settles into me, the feeling lighting my insides up.
“I think we could all just use a minute. To process everything. Look at this with a clear head?”
Gage grunts, crossing his arms. The motion pushes the blood from his tubes, and my body shakes from the sight. I’m not squeamish, never have been. In this line of work, being afraid of blood would be the worst thing ever. I see more death and blood than the fucking coroner, probably.
But knowing Gage’s blood is being taken–no, given—to Diego, it just…fuck. I don’t know; it makes my heart ache.
Not that I wouldn’t do the same for Gage or Emmett, if it came down to it. Or Auryn, but…
Gage is right. His blood is the strongest. But a part of me wishes I could help beyond what I’m doing. I’m not certain what I’m doing is enough, but I also know there isn’t much more that any of us can do at this point.
It’s up to fate and Diego now.
“Process?” Gage bites out. “What the fuck is there to process, I—”
I squeeze Auryn tight before turning to her and capturing her ruthless gaze. “Can you do me a favor?” I ask softly. My gaze dips to her mouth, noticing the way it turns down in a frown. Cinnamon puffs into the air, and she bites her lip. I can tell she wants to argue with me. Probably wants to tell me to fuck off, but…
She doesn’t.
“Depends,” she says cooly. “What’s the favor?”
I swallow hard. “Can you go back to your nest?”
She bites her lip harder, those dark eyes set on me like a wildfire.
“Please?” I ask, imploring her with my gaze. “I just need to talk to Gage. Alone.”
She flashes her angry glare at him before scoffing in disdain.
“Why? So you can talk about me?” she hisses, and I hate seeing her upset. Angry.
My beta whines, but I know it’s no use lying to her. I don’t want to lie to her. “Yes. But, also there are some things I need to go over with him medically. For Diego.” It’s not a lie completely. I do need to do my job, but…
Auryn twists her lips. “And if I say no?” She steps closer to me, and I get the strongest whiff of peppercorn. My beta whines.
“Auryn,” Gage growls, “now is not the time.”
She presses forth, pushing me back against the counter. Cinnamon and peppercorn assault my senses, and I bite my lip as I hold her fiery gaze. “What are you going to do, huh?” she bites, and behind her eyes I can see the fear. The pain.
I reach out without thinking, wanting nothing more than to soothe my omega at the moment.
My omega.The words land in my brain, heavy like marble. Because I know undoubtedly, that Auryn is my omega, but…the word doesn’t feel entirely right either.
She is so perplexing. It’s not lost on me that she purred earlier, something an omega shouldnotbe able to do. It’s not lost on me either that my beta responded in a way he definitely should not have. Alphas purr to soothe their omegas, and sometimes, in stressful situations, they can do so for their packmates, even if those packmates are not of the omega variety.
But never in all my studies have I heard of an omega purring and soothing a fucking beta.
If the stakes weren't so high right now with Diego fighting for his life and Gage and Auryn about to throw down, I’d be jumping up and down with excitement to research this new development.
But that will have to wait in favor of keeping us unscathed. Well, the rest of us.
We’re no good to Emmett if we can’t get along.
