“It’s late. Why don’t you get some sleep and we can all talk in the mornin’? Do you want anything to eat first?” Tate asks.
At that exact moment my stomach chooses to growl so loud that it echoes throughout the room. It would be comical if I weren’t so upset.
“Thank God, you’ve hardly eaten,” Axel comments.
He gets up, kissing my hair before going to the kitchen while I sit here with my two Alphas. Well, my Alpha and my stepbrother. I still don’t know where Tate and I stand.
He obviously cares for me, being there for me throughout my heat, and I consider him mine. But I don’t know what his true intentions are; I just remember him promising me vengeance, there wasn’t time to discuss anything else.
Sure, maybe he tried to bond with me, but that has more to do with his Alpha nature demanding it versus him truly wanting it.
Now’s not the time to try and figure it out either.
There’s already a deep-seeded guilt filling my stomach over bonding with Cash.Why should I be able to bond with someone when Leon never got the chance?
“Hey, no thinking like that. We’re bonded, you married Axel, those are permanent things. I won’t let you feel guilty over that shit for even a second, you understand me?” Cash reprimands gently.
Easier said than done. I don’t reply, because I don’t want to be a liar.
Axel comes in, just as Cash’s knot deflates, releasing me. The amount of fluids that flow from me is mortifying, and I quickly wrap myself in the blanket, sitting on the edge of the bed. I feel lightheaded. If someone poked me, I might just fall over completely.
Axel holds a bowl of just some simple broth, bringing the spoon up to my mouth. I know I should feed myself, but Igenuinely feel too weak to do so. So I let him care for me. My stomach clenches as I take small sips. Each one of them seems more than relieved over the fact that I’m eating, and it makes me wonder how much trouble I gave them during my heat.
Ugh, my first heat.
It’s not like I was expecting to remember much, but everything feels fuzzy. Maybe it’s better that I don’t remember, if I’m being honest.
My eyes are practically closing on their own accord as I finish up the bowl of soup. Axel places the bowl on the side table and picks me up bridal style. Tate takes off the sheets and replaces them with fresh ones while Cash grabs a warm washcloth.
I know what we just did was beyond intimate, but when Tate places me on the bed and Cash cleans me reverently with a washcloth… it somehow feels even more so. There’s no time to feel embarrassed, at least, not anymore. Cash wraps me up, getting ready to lie in bed with him, and I soak in his warmth, even though a part of me misses the messy sheets.
Axel comes to lie on the other side of me as I watch Tate walk out the door, and I wish I had the courage to ask him to stay.
My head is throbbing,and I have to wipe drool off of my cheek when I finally wake up. I have no concept of what day or time it is. All I know is I’m completely alone. There are noises outside of the door, letting me know the guys are still in the house, so I relax a little.
Part of me doesn’t want to get out of this bed. This defiled bed could suck me up whole and I think I might be okay with it.
Getting out of this bed means going back to real life. But before I can do that I need to find my fight. I need to pull myself together so that I can be useful, and help take down the people who put Leon in this position. The horrible men that hurt me, Shelby, and all of those other Omegas need to pay.
I know Leon’s killer is dead; I helped make sure of that. But every single man with a scythe tattoo needs to suffer.
There’s so much I don’t know; so much shit that must have been going down while I was in heat. My nosy nature and need for vengeance is what has me crawling out of the bed, heading for the shower.
From my head to my calves, my body aches. It’s a mixture of the rough treatment from the Wraiths and the adoring treatment from my pack… well, that’s mostly accurate. Axel and Cash for sure are pack… Tate is still in the air.
I’m too weak to stand and shower, so I just grab my products and sit on the floor as I wash myself. It’s clear I didn’t shower much during my heat. It makes me cringe, especially when I wash my hair and have to detangle some caked-together strands.
How attractive.
My skin prunes as I sit there, not wanting to leave the warm oasis that is this shower. My eyes are closed, just letting the water hit me when a deep voice startles me.
“You done, darlin’?” Axel questions.
His arms are pressed against the vanity as he stands there, fully dressed in a white shirt, his cut, and dark pants. I sigh, looking at his fingers. He still wears his dead palms rings, but his new wedding band is truly what sticks out.
I’ve got to hold it together, if not for myself, then for him—for them. They can’t focus if they’re worried about me having a complete fucking meltdown.
I’ll have a breakdown when it’s appropriate,I decide.
