I wanted to believe Cade; I really did. The way he asked me to trust him, with such sincerity, was reassuring. While overbearing, controlling, blunt, and infuriating, he was also so steady and reliable. The way he looked at me now, telling me he would care for me, so sure and unwavering, calmed me.
"When the time comes, you'll be driven to make a nest. You can arrange it however you like. Don’t worry about doing it right; it will be perfect, because you made it," he said, motioning to the linens. "Your heat should last between 24 and 48 hours. During that time we'll take turns monitoring your needs, checking your vitals and knotting you. You'll be… cared for."
Cade then turned and headed for the door, motioning for me to follow. As he locked the room behind us, he glanced back at me.
"Lie low for the rest of the day. Just try to relax and stay calm. Maybe watch some movies with Ryker. You’ll need to be clear-headed for the science visitation tomorrow. No arguments, no attitude, and no mistakes. Understood?”
“Yeah, yeah. Behave, lie low, don’t shift. I got it, Captain,” I said with a mock salute.
His eyes narrowed, studying me for a long moment. “You’re never going to fall in line like a conventional omega, are you?”
I met his gaze, a spark of defiance curling at the edge of my lips. “No,sir.”
For a second, something shifted in his expression. His lips tilted up in the faintest ghost of a smile before he turned and walked away.
Chapter 13: Cade
"Swallow."
Rowan rolled her eyes and gulped, sticking out her tongue and making a facetious littleahhhnoise.
"Good girl. You ready?"
Her attitude faded. A nervous look replaced it, and she nodded.
I faceted my hand around the back of her neck, firm but steady, guiding her close enough that my lips brushed her ear. "Killian and I are right here, baby. Nothing touches you. Breathe and stay calm. I promise we won't let anything happen to you."
Killian moved ahead of us, shoulders wide, attention locked on the hallway. He gave a sharp nod without looking back, as if confirming what I said.
Nerves slipped across the bond as she fidgeted. It was clear Rowan was uneasy about the appointment, but I suspected the real dread came from traveling across the base, filled with other alphas.
The last time she encountered Jayden and Finn, it hadended in an attack, a memory her body refused to forget. I'm sure now every unfamiliar scent and passing gaze felt like a threat, and the base no longer felt safe, even with us at her side.
I wished I could take that fear from her. To erase those memories so she could regain a sense of security and peace. But I couldn't. All I could do was make sure it never happened again.
The walk to the science wing felt endless. It was located on the basement level of the Border Front Base’s primary facility. I noted every alpha and beta we passed who so much as flicked their gaze toward Rowan.
Yesterday, I had called in a favor from one of the tech geeks who owed me. He hacked the base's security cameras, routing a direct feed and recording straight to my laptop. As soon as we got back to the dorm, I planned to review the footage, watching everyone Rowan passed to make sure no one lingered too long or showed too much interest.
The image of the two alphas who attacked her, standing near the elevator, eyeing her with hunger, entered my mind. I should have known then that they were going to try something by their unmasked desire and the way they scented Rowan so brazenly in front of us.
As we walked, Rowan’s eyes stayed fixed on Killian’s back. Her skin flushed red under the weight of the attention. There were other omegas on base, but they rarely showed their faces in public spaces for this exact reason.
Most people tried not to look too closely. Alphas and betas alike kept their expressions neutral, their gazes forward, making a point of restraint. But hardly anyone could resist that first glance. The quick flick of eyes and instinctive curiosity gave them away.
Rowan was fresh meat, whereas most omegas on base were old news. There hadn't been a new omega here in a longtime. And while I was biased, Rowan was especially beautiful. Everyone wanted a look at the fiery new omega, whether they admitted it or not.
At one point, Killian reached a hand behind him, checking on her without breaking his focus on potential threats. She caught his hand and soothed him quietly. "It’s okay, big guy. I’m right here," she said with a soft, little purr.
The way she comforted Killian, gentle and feminine, pulled something tight in my chest. I had spent years shielding my brother from my mother’s scorn and had no idea how he would react to an omega after everything he endured. I suppose that was part of the reason I had turned down my father's offer to match us with one from the Training Center. But now seeing Rowan ease him like that made me realize she had already started to heal something inside him.
When we finally reached the science wing, I pressed the call button. A woman with a familiar voice answered over the intercom and buzzed us into the department. I couldn’t place why her voice stuck with me until she stepped into view. It took a moment, but I recognized her. She was the same blonde research assistant who had greeted us at Rowan's last appointment in Falcon City. Rowan's blue eyes widened in shock.
"Hello again, Captain Green," the woman said, confirming my suspicion that we had met before.
"Why are you here?" I asked, not bothering with pleasantries.
"Sir?" she asked, confused.
