Chapter 55

Chapter Fifty-Five

CASEY

M y blood is absolutely buzzing. Not only because my omega is staring around the bookstore with awe plastered on her porcelain features, but also because of Elliott's promised retribution.

Since we took Freya shopping a week ago, she's become more comfortable exploring our little town. Today is for books. Books and no alphas.

You can imagine how that went down. An argument between me and three protective as fuck alphas. All while my brat of an omega just sat there and watched, nibbling on her carrots with humor dancing in her eyes.

I think she enjoys watching us battle out our issues, if I'm being honest. I can't blame her. She spent years watching us live separate lives from her and each other, so I think she enjoys seeing us coexist. Maybe it's a bit of payback too. I don't know, but she for sure could have helped sell my case on no alphas and walking to the bookstore.

Another perk of being under the protection of the OPS has been the unlimited resources, like the one that's sitting in the driveway at home. I don't know vehicles, but it seats the whole pack, and it's black and shiny.

I like it, but today is a beautiful day, and damn if I wasn't going to spend as much time with Freya as possible. So a ten-minute walk to the bookstore with a backpack compromised by water and snacks forced onto me by Ronan has been absolutely glorious.

She's absolutely glowing lately. Even with some of her cranky mood swings, I've never been happier to see her expressing herself.

Browsing the shelves by myself, I start making my way to her platinum beacon a few aisles over. Tugging my phone out, I plan to take a candid photo of my beautiful girl because we're at the most Instagrammable bookstore after all.

Rounding the corner, I trip over my own feet when I'm fucking slammed with her thick scent of whipped cream and chocolatey almond bark. My phone clatters to the ground, but all I see is my omega keeled over with her hands wrapped around her middle.

I'm rushing to her before it's even a conscious thought. "Freya," I cry on an exhale. "Baby, what's wrong?"

She doesn't have to say anything, because the moment I wrap my hands around her bare biceps, I know.

"Oh fuck. Freya, baby, you're in heat."

"No shit!" she snaps around a whimper of pain and... fear? Through our thin bond, her anxiety calls to me, heightening mine.

"Okay. Alright," I murmur. "Fuck, why did we walk here?!"

"Shut up," she grits out, still bent in half. "Too loud."

At least I didn't take her somewhere noisy.

"We can't walk home with you like this," I whisper, but mainly to myself. I reach for my back pocket, only to remember I dropped my phone.

I don't want to let go of her, worried she might fall and hurt herself if I'm not here to hold her up. Not thinking too much about it, I shove my hand into her sweatpants pocket one at a time only for the little brat to tease me.

"You missed. My pussy is here." She torments me by moving my hand and trying to shove it down the front of her waistband.

"Christ baby. No not here," I hiss. "Where's your phone?"

"Forgot it."

I really want to scold her for that, but now's not the time, even if this is the exact fucking reason she should have it on her when she's not home.

"Okay, I need you to sit down while I go grab mine on the floor over there." My good omega doesn't complain as I settle her on the hard carpet and rush through the aisle.

Phone in hand, I slam to my knees in front of her. "I'm back. Calling Elliott now," I say while petting her bare arm, knowing she needs the contact.

"You-you left," she whimpers, stalling my heart when she looks up at me with tears in her eyes and a wobbly lip.

"Just to call for help. I'm not leaving you ever ," I swear, and kiss her fiercely to get her damn pouty lip to stop breaking my heart.

Freya moans and tries to crawl into my lap.

Mood swings . She's been like this for days. How did we not fucking realize our omega was going into heat? We are so fucking stupid.

"Naughty omega," I growl and nip at her lip. Knowing she needs me right now, I settle her on my lap and tuck her close, even though she's an inferno.

Once situated, I lean back against the stack of books and hit Elliott's name on my phone. It rings a few times, stressing me out even more.

"Fuck, pick up, pick up!"

Freya giggles and mumbles how cute I am when I swear.

"Hush," I warn just as Elliott answers with, "What's wrong?!"

Swallowing my pride, I beg, "Please come get us. Like now. Freya's heat started."

There's shouting and doors slamming down the line before Elliott's voice rings through again. "Fuck, fuck, fuck! I should have known. She's been going nuts in the bond. I couldn't get a read on anything!"

"Hey," I coo. "It's nobody's fault. Now we know the signs. Just get here so we can take care of her as a pack, like we were always meant to."

"Casey doesn't know where my vagina is," Freya calls out.

I'm shocked she's coherent enough to be a little shit, and Elliott's silent for a moment. "What did she just say?" my alpha asks, humor lacing his tone while our omega shakes with laughter in my lap.

"Nothing," I grumble. "We're in aisle four surrounded by covers of sweaty abs."

"Be there in two," Elliott replies hanging up.

I swipe Freya's sweaty hair off her cheeks and give her a mock glare. "I think it's time we taught you what else that mouth can do besides get you into trouble, little omega."

Her lips pop open in the shape of an O, and all I can think about is stuffing it full while giving her plenty of Os herself.