19. ELLIE

ELLIE

Settled and stuffed with ice cream, I check the time, sighing as my alarm decides to go off at the same time. The butler said to show up around or after two and it”s just past 1:45 pm so I dress in a pair of jeans and one of my big cotton shirts for comfort. I stretch, letting out a loud moan as my back pops, staring at myself in the hallway mirror as if I’m going to see a baby bump through my clothes. There’s nothing to show for it—why would there be—and yet the image of me cradling my stomach has my heart beating a little faster.

The added fantasy of Macon standing behind me as his hands rub the underside of my belly, Savin on his knees kissing my bare skin has me pressing my thighs together, my pussy aching for a good hard fuck. Running down the list of individuals I could call to satisfy that itch has me uneasy. Well, shit. I didn’t think that this mate thing would make it fucking impossible to go fuck someone else.

I pull out my phone, frantically doing some research about mate bonds, pregnancy, longing, and any other words I can think up, coming upon the realization that doing this without the Astors is going to be annoying.

Unless…

My eyes graze over a sentence that doesn’t sit right with me. Unless you reject them, you’ll long for the ones you belong with.

Biology is a bitch but this also means some part of me desperately wants them in my life, in our child’s life. I shove my phone back into my pocket and kiss my sister’s forehead on the way out. She mumbles a goodbye before falling back into her cute snorefest; she must have had a few difficult catering sessions.

I rush down the stairs and hop onto my bike, careful to park on the street when I arrive. It feels strange using their driveway, even if I’ve been given the go-ahead. Using the code texted to me, I step inside, looking around to make sure the area is empty. Savin’s slightly sweet scent hits me but I try to ignore it, starting in on the kitchen. There’s a few dishes in the sink and the floor looks like it could use a good mop.

I work in silence, falling into a soft melody as I sway across the tiled floor, finding enjoyment as each step brings me closer to their scents. By the time I hit the living room, I snag one of the pillows and sink my face into it, groaning when Macon’s whisky scent hits my nose. For a moment, everything is right with the world and it’s like he’s directly behind me again, holding me, caressing me, kissing me.

What the fuck?

I’m horrified by my actions, cringing as I toss the pillow back to the couch and focus on my original task—tidying up the living room. Get a grip, Ellie. You’re just a Beta. Just the maid. Until you tell them.

Sinking back into my melody, I pick up the few blankets strewn across the couch and fold them, before grabbing the vacuum. A frown plays on my lips as something akin to pain settles in my chest. I rub at the discomfort, groaning when it worsens. I shouldn’t be feeling any real symptoms other than nausea this early but the longer it goes, the more I realize it’s not my pain.

A whimper catches my ears and my head shoots up to find the owner of the sound. The house is supposed to be empty but that doesn’t mean it is. Curious, I follow the sound, my chest constricting as I stand in front of one of the bedroom doors. When a cry rings out, much like it did that night just over three weeks ago, I knock. The door inches open, Savin’s full scent blasting me in the face. He’s in heat?

I remember Macon telling me that moments like this are not uncommon but I didn’t think we would stumble upon each other so soon. My entire body lights up with need as I stare at the empty nest. It looks like someone fought a war there, pillows and blankets haphazardly strewn across the mattress. Another cry turns my attention to the attached bathroom but when I step inside, I’m not prepared to see Savin curled up on the shower floor, his entire body trembling beneath the spray.

His arms are tightly wrapped around his stomach as he whines, the wave of pain hitting me full force. Goddess, he deals with this all the time?

I move to turn off the water before stepping inside and kneeling beside Savin. “Hey, hey,” I prod, running my hand down his cheek, fingers tangling in his wet hair.

Savin shoots up, half-lidded eyes staring at me. In the next second, I’m in his lap, the Omega tightly holding onto me as he murmurs against my neck. “Tell me you’re fucking real.” It’s like he’s huffing my scent, not quite himself but as his body relaxes, I do as well. We sit there for several moments, Savin’s lips dancing along my throat. This is dangerous. I’m affected by his scent. We’re mates and Savin is most definitely in heat.

My body doesn’t know whether to comfort him, ask for a fuck, or suck him off and when I smell his arousal, I’m even more confused. “We need to get out of the shower, Savin. Savin,” I whine, prying myself out of his hold and dragging him onto the tile. He weakly stands up with my help as I stumble to the sink, thankful that his phone is there. “What’s Macon’s number?” Savin just hums, once again holding onto me.

Thankful he doesn’t have a password, I scroll through his contacts, stopping at the one that says Hubby 3. There’s several missed calls in the last ten minutes so I’m sure it”s Macon’s number.

Savin presses me against the counter, his face dipping to the curve of my neck again, his arms sliding around my stomach. We’re both dripping wet, cold seeping into my clothes and skin but all I want is to make sure Savin is okay. A few of my classes have detailed what to do with an Omega in heat but Savin’s is different.

“What are you doing here?” He mumbles.

The call disconnects, a growl of frustration leaving me as I twist out of Savin’s grip to look for a towel. There’s fluffy monstrosities folded by the toilet and I rush to grab one, Savin leaning into my touch when I begin drying him off. In the next moment, I’m sitting on the counter, Savin kissing me like I’ll disappear into the void. His tongue thrusts into my mouth, demanding more than I’m giving, hands sliding up my thighs. His thumbs dig into the sensitive skin inches from where I need pressure, my rational mind nearly giving way to my heart.

“Fuck, I… need to call Macon.” Your Alpha. Ellie, he’s mated and married. Back off.

Without a conversation, we absolutely can not continue this. Savin moans for more as I grab the phone again, sighing with relief when I see that Macon is calling back.

“Hey, baby. Everything okay? I”ve been calling you after I felt your distress through the bond. Sav? Talk to me, baby.”

Savin starts kissing my jaw, licking the water dripping down my face, one of his hands moving into my flattened curls. My back arches toward him when he nibbles on my neck and I do my best to weather the moan sitting at the back of my throat. I fail miserably. “Savin-”

“Who is this? Where is Savin?”

I slap at Savin’s other hand when it tries to move upward beneath my shirt. “He’s okay. I think? He was curled up in the shower. I wasn’t supposed to be in here but I heard him. He’s…ungh… a little better, I think. Heat and fuck, just get here please.” I can’t even get my words out as the pheromones start to drag me under. Savin’s starting to really perfume even if his body is still trembling with the aftershocks from the pain earlier.

What I don’t understand is how I felt it.

Macon doesn’t speak for a moment and then I hear his purr. “Ellie?”

“Your Omega needs you.” I don’t want to start anything over the phone. That discussion can happen later. Right now, Savin needs his Alpha and I need to be anywhere else but here.

“I’m not that far out. Stay with him until I get there? You don”t have to. I just-”

My heart breaks for these two. “I”m not going anywhere,” I tell Savin as Macon whispers his thanks before hanging up. I push Savin back, climbing off the counter and setting Savin on the floor when it’s clear he doesn’t want to move anywhere else. I join him and he wraps the towel around my shoulders as he curls into my side.

“Are you back, Ellie?”

I don’t respond to him, fingering Savin’s wet hair. I’m not sure how to respond to him. I was going to give myself two weeks to figure it out. I may not even last a day.