20. SAVIN

SAVIN

It doesn’t take long for the waves of pain to pass as Ellie’s sweetened cider scent wraps around me. I was just going to take a shower to wash off the sweat as my heat drew closer but I hadn’t been entirely truthful with Macon—I was in pain when he left. Even more so, I was hours away from my heat, not a day but I knew how important that meeting was. He couldn’t miss it.

And he’d be home soon enough to cuddle me or fuck me, whichever my heat demanded at that moment.

Ellie’s presence is a blessing because had she been a few moments later, I would have passed out in the shower. I’m not sure how long we rest there, Ellie drawing little circles on the back of my shoulder. The calming sensation of her touch allows me to relax, her touch softening until it disappears. I sit up slowly, staring at her peaceful face, her lips parted as she rests against the sink cabinets. I catalog every piercing and every tattoo I can see beneath her wet shirt as I peel the towel off of her. As much as I shouldn’t move until Macon gets here, I want her in my nest, both of us surrounded by my Alpha’s scent.

I struggle to wrap my arm around her shoulder and slide the other beneath her knees before carting her the few steps to my favorite place in the house. Deep breaths keep my vision from tunneling as I stumble in beside her, dragging her into my chest. Ellie hardly wakes as she melts against me, her body molding to mine before sleep takes me again.

“Hey, baby.”

I groan and shift, Ellie plastered against my chest. Content that she’s still here, I twist around to see Macon kneeling beside me. He leans down to steal a kiss before sitting back on his knees. “What happened?”

Moving to sit up, Ellie curling in against my thigh, I nearly lose it. She’s perfect with us, melding in like she belongs here. “What always happens,” I say, defeated that I can’t even handle my own affairs. “Needed a shower and my legs gave out. It’s fucking embarrassing but Ellie was perfect. She didn’t even hesitate.” It’s the second time I’ve watched her give in to me without asking questions and I love that it feels natural. I don’t have to pretend around her.

Macon kisses the side of my head. “I’m very happy that she was here but she can’t sleep in wet clothes.”

My cheeks heat as I tuck my head. “I… didn’t think about it. I just needed her here.” I pat the blankets around me, knowing how selfish I sound but it’s not out of the ordinary. Wanting my mates’ scents surrounding me during my heat is normal. Unfortunately, we haven’t really had that conversation with Ellie and the last time I saw her was when she was stuffed between us in a bath.

Macon reaches over to Ellie, brushing the back of his fingers against her cheek, “Sweetheart.”

Ellie startles and sits up, wrapping her arms around her chest as she looks around wildly. “What? Oh, sorry. I didn’t… we were in the bathroom before. Let me go now that you’re here.” My heart drops into my stomach at the idea of her leaving. She scrambles to her feet, a little frantic. I can see that she’s about to panic but I just don’t know why.

Macon is faster than me as he catches her before she escapes the room. “Talk to me, Ellie. What’s going on in that head of yours?” She trembles in his grip, my Alpha releasing her but not moving from the door. “Tell me to fuck off but I want to know what spooked you, sweetheart.” Macon’s hands are at his sides, fingers itching to hold our Beta. Our Beta. I mull over those words and I love how it sounds.

She sighs, shoulders falling. “I shouldn’t be in your Omega’s nest. This is the second fucking time-”

My Alpha’s hand shoots out to grip her chin, her entire body melting beneath his touch. “My Omega invited you into his nest. Had you stepped in uninvited, I might be able to agree with you but Savin is a grown man, and who he chooses to bring into his little circle is his own choice.”

“But-”

His fingers dig into her skin, Ellie’s hissing beneath the pressure. I crawl to the edge of my nest, ready to save her when I see the desire lurking in her expression. She’s loving this. Despite her fierce outward appearance, she loves Macon’s dominance—just as she did three weeks ago. “If you’re going to say that you’re just something, don’t. You’re worth more than that and you owe yourself a little dignity. Now, tell me again what’s bothering you. The truth this time.”

Fear flashes through her eyes as they dart to me and then back at him. “I need the job. I didn’t… I know it was selfish to take it and not say anything but they said you two wouldn’t be here.” Ellie clears her throat and pulls away from Macon, her walls slowly building back up. “We can’t do this. I was employed by your mother. The extra money is worth the awkwardness. We can just chalk that up to a night of fun, alright?”

I step out of my nest, grabbing a blanket to wrap around my waist. With the next wave of my heat at bay, I’m conscious enough to participate in the discussion. “Ellie, Macon’s mother is no longer in charge of all that. I am.”

Her face falls and I realize I said the wrong thing. “That’s worse!” She throws her hands up. “Don’t you see how that’s worse? We’re… that means you’re my bosses and you want me to, what, stay for your heat? This will get messy fast.”

Macon leans against the doorway, folding his arms across his chest as he studies Ellie. “That’s not really what you’re worried about is it, sweetheart?” Her face scrunches up but she doesn’t look away from him, challenging him to keep prodding or let her go. “It’s the mate thing, isn’t it?”

Ellie’s demeanor shifts as she runs her tongue across her bottom lip, metal against metal making me want to draw her into a kiss. Goddess, not the time.

“Look, I like you but it’s confusing. Is it biology or feelings? Is it because of biology that we have feelings? I don’t want to start something because we feel forced to appease Mother Nature. And how can we even start something when it’s already this messy? Everyone will think I’m here for your money or that you’re fucking the maid. I’m not sure why I thought working here was a good idea. Fuck.” Ellie chews on her bottom lip but I can see the turmoil in her face.

I also pick up on something that I don’t think she wanted to show us. She doesn’t think she fits. Here, with us. She doesn’t think she matters. A lot of Betas feel the same way as scent matches are rare for their designation. I can see how it makes everything a little murkier, especially for someone like Ellie who is so damn independent.

Macon pushes off the door and nods. “I’d love to have you stay for an early dinner, Ellie. We want this but I also know you have boundaries. We’re prepared to work with those if you’ll let us.”

“You don’t even know me.”

“No, but we’d like to.”

I hold my breath, hoping that Ellie will say yes. She’s quiet for a few seconds before she nods, asking to at least dry off. I volunteer to bring towels and a second set of clothes, Macon watching with longing as she disappears into the bathroom. Just before I head for my dresser, Macon pulls me back. “Her scent is sweeter.”

I noticed the same but I don’t know why. Is it because she’s here with us? Or is it something else? I’m determined to find out but first, we have to make Ellie want to stay.