18. Rian

Chapter eighteen

Rian

" R ian!"

That was Troy, and judging by the panicked tone of his voice, something bad has happened.

So bad, in fact, that he managed to penetrate the barrier I created between us and speak through our bond.

My heart plummets.

Belle…

Leo senses it too, and now we rush back to her side, pushing past various people in order to get back to our Omega.

Soon, we arrive at the scene, and there we find her in Troy's arms.

My Alpha cradles the tiny female, and for a moment, the sight leaves me breathless.

I have no idea what to do.

Normally, he purrs and cradles me in that way, but now he holds Belle like he used to hold me.

And it warms me.

This is how it should be…

How it could be if he just stopped being an asshole and opened up to her.

They smell so good together, and I have a strong craving for a caramel latte next.

Unfortunately, Leo doesn't share my sentiment, and now he storms toward the Alpha, snatching Belle from his arms.

"Get away from her!" he growls.

Troy backs away, deciding to play the better man.

Leo's eyes nearly burn red. "What did you do to her?"

Troy holds his hands up as a sign of peace, backing away further.

I sigh. "Relax, Leo. She's gone into heat…"

I say the last part quietly.

Luckily, no one is around.

Luckily, there are no other Alphas around to sense her.

We have to get her home.

Jeremy rushes back to us, stopping in his tracks when he spots Belle. "What the… Is she okay?"

We're wasting too much time.

Just before Leo can snap at Jeremy for daring to leave Belle with Troy, I take her in my arms, searching the store.

No one has seen us.

The coast is clear.

"Guys, stop bickering. Box me in. We need to keep her out of sight."

Leo and Jeremy help me escort her out of the building.

Troy follows behind us, and we soon reach the car, buckling her up.

It's worse than I thought.

She's barely conscious, sweat dripping from her forehead, and we must get her out of her clothes.

It's not time yet…

We've barely begun building her nest.

We have no choice. She can go in my nest.

Not that it was ever really mine.

Leo built it in the hopes that we would find our Omega, but it has saved our asses twice now.

It was there for me during my heat, and now it will be there for Belle.

When we arrive at the house, we rush her to the nest, laying her down on a pile of pillows.

It's been cleaned since last time.

I guess I kind of figured we would be using it again one day for Belle.

Regardless, she will still have a nest of her own.

She can have ten nests if she so wishes.

I could never get jealous of her.

Troy doesn't come into the nest.

He lingers outside in the hall, and I wish he would just be brave enough and make that first step.

I would love nothing more than for him to join us.

But Leo doesn't quite agree with me.

The Alpha slams the door in his face, and now he returns to Belle's side.

We start getting her out of her clothes, making sure she is as comfortable as possible.

Leo and Jeremy don't speak for some time once we get her out of her clothes, and I feel no envy.

Just pride and happiness.

No one could blame them for staring.

Belle is beautiful with or without clothes.

Finally, she wakes long enough to meet my eyes, and I reach over and pet her cheek.

"It's okay. I'm here."

She grips my wrist. "It hurts…"

"I know."

And I do too.

Because I went through the exact same shit just the other week.

It feels like a lifetime ago now.

But I recall the same life-altering pain. The white blinding fever, all of it.

It was unbearable until my Alphas knotted me.

She needs an Alpha.

Yet it's me she calls out to. It's my pants she starts to unzip, licking her lips.

Her pupils dilate. It looks like she has made her choice.

I'm going to be her first.