22. Brody

Chapter twenty-two

Brody

T he final spike takes over my body, and once it's over, I slump on the pillows, gasping for air.

I think that is the last of them, and fuck… holy shit…

That was close. I was pretty sure I had gone into heat for a moment, and I was not prepared.

I don't think my Alphas are quite up to the task, and I can barely recall Felicia being present.

I knew she was here because I can still smell her expensive artificial perfume.

One thing I do know. The guys fought for me, and I'm grateful. Truly.

Just maybe they can pull it off and help me get through my heat.

I peer around the nest.

Kellen is lying by my side, eyes closed as a gentle purr sounds in his chest. Alastor is gazing out the window, and Theo is reading the pamphlet Felicia gave him.

It should cover everything he needs to know about caring for his Omega.

After all, it's all on them now to ensure my needs are met.

I don't have control of where I go.

If Felicia deems them unfit to take care of me, then I have no choice but to return to the Academy and go straight back into the system.

I don't want that.

So, I really, really hope they pull through.

My mind is still fuzzy, and I can barely think straight. Yet, when I peer around and look at Alastor, his face is green.

No. It's a light from outside the window, painting him in an ethereal glow, and I sit up curiously.

That's when he chuckles. "Northern Lights."

Wait… what?

The Northern Lights?

And we're all just sitting in here? We need to get out and look at the sky ASAP!

It's only then that I realize something is amiss.

I jerk upright. "Twenty-two?"

All three Alphas look at me puzzled for a moment. It takes them some time to realize who I am talking about.

I haven't got time for this. I need to make sure she is okay.

It's been hours.

Last I recall, she was in the kitchen.

Poor thing. What must she have thought when Felicia turned up in her high heels and smart suit?

Theo finally comes to his senses and shakes his head. "You just focus on yourself, Brody."

I push his arm away, throwing him a pointed look as I stumble out of the nest, and I can barely walk straight.

I'll search for her myself if I have to.

In the end, Alastor offers me help, placing his arm over my shoulder as we go downstairs.

"She was downstairs when I last checked," he says.

"And not one of you thought to ensure she was happy and comfortable?" I wince through the pain.

Theo speaks behind us, followed by Kellen.

"Our concern was you, Brody. We almost lost you."

I tighten my lips. That's no excuse.

She is our ward now. We have to make sure she is safe.

"Don't worry," Theo remarks next. "Alastor made sure her needs were very met."

What is that supposed to mean?

I look at the green-eyed Alpha, and he doesn't even hide the smirk on his face.

When we pass the closet beneath the stairs, it becomes pretty obvious.

I can't even describe the sound that comes out of my throat next. It's akin to a growl, and all three Alphas freeze.

Alastor removes his arm from my shoulder, backing up when he sees…

I don't know what.

I am not sure what is even happening. One moment, I was this vulnerable little creature that needed to be doted on, and the next, I was possessive. Feral almost.

One word rings through my head.

Mine.

Twenty-two is mine.

If there is anyone who is going to lace her sweet watermelon with lust, then it is me.

Wait, no! What am I saying? I am an Omega.

I don't do the pleasuring.

Fuck.

My cheeks heat up and then I become a shy bumbling Omega again. "I… s-sorry. I don't know…"

Once again, I double over, and Alastor is back by my side, helping me out the door. "It's fine. We all have OOC moments."

OOC?

"Out of character," he notes when he sees my confusion.

I shake my head. "Someone reads fanfiction."

He chuckles at the response as we climb down the front porch steps.

Theo is right on our heels. "Brody, you are recovering. Come back to the nest."

I turn my head, finding him at the door. "No. Twenty-two is out here somewhere, and there are cougars in these woods."

Alastor snorts and I round on him. "Not that kind of cougar!"

The Alpha stops, and he really is a kinky bastard.

Kellen rushes to my other side and it's decided; we're searching the woods and rescuing Twenty-two from wild cougars.

"This is a bad idea, Brody. If Felicia…" Theo begins.

"Fuck that Beta."

All three Alphas pause when they hear me cuss.

What's the big deal? They see the bowtie and glasses and think I'm an altar boy or something.

Screw that.

Everyone assumes I am soft and need protecting. I'm not.

I will find Twenty-two and make sure her needs are met.

I can't quite understand the feelings I have whenever I look at her. It's like her scent brings out the male in me.

It's not unheard of. Omegas attracting other Omegas.

It's just that the Academy teaches us how to attract Alphas. They are the dominant designation.

But Oliver Hart has Mila.

And Rian Snow has Belle now.

It seems to be happening a lot.

Could Twenty-two be my Omega?

How could that be possible, though, when I don't even know her name?

I am going to have to rectify that soon.

Now I have a new goal; to earn her trust and learn her name.

I stop in my tracks, gazing up at the northern sky.

The lights are on full display.

I left my phone in the nest so I can't get a picture now. But Kellen takes several with his, and when he shows me his screen, I smile.

Vertical columns of bright magenta stretch toward the sky, when to the naked eye, they appear a little opaque.

More of a wispy pink.

Still beautiful though.

If only Twenty-two were here to see with us.

I wouldn't even be looking at the sky with her around.

Those columns of pink have nothing on her…

We all jump next when a roar echoes through the woods, and it's like something straight out of hell.

"Fuck. It's a cougar," Alastor mutters.

My heart pounds.

Twenty-two is out here somewhere.

The animal sounds came from the east, and I stumble that way without a second thought.

Fuck the cougar.

Theo runs after me. "Brody!"

But I ignore him, rushing through the woods, branches slapping me hard across the face, but I don't stop.

I'm an Omega on a mission now, and I am going to fight a wild cougar in order to protect what is mine.

I am so dead.

However, when I reach the sight of the commotion, I halt in my tracks, a cold prickle shooting down my spine.

The guys are right at my heels and they freeze when they see the sight, too.

Well, we found Twenty-two, and she's fine.

I wish I could say the same for the wild cat.

It's dead. A knife skewered right in its eye.

Twenty-two barely looks perturbed. She just stares at her kill, a dead expression in her eyes, and she looks like a creepy doll from a horror movie.

Specks of blood cover her face, and she has to be one of the most terrifying yet beautiful things I have ever seen.

She's also fucking naked, and something stirs in my pants.

Luckily, her long hair covers her breasts. Or unluckily.

Finally, she lifts her eyes, and those vacant baby blues land on me.

Her mouth parts and then she whispers, "Brody?"

I don't think. I rush toward her, having a strong desire to take her in my arms.

She's shaken and she needs me.

The helpless Omega reaches her arms out like a babe, spurring me on further.

Unfortunately, Theo steps in my way, and now all I can see is the taut muscles of his back.

Bastard.

Now I can't see my Omega.