26. Jasmine

"Casper," I moan, pressing a hand to the steamy glass. He's wearing gray sweatpants and a white tank, all that creamy skin just begging for my mouth. "Are you coming in?"

He groans, rubbing at the crease between his brows. "I want to. But Erik has to go see Peter, and your little sister is waiting outside."

I blush at how needy I must sound. Doctors and siblings really should take precedence over shower sex. And then there's the fact I can feel my heat building under my skin. The quickie was spectacular, but I'm going to need more.

But first I turn to Erik, our kiss deep and slow as our slick bodies slide together. When I linger too long, Casper makes an impatient sound and I pull away reluctantly. My pout must be quite impressive because Erik grins down at me as he opens the shower door. I shiver at the rush of escaping steam, diving into the towel Casper is holding out. He drops a kiss on my lips, giving me a super-fast rub down while I squeeze out my hair.

"Will you come with me to see Violet?" I ask him. "There are things I want to say to you both, and I'm not sure how long I'll last."

Because even out of the steam cocoon, heat is crawling over my skin in hungry bites.

"As long as you give me a big hug before we take another step," Casper says, wrapping his arms tightly around me. Even with the storm building in my blood, I can feel my body taking comfort from his nearness. "Too close, babe," he whispers in my ear, his voice strained. He clears his throat roughly as he takes a robe from the back of the door and helps me into it. "The thought of Quinn getting his filthy hands on you…"

"He didn't." I think of the lab table in the basement, but shake the memory away. "It wasn't nice, but I made it out. That's all that matters."

Casper presses his forehead to mine and makes a sad humming sound. "I can tell by the way the guys are all beating themselves up that it was bad."

"I saw the basement where he kept you," I reply. "So yeah, it was awful. But I was only there one day, and if you ever want to talk about it, I'll listen."

"Thanks. I think that might be good for both of us." He drops another soft kiss on my lips, almost reverent as he breathes me in. "Come on. Let's go see Violet and her shoe-eating sidekick."

I smirk, because Chewie has graduated from wreaking havoc on laces to decimating leather soles. Luckily, he hasn't developed a taste for any of my shoes yet, but my smile fades as I find my sister sitting on the hallway floor. Her legs are drawn up under her clenched arms, and there's a glimmer of tears in her eyes. "Violet? Are you okay?"

She leaps to her feet, hurling herself into my arms. "Casper said you were kidnapped."

"Sort of," I tell her, brushing a hand down her silky braid. She smells like cookies and puppy, and a slightly sour scent that makes my heart clench. "But it was over quickly. And the men who were after me are gone now."

She looks up at me, her eyes full of fear. "Even dad? He's not coming after us?"

Fuck. Should a kid ever have to ask that question of a parent? "Well, I think he's in a lot of trouble of his own. He's been doing some bad stuff at work, and Xavier told me it's likely he's going to jail."

"Good," she says, quickly, squeezing me tighter. "I don't want to see him again."

"You don't have to," I promise her, knowing it's a vow I will keep at any cost.

"And we'll stay here? I asked Declan if we're on a trial basis like Chewie, but he said we can stay as long as we want."

Tears prick my eyes and I wonder if this is why she's so upset. Kidnapping and the threat of our father are fears she's dealt with all her life. But losing the guys? Having no safe place to call home? If anyone deserves a pack, it's Violet.

"We're staying," I tell her firmly, "and I'm pretty sure Chewie will be invited back, too."

"As long as he graduates," she says with a huff, then runs a hand down my arm. "You're warm. Are you scared? This is your first real heat, isn't it?"

I always tried to keep Violent ignorant of our father's betrayal, but I'm not surprised she's picked up on this. "Yes, and I guess I'm a little scared. But there's nowhere I feel safer, Violet. Casper's here, and the doctor's going to help me. I don't want you to worry about me, okay?"

"I won't." She looks past me at Casper and smiles. "You've got your soulmate, after all."

My brows shoot up as I search her face. All traces of tears are gone, and her blue eyes are almost smug. "Soulmates? Me and Casper?"

"That's what you smell like to me." She gives a shrug, wriggling a little to get out of my grasp. "Kelly said she's going to teach me to make dog treats. I should get down there before Chewie eats all the cookie dough."

I laugh but hold her long enough to kiss her silky hair. She smells fresh and sweet, but mostly she smells happy. When she runs off, I turn to Casper and blow out a breath. "I'm not sure where she got the soulmate idea…"

"Does it matter?" Casper strokes his hand down my cheek, cupping my face. "If we smell like we belong together, it's no surprise to me."

"Or me," I smile, hooking my arm through his. "Do I really have to go see Peter?"

He chuckles but leads me down the hall with determined steps. "This is one checkup you probably shouldn't skip."

I grumble all the way to Xavier's office, but my heart picks up as we step inside. Xavier is behind his desk and Erik is pointing at something on his computer, but they both look up as we come in. I give them a shaky smile, but focus on Peter, who's just finished bandaging up Patrick"s bullet wound. I hurry to the doctor's side. "Is he okay? It's not infected?"

Patrick smiles down at me, even though his amber eyes are glassy and unfocused. "Good as new," he says, his Irish lilt a little slurred.

"He's fine. But he needs to rest up so the stitches don't tear," Peter tells me. "I imagine you're the only one who he'll listen to when it comes to that."

"Of course." I snap to attention, trying to recall my college first aid classes. "Rest. Sleep. Fluids. No strenuous exercise…" My voice drifts off as the implications settle in. "Okay, but my heat might not even be a big deal."

That gets a loaded silence from every corner of the room, and Peter clears his throat. "Based on your scent, I would say it's both imminent and likely to be fairly intense. But let me check your vitals and we'll make a plan when we have the results."

Words that are usually reassuring to me, but I sit stiffly as Peter tends to the scrapes and bruises I collected in the basement. Then he puts me through the same tests he gave me before, followed by a mouth swab. He doesn't say much as he checks me over, and I squirm uncomfortably until he puts a gentle hand on my shoulder. "Well, there are no surprises. Except that this heat doesn't seem to be following your usual pattern."

"No," I say quietly, my gaze flicking from Patrick to Erik. They've already heard the worst of it, and I don't have the energy to go into the details again. But it's not fair to drag the others into my heat without being forewarned. "There's something you all need to know before this goes any further." I clear my throat, but Erik gives me an encouraging nod and I gather my courage. "My father gave me an experimental hormone injection when I was sixteen and again when I was twenty. My next one is due in a few months. I don't know exactly what was in them, but I was told it affects my hormones. And my father claims it's what made me an omega. Every heat I've ever had was in his lab. Medicated, and monitored by his staff. They never talked to me about any of it, even though I asked. Which means I don't know what I am." I spread my hands helplessly on my thighs. "And I have no idea what this heat is going to be like."

I glance up at Xavier, who's risen abruptly from behind his desk. He's pale and unmoving, his eyes burning into mine. But it's Declan who comes over to me and wraps me in a hug. "Jesus Christ, darlin'. My heart is breakin'."

I sniff into his collar, but his scent is a soft, comforting cloud. "I know. It's a mess. And I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier."

He pulls back to stroke my damp cheek, his eyes sad. "You think I like to talk about the shit my family did to me? I get it, sweetheart. But just so you know, your old man should be pickin' out his tombstone while he's still got time." I choke out a laugh but he just shrugs. "Nobody messes with you like that and gets away with it."

"Thanks, Dec." I rub my sweaty palms on my thighs and search his face. "And you're not too freaked out by sharing my heat?"

For a moment, all his typical lazy charm falls away and he takes my hands, kissing my knuckles. "It will be an honor," he says, his green eyes so warm they make me blush. "And not just for your heat. Whatever you need, darlin', I'm gonna do my best to give it to you."

"Thank you." I lean up to kiss his cheek, just clinging to him for a moment. All those fears about the infamous Siren of San Antonio manipulating me have finally been put to rest. There are still things to talk about, but I know with complete certainty that I can trust Declan with my life. Because we're two sides of the same battered coin, and as much as he wants to heal me, I want to heal him too.

When I finally pull away, I turn a little stiffly to look at the rest of the room. The last thing I want to do is make a speech, but unfortunately, there isn't time to rush downstairs and bake a pie. "Even though I don't know what's going to happen, I feel better knowing you"re all here. I just want you to know I appreciate that."

The guys all seem lost for words, but Peter looks at me with kind eyes. "If you want to talk about this later, to me or another doctor, I'll do everything I can to get you the answers you need." He gathers up his bag and pats my shoulder. "And I"ll stay on call throughout your heat. If you need me here, I"m only ten minutes away."

I nod, but as Peter goes to leave, he pauses at the door. "I can say I"ve seen one case like this. An omega who was part of a religious group who suppressed heats. Her first natural heat was intense, but she was with friends. She even mated one of them." He looks at each of us in turn, the implication clear. "So, that"s probably something you should talk about ahead of time."

When he's gone, Casper comes up behind me and wraps me in his arm. "Jesus, Jas. You've been living with that since you were sixteen?"

"Mmm." I grab his hands, squeezing them tight. "And the hardest part was I couldn't tell anyone. Not just because my dad threatened me, but because I was ashamed."

"Never," Xavier growls, stepping out from behind his desk and stalking towards me. I've seen him angry, I've seen him caring, but I've never seen him like this. He looks twice as big as usual, his eyes snapping with black flames, and his teeth clenched so hard his jaw is white. I'm not scared of him, but he's a bit like an avenging angel, rippling with righteous wrath. But when he stops in front of me, his face softens, his scent like sweet smoke. "What your fool of a father didn't know, Jasmine, is that you would be perfect in any designation. And the shame is all his."

My heart melts a little and I run a hand down his cheek, feeling his jaw flex beneath my palm. "I know that. Logically. But it might take a bit of time to really accept it."

Xavier cups my neck, his palm warm against my scent gland. "Whatever you need, please tell us. If you want your medical records, we'll get them. And if you want to confront your father, we'll put him on his knees in front of you. Just promise me you won't keep anything like this to yourself ever again."

After all the lies and deception I've been struggling with, it's an easy promise to make. I nod and he kisses me gently, but then I'm turning to look up at Casper. "I want to talk to you about omega stuff. Can we go back to Xavier's room?"

"The pack's room," Xavier corrects me, but there's no mistaking the possessive gleam in his eyes. "We'll clean up here and then come meet you."

We're quiet as we head back to the suite, and when we reach the side of the nest, I take a deep breath. I feel lighter, which is something I never thought was real. But when have I ever trusted someone enough to share my burdens? And now I'm about to share my heat with men who would walk through fire for me… It's a heady thought, and I give myself a little shake. "I guess we should make a plan."

Casper is standing behind me, and he moves my hair aside, pressing a kiss to my neck. "Yep, that would be the sensible thing to do."

"But I don"t want to," I confess. "Is that just the heat talking?"

Maybe," he murmurs, nuzzling my throat. "You definitely taste like hot sex and bad decisions."

I laugh and shove my elbow in his ribs. "I'm being serious." I give him another nudge and he flops on the edge of the nest, his smile soft as he leans in and presses his cheek to my waist. I can't resist running my fingers through his silky hair. "I"ve been waiting my whole life for something good to happen. Grace told me it was time I started living in color." I suddenly realize how that might sound, given his injury, and cringe. "I"m sorry. That was a stupid thing to say."

He shakes his head and captures my wrist, kissing it gently. "No, it"s perfect. Because it"s how I feel when I"m around you. Not just distracted from the fact I can't see anymore, but like anything is possible. And I want to do everything with you. I don't care what life throws at me next if we face it together."

My throat tightens, my heart squeezing as I gaze down at this beautiful man. I've always tried to plan out every detail of my life, clinging to the belief that if I can control my surroundings, I'll be able to live with what my father did to me. But Casper is literally taking a leap into the dark with me.

"I believe Violet," I say softly. "That we smell like soulmates."

Casper tips back his head and gives me a wink. "I kind of knew it the first time you waved a butter knife at Erik to protect me."

I laugh, remembering how I reacted to the sight of an uber alpha looming out of the darkness. "I really thought I was saving you, you know."

"Keep thinking that," he whispers, rising to his feet and wrapping me in his arms. "And anytime you want me to, I'll save you too, okay?"

I suck in a breath as a spiral of need unfurls in my belly. I want to believe it's all Casper, but I know my heat is getting to a point where I won't be able to ignore it much longer.

"So, what do you want, Jasmine?" Casper tips up my chin, as if sensing I've come to a crossroads. "Peter was right. The guys are already crazy about you, and when we're deep in your heat, they're going to want to claim you." I shiver and he holds me tighter. "Will you regret it if they do?"

"No. I"ve already been close with Xavier, and I want more of that." I pause, remembering the sensation of his teeth on my pulse points, the desperate need in his eyes as he worshiped my body. The flush that rises to the surface of my skin makes me giddy and I cling to Casper, the words bursting out of me. "I want him to care enough to claim me, and then be there for me every day after. And I want that with the other guys, too. I want to make Dec happy, so I never have to see that fake smile again, and I want Erik to know he doesn't have to worry about me because he can feel me through the bond."

I pause for breath, realizing I've never listed all the things I want before. And there are still plenty of others, like giving Violet a real home, and getting to cook in my own restaurant, and being there for Grace while she has lots of very fashionable little Roses. I want to hear Casper play his favorite piece of music, and I want to wake up every day in a nest that smells like our pack…

"So you get it all," Casper hums. "Alpha knots and bonding bites."

I run my hand down his spine to stroke his ass. "Don't forget delicious omega slick."

It's his turn to shiver. "We'll give you our bodies, our hearts, and our very dirty minds."

"And your soul," I tell him quickly, smacking his butt. "Now you've given it to me, you can't take it back. Soulmate rules."

He quirks a brow at me. "Oh, there are rules, are there? I thought I was just supposed to love the fuck out of you."

"Read the fine print. It's right there in the contract."

He rolls his eyes at me. "Do I look like a lawyer? Maybe we should get Xavier Volk in here to advise us…"

"We definitely should," I tell him, then grip his hand tightly. "But can you start with rule number one? Help your clueless soulmate make her first omega nest?"

I've seen girls in the dorms build nests before, but I've never made one myself. I've also read plenty of magazine articles that promise my instincts will take over, and I'll be left with the nest of my dreams. But after only five minutes of plucking and arranging Xavier's luxury linens, I'm panting hard and sweating up a river. And not because I'm riding Casper's perfect dick in the middle of my perfect goddamn nest!

"It's okay, baby," Casper says soothingly as I toss another offensive pillow on the floor. Logically, I know it hasn't done anything wrong, and that the raw silk fabric is so exquisite it deserves to be in a House of Omega catalog, but frustration is making me violent. "You're doing so great," he croons. "Look at that corner over there. You got the pillows positioned perfectly."

"Circles don't have corners," I scowl, then cringe at the bitchy comment. "I'm sorry. Ignore my inner demon. It just doesn't look how I imagined it would."

"Maybe we try something else then." Casper comes over and grips my shoulders. "Don't worry about how aesthetically pleasing it is. That's just a load of marketing crap, anyway. What you want to do is see how it smells. Close your eyes and breathe it in, baby."

I sigh, pressing my fingers to my tight temples as I follow his lead. "It smells… boring. Like soap powder and vanilla, with only a hint of the guys."

"That's because your heat is flushing the other scents out of the room. You need fresh alpha pheromones. And if my nose is working correctly, a couple of worthy tributes just walked into the room."

I whirl around because he's right. Xavier and Declan are standing just inside the door, and I give them a relieved smile. "God, you smell so good. Give me your clothes!"

"Yes, ma'am!" Declan snaps off a cheeky salute and starts stripping, while Xavier walks over and examines the bed. His gaze is gentle as he surveys my frazzled state. "Casper helping you with your nest, sweetheart?"

This close to him, his handsome face is pure temptation, but I can only focus on the heavenly scent rising from his suit. "Oh, God!" I groan as he thumbs open the button of his jacket. "You're wearing suspenders."

Xavier smirks and flicks one of the leather bands against his chest. "Happy for you to play with them any time you want."

"I think she's going to hold you to that," Casper says, smiling at the look on my face. "But for now, she needs your shirts, trousers, and underwear."

"Please," I add, realizing how bossy we sound, but it comes out like a whimper.

"Of course," Xavier says quickly, flinging his jacket aside and starting on his belt. I know he's doing his best, but he's taking too damn long, and I drift over to Declan, who's in the middle of whipping off his socks.

"Declan," I groan, staring at all that perfect brown skin stretched over taut muscle. Oh God, he's beautiful. Which is really, really unfair. I mean, I get that men have faces like his, but how often do they come with bodies that make you want to fall at their feet in worship?

"Not often," Declan drawls, "but in this case, I'm the one plannin' to do the worshipin'."

I blink at him as I realize I made my observation aloud. But Casper has taken his bundle of clothes and presses them into my hands. "Come on, sweetheart. Time to put all these yummy offerings to good use."

I follow him over, climbing into the middle of the bed at his urging. I feel a little self-conscious at first, but as he hands me each item of clothing, I fall into a kind of rhythm. I sink my face into the fabric, groan at the toe-curling scent, then turn to the part of the nest where it belongs. And every item has a place, just like the magazine articles promised. But when I've stripped Casper bare and tucked his boxer briefs into their new home, I look around forlornly. "Is that it? Why didn't you wear more clothes, Casper?"

Declan twitches at my distraught tone. "I can run an' get my hamper."

"No need," Erik says from the doorway, and I almost melt at the sight of him walking into the room in full combat gear. But then a terrible thought strikes me. "Are you going out on a mission?"

I'd be ashamed of the slight shriek in my voice if I didn't feel like the bottom was falling out of my world.

"No, sweetheart," he says, crossing the room until he's right at the edge of the nest. "I just thought you might like a few other options."

A few other options? As I breathe in deeply, I decide I've just unlocked a whole new product line for Grace to exploit. And when I plant my hands on him, right in the middle of his sweaty tactical vest, a tremor runs through my entire body. "Oh my God," I mumble. "It's used."

His lips quirk. "I just ducked into the gym and did a quick workout."

Casper snorts and Declan rolls his eyes, but I'm so appreciative I feel like I'm going to cry. "This is so heavy," I grunt as I lay the tactical vest reverently in my nest. It gets pride of place in front of me, where I can reach out and stroke it whenever I want. I then drag my eyes up his body, watching him from under my lashes. "You must be really, really sweaty."

"Soaked," he tells me, and a gush of slick wets my thighs as if on command. I watch in a daze as he peels off his clothes with military efficiency, passing them to me in such a way that I'm never empty-handed. And when he's standing in all his naked glory, I wait for the promised sense of calm to settle over me.

But there's that wisp in my hindbrain again. That tiny thread of… something, and I want to chase it all the way back to its alluring source.

Which is why I lift heavy eyes to fix on the elephant in the room – or, in this case, the Irishman.