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Instead of wading back through the crowd of cameramen, Tris carries me the wrong way down the tunnel Ave is supposed to emerge from. He doesn’t seem to care much that people are staring. His eyes flash from the path in front of us to my face, concern shifting behind his flawless poker face and swelling through his stomach.
I close my eyes and turn my cheek into his lapel, not wanting to hear the shouts or see the faces blurring past. I only open them again when I hear Avery growling roughly.
“What the fuck?”
For a second, I think he’s angry with me for being so weak. Or for being back here, near the locker rooms, at all. Then I feel his taped-up hand land softly on my head, petting my hair gently.
God, he looks so good. The tight black shorts molded to his body display all of his ink and muscles perfectly. They also do nothing to disguise the enormous bulge at his groin.
His fallen-angel face is full of rage as he growls at Tristan. “I told you this would be too much. She needs to be home, in our nest. I’ll kick this guy’s ass and then I’ll come knot her myself.”
When I whine, the hand on my head tenderly cups my cheek. His voice loses every last edge as he murmurs to me, “I love you for trying so hard, kitten. But I’m going to be distracted up there, worrying about you, yeah? Go wait for me. I’ll come for you the second this fucker hits the floor.”
I’m a bad omega. A silly little slut who can’t do anything except perfume and ruin everything and make all the alphas hate me and?—
“Hey.” Avery kisses me so softly, I almost don’t believe it’s really him until he pulls back and his gorgeous face comes into focus. “I want you home and safe and happy, baby. Fuck everyone else.”
That last bit has my lips curling up a little. He flashes his wild, crooked grin. “There she is. You give Tris hell, and I’ll take care of this motherfucker in the cage. Meet you back in our bed.”
He scent-marks my forehead before backing away. Out in the arena, the lights have dimmed and the music pounds as they announce his opponent. Tristan cups his hand around my head to protect my ears, but I still hear Avery call out one last thing as he backs toward the doors.
“Hey, kitten!”
I lift my heavy head and turn to find him, a dark silhouette outlined by the flashes and spotlights beyond the doors as they swing open.
He shoots me one final, feral smile. “I decided on a new name.”
Avery’s preferred metal music screams to life over the speakers just as an announcer intones, “And tonight’s challenger, weighing in at two-hundred-fifteen pounds of rage and ink, Avery Thorne. The Menace.”
chapter
sixty
My sweet baby is in so much pain, and her heat hasn’t even started yet.
I do my utmost to keep everything on my side of the bond calm and smooth, purring as evenly as I can while I rock her in my lap.
“Shh,” I murmur. “I know it hurts, baby. I know. The heating pad is almost ready.”
Spencer did an incredible job making sure we had everything we could possibly need to keep her as comfortable as possible.
True to form, he left detailed instructions with each item. His tilted script says the heating pad should be 114 degrees and applied directly over her lower abdomen in twenty-minute intervals.
His asterisk almost makes me laugh.
*May be combined with easing for maximum effect.
Jonah would have thought that was hilarious.
I’m surprised how bittersweet this all feels. Our omega, going into heat. Knowing she will definitely bond with the others. Not knowing what will happen with us.
As much as I want us to have a pack bond, I don’t think I can let her do that for me. She needs to be one hundred percent sure. She shouldn’t feel any pressure at all—which is just impossible, as it stands.
I’ll have to have a talk with the guys once the heat sets in for real. I don’t want any of them to pressure her, either. Even inadvertently.
It will be the hardest on Spencer. He and I have been through everything together—and he’s the one with the best understanding of just how hellacious this half-bond has been for me. After her heat passes, if we aren’t completely bonded, he says the pain will increase exponentially.
I can’t quite fathom that, so I focus on the other hurt rolling around my middle; the thought of never having a pack bond with the guys.
