Page 21 of Indigo

thirteen

Nash

“What if we can stop it?” The words tumble out of my mouth before I can catch and swallow them back.

Nothing can stop the heat. Nothing can change a scent-match, so why, why in god’s name did I say that?

Because she’s hurting, and I need her not to.

“What?” Cassidy shouts in disbelief.

Both of my packmates turn to look at me, wide gazes full of questions, but at least Hank keeps his doubts to himself.

“Can you do that?” Indigo’s soft voice is hopeful for the first time.

“I have to be honest with you.” I lick my lips. “There’s nothing that will completely stop the heat. But a few things can keep it at bay. Things to make you comfortable.”

Her eyebrows pinch, and she nods, trying to follow. “Is it a medicine?”

“No. Nothing like that is available, but we can fight this.”

“And we can promise not to touch you. Doesn’t matter how much you beg.” Hank’s voice is low, but it gets her attention.

For the first time ever, she steps in our direction.

“Do you mean it?”

He dips his chin. “Are you of sound mind right now?” She nods. “Well, so we’ll take your wishes now. Nothing you say later, while struggling, will change it. We won’t touch you.”

“Never,” Cassidy echoes.

Indigo turns her gaze to me, waiting for my confirmation. Is it the rotten smell of her fear that got into our heads? Are we so desperate for her approval that we make promises no man can keep? I just promised to stop a heat I’m sure I can’t, and now we are saying we won’t touch our Omega even if she begs.

Jesus Christ.

“No one will touch you without your say-so while lucid.”

She narrows her eyes, but the foul scent changes slightly, showing me she’s not as scared as before.

“What if I never agree with this?”

I swallow dry, wishing I had a goddamn shot of whiskey to chase away the impossible promises I’m making today. I rub my hand over my face and shrug.

“We’ll never do anything without your consent, Indigo. If you don’t want us, then this is as far as we’ll get to you.”And probably die in the process, but I don’t say that part out loud.

The space between us throbs and begs to be demolished, but her chin is up, her stance proud as if she can’t feel the pull. If I couldn’t see in her face and body that she’s struggling, I’d think she didn’t care. And that’s what really brings us here, isn’t it?

She’s suffering. Her nipples are pebbling against the soft material of her shirt, her cheeks are flushed, and a delicious drop of sweat runs between her breasts. She’s not unaffected, yet she’s so scared of this scent-match that she prefersthisto us.

“You don’t need to stay on the other side of the room.” She shrugs. “As long as you don’t fuck me without my consent, you can come closer.”

Her crude words are a slap in my face, but I try not to react to them. It’s a privilege to be innocent to the horrors of life. Indigo spells it out because she lived through it, and if I’m not man enough to even hear what happened to her, then I definitely don’t deserve to be her Alpha.

“Okay.” I slap my hands together. “I’ll make some calls. My grandfather is a doctor. He’ll know what can help, and I’ll get a list. While I’m doing that, Hank, start the bath, and Cassidy, grab ice from the ice machine. A lot of ice.”

“What?” Indigo asks as I scroll through my phone for Papaw’s number.

“We need to bring the heat down. An ice bath will help.”