Page 64 of Knot Your Pawn

10

Riley

Things are clearly no longer going right in the bathroom when Vera throws door open and we’re all flooded with Luca’s bitter caramel pheromones, which have somehow gotten even more bitter than usual.

All three of us are on our feet, ready for action, when Mathew comes stumbling out, holding up Luca, who looks like he’s about to faint. His face is deadly pale, and he isn’t wearing a mask, which is very bad if he’s so close to Vera, or when Caleb’s pheromones are around.

My heart sinks, and I cross the room, making sure I don’t get in the way as Mathew almost carries Luca to the balcony, not wanting to make things even harder on either of them.

But while Luca starts to look better with the fresh air, Mathew becomes scarily pale as he lets himself slip onto one of the lounge chairs.

I’m at his side in moments, touching his face, checking his pulse, trying to make sure he’s okay.

Behind me is commotion and I realise that Vera also isn’t doing too well.

Fuck...

What the fuck is happening?

I pick Mathew up and Jorge and Luca step out of the way as I follow Caleb back into the bedroom. Caleb is carrying Vera, his face a mask of pure concentration, and he can’t seem to keep his eyes from Vera’s face, watching her every movement.

He puts her on the bed, and I put Mathew next to her, the Omegas immediately clinging to each other, holding on tight. Their colouring is coming back slowly, but they still seem to be in pain.

“Close the fucking door.” Caleb, who is normally the calmest of us, snaps as Jorge is coming inside, followed by Luca, who’s still making sure his mask is on right. “And close the window.”

“We don’t have to—” We don’t have to go that far, the window hasn’t been a problem until now.

“Do it!” Caleb’s pheromones roll off him, all anger and impatience, making my hairs stand on end, making me almost want to submit to him.

I don’t think I’ve seen him this furious before and it seems to come out of nowhere too.

Moving fast, I close the window, shooting Luca a worried look, but the Beta is standing in the same place as before, like he’s rooted to the ground, as he stares at the two Omegas on the bed.

Luca isn’t doing that well yet either, he needs more clean air, but I also understand that he can’t be away from the Omegas for too long. It’s a complicated balance.

“Caleb, these pheromones aren’t helping.” Jorge keeps his voice level as he sits next to Mathew on the bed, running his hand over Mathew’s side, trying his hardest to surround our Omegas in soothing pheromones.

Vera and Mathew are shaking, their faces contorted in fear, Vera’s pheromones smell like she could start sending out appeasing pheromones at any moment.

This is bad.

This is really fucking bad.

The tall Alpha stares at our Omegas, shocked, realising what’s going on. “I didn’t mean to. I don’t mean to.” His voice is barely above a whisper, as he crawls onto the bed next to Vera, sending out wave after wave of soothing pheromones, even though they’re still a little off.

It seems to do the trick though, as Vera and Mathew are no longer looking terrified, but they’re not looking very well either.

Then, deeply bitter pheromones flood from behind me, and I’m right on time to catch Luca as he slumps in my arms, his face very pale again.

I’m torn between needing to stay inside for my Omegas, and taking Luca outside so he can recover, before he starts to get worse too.

I glance to Vera and Mathew, Caleb and Jorge can take care of them for a couple of minutes, but Luca won’t survive being inside for much longer.

“Come on.” I wrap my arm around his shoulders, help him walk to the balcony door and then help him outside.

I close the door behind me as quickly as possible, not wanting to upset anyone inside, and then hold Luca up with one arm as I take his mask off with my other hand.

On impulse, I hold him close and surround him with my pheromones, trying to soothe him. The air outside should help enough, but maybe getting pheromones from one of his mates will work even better.