Page 37 of All Packed Up
She couldn’t wear torn jeans to a coffee shop in case she ruined Derek’s image, but when Josh got into a bar fight, they just paid the other guy off, and it was never mentioned again. Her chest heated with irritation.
“What do you want to do?” Nic asked. “Your heat isn’t over.”
Heats were different for each omega, but usually they came and went in waves, just like the evening before. It could be days before the worst of it hit.
Even as demanding as her heat had been so far, they weren’t even in the eye of it yet. It probably wouldn’t settle in until all of this was behind her and she was finally safe. What did they do until then?
What if the alphas got inside the building? Sniffed her out and burst down the door and—
“I don’t want to go with them,” she whispered.
Her heart pounded at the admission. How could she put that on Nic? How could she make that his problem?
“Then you won’t go with them,” he declared. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.”
You’ll do what I say, when I say it.
Her throat grew tight from tears, but she ground her teeth together and swallowed them down. She’d already cried enough, and her tears weren’t going to help anyone.
“I shouldn’t stay here anymore,” she said, lifting her chin so she could meet Nic’s gaze. “The alphas will find a way in here soon enough, especially since they have Derek with them. He has to know I’m here.” If she could feel him even when she was trying to block him out, he most certainly could sense her.
Nic sank to his knees in front of the couch, eyes dark and intense. She unfolded her legs, and he placed a palm on the top of her knee, the warmth from the gentle touch offered her comfort. Wendy met his gaze bravely, but she didn’t think she was fooling anyone.
“You can be scared,” Nic said, voice low and soft and deep and comforting. “But you’re not alone. I’m not gonna let you run off. We just need to find somewhere else to stay.”
“We? Nic, this is my fight, not yours,” Wendy argued. She didn’t want to drag Nic down with her. What if the alphas hurt him?
“It may be your fight, but I’m tapping in,” he said, quirking his lips in a smile.
Wendy could kiss him.
So she did, lunging forward and crushing her lips to Nic’s in a rush of gratitude and affection. Combing a hand through his hair, she slanted her lips against his until she was out of breath. When she pulled back, Nic fluttered his eyes open and smiled at her.
“What was that for?” he asked.
Her cheeks heated as she shrugged. “So… what do you want to do?” Wendy asked.
If they couldn’t stay here, where would they go?
“We need somewhere safe. And as long as you don’t mind… somewhere with an alpha.”
“Do you trust this alpha?” Wendy questioned. She wasn’t particularly fond of them, but she trusted this beta to keep her safe, even if she felt guilty accepting his help.
He smiled, but it was shadowed by something almost like sorrow. “Yeah, I do.”
“Then no, I don’t mind,” she promised. Wendy trusted Nic, and if he trusted this alpha to keep their secrets, she would too.
“Great!” he said a little too quickly. “Good.” He cleared his throat. “Uh… I should probably give him a heads-up before we just show up. And I need to take care of some things at the gym before we go into hiding.”
Wendy swallowed sharply and clasped her hands together to keep from wringing them in obvious worry. “Do you need to leave?”
Being alone was the last thing she wanted, but goddammit, she wasn’t a child. Nic could tend to his job, and she’d be fine for a few hou—
“How do you feel about the neighbor alphas?” Nic mused.
Cocking her head to the side, Wendy imagined the two alphas, the glimpse she’d gotten of them in the hallway.
“It’s Arlo and… Tate, right?” she asked. Arlo was tall, though not as tall as Nic, with a shadow of a beard and a gorgeous fade that tapered into his natural locks paired with a soft smile, which was contradicted by the intimidating way he’d crossed his arms. He meant business, while the other had been blond and tall and slim and carrying serious muscle beneath his golden tan.
