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CHAPTER TWENTY

CAMDEN

A s I walk through campus, it feels like all eyes are on me. I’m probably being paranoid, but I can’t shake it.

An uneasy feeling fills me and I wrap my arms around myself, hating how needy I feel right now as I wish the guys were here with me.

After being away for my heat for the past four days, they were met with a million angry voice messages demanding replies.

When I asked why, they said it was work and not to worry about it.

My heat broke this morning and after a very thorough shower, a breakfast big enough to feed the football team, and a new change of clothes, Lee gave me a ride back to campus with the promise of coming to grab me when they’re done.

The guys wanted me to go to their place, but I asked to come back to campus. May as well use the time to catch up on school work while they’re busy.

My alphas weren't too happy about it, but ultimately agreed.

“He’s alive!” An over dramatic voice has me jumping. Spinning around, I come face to face with my best friend.

He has his massive cocky grin on his face. “Hey.” I laugh.

“Soooo?” he asks. “How was it?”

“How was what?”

His face falls to a blank look. “The circus,” he says sarcastically. “Your heat you idiot.”

“Oh,” My cheeks flush. “It was good.”

“Damn. Good? Do your alphas need any tips in the bedroom? If your heat is only good, then they’re not doing their job.”

“Stop it,” I laugh, shaking my head as he falls into step next to me. “It was better than good, okay? It was amazing. Are all heats like that?”

“Like what?”

“Mind blowing. Wild. Like you're on the best high of your life,” I grin to myself. I’m in the best mood, like I’m walking on fucking sunshine.

“If it’s done right, then yes.”

“Is that how Mr. Kennedy’s heat is?” I risk a glance up at him, trying not to smile at the look on his face.

“Never ask that question again,” he growls.

“He’s totally your omega isn’t he?”

“Camden,” he warns.

“Okay, okay. I won’t say anything again. But you know, you can trust me with this kind of stuff. I won’t say anything.”

“I know,” he grunts.

We walk in silence for a few minutes and the feeling of being watched hits me again.

“Is it just me, or are people staring at me? Tell me I’m not going crazy.”

“Oh, people are looking at you alright,” Jamie chuckles.

“I knew it!” I throw my arms up. “Why? What the fuck happend while I was gone that would have the whole school talking about me.”

“Really?” Jamie asks, raising a brow. “Are you serious?”

“Yes,” I say in earnest.

“My sweet sweet innocent best friend.” he chuckles. “Maybe the fact you have two massive freaks’ bite marks on your neck and the fact you’ve been MIA for the past few days. Throw in that they all know the head alphas of this school are obsessed with you. I’m pretty sure that’s what everyone's looking at, my man.”

“Oh,” my eyes widen as I look around. I’m so stupid. I didn’t even think about the bite marks.

My hands reach up, my fingers brush against them.

I shiver and suppress a whimper. A smile takes over my face and I think back to the moment my alpha’s claimed me.

“I’m keeping this,” he chuckles.

Blinking, I look over to find him taking photos. “What the fuck?”

“Sorry. I just need a reminder of that big dopey grin on your face. Don’t worry, I’ll send it to you,” he chuckles.

“You suck.”

“Nah. Okay, well yeah,” he grins wide.

Shaking my head, I smile as we get to my dorm. “What are you doing right now?”

“Nothing,” he says, following me inside. “Why?”

‘Wanna hang out and study?”

“Sounds like a horrible time,” he chuckles.

“Come on. I need to get some of the work I missed done, but I don’t want to be alone.” Could I sound like any more of a loser right now?

I’m feeling a little vulnerable. I’m newly marked, just got out of my first heat. I shouldn’t even be away from my pack right now. But because of their type of lifestyle, sometimes sacrifices need to be made.

“Fineeee,” he groans.

“You mind sitting on my bed while I hang out in my nest? I need that time right now,” I whisper the last part so no one around hears.

“Whatever you need, my man,” he pats me on the back.

We make it to my floor and head to my dorm room. When we get to the door, I frown. “What the hell?” I mutter when I see the door slightly ajar. Did they forget to shut and lock up in the haste to get me out of there when my heat started?

“What…” Jamie asks and pushes the door open.

My eyes widen in shock and I let out a devastated whimper. It’s like everything around me slows as I take in the utter disaster that is my room.

Everything is destroyed. My nest, my desk, my books. All of it is gone.

My heart slams in my chest as I rush over to my nest. Throwing the closet door open, a sob slips free. It’s all ruined. My blankets ripped, my pillows shredded.

“Shit,” Jamie hisses. “What the fuck happened?”

I’m too gutted to answer. I don’t know. Who could have done this? Why would they?

Did someone find out I was lying about being an omega and this is their revenge?

Why would someone care so much to go this far?

“Come on.” Jamie guides me out of the room. “I’m going to call campus security.”

Numbly, I follow. Reaching into my pocket, I call Lee.

“Cam?” he answers on the first ring. “What’s wrong? The guys said they can feel your distress through the bond.”

“My room,” I croak. “It’s ruined. Someone broke into it while I was gone.”

He curses, relaying what I said back to the guys.

“We’re coming to get you,” he says.

“It’s all gone,” I whisper. “Everything is gone.”

“It’s okay, baby. We can replace it, okay. Anything that's broken or missing we will replace it all.”

“My nest,” I sob out. “They ruined my nest.”

“Hey, Cam. Baby, listen to me. We will build you a new nest. At our place.”

“Your place?” my brows furrow.

“Well fuck yeah,” he growls. “You didn’t think you would be living in the dorms, did you? You're ours now, baby. And we meant it when we said we’d never let you go. You're moving in with us. I don’t want any arguments, okay?”

“Okay,” I agree easily because the idea of living with them, seeing them every day and never having to be apart has the devastation of my destroyed room ease just a little bit.

When they’re gone for work, I’ll be able to stay at home, surrounded by their scents and the comfort and safety of my surroundings.

Honestly, if they didn’t make this choice for me, it wouldn’t have taken more than a few days before I'd be begging them to let me move in. Because I sure as hell don’t want to be living away from them.

We’re packed now. This move makes sense.

“We’re on our way,” Lee repeats.

“What about work?” I ask. “Your dads.”

“Who fucking cares about work,” Brooks growls over the phone. “And fuck what our dads think. Our pack is the most important thing, you and Lee come first. Always.”

I feel stupid because his words make me cry.

“Here, let me take that.”

Jamie takes my phone and talks to the guys while I sit on the couch in the lobby.

Leaning my head against the couch, I sit and wait, staring into blank space until the guys show up.

When they walk through the door, I'm up and rushing over to them.

They hug and kiss me, making sure I’m okay. And I know that even though I’ve got a lot of my personal things up there, I’ll be okay as long as I have them. It scares me to be so dependent on other people when the possibility of being hurt is there, but the more time I spend with them, the more they bury their way into my heart and soul and I no longer care.