Page 47

Dean

H olding my little alpha, I sat on the hospital bed. She was sleeping normally now. The heavy-duty pain meds made her sleep a lot. Though at least she’d be just fine.

I fanned myself with my shirt. It was hot in here. I felt itchy in my own skin, and a little sick to my stomach. It would be nice to go home.

The doctor said we couldn’t take her home until tomorrow when they changed her meds to something that wouldn’t keep her mostly asleep.

Wiggling again, I took off my shirt, flinging it onto the couch in the hospital room. Maybe I was coming down with whatever Grif had. He’d had a fever, and all day had been at home sleeping, fucking AJ, or asking for Verity.

At least he hadn’t spiraled.

Yet.

Not that him having a fever wasn’t worrisome.

A jolt of lust came through my bond as he fucked AJ again. Not that I blamed him. When Jonas and I had gone home earlier, I’d gotten myself some attention. This entire ordeal unsettled me. My omega wanted to be cuddled, reassured, and fucked until I passed out.

Then fed candy and told I was a good omega.

Jonas was on his phone, frowning hard, texting away.

“Can we just take her now ?” I asked Jonas. Sure, she was still hooked up to monitors and a vitamin IV, but she was breathing on her own. Really, she was fine, other than having stitches.

When she woke up, she’d want a bubble bath and a chai latte.

Jonas could tuck us all in her bed and bring us some tea. Maybe make us some eggs and rice in the morning.

By then, hopefully, Grif would be feeling better and could join us. Yes, we’d all make her feel so much better.

“Shouldn’t you listen to the doctor?” Dare appeared, looking like he was ready to go clubbing in a mesh shirt, tight pants, and chains.

“Eh.” Jonas shrugged.

“She’d probably like her own bed,” Mercy replied. “Her room is wild. Though the chandelier creeps me out.”

“What? That’s my favorite part. It’s like we’re in a palace in Golden France,” I protested. I’d chosen it special from a fancy lighting shop.

“You do know how that all ended, right?” Mercy snorted.

Okay, so there was a beta revolution because they were sick of the alphas hoarding all the wealth and resources. But visually, the era was stunningly opulent.

Hale appeared, holding something. “Hey, Carlos dropped off enchiladas that his mom made. They smell good.”

“That sounds amazing because we finished Ladybug’s lasagna.” Jonas found some plates.

Mercy made a face. “You didn’t save me any? I thought we were friends?”

“It was a small lasagna, Squirt.” Jonas put the plates and forks on the table, left over from things people brought us.

Okay, it wasn’t that small. When Ladybug brought it, we were starving, and it was hot from the oven and all cheesy and bubbly.

There was a home game tonight, but Grif, Jonas, and I decided to sit out. Coach was good with it. I think they feared glitter bombs from the Maimers if he wasn’t. The Maimers had been stopping by and leaving snacks and flowers. So had the Knights.

Hale helped himself to some food, his jeans so tight I thought they’d split as he bent over the table. “Can I get the keys to Verity’s car? It’ll make things easier.”

Jonas gave Hale a sharp alpha stare. “No.”

“Oh, come now.” Hale tried to ooze Southern charm.

“I told you.” Dare rolled his over-made-up eyes. “Can I drive it?”

Jonas shook his head. “No one is driving her car.”

“You have such good taste in cars,” Hale wheedled.

“I know.” Jonas crossed his arms over his chest.

I got up and got some enchiladas. I squirmed again. Something felt wrong.

“Are you okay, Love?” Concern flashed in Jonas’ eyes.

“I’m worried about Grif, Babes.” I leaned into him and rubbed the spot on my chest where the bond lived.

“You feel warm.” Jonas frowned and caressed my forehead.

We sat and ate Mrs. Rodriguez’s delicious enchiladas.

Jonas’ phone rang. He answered it with a frown. “Is everything okay, AJ?”

From his sour scent, expression, and concern through the bond, things weren’t.

“No, that’s exactly what you should do. It’s fine. We have chains.” Jonas paced the hospital room.

Shit. That didn’t sound good.

Heat seared me. Could everyone leave so I could get naked and Jonas could take care of me? Maybe us fucking would wake Verity up so we could go home.

Then he could fuck us both in my bed.

“Okay.” Jonas’ eyes flickered to Verity, then to me. He ended the call.

“What’s wrong? Is AJ taking Grif to the clinic?” I took a drink of water. So hot.

How much could I take off and still be company appropriate?

“He’s taking Grif to the cabin.” Jonas looked at Mercy. “Who can take you back and forth to practices and games besides Verity and us? Can Rusty actually, or does everyone just look the other way when she does it?”

Oh. There was only one reason why AJ would take Grif to the cabin. No wonder I felt hot and horny. Grif wasn’t sick.

He was going into heat.

“For like how long? If someone gets me the fancy ultra-bullet pass so I can get to class and shit, I can do it,” Dare volunteered from his spot at the table. “I’m on the list and I don’t have any tests or concerts in the next week or two. But if I miss rehearsals, my professor will have my ass. Not sure how long Creed will buy us a hotel, though.”

“We don’t have a guest room set up, but the couch in the upstairs sitting area is pretty comfortable. So is the one downstairs. You’re welcome to that. We’ll be a few days. Maybe a week? Hopefully less,” Jonas told them.

“Sounds good.” Dare got on his phone.

Hale scolded his phone and nodded. “I have to go back to Research Circle tomorrow because I have work and tests and shit. But yeah, if I can get an ultra-bullet ticket, I’ll come for the weekend. Unless you want to call Creed or Grace and have them stay with you? I think they’re on the list, too.”

Mercy shook her head. “I don’t need to be babysat. This plan is fine.”

I wasn’t sure how responsible Dare was. Hale wasn’t responsible at all. But Mercy took no shit and Rusty would help out.

Yeah, when our little alpha woke up, we’d wrap her in a blanket, make a bed for her in the back of the SUV, and bring her to the cabin with us. I wanted to be there for Grif, and we wouldn’t leave her behind.

Given how long it’d been since Grif had a heat, it could be intense. Even if she wasn’t up to participating, her being close would help.

I texted Rusty to ask for help with Mercy. She’d been asking about Verity, anyway.

“It’s hot in here.” It was almost a whine as I looked for the thermostat.

Jonas pressed the call button for the nurse, then turned to Mercy. “You have access to the grocery account, buy whatever food you need. No parties. No one takes Verity’s car. Call Rusty if you need anything.”

“I know how to take care of myself, Bub. Don’t worry, no parties. Just me, Kaiko, pizza, and a shit-ton of beads. Kaiko got a giant bucket of new ones. We might bake some cookies. That cake I got during the snowstorm was good. Maybe we’ll get one of those, too.” She grinned at Jonas.

I never understood exactly where the cake came from, but it was delicious. The cool air hit me as I stood in front of the air vent as it switched from hot to cold. That’s the stuff.

“I agree with that plan. I like cookies. Also, my girlfriend loved the bracelets you made her,” Dare replied.

“We should have all your skate smash friends over for cookies,” Hale leered.

Mercy’s eyes narrowed. “Hale, my friends would eat you for breakfast. But we can get tacos.”

The nurse came in. “Is everything okay?”

“No. We need to discharge Verity now.” Jonas threw things in the bag we’d brought today.

She frowned. “We can’t do that.”

“You said she’s just sleeping. You said she’ll be fine. Unless there’s a good reason for her to stay, I’m taking her.” Jonas’ voice went hard as his alphaness flooded the room.

“I’ll get the doctor.” She left, looking flustered.

“You’re taking her with you?” Dare shook his head. “We’ll stay until she gets discharged and bring her back to your place. We’ll keep an eye on her. She’ll be fine.”

“I’m not leaving her behind,” Jonas replied. “Dean, put your shirt and shoes on. We’re leaving.”

“We’re going now? Okay. Do I have to put my shirt on?” The idea of putting it on made me feel ill. I flopped onto the couch and shoved on my shoes.

“Dean, it’s February. Shirt and coat.” Jonas unhooked her from the monitors, and one of them beeped angrily.

I groaned and put my shirt on, even though the fabric felt like sandpaper. Yeah, let’s go home so I could get naked in my nest. Maybe I’d take my little alpha in there with me. It might be good for her. Make her feel better.

“Can you just take her? Why are you leaving for a week? You have games and shit.” Dare looked confused.

“Um, because it’s illegal to have heats in high-rises in New York.” Mercy gathered up the food people had brought us, putting it in a sack. “That’s what’s happening, right? Grif is going into heat as a trauma response, so AJ’s taking him to the cabin. You’re joining them because Dean is Grif’s husband, and he’ll be going into heat in like five minutes, because bonded omegas are like that. Verity’s coming with, because it would sort of be mean not to because they’re mates.”

“You figured it out. Good job, Squirt,” Jonas praised, putting on his coat and pocketing his phone.

Was I going into heat, too? Or simply feeling Grif’s? Either way, if Verity was fine, I was ready to leave.

“Bub, I’ve learned more from my alpha teammates in a few months than all the classes I’ve ever had in school. Also, Dean smells weird. I’ll take this stuff and the food back to our place.” Mercy gathered up the flowers, balloons, and things people sent.

I smelled weird?

“In case it hasn’t hit the sibling group chat, Grif and Verity mated. If she doesn’t feel up to participating, it’s fine. Given the doctor says she’ll be okay, she needs to be near him. She should have a choice.” Jonas disengaged the last monitor and wrapped her in a blanket I’d brought from her room.

“Oh, okay. Since she’ll be fine, she should totally be with her mate. I just didn’t know you could take people out of the hospital,” Dare replied.

The doctor ran in. “You can’t take her. You’re not legally her pack, so you can’t consent for her to discharge her.”

“Little Alpha?” Jonas shook her gently.

“Five more minutes. I’m so tired,” she mumbled.

“I know, Sweetheart. We need to get to Grif. Are you okay with that?” He gathered her into his arms, blanket and all.

“Grif. Something’s wrong with Grif. I feel it. Ugh.” She rolled into Jonas. “Dean, can you check on Grif for me? I… I’ll get up in a moment. I…”

I joined them, running my hands through her hair. She was talking, and that settled my heart. “We’ll get him together.”

“Okay. Let’s go. Ugh, I feel awful.” Her eyes closed.

I’m sure she did.

“Her mate needs us and since she’s fine, we’re not leaving her behind. Dean, grab the bag,” Jonas directed, moving toward the door.

“Oh, is he on the fourth floor? We can move her to him,” the doctor nodded, concerned.

“It’s not that sort of emergency.” Jonas shook his head.

I put our phones in my pocket and grabbed the bag, eager to leave as I got another jolt of lust from Grif. “We’ll be back, Mercy.”

Hale draped an arm around her. “We’ll be fine. Have a pleasant trip to Pound Town.”

“I can’t believe you said that.” Mercy grimaced and slugged him. “Bub, I’ll call you if I need you, and not expect a prompt response. If it’s an emergency Rusty can’t handle, we’ll call Creed or Grace. Also, I’ll take care of Lucky.”

“You should call Grace in about an hour, anyway. Let her know that Verity’s been released, and we’re taking her to the cabin. Don’t want to get stabbed with a fork.” Jonas looked at the doctor. “Thanks for everything.”

I followed Jonas out of the hospital room, as the doctor didn’t stop us.

Yeah, let’s go to the cabin. Maybe somewhere along the way, we could stop for a quick fuck.