Page 4
4
Luca
The beeping is relentless. It cuts through the silence in sharp, steady bursts, each sound marking the fragile beat of time, counting every second that Blake’s body struggles to hold on. Somewhere in the room, a machine whirs, another clicks, monitoring, registering, keeping track of things I can’t control. Things I can’t fix.
But I can’t take my eyes off of him, off of my Omega, suffering there on that hospital bed alone. The oxygen mask covers most of his face, fogging slightly with every breath, the rise and fall of his chest too shallow, too slow. His skin is too pale, his scent faded to something almost sour. The machines might be keeping him stable, but nothing about this is right. Nothing about him lying here like this is right.
I don’t even realize I’m crying until the warmth of the tears slip past my jaw, landing on my clenched hands. Grayson has me tucked into his chest and I’m not sure if he’s trying to anchor himself or me at this point, his purr unsteady as it thrums through me. The bond is shaky with a billion different emotions, Luther’s barely contained rage slipping through. God, everything is a mess and I can’t help but think that most of it is my fault.
Quentin clears his throat, pressing a file to his chest. He waits for us to register his presence and that’s when I notice Maceo is standing beside him, my Beta firmly gripping one of Blake’s hands in his. There’s so much love and pain in that stare that I choke on a sob before sagging against Grayson’s chest. This hurts worse than Hudson’s bites on my neck.
“Grayson, may I speak freely?” Quentin waits and I realize it’s because Maceo is here, a mate he doesn’t yet know about. Grayson nods, placing a kiss on my head and pulling me against him tighter. “This isn’t related to his heart. This is just the stress in general.” Quentin looks almost uncomfortable as he shifts on his feet, weathering a tight smile. “I know enough of your situation to know that you’re going through a difficult time. Unfortunately, in times like these, an Omega’s biology will try to self-regulate or fix whatever is going on.”
I huff out a sigh, not entirely sure what he means. Whenever my body would ‘self-regulate’, I’d curl up in a little ball inside the closet and block out the world but the love of my life is currently unconscious on the bed. He was fine in the car but slowly slipping away until Quentin suggested the machines he’s currently hooked up to. I just don’t understand how it all happened so fast.
“Blake is going to need his mates, whether that be three,” Quentin gestures to Maceo, “or four. With Luther temporarily gone, his body is trying to regulate that loss. Acting as a beacon to draw his Alpha back to him.”
I reach up to my bond mark, lightly tracing the edges of Luther’s claim. It tingles beneath my touch, his anger simmering through me. The touch seems to ignite the other, healing bites on my neck, Hudson’s irritation and disgust hitting me full force. It flares, pain spreading through my shoulder, my nose scrunching up in response.
Quentin notices the movement. His eyes flick to my hand, to the spot where my fingers press against my skin, but he doesn’t address it. Instead, he focuses his attention back on Blake. “Your Omega is going into heat.”
Grayson stiffens against me, his breath leaving him all at once. “That’s impossible,” he says, shaking his head. “He’s on suppressants.”
"Which is why this is dangerous," Quentin replies. His shoulders fall, the weariness of a man who’s seeing someone he cares about fall apart. I’ve never had a doctor long enough to create a connection, to know that I was in good hands if I needed help. I’m thankful Blake has Quentin because while this information is hard to hear, I know this man cares. “His body is rejecting them which is putting even more stress on him.”
My gaze falls to Blake again, his scent moving from the sour, acidic aroma to something sweeter, his pear scent mixing with honey. Oh. My. God. Heat spreads through me, making a beeline for my cock as I try to swallow down the sudden need to be filled. Blake’s heady scent is so much more potent than I remember and it’s taking all my restraint not to climb on that bed, wake him up, and ask him to fix this.
“Unfortunately, this is the hard part. We can’t fight biology and there’s nothing stronger I can put him on without flushing his system so that nature can take its course. I know we’ve spoken many times in the past about… Blake’s desires but this one might not really be a choice.” Quentin steps around the bed, offering me a smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “He will be okay but he’s going to need all of you for this next heat. It will most likely be unpredictable seeing as he hasn’t had one naturally in a few years. Once Blake wakes up, we’ll figure out what he wants and we’ll go from there.” Quentin pats the edge of the bed and heads out the door, leaving us alone.
I bury my head in Grayson’s chest, taking lung fulls of his scent to calm me down. It doesn’t really help but I stay there anyway, letting the tears soak into his shirt. His fingers drag through my curls, tracing the strands as he helps me relax. The reassuring touch has an edge to it, something between worry and despair beneath the strength he’s trying to give me.
“What now?” I ask, a sob racketing through my chest as I pull away, glancing over at Maceo. He’s bent over Blake, softly kissing his cheek. God, my heart breaks at the scene, something so picturesque and yet so heartbreaking at the same time.
Maceo lets out a little growl, unearthing his phone to stare at the screen and then decline a call. It takes me a moment to realize that it’s my phone, the one I’ve avoided since Hudson decided to start calling repeatedly despite the protective order. However, I have no idea why he has my phone with him. “Why is that here? Maceo? Why… is he calling?”
Maceo doesn’t answer me but I can see in the way his face twists up and his expression darkens that it isn’t good. I stomp around the bed and slip my phone from his hands, horror bleeding through me as I start scrolling through numerous declined calls and messages that would terrify just about anyone.
The possessive nature grows with each message, until it’s almost threatening. He wants me back but it’s the way his words stare back at me. The way that I’m nothing more than an accessory to his life. A symbol of status even if he doesn’t treat me that way.
Come home now before this gets worse for you.
Do you think they’ll keep you?
You’re mine. I will always find you.
But it’s the next message that comes through that has me shaking, eyes widening and fear making me stumble into the bed. Maceo steadies me, wrapping an arm around my shoulder as he slips the phone from my grasp.
Seems that I’m allowed to drag your ungrateful ass back home because I’m your only Alpha that hasn’t broken the law.
“We’re out of time, aren’t we?” I ask, my voice cracking on the last word. Maceo and Grayson mentioned that giving me another Alpha bite would save me from Hudson’s tactics, but I didn’t think it was going to be this urgent.
Maceo presses a kiss to the side of my head before turning to face me fully. “I know this is the worst possible timing with everything going on,” he says, and I already know I’m not going to like the rest of this sentence, “but it seems that Hudson might have legal grounds to take you back. And I can’t keep dodging his calls anymore. Sweetheart…”
He doesn’t finish the sentence but I don’t need him to. He’s saying that Grayson has to give me his bite now. Even a temporary one to put his claim on me but I can’t fathom for one second leaving this room. “No, no. I’m not going anywhere.” Panic flares in my chest and I finally realize Blake’s reaction to every time I left the room. It feels like I’m losing him, that if I step outside he’ll disappear and I won’t be able to get him back.
My Beta tugs me into his lap, letting me curl up against his chest as he wraps his arms around me. His purr rattles through his chest, providing a calm I so desperately need as I try to grapple with my reality. “I wish we had more time, sweetheart. I wish we could draw this out, court you, show you how much we adore you and how precious you are but your safety comes first. Will you let Grayson give you his bite to protect you?”
I’m in no mood to have sex right now, even if Blake’s scent has my cock hard and slick gathering around my hole. It’s easy to block that part out because the rest of my reality is suffering. “I—I—can’t,” I finally push out, hating myself.
Grayson rounds the bed, sitting on the edge beside us. “Luca, baby, look at me. There’s another option. It’s temporary but it would at least provide you enough protection to keep you from Hudson.” I perk up just a little. “An Alpha’s bite claims regardless of the situation that it’s in but it’s only permanent when we give into our biological needs.”
Maceo smiles down at me, nodding. “And then when we get home, Grayson can bond you all over again, showing you off to the rest of us.”
The thought of Blake, Luther, and Maceo watching has a tendril of heat swirling through my belly before it disappears and I nod. “Okay.”
“Then go let your Alpha bond you. I’ll be right here to make sure nothing changes with Blake.”
I scrunch my nose, lips pressing into a frown. It’s not fair. Maceo chuckles, the sound soft against my skin, breath warm against the side of my face. I shift slightly, tilting my head, pressing the smallest kiss to his cheek, lingering there for a fraction of a second. Then I whisper, “Our Alpha.”
Slipping from his lap, I turn to Blake first, leaning down to press a kiss to his cheek. His skin is so cold compared to Maceo’s and it feels like death is staring me in the face even if I know it’s not. Still, I linger there, drinking in his scent until I’ve convinced myself he’ll still be here when I return. “Come back to me, Bear. If you do nothing else, give me that.”
His lids twitch just enough, a movement that’s barely there but it’s enough. I blow out a heavy breath and face my other two mates. “Okay, I’m ready.”
Grayson snorts, holding out an arm for me to curl into. “Luca, another Alpha has to approve this union for it to be legally sound. Any of the doctors here can do it other than Quentin but it can’t be in here.”
“Why not?”
“Because a claiming bite involves a lot more than my teeth, sweetheart. Instincts and pheromones ride high and that kind of jolt to the system might provide more stress to Blake when your scent goes all sweet.” I’m about to protest that when Grayson chuckles, cupping my cheek in his free hand. “Luca, you have no idea how your scent blossomed when Luther bit you. I fucked Blake so hard, needing release after that syrupy scent all but suffocated us in your nest. This temporary bite won’t be as strong but it’s better to be safe than sorry.”
I nod, making sure Maceo isn’t going to leave Blake’s side even for a moment. He promises and something about the raw emotion in his voice gives me enough strength to walk out into the hallway. Grayson does all the talking and explaining of the awkward situation we’re in. There’s nothing illegal about bonding a mated Omega so long as the Omega okays it. It’s a different situation when they’re in heat or unable to give consent.
And now, I’m going to let some stranger watch as Grayson gives me the one thing every Omega wants in the world—a bond. I want it so damn bad. I’ve wanted Grayson since the first time he and Blake shared me and even though I’m finally getting it, my heart is still breaking. For some reason, it feels like this won’t save me.
We’re led into a small room off the side of Blake’s, my gaze trained on the door as a doctor closes it, barring my view of my Omega. My heart constricts as I step closer to Grayson, wondering how all of this is supposed to work. After all, the very first bite I endured was in pain and my second was in love. And this one… I crave it, want it, need it but it’s also born out of necessity. It doesn’t help that the room is cold and lifeless, impersonable in the worst way.
The scent of antiseptic clings to everything, burning the inside of my nose with every breath. It makes my stomach twist, makes my skin itch, makes the entire situation feel wrong in a way I can’t put into words.
The Alpha pulls up a chair to the edge of the bed and settles into it, his gaze assessing the two of us before scribbling a few things on the clipboard he brought with him. He is older, an Alpha with graying hair and a lined face that betrays nothing. When he speaks, his tone is detached, almost as cold as this room. “Your Alpha made me aware that this is a temporary claiming which means that he does not have to knot you. However, I will still have you undress to ensure that you are not under duress in any way. There will be a few questions and then your Alpha will be able to claim you should your answers be satisfactory.”
It just feels so methodical.
The doctor keeps talking, oblivious to the way my fingers curl into tight fists at my sides, the way my breathing has grown shallow and uneven. His voice carries on as if none of this means anything beyond paperwork. "Once the bonding process is complete, I will inspect the bite, confirm that the claim was not coerced, and sign the official documents declaring the bond legally binding." The doctor clears his throat, shifting slightly in his seat. "This is usually done in a more private setting. A controlled environment—a hotel, a designated bonding space, the Omega’s home. But given the circumstances, this is the best we can provide."
I take in a breath, a sharp gasp that cuts through the silence that follows his words. Grayson wraps himself around me, kissing the top of my head. “I’ve got you, sweetheart. We do not have to do this, okay? We can find another way, something that will—”
“There is no other way,” I mumble into his chest, fisting my hands at his waist. With my luck, Hudson will show up at this very hospital and try to drag me back into that apartment. The sour tint to Grayson’s scent tells me that I’ve said the wrong thing. I pull back, looking up at my Alpha, determined to let him know that I want this. “I want you, okay? I’ve always wanted you, even before it was appropriate to. Every time you and Blake and Luther were at the diner, I wanted you. The fantasy of being your Omega was something I replayed in my head so many times. Grayson, I want this. I do. I just…”
I trail off but there’s an understanding in my Alpha’s eyes. He just leans down to slowly kiss me, taking his time. “Sweetheart, know that you’re loved and while today may be temporary, when I get the chance, it’ll be for a lifetime.”
A small whine falls from my lips as he whispers ‘just focus on us’ before his hands slide down, fingers brushing over my skin like he’s relearning every inch of me. Each movement is precise, steady, as he slips my shirt over my head with a patience that borders on reverence. He isn’t rushed, isn’t hurried, isn’t treating this like something mechanical, like something that has to be done just to satisfy a legal requirement.
He’s memorizing me. Like he’s trying to carve the shape of me into his hands, like he wants to replace every scar, every bad memory, every ugly thing that’s ever been done to me with something new. Something warm. Something safe.
Soft kisses trail down my neck, pressing into my collarbone, grazing the curve of my shoulder. The heat of his breath lingers, his lips marking a path of warmth across my skin. It should be enough to quiet my thoughts, to settle the unease curling inside me, to drown out the weight of everything pressing against my ribs.
A slow, quiet shaking starts in my chest, my fingers twitching where they cling to his sides, my breath hitching, my chest rising and falling too fast. And then a sob slips out before I can stop it, breaking the quiet, clawing its way up my throat, choking me before I can swallow it down. The moment shatters, everything unraveling too fast, too much all at once.
"This is going to work out," he murmurs, pressing a kiss back to my forehead, a quiet certainty beneath every word. "We’re going to be okay. We’re going to be together again."
A sharp sigh breaks the moment and the doctor shifts in his chair, the sound grating, his tone flat when he speaks. "The Omega needs to stop crying."
Grayson lets out a small growl, glaring at the doctor. “I get that this is just another procedure, another medical type of bullshit for you but for once in your life, spare a little emotion, alright?”
“It’s just part of the procedure, Mr. Keller. I’m here to make sure that he hasn’t been coerced but it’s damn hard to tell anything when he’s crying like he’s heartbroken.”
My Alpha’s growl heightens, rumbling through his chest and I think the only reason he isn’t strangling the doctor is because I’m in his arms. “He is heartbroken. One of my Omegas is in a fucking hospital bed and my Alpha is being unjustly accused. He is allowed to break. He’s been through more than you could fucking imagine.”
The doctor mulls over what to say next, dragging his tongue along the top of his teeth before nodding. “Would that explain the bruises? Luca, where did those come from?” It’s the first time he’s addressed me and it’s also the only question I don’t want to answer.
However, my silence will have him thinking Grayson is the aggressor. So, I force the words out. “My ex,” I whisper, voice rough, raw, scraped down to something barely there. “Hudson.” I lift my chin despite it, blinking through the tears, my vision blurring for a moment before I find the doctor’s face again. My chest rises and falls in uneven, broken movements, my breath still coming too shallow, but I still make myself speak. “Grayson would never do that to me.”
The doctor studies me for a long moment before giving a single, curt nod. Then his voice comes again, softer this time. “I need to ask again. Is this what you want?”
I don’t even hesitate. “Yes.”
The doctor steps back, satisfied. “And you can confirm that the Alpha bonding you right now, Grayson Keller, is doing this because of a mutual decision?” I nod, Grayson turning me to face him until he becomes my whole world, just us two with the doctor’s voice in the back. “And you can confirm that the marks on your body were not made in any way by Grayson Keller.” Another nod. “And you can confirm that you are here of your own volition, not under duress.” One last nod.
It feels more like I’m saying vows, ones that never happened with Hudson. He took from me what I did not give but with Grayson, I’ll gladly give everything.
“Then I, Alpha Asher Thomas, will allow this bond to proceed.”
Grayson cups my face in his hands, gently pulling me close until I’m flush against him. “The next time we do this, I’ll be inside of you, you squeezing my knot, my name on your pretty lips. For now, though, I’m going to take what’s mine.”
And then he kisses me, a sharp pain spreading through my bottom lip as I realize he’s broken through the skin. I gasp into the embrace, Grayson swallowing down the sound as a faint bond forms between us, connecting me further to Luther and Blake. It feels like heaven and too much all at once, chaos flooding my chest and my brain. My body responds to his touch, my cock filling in my pants, my hips moving against my will.
He chuckles as he breaks the kiss, stilling my movements. “I’ve been waiting so damn long for that, Luca. God, you feel like heaven and honey and warmth.”
I smile up at him, dragging my tongue along my bottom lip where he bit. “You feel like home.”
I’m not even listening as the doctor starts saying something about how he approves the union, dragging Grayson into another kiss.