Page 7 of Puck My Life

“I know, and it’s okay to be upset. But, honestly, these guys are trained to make sure you feel good. They will be so much better than some fumbling love interest. I promise you. You want your first heat to feel good.”

I wipe my nose and try to listen as she starts rattling off more information. I can’t hear her, though.

All I can think about is my boys. What are they going to do without me? How am I going to survive without them?

I make my way home in a daze, but when I get there, a party is in full swing. I forgot about it.

I stand on the footpath, staring at the open front door. There are people in the front yard, a couple making out on the porch, and music blaring loudly. I can feel the bass in my teeth. The neighbours get home and glare at our house, walking inside and slamming the door.

They won’t ring the cops; they like me too much, though their regard is wearing thin. We’d agreed on no more parties, not without warning. Why are the guys breaking their own rules?

I force my way inside, sliding against drunk alphas, betas, and omegas, their scents turning into a sickly sludge in the air, their hands touching my sensitiveskin until I want to cry. My scalp crawls, and more than one person grabs my ass on the way past. The invasive touch causes me to feel cold, and I almost turn and run away.

“Vae!”

Malcolm appears, weaving to the beat of the music. He passes a couple of people, smiling and exchanging excited words before he gets to me. He towers over me and follows as I open my bedroom door, only to find a trio rolling around on my bed.

The sick, hard ball that fills my stomach leaves me numb. I don’t know what to do. This is my safe place, my belongings. My nest.

I can’t breathe.

My eyes burn.

I feel a scream working its way up my throat.

“Hey, Vae, what’s wrong?”

Crap, I can’t fall apart. Not right now.

I ignore him, going into the kitchen, but when I open the fridge, there’s nothing there. The food I bought is gone. My body starts to shake, but I’m not cold. The noise hammers my ears, people talking, music, movements. The scents are even worse in here. My scent is almost gone. I can’t smell Deacon, Mal, or Raynor. Just so many strangers.

I slam the fridge and turn, almost tripping over Mal, but he’s the last person I want to see right now. I don’t want him near me. If he asks me what’s wrong, I’ll fall apart, blurt out everything, and that would just ruin all our lives.

He grabs my shoulders and holds me still. I try to pull away, but he pulls me to him and holds me like he knows I’m falling apart. The whole room goes still and silent; all I can see is him.

“What’s going on? Did you have a bad day?”

His face creases in concern, and he pulls me even closer so we’re chest-to-chest.

I don’t want to cave. Nor do I want to give in to his sweetness, but I can’t stop the thoughts. I might never see them again. As soon as I tell them I have to leave,it’s going to ruin everything. As soon as they discover I’m an omega, it’s going to end us. They will never look at me the same.

The words, the secret is right there on the tip of my tongue.

His arms close around me, and I find myself pressed against a hard chest. The salted caramel, I can almost taste, and I can feel my body reacting to him, finding a calm and peace that I yearn for.

“Mally!”

Malcolm pulls back with a laugh that sounds self-conscious. He sidesteps just as Indy comes flying into the room. She beams at him but sends a quick glare in my direction when he’s not looking.

“I need you, Mally.”

I scoff and repeat her words with a sneer.

I head towards the door, ignoring them. If I want to be alone, there is only one place I can go. I walk down the end of the corridor and slip into Raynor’s room.

The room is lit up by a screen showing music videos, but the rest of the room is painted black, and he’s stapled material to the walls in layers that give the room a soft, nest feel. I toe off my shoes and go and lie in his bed.

It doesn’t smell of anything but him. No one else is allowed in here. Not Mal and certainly not Deacon. I think he’d kill Indy before he would allow her in here.