Page 8 of Fierce Claim

Vera

I’m smothered by warmth but somehow still feel chilly, like I don’t have enough energy to keep myself warm. I snuggle deeper into the nest, to go back to sleep, when all the weight and heat disappears, the cool air making me shiver and wrap my arms around myself tightly.

The difference in temperature wakes me up more, making me notice the worried pheromones from my pack, making me remember that I went to sleep in the bed last night, not the nest…

What happened?

Why am I in the nest?

Why is everyone so worried?

I try to clear the sleepy drowsiness from my mind, but it only fades away slowly.

“My sweet Omega.” Mathew touches my cheek, his fingers warm against my cold skin, his voice filled with concern. When I look up at him in the dim light, there’s a deep wrinkle between his eyebrows.

I reach up, touching it. “Why are you frowning like that?” As I look around, I notice that the others are also staring at me with worry in their eyes.

Oh, that can’t be good.

“What happened?” I meet Caleb’s gaze, hoping he’s got an answer.

“You woke up in the middle of the night and decided to go to the shooting range in your night dress. You wanted to train so you could protect Mathew at any cost.”

“Oh, fuck. That was real? I’m sorry.” It’s been years since this last happened.

Not knowing if what you’re experiencing is a nightmare or if you’re awake is really scary. I often dream of the places I live in or where I’ve lived in the past, so I don’t have a good way to differentiate between dreams and reality when something like this happens.

It wasn’t the first time I went to the shooting range in my dreams, to try to get rid of my fears, to hopefully feel safer, that has happened a couple of times now. But it was the first time Jorge was there, trying to convince me everyone was okay —which I of course didn’t believe, these episodes are caused by anxiety and anxiety isn’t rational— and it was the first time Caleb came to get me.

“I’m really sorry.” My chest tightens when more memories return and I realise how I must have scared everyone. “I’m really, really sorry.”

Mathew pulls me into his lap, wrapping his arms around me, as the others come closer, touching me, trying to soothe me.

“Don’t apologise. We had no idea you were so scared. We should have noticed it sooner.” Mathew’s voice is low and I look up at him, meeting his gaze, his dark eyes filled with worry.

“I can’t lose you.” My voice hitches as my chest hurts again. “I can’t lose you.” The thought of losing him makes my stomach churn, makes everything hurt.

The image of when Jorge was in a frenzy and trying to protect Mathew but also not recognising Mathew as his mate keeps haunting me. It keeps scaring me in ways I didn’t know I could feel fear.

With Caleb, it was mostly miscommunication between Mathew and Caleb and I could solve it pretty quickly, but last night could have ended very differently if I hadn’t noticed it the moment I did…

We can’t let it happen again.

What if I’m not there to help next time?

“You won’t.” He softly kisses my hair. “You won’t lose me. I promise.”

“You can’t promise that. I won’t always be by your side…” I push my face into his chest, trying to get some of his pheromones, my heart racing.

He doesn’t understand, he doesn’t understand how scary it was to watch him protect himself against an attacker but also aware that he might have to protect himself against one of his own mates.

Nobody should be scared of their mates, especially not a bonded Omega… Especially-especially not when their mate is trying to protect them and doesn’t want to harm them either.

It’s all wrong. It’s all so wrong.

Caleb releases calming pheromones as the pillows of the nest dip and he makes himself comfortable against my side, so I’m tucked between Mathew and him. “We’ll sit down and figure something out tomorrow. But I don’t think worrying about it tonight is going to help. We’re all exhausted and nobody is thinking very clearly.”

He touches my shoulder and then his lips are on the top of my head as he takes long breaths, his calming pheromones intensifying, slowing my heart down. “Let’s try to go to sleep first. Once we’ve all had enough sleep and our heads are clearer, we’ll figure things out.”

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