Page 75 of Welcome to Bone Town

I’m not sure how long we stay knotted together, but when we both finally return to earth, our eyes connect, and he smiles, so bright and beautiful.

“There she is,” he whispers, dropping his lips to meet mine. “My omega.”

His kiss is tender as he slowly rocks his hips, grinding his knot inside me. I feel his pleasure as well as my own, softer now, less desperate. Another quivering orgasmtrembles through me when he drops his mouth to his mark on my neck and tends to it with his tongue.

I feel more present than I’ve felt in… how long has it been? I have vague memories of eating and bathing, but mostly I just remember the need. The desperation for my men, orgasms, knots, it was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.

Now, I’m suddenly cold, despite Jax’s warmth pressed against me. My skin feels clammy and sticky with sweat and cum. I shiver.

Jax brings the back of his wrist to my forehead. “Fever’s gone.”

“Thank fuck.” Roman’s rumbling voice sounds from my left.

Embarrassment tickles the back of my neck at all that’s happened between us in the past few days. When we first arrived, Roman wanted nothing to do with me. Before I went into heat, he seemed interested in seeing where this goes, but does he still think that now, after seeing me like that? I was the epitome of a needy omega. Exactly what he seemed to want to avoid so badly.

I don’t dare look at him, my gaze finding Bear standing behind Jax instead. My big alpha smiles before squatting beside me. “You okay, honey?”

“Yeah,” my voice shakes a little. I yawn. “Just tired. And… do we have anything to eat?” My stomach rumbles, days of not eating enough suddenly catching up with me.

“On it,” Archer says from somewhere out of sight. A minute later, he’s bringing over a stick with steaming snake meat.

Jax sits up, with me straddling him, since we’re stillknotted together. He leans against a pillar, and Archer pulls off some of the meat to offer to me. I thank him with a quick peck on the cheek before shoving the whole bite into my mouth at once.

“We’re still in the temple?” It’s a mindless question, and I don’t know why I ask it, but I’m a bit dazed and not entirely with it yet. “We need to get out of here.”

“I’ll take Shit That’s Obvious for 400, Alex,” Roman says with a hint of a laugh. When I look at him, his expression is sheepish. “Sorry.”

Tentatively, I reach out for him. He comes closer and takes my hand.

“Thank you for helping me through my heat,” I say. “I know you thought putting on the necklace was reckless, and it wasn’t what you wanted.”

“It’s not—” He stops and sighs. “It was an honor, hummingbird.” His palm cups my cheek as he kisses my forehead. “And I hope it’s one I can have again some day.”

“You think the necklace fixed me?” I whisper. My heart fills with hope that Roman wants to do this again, to stay. That I didn’t drive him away with my desperation and clinginess during my heat. That he thinks Icanhave another heat.

“You didn’t need fixing, honey,” Bear says.

“But I?—”

“Shh, this is a conversation for later.” Bear holds a cup of water to my lips, and I drink, not even caring that it tastes horrible. I’m so thirsty.

Jax snores loudly, and I giggle. He’s fallen back asleep sitting up. It’s adorable, but also concerning. With clear eyes, I study him more closely. His hair is sticking up atstrange angles. His swollen lips are chapped. There are dark circles under his eyes.

Taking in the rest of my men, I realize they look much the same. Bear’s right, we need to rest, and then find a way out of here. Conversations about the future can wait.

But as I ease back down onto the pile of textiles and clothes they’ve used to make a nest, with Jax under me, Bear and Archer on one side, and Roman on the other, I can’t stop a few tears from slipping down my face.

I love the new bond lighting up my chest, but there’s a dull, empty ache alongside it where my other men should be. I wish they’d all bonded me while they had the chance.

Jax pulls me a little closer, probably sensing my sorrow, and I let his comfort wrap around me as I sink into a deep sleep.

55

It’s been twenty-four hours since my heat broke, and we’re still stuck. We spent the first fourteen hours passed out in the deepest sleep I’ve ever experienced. Once we woke, it was like there was a silent agreement between all of us not to talk about anything beyond getting out of the temple.

We’ve searched every inch of this level. Any stairs that previously existed have been well and truly destroyed. Either crumbling with age or swallowed by cave-ins. There’s no way up that we can find.

“I think our only option is to figure out how to go back to the cave in, and dig our way out. We know there’s a hole in the ceiling there at least.” Roman says. We’re all in the pool, letting the water ease the lingering soreness as we try to come up with a plan.

---