Page 34 of Threads of Fate

“What? Ro, too? Holy shit.” That explained the blood on Rowan. “I liked that shirt.”

“Take it up with him. Gray was two seconds from my throat too, and if Yasmine hadn’t been a good shot, we would be in trouble, because I don’t think he would have gone down like our baby alpha.”

Rowan was bigger than Grayson, for sure, but his heart hadn’t been in it. Finn wasn’t so sure about Grayson’s. Finn has never been more thankful for a firm hospital policy around errant behavior and insisting on comprehensive staff training.

“So, two enigma alphas gunning for your job? That doesn’t make sense. I know for a fact they do not want to make the big decisions. They are happy to have you as our Pack Alpha.”

“I don’t think it’s about my job. Rowan said it’s because of Nix. That he smells like…how did he put it? Like the best sexyou’ll ever have…in a bakery. What is it about how Nix smells that made them think it’s worth going a round with me?”

Jay is understandably confused. And isn’t that the billion-dollar question? Pack dynamics are set early in a relationship; roles are solidified, and each person is clear on how things are run and who runs them. In the Rhodes Pack, where roles are more fluid, they’re equals, with no one’s voice louder than another. There are exceptions like Gideon and Luca’s relationship, but even as pack leader, Jay will always consider everyone’s opinion. But they all—without exception—defer to Jay’s alpha dominance. He may not bring it to bear, but they all know he could, and that’s enough for them.

Finn gets off Jay’s lap and moves to scent Nix up close for himself again. The scent is exactly like what Rowan describes: thick, sexy, and so, so sweet. Finn wants to lick and bite, too.

He remembers how he felt when he’d met Nix in the ER, how funny he’d been, how friendly and polite, and how beautiful in motion. His scent is extra delicious, but it’s only that; nothing can compare to how Nixiswhen he’s awake. His scent alone would not have Finn feeling the urge to challenge their pack alpha.

“What about you? You’re not marking your territory, and Gideon’s been here with you the whole time. You don’t feel you need to have him for yourself?” He doesn’t mean for it to sound like he’s goading his alpha; he’s just curious.

“Be careful, pup.” Jay’s eyes flash red, but the pack leader has a firm hold on this urge to show Finn who’s boss. He should not be disappointed (even if he is, just a tiny bit), and he feels a flicker of remorse for not watching his words or tone.

“Fuck. Sorry, Jay. So, you do feel it; you’re just better at keeping it under control.” From a medical perspective, humans who transition are betas, and their scent is usually mild; milder than, say, born Weres like Luca or Leo. It goes unsaid thatNix’s scent is anything but mild. “It’s strange that he’s triggering this response.” Finn’s mind races, caught between curiosity and concern. There is something here—something they didn’t yet understand.

Finn loved a good diagnostic mystery, the kind that made him dig deeper and question the obvious. He hopes Dr. Spencer can help connect the dots and give them some clarity.

For now, though, there were practicalities to deal with. Soon after, Finn convinces a grumbling Jay to wash up in the restroom while they come to get Nix for his CT scan. The urge to break his own rules and “wash his alpha’s back” is strong, but the cleaning staff is hard at work setting the room to rights, and that pesky self-imposed “SFW” policy keeps him in check.

When Nix returns, both he and Jay are eating leftover stale donuts from yesterday and soda from the hospitality supply in the waiting room. Leo had taken Rowan and Luca home to see if they could help Rowan burn off some of hisbite, fuck, breedinstincts,and he promised to be back before dinner with food for the others. Then it’s just Finn and Jay again.

It’s quiet except for Nix’s monitors and the occasionalsnap snap snapas Nix’s bones continue to repair themselves, so Jay exacts a promise from Finn to wake him if anything happens and climbs onto the bed beside his Sunshine. Throwing an arm over his tiny waist, he puts his nose in his hair and closes his eyes. Finn soon hears soft snores and reaches for his phone.

He’s admittedly worried that there’s been no word from Gideon and Grayson. He has a creeping sense of dread because the ketamine should have worn off already. If he felt he could get away, he’d run up to the ninth floor to check for himself. As it is, Finn is limited to sending texts while watching over his sleeping alpha.

2:00 PM - from Finn

How is Gray

He should be awake now

…

Gid you guys ok

2:19 PM - from Finn

are you both okay

2:24 PM - from Gideon

We have a problem. Grays in rut again

Finn cannot believe their luck. He gently shakes Jay, feeling awful as it hasn’t even been thirty minutes.“Jay. Gray is having a rebound rut.”

Jay sits up, rubbing his hands over his face, “Well, fuck.”

The phone rings, and even though Jay can hear it anyway, he puts the call on speaker. “What’s going on? Is Gray okay?” Jay asks. A rebound rut is uncommon, and it tickles something in his brain that maybe that dominance display had been part of his rebound surge.

But Grayson had never—wouldnever be that instinctual during an actual rut; Finn can’t imagine a rebound would be that much different.

“Fuck no. It’s been a complete shit show. Leo and Luca are on their way back as soon as they drop off Rowan. Our boy’s teetering on feral—they won’t let us move him to take him home, and every time I try to leave, he loses it. We had to tranq him again—he was already awake by the time we got up here. Took out a security guard in the process.” Jay’s eyebrows are almost in his hairline, and he is climbing out of bed just so he can go back to pacing.

---