Page 85 of Ruin Me Knot
"What the fuck does that mean?" Ronan says.
"I wish I knew. That’s why I need more blood," Adrian says.
I clasp Ronan’s shoulder. "Relax, brother. Adrian is on our side." Ronan is as tense as we all are, his instincts riding high, but as prime Alpha, the weight of responsibility pulses through our pack bond.
"There’s something else you need to know, Adrian. There was a chemical taint in Leah’s perfume that’s fading the more she’s in heat. Like her fever is burning out what it needs to."
"You’re certain?" Excitement rings in Adrian’s tone. "If possible, I’d like more samples over the next few hours."
Thunder rumbles from Ronan’s chest. He immediately stops when Leah stirs.
"I’m sorry to ask, Ronan. But it could mean the difference to your Omega… Please, brother. If she’s anything like Mira and Emma, she would do anything to help."
Adrian is right. All three Omegas have been through so much. Too much. If this is a way we can give them back something positive, we must do it. "If Leah wasn’t in the depths of her heat, you know she’d agree," I say.
Ronan plows his fingers through his hair as the muscle at his temple works. "Tell me exactly what you need."
"Note any changes in her symptoms and her scent. It’s too soon to say, but Ronan, Jax, please. This could be vitally important," Adrian says.
"We’ll do it. Let me know when you’d like the draw and we’ll do our best. But Adrian, if it causes our Omega undue stress, you’ll get nothing," Ronan rolls out.
"I wouldn’t expect anything less," Adrian says. “I will slide the package through now.”
There’s a brief pause, then a slot opens at the bottom of the sealed door and a large, shrink-wrapped parcel is pushed through, followed by a sealed box.
Ronan brings both back and zips the plastic back up behind him. Large, soft towels, throw rugs and scatter cushions in all shapes, sizes and colors spill from the shrink wrap. The box reveals several syringes, vials and containers.
"I hate the idea of causing her more pain," Ronan says.
"I know, brother. But if she found out she could fight back against what was done to her and we didn’t let her try, she’d hand our asses to us," I say.
Ronan nods, a spark returning to his gaze as it settles on Leah. "On a silver platter."
Leah stirs, lashes fluttering before opening. Her gaze locks on the pile of items scattered at the side of the bed and something fundamental shifts. Her next breath is sharp and she’s upright so quickly the motion startles Gabriel awake.
"Alpha?" A whimper and question both.
"Take what you need to build your nest, Omega," Ronan says, voice gentle despite the discord running through our bond.
Gabriel gentles his hand on her hips as he helps her slide off his knot with a slight wince. She crawls across the bed, and I can't look away. She hovers at the edge of the pile for a heartbeat.
I lower myself to my haunches so I’m at eye level with her. "Touch them, Omega. Take what you need."
Leah begins to sort through the materials. She drags the edge of a towel to her cheek and tests the softness before setting it aside. Her eyes flutter closed as she tests each texture. When she’s gone through and taken what she wants, she spinson the bed, a cute little growl rumbling from her when she finds Gabriel still sitting against the headboard.
"I think that means move your ass, brother," I say.
Gabriel springs from the bed as she starts to smooth a large, fluffy throw rug over the mattress. Every line of her body is poetry as she builds her nest. She’s beautiful.Mesmerizing. She’s both a miracle and a little ferocious thing, every instinct and nerve tuned to the tactile urges only Omegas have.
Ronan stands on one side of me, arms folded and tension leaking from him with every soft sound Leah makes. Gabriel’s at my other side, eyes shining with the pure, unguarded wonder as our Omega fluffs a pillow, presses a rolled towel just-so under it, layering comfort the way only an Omega knows how. Her movements are unselfconscious, elemental, stripped of shame or hesitation. She’s cute. Absolutely fuckingadorable, but she’s also sexy, devastatingly so. Every roll of her hips and arch of her spine is pure Omega. Everything she was born to be.
A fortress of blankets and cushions blooms around a hollow and with a satisfied little sound, she adds one final couch cushion to the wall. The nest is gorgeous, chaotic, and absolutely her. Her chest heaves when she stands back, but agitation prickles under the surface. Her hands flex as she looks about.
Gabriel takes a cautious step toward her. "What do you need, Sweetheart?"
She doesn’t answer, can’t. She’s too far in her heat to formulate too many words. Her pupils are nearly black, skin shining with perspiration. She frowns, scanning the room, and then she sees our clothes littered across the carpet where we threw them off to tend to her.
She pounces on Ronan’s shirt, Gabriel's hoodie and my t-shirt, and buries her face in each. Her shoulders loosen before she tucks our clothing into the weave of materials she created her nest with.
