Page 21 of Castaway Heat
Ronin pulled the net closer and roared with excited pleasure when he saw three fish trapped inside. He sighed with relief, too, glad they’d have fresh protein instead of more expired canned food or coconut for dinner. After he’d found the fishing nets, he’d not been sure he could catch much of anything. It had taken him days to repair the tears in it and then on his first two attempts to fish, he’d come up empty. The fish were wily and quick—or so small they slipped through the net. He strode out of the waist deep water and onto the beach where Shiloh was digging through the newest piece of luggage they’d found washed up on shore.
“I caught us dinner, babe,” Ronin said, smiling as he lifted his catch.
“Uh-huh,”Shiloh said, frantically digging through the suitcase. He didn’t even look up to see the fish. After draggingeverything out of the suitcase, he banged both fists on the pile of wet clothing across his knees and let out a roar of frustration.
Ronin dropped the net to the ground and knelt beside Shiloh. He rubbed his omega’s back, trying to lend comfort. Weeks without a single sign of rescue was wearing on them both, but they’d been lucky on other fronts. The solar panels worked. Not only had they cleaned out the well behind the house so they could have running water and showers, but they’d also found a waterfall and freshwater spring nearby. If he could catch fish to supplement their limited supplies, they could exist indefinitely if they had to. Hopefully they wouldn’t have to, but knowing they could helped dispel some of his fears.
“It’s okay.I’m as frustrated as you are. It’s been difficult but we’re going to make it through this. Therehasto be people out there looking for us. It’s only a matter of time.” He pressed a kiss to Shiloh’s forehead. “We just have to hold on a little longer.”
Shiloh shook his head and tears shining in his eyes. “I know.” A tear slipped down his cheek. Ronin sensed it was a frustrated tear, not sadness, though there might be a little bit mixed in there, too. “But…”
Ronin frowned. “Butwhat?”
“I’ve been searching every suitcase we’ve found ashore and haven’t found something wedesperatelyneed.”
He frowned. They had food and water and shelter. What other immediate need did they have?
Shiloh closed his eyes for a couple of seconds before opening again. “I don’t have any heat meds.”
Ronin froze for a second. Why hadn’t that crossed his mind? Maybe because he was an alpha and only went into rut when near an omega in heat. Since most omegas were medicated to limit or prevent their heats—or sheltered away with their alpha when unmedicated—he’d never experienced the full sensation ofa rut. Once, he’d been close, but it had been mild enough for him to resist and get away. “How long do we have?”
Shiloh shrugged, his expression numb. “My last heat ended just before we left. It took almost two days to fly to Australia and another day before we boarded the ship. We were on our third day of the cruise when the boat sank. If I haven’t forgotten to make a tick mark along the way, we’ve been here for twenty days. Assuming we weren’t floating in the ocean long before we washed ashore, I’m guessing tomorrow or the next day.”
Ronin took a moment to consider that. “So, either you find medication today… or it’s coming.”
“Yes,” Shiloh murmured, his gaze on his hands clutched on his knees.
Ronin sensed Shiloh was scared. He wasn’t sure what the right thing to say was in that moment. Everything that came to mind didn’t sound helpful. “Wearemates. We’d share one eventually. So it comes sooner than later.” He brushed back Shiloh’s unruly hair. “I’ll take care of you. I promise.”
Shiloh sighed with frustration. “I’ve never experienced a full, unmedicated heat and I’m scared of what’s going to happen. Not just during, but after.”
“I know all about aftercare. We can spend tonight preparing. I just boiled some spring water and refilled a case yesterday. I can move it into the bedroom. Snacks, too, to keep our strength up. There’s a bathtub for you to soak in after. We’ll make it through okay.”
Shiloh smiled, but there was sorrow in it. He caressed Ronin’s bearded cheek, the smile not lasting long. “I’m not worried about aftercare. I know you’ll be there for me.”
“Then what?”
“What if I get pregnant… and we don’t get rescued? What if I have to give birth on this island?”
A mild panic clutched Ronin’s chest. “Omegas gave birth eons before there were obstetricians and hospitals.”
“I’m not a medieval peasant,” Shiloh snapped angrily.
“I only meant that itcanbe done,” Ronin murmured before remembering the mortality rate during and after childbirth back then was pretty grim. There were dangers for an omega giving birth in the best of circumstances. In the worst of them? His lungs burned from the tightness there.
He wasn’t going to lose Shiloh. They’d already gone through too much and survived. He held Shiloh’s fearful gaze, running through scenarios. After a moment, he jumped to his feet.
“Where are you going?”
“To check the sign and make sure the bonfires are ready for tonight,” Ronin yelled over his shoulder. Protecting his omega was his foremost thought, with rescue close on its heels. One of the first things they’d done after checking out their supplies and looking for any form of communication, they’d carried fallen logs and debris to form a massive HELP on the beach near the pier. Every night, as soon as the sun disappeared over the horizon, he set two bonfires on either side of it in hopes the lights would be seen by an airplane or a passing ship. “After that, I’ll search for more washed-up luggage. If I find any, you can search them for medication while I clean the fish and make us dinner.”
Shiloh smiled, his eyes glassy with tears. “Thank you.”
He leaned down and pressed his lips to his omega’s. “It’s not enough, but it’s all I can do. We’ll make it through this, just like everything else life has sent our way these past weeks.”
Shiloh kissed him.
Ronin returned it, full force, clasping the back of Shiloh’s head. When they parted, he pressed his forehead to his omega’s before rising hoping he wasn’t blowing smoke up both their asses. “I’ll be back soon.”
