Page 88 of Feeling the Heat: Part One
God, I can’t decide if I want to strangle him or vomit.
“Uh, excuse me?” Jackson steps between me and Bryce, his chest puffing up. He’s bigger than Megan’s husband, who, despite all his alpha posturing, looks nervous. “Who the hell are you?”
I place a hand on Jackson’s arm. “It’s not important. Let’s just go.”
Bryce glances at me, then Jackson. “You should at least do a better job training her. I know you’re both betas, but if you’re going to pretend, she should learn her place.”
Jackson’s brow furrows. “What the fuck is he talking about?” He looks back at Bryce, bristling with anger. “No one is playing pretend. Camille’s an omega. And if you knew anything at all about caring for an omega, you’d understand that her place is wherever the fuck she wants to be, while her pack worships her.”
Megan makes a choked sound. I reflexively shrink in on myself and her eyes go wide. “Oh my god, you’re an omega?” she whispers incredulously.
Her husband’s eyes shoot down to her, then toward me. “Come here, Camille.” The harsh, deep words don’t sound like a normal command. There’s power and danger threaded in every syllable, making my omega scramble to obey before something bad happens to me. Before I can even process what I’m doing, I take two steps toward Bryce before Jackson grabs my arm and pulls me back against his chest.
Dread and horror swell within me. Bryce used an alpha bark on me, and itworked. How is that even fucking possible? I thought barking like that was something made up by the media to make the dynamic between alphas and omegas seem more sensational.
Oh god. Ohgod. I truly have no control over myself now that I’m an omega. I’m subject to the whims of disgusting alphas whenever they decide they want me to fall in line. How can anyone live like this? How do omegas leave the house, knowing that someone could force them to…
Terrified, rage-filled tears well in my eyes as I fight to stay calm, using Jackson’s bolstering presence against my back to keep myself from collapsing.
Bryce lets out a dark laugh when he sees my horrified face. “Well, fuck me. Looks like I picked the wrong sister.”
Embarrassed color floods Megan’s cheeks, and Jackson turns to me, his brows furrowed in confusion and the fire in his eyes asking if I want him to deal with this asshole.
I shake my head at him. “I’ll explain later. Let’s go. I can’t… I don’t…” A sob threatens to choke me as I blink up at him through blurry eyes, panic, and the need to flee from this alpha overwhelming me.
Jackson’s murderous energy immediately softens. He doesn’t even look back at Megan and her husband as he sets our drinks down in the cart and turns it around, keeping his body between me and Bryce the whole time. “Okay, gorgeous. I’ve got you. We’ll go.”
I follow him away from the shocked stares of Megan and Bryce, only breathing again once we’ve checked out and are loading up the car.
Shutting the trunk with trembling hands, I go to get in the car, but Jackson stops me. He wraps his arms around me in a firm embrace. Tears spill from me, soaking into his t-shirt, but he keeps me there, rubbing my back in circles and pressing kisses to my hair. My omega’s fight-or-flight instinct slowly subsides as this wonderful man holds me, showing me I’m safe. That he’ll protect me from anything that comes my way.
When the tension in my spine eases and I let out a shuddering sigh, he finally releases me. I peer up into Jackson’s face, expecting him to bring up what just happened. I wouldn’t blame him for wanting to know. But he must see in my eyes that I can’t handle talking right now, so he only gives me a warm smile.
“Thank you for trusting me today,” he murmurs
My throat works as I struggle to not start crying again. “Thank you for being there for me.”
“Anytime, Cami.” He bends to kiss my cheek, then gives my ass a gentle pat. “Alright, let’s get the hell out of here. We’ve got a nest to set up.”
29
“You don’t haveto come up.” Camille fidgets with the hem of her top as I pop the trunk and go to grab an armful of purchases from Nesting.
I turn back to the stubborn redhead, her eyes still puffy and cheeks blotchy from crying earlier, my chest aching with the need tohelp.Giving her the look that comment deserves, I scoop up as many bags as I can safely carry. “Yeah, I’m going to drop you off on the curb with a shitload of bags and let you haul them up all on your own. That definitely sounds like something I’d do.”
A weak huff of a laugh escapes her at my sass. “I know…” She pushes a curl behind her ears and averts her gaze for a moment. “But we’ve been out for a long time, and I didn’t know if you needed to get back to Dahlia. Or had other plans.”
“Dolly is fine.” I wave her off. “Ambrose is probably feeding her way too many snacks while she sits on River’s lap like a pampered princess all day.” I almost mention that the guys offered to watch her overnight, but I doubt that’s where thisdate is headed. Which sucks, but not for selfish, wanting to get my dick wet reasons. For Camille’s happiness.
Her spark vanished after her run in with that alpha creep. I may be oblivious sometimes, but I’ve deduced that those people must’ve been her sister and her brother-in-law. The whole ride back to her place, I hoped Camille would feel comfortable enough to explain what happened, but no. She was quiet, asking if we could listen to music, and staring out the window solemnly. Even my terrible singing could only bring a weak smile back to her face.
Maybe she’s saying I don’t have to come up because she wants to be alone.
Reaching out and placing a hand on her shoulder, I peer down into her warm hazel eyes. “Okay, level with me, Cami. Do you notwantme to come up? Or are you saying that because you’re trying to give me an out?”
The tension in her posture eases at my directness and my touch. Her soft, far too kissable lips curve into a half smile. “I want you to come up.”
I grin back at her, sliding my hand up from her shoulder to cup her cheek and claim her lips. She tastes like coffee and chocolate from the scone she ate in the car, reminding me a little of her slick—though it’s nowhere near as good. Still, having my mouth on hers is enough to send heat rushing through my body, straight to my dick.
