Page 102 of Feeling the Heat: Part Two
“He was here. He’s the one who hit me. He’s the one w-who got me fired and w-was stalking me.” Camille begins to tremble again.
“I’ll kill him,” Ambrose growls.
“No, you won’t,” I say firmly, and his growl sputters back into a purr as he examines the bruise welling on Camille’s jaw.
My chest aches with the need to touch and soothe Camille,too, but I need to stay vigilant in case Bryce decides to try some shit. My pack needs me to protect them, and I’ve never been more proud to be a beta, because it means my head is clear enough to let me do that.
What happens next goesby in a blur. The cops show up, and as much as I don’t like them, they’re necessary in this situation. I have to command our alphas to back off more than once as the police take Camille’s statement, all of us horrified and furious as we hear the details of what happened. The cops look at me like I’m an alien for being able to get agitated alphas to listen even though I’m a beta.
By the time they’re done questioning us, Ambrose has examined Camille’s jaw and my knuckles, both bruised but otherwise okay. Which is good because I think River would seriously have hunted Holden down if Camille’s injury had been any worse.
Astrid got our car for us while we’ve been stuck at the station, eager to do something to help. She cries at the sight of her best friend and apologizes over and over for not going with her, and for not stopping her from going in the first place. Camille reassures her that it wasn’t her fault. That she had to do it. That she wouldn’t have been able to live with herself if she’d refused to help Megan.
Her sister is still in questioning for her role in the attempted abduction and assault of our omega when we leave, and Camille doesn’t say anything to her before we go.
Exhausted and shaken, we pile into the car with Camille cradled between me and Ambrose in the backseat.
“Are we going home? Orhome?”
Fuck, I’d forgotten. Camille needs her nest right now. Herskin is hot and clammy, and it seems like a matter of hours, not days, before her heat starts.
“The second one,” I decide. “Astrid said she’ll go get Dolly and watch her for us until the heat is over.”
None of us wants to make Camille’s day any more stressful, but there’s no helping it. What felt like a grand romantic gesture is a lot less special, but it doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is showing Camille she’s safe.
39
I trymy best to stay present with my pack as we pile into Ambrose’s car, but crash as soon as I’m pressed between Jackson and Ambrose and my alphas purr for me. When Ambrose whispers my name, I have no clue how much time has passed as I blink my eyes open groggily.
I smile as his handsome face comes into focus, ignoring the slight ache of the bruise on my jaw. “We’re home?”
“Yes, sweetheart. We can stay in the car longer if you’re comfortable, but we’re home now. River went inside to finish prepping your nest, but he’ll be back any moment.” He smiles back at me indulgently,lovingly, the corners of his eyes crinkling in the way I’ve come to adore.
I reach up and stroke a hand through his slightly disheveled silver-streaked hair, purring as he leans into my touch, his eyes closing. “Have I told you how much I love you?”
His eyes pop back open, and a startled chuckle falls from his lips. “Not in those exact words.”
“Damn, dude, she loves you,” Jackson stage whispers frombehind me, and I realize I’m still propped against his chest from where I fell asleep.
Ambrose rolls his eyes at our beta, and Jackson’s laugh soaks into me where we’re connected.
“I do.” After everything that we’ve been through, it seems absurd that I was scared to tell him. “I love you, Ambrose. I’m sorry it took me so long to say.”
My scent match leans forward, brushing his lips against mine, careful to avoid touching where I’m bruised. “I love you with everything I have. You don’t need to apologize, sweetheart. I could feel it, and I would’ve waited as long as you needed to feel safe enough to tell me.”
The tender moment is interrupted a few seconds later, when the car door opens and River pops his head in, brow knitted with concern. “Why are you all still in the car? Did you change your mind?”
I expect Jackson to make a teasing remark about my love confession, but he doesn’t. Maybe he can tell that it would hurt for River to know I’ve told the rest of his pack I love them, but not him.
I push past Ambrose, crawling over his lap a little in an awkward attempt to reach River and grab his cheek. His sharp inhale of surprise as I press my lips to his tastes sweet, and the little groan as he kisses me back even sweeter.
“What was that for?” River blinks at me, glasses slightly askew as we part.
“I love you, River.” It’s not a grand declaration, not while I’m crammed in the back of a car, leaning over his mate. It’s better than that. It’s a certainty. An absolution. Me trusting my omega to know that even though this alpha hurt us in the past, he’s meant to be ours.
“W-what?” His jaw drops, shock and disbelief written on every inch of his face.
“Can’t you feel it?” I ask, bringing his hand up to cup the scar of his bite mark.
