Chapter 7 Omega In Heat
INDIE
My gaze darted to the door, knots forming in my belly. He wasn't really going to do this, was he? I'd lost everything, all I had left was my dignity. Zade slowly released me, a calm expression on his face. Then he flicked me lightly on the forehead.
"Sit," he simply said.
I hesitated, then I obeyed, lowering myself onto the edge of the tub. My legs trembled, and I hated that he noticed. Zade turned away, heading towards the sink. I heard the soft clink of metal as he picked up his wristwatch. He fastened it unhurriedly.
"I'll give you privacy," he said, not looking at me. "The water's already warm."
My fingers curled against the porcelain. "You're just... leaving?"
"Yes."
He paused at the door, glancing back at me over his shoulder. His gaze slowly swept over me before settling on my face.
"If you feel dizzy," he said, "or if your fever worsens—"
"I know," I murmured.
His eyes narrowed slightly, as if he was displeased by the interruption.
"You don't," he corrected. "So listen carefully."
I went still.
"You don't push yourself. You don't try to be brave." His voice dropped, the familiar bass gripping all of my attention. "And if you need help... you call for me."
My chest tightened. "Just... call?"
A faint curve touched his lips.
"You don't have to yell. I will hear you."
He stepped out, closing the door behind him. Only then did I release the breath I'd been holding. My legs shook as I undressed the rest of the way, stepping into the bathtub.
Trembling, I pulled my knees to my chest.
'Flame keeper,' a soft feminine voice echoed, and I gasped, nearly jumping out of my skin when I saw the figure standing by the wall. A young girl with long black hair and a face so pale, she looked blue. A ghost?
I clamped a hand over my mouth to stifle the scream that escaped my lips.
"Indigo?"
I turned towards the door as it opened. A beautiful woman with straight brown hair and brown eyes walked in wearing matching pink pajamas. She seemed...oddly familiar.
"Do you remember me? It's Giselle," she said, and my eyes went wide.
She used to be the top student back in high school. Her parents had moved out of town back then.
"I'm the pack's doctor now. It's been a while. Zade asked me to assist you," she said, and I forced out a smile, immensely distracted by the unmoving ghost in the corner of the bathroom. I was definitely losing it, wasn't I?
Giselle reached out slowly, giving me time to pull away if I wanted. When I didn't, she rested two fingers against my wrist, checking my pulse.
"You're burning up," she murmured. "Heat-induced fever. And you're on your cycle." Her gaze lifted to meet mine. "That combination is... cruel. But not unheard of."
Tears stung my eyes. "I thought something was wrong with me."
No, scratch that. I must be broken.
"There is something wrong," she said softly. "But it's not you."
My heart sank.
"Help me," I breathed, and she nodded, squeezing my hand gently.
"I will."
...
Sleep came in pieces. I drifted in and out of it, never fully sinking, my body too sore and too warm to rest properly. The sheets were cool against my skin, the bed much larger than I was used to. And Zade's soothing scent lingered in the air.
The mattress dipped just enough for my fogged mind to notice. I didn't need to open my eyes to know who it was, his scent and aura easily announced his presence.
Before I could summon the energy to react, gentle fingers stroked my hair, brushing it back from my face.
"The candidates arrived this morning," another man said, his voice lowered. "Twelve of them."
Candidates? For what?
"They'll be presented tomorrow," the stranger continued. "Tradition requires you to choose one in front of the pack. They've been prepared for weeks."
My stomach dipped. The Luna Choosing ceremony. I'd forgotten about it. Zade was the alpha of the pack, he deserved a good Luna.
Rain whimpered. 'He belongs to us. He's our mate. We should be his Luna.'
Tears burned the back of my eyes. I was tainted and unlucky. Why should I burden him by accepting him as my mate?
Zade exhaled through his nose.
"Prepared," he repeated.
"Yes, Alpha. They're from noble bloodlines with compatible wolves. The elders made sure every box was checked. The council is watching closely."
Zade's hand stopped moving.
"I'm not choosing from a bunch of strangers," he said calmly.
"The ceremony doesn't allow for deviation," the other man said carefully. "If you don't select one of them—"
"I know exactly what the ceremony allows," Zade deadpanned.
His thumb brushed along my neck, his touch soothing the roaring heat in my body.
"Postpone it," he suddenly said.
"But—"
"Do as I say. Now leave."
"Yes, Alpha."
I heard the door close, followed by the disappearance of the presence by my side. Then I heard the sound of the shower running. I bit my lower lip, pushing up to glance towards the bathroom door only to freeze when I noticed the photo on the nightstand. My photo. The one Zade had taken of me when I was nineteen. My breathing caught in my throat. I had been too out of it earlier to notice it.
My hands trembled as I reached for the photo, grabbing it. I looked prettier in it. Happier and carefree. Moon above, I couldn't recall the last time I smiled so widely.
I miss me, I thought, sniffling.
No, it didn't matter. From now onwards, I would live for myself alone. I'd sacrificed enough.
Laying back down, I pressed the photo to my chest and took a deep breath. It was time to face my reality.
The bathroom door slid open, and steam rolled out. Zade's gaze found mine, and I blushed hard.
Water darkened his hair, loose strands clinging to his forehead, droplets tracing the hard line of his jaw before disappearing beneath the collar of his black shirt. My pulse betrayed me instantly.
He walked over in silence and sat beside me, the mattress dipping under his weight.
"Doctor Giselle will return by noon," he said. "She'll examine you again."
I nodded, swallowing hard.
He brushed my hair back from my face with slow strokes, his gaze tender.
"I won't let anything happen to you," he rasped. Tears welled up in my eyes.
Goddess, he was all I had now.
His thumb paused at my temple. Then he leaned in, close enough that I could feel the heat of him. Our gazes collided, my heart drumming faster. The sight of those full, inviting lips of his had my body heating up more. I wanted a taste.
Just before his lips could touch mine, images flashed behind my mind's eye.
Blood soaked my hands. Zade was standing before me, a bleeding hole in his chest. I looked down, and right there on the floor was a heart.
"No—"
I gasped, the vision snapping away as fast as it came, leaving my heart slamming hard against my ribs.
Zade's lips brushed the corner of my mouth, and panic gripped me. I turned my face away, pushing at his chest.
"Don't," I whispered, barely able to breathe.
He froze.
The warmth vanished instantly as he pulled back, his hand slipping away from my hair. His jaw tightened, his eyes searching my face.
"Bunny?" he said softly.
I couldn't look at him. If I did, I was afraid I'd see it again.
"I—I can't," I breathed, curling in on myself, my nails biting into my palm. "Please."
What was that? A vision?
Nausea rolled through me, my throat tightening. Did it mean that...Zade would die by my hands?
"Get some rest," he said with a blank look on his face. Then he slipped out of the room, leaving me hollow.
For the rest of the night, I couldn’t sleep. Those images kept me restless, my fever worsening throughout the night. I must’ve eventually fallen asleep. I was awakened by the gentle touch of something cool on my forehead.
“Her fever is worsening. Damnit. Are you sure this is merely her heat?” I heard Zade say.
“I’ve never seen anything like this before. On my way here, I saw a group of men gathered together. They kept talking about the ‘omega in heat.’ Apparently, her scent is spreading like wildfire,” I heard Giselle say.
I forced my eyes open, my mouth dry.
“I don’t understand. What’s happening?” I croaked.
Giselle turned to look at me, her brows deeply furrowed.
“Apparently, your scent is driving every male mad,” she said. My eyes widened.
“And Zade?”
“He’s over there,” she breathed, and I turned to see him standing by the window, gazing outside. Slowly, he turned to look at me, and my eyes bulged in their sockets when I saw that his hands were bound with silver cuffs. And even his eyes were pitch black.
He smiled. “And apparently I’m no different.”
My gaze darted down his body, snagging on the massive erection straining against his pants.
Holy…shit.