Part 41

There's a tug in the pit of my belly, sharp and aching which I ignored in favour of pushing at Rowan's chest. I cleared my throat, stepping back and maintaining a foot's distance between us. My arms came to wrap

around my chest in defence, glaring at the Alpha.

Why did I give in so easily? There was something wrong with me.

"O-Okay, what are you doing here?"

He faltered for a second, appearing dazed whirl running a hand over his hair. I tried not to stare at the curls bouncing off before flopping on his forehead awkwardly. The Alpha's mouth twisted as he sniffed the air.

"Seriously, who was here?"

"Rowan, I don't have time to answer your silly questions. We have to test the website and hire a team...there is too much on my plate."

"Why don't you hire an assistant?"

"Geez, why didn't I think of that before? Wow, you are my lifesaver." I said dryly, leaning against the table, arms crossed together. "It's simply not possible, Rowan. With this upcoming annual fair marketing and soft website launch, we are already way over budget. I cannot afford to pay another employee." The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them.

"You are struggling here, and it's taking a toll on you. We don't mind paying for another if it means you are under less stress."

My mouth hung open, dumbfounded, gaping at him as my cheeks reddened. I was not expecting him to say such that; it rankled me.

"I-I don't think that's necessary but thank you for the offer."

The Alpha made a tsk sound in the back of his throat, ready to argue when I cut him off again.

"I am sure there is a valid reason you are here instead of working."

Rowan sighed, palming at his temples as he approached me. I eye him with suspicion, the edges of my fingers turning white as I dug into my arms. 

"Yes..." He let out a sigh. "I wanted to apologise for last night. That was...it's out of line and completely unexpected from my family. They are usually well behaved, but I don't know what possessed Ryan to say all those things..."

"Everything he said was true."

"You possibly can't believe that drunkard! He's an idiot who cannot control his mouth."

I shrunk at the intensity of his voice, almost taken back. Reliving that evening only left a sour taste in my mouth. I was surprised when none of my family members inquired about the dinner.

"C-Can we not talk about it anymore?"

"Erin...." He licked his lips. "I don't know the full picture here, but what I do know is you. Us. Nothing they say is going to matter to me."

"H-How can you say that?!" I exclaimed, unable to keep the anger out of my voice anymore. "You and Reed...both of them act as if they do not matter to you, as if they are not your family. If you both are doing this to assure me and make sure I don't back out of the deal, then let me tell..."

"We are not!" He cut me off, a dark look taking over his face. "The pack likes to think of us as a picture-perfect family, but we are not. If you look closely, there are cracks and dents which have been hidden far too many times...." Rowan exhaled. "All we both are trying to say is it doesn't matter what they think, and you will still be our mate."

A harsh knock on the door startled me, and I excused myself, averting my attention elsewhere. Renee pushed at the door and stepped inside, a sheepish look on her face.

"Sorry to interrupt, but this is kind of urgent..."

I looked over at Rowan, who raised his hand in the air. "Don't stop on my account. I have a day off, so if there's anything I can do..."

"Yes!" Renee screeched, almost making him jump on the spot. "Let me get my file."

As she dashed out of the room, he stared at me with a curious look. I shrugged in response, striding to my chair and plopping down.

***

Rowan diligently worked with us till evening and later proposed to buy all the employees a meal. They all jumped, delighted, at the chance to have dinner with their Pack Alpha. I had no choice but to reluctantly agree with the plan.

The Alpha was sitting next to me, and his scent smelled stronger than usual, making my mind all weird and foggy. Shaking his head with a sniff, I rubbed my eyes and was forced to focus on the meal.

It got too much.

Without warning, I hastily stood, doubling over to grab my stomach, the other hand bracing on the chair armrest, a sudden nausea turning the room upside down.

“Erin?” Isabella narrowed her eyes at me, concern lines on her face.

“I-I am fine…indigestion, I think. Give me a second.”

With that, I rushed to the bathroom in a vertiginous haze, somehow, shutting myself inside. I managed to catch on the edge of the vanity, panting as I stared at my reflection. My pupils were dilated; an uneven flush across my cheekbones, and a cold sweat upon my brows as if my body temperature was on fire.

“No…No…No…” I cried.

“Erin?” Rowan exhaled from the other side, banging on the wooden frame. The noise was too loud, overpowering my senses along with the thick waft of musk through the cracks of the door.

“I am fine, j-just give me a minute.”

An intense, prickling heat shot from my head to my toes, and I tried to hold on as everything spun. Flinging my arm out, I swept across the vanity, sending my purse on the tiled floor and hitting the tap. I cringed at the mess, my knees wobbling before hitting the floor, squished between the toilet and the vanity.

“I am coming in!” Rowan yelled before the knob started rattling, and he pushed at the door. The Alpha’s eyes and mouth fell open before he winced back as if just blown by a gust of wind. “You are in heat!”

A low growl reverberated off his chest, his hand grabbing the doorframe so hard his knuckles turned white.

I ignored his words because they couldn't possibly be true. Not yet, at least. A stabbing sensation undulated in my stomach, causing me to curl around my knees with a cry of pain. I tried to get on my feet, only to slip and stumble against the wall. Before I could hit the floor, the Alpha was quick to save me.

“Moons!” He cursed under his breath, shaking his head. As his arms snaked around my waist, my body fell pliant in his hold. I gripped onto his collar like my life dependent on it, the smell of his scent grounding and comforting, settling the haze of confusion and pain inside my body.

“Erin…how did you not know about your heat?”

I blearily blinked at him as he pressed a hand onto my cheek, cradling it. My omega purred at the touch, soaking in and greedy for more. I needed other Alpha as well.

“Erin…”

“Alpha” Tears prickled in my eyes, the sensation too much to bear.

“I am here, baby but first you need to answer me. What did you take?”

“I-I don’t know…I took…took something to suppress my heat for a while.” I fidget under his heavy hold. “A week ago... I just wanted to get through stuff….”

The timeline seemed to click with him, and his eyes widened as a sudden realisation dawned. He clicked his tongue, fingers digging deeper into my body, “Are you crazy?!”

“I-I…”

“Don’t answer that!” He huffed. “I will call Isabella and tell her I am taking you home. Do not argue with me on that.”

I moaned in response.

He was taken back at that but did not react, simply dragging me along. We walked out of the cafe bar through a back entrance, but despite that, there were some people at the back. My scent was potent.

As we walked the unfamiliar alleys,

few heads turn in our direction. Most of the Alphas stared at us.

They completely ignored Rowan by my side, which, well, I cannot blame them because my neck was bare of any mark. It was easy for them to consider me as some unclaimed omega who’s in heat and in dire need of an Alpha.

Alpha Rowan narrowed his eyes, straightening out his spine to appear a bit taller. The wandering gazes of wolves around unsettled him. He shot daggers at anyone who dared to look with lustful eyes.

I didn’t react one bit to all the heavy-lidded gazes, but there's absolutely no way I didn’t notice them. But my body was simply past caring at this point, needy and desperate. Rowan’s fingers clench tightly around my waist, pulling me close, his jaw tense, eyes straight forward, pace hurried and quick.

“Give me a minute. I’ll call Reed.”

***