“Are you okay?” I ask, just to make sure.
“Yeah.” He scrubs his face. “I’m good.” His nostrils flare as he pulls in another breath. “She didn’t see me attack the other fucker? Did she?”
I quickly shake my head, understanding his fear. Tristan is very careful to keep his violent side hidden from Jeremy, and now Beth. He’s okay with the rest of the world seeing him as a monster, but not his mates.
Someone moans and we both turn, watching the long-haired fucker twitch.
Something in Tristan’s expression softens, and his body relaxes. “Go check on Beth.” He scans the ground, not stopping until he finds a sizable rock…well, it's really more a boulder.
“Are you sure you’re good?” I ask as he heaves the massive thing into his arms. His pecs flex and his biceps bulge as he walks the heavy thing over to the twitching alpha. “Do you need help disposing?—”
“I said I’m good.” He lifts the stone over his head. “I’ll head home in a few.” Then he slams it down, crushing the alpha’s skull. Wet blood spurts from somewhere, making the air taste full of copper. “Go check on Beth, alpha.” I should help him, but every instinct in my body is screaming to get back to our omega.
“Okay,” I slip my hand up his arm, squeezing gently. “Don’t take too long,” I say, then turn.
Tristan kicks the rock off what’s left of the dead alpha’s head. “I won’t.” He reaches into the mess of blood, bone, and goop, pulling out a single pointed tooth.
In Basil’s Arms
Beth
“It’s okay.I’ve got you,” Basil whispers softly, his mouth close to my ear. “Just breathe.”
But I can’t breathe.
My chest is too tight. It’s like my ribcage is crushing my lungs, twisting and wringing them like two wet rags. I squeeze my eyes shut, gripping Basil’s neck so hard I fear I might hurt the alpha, but I can’t stop myself. Everything hurts too much.
“Breathe, omega.” Basil purrs, pushing his warm breath over the side of my neck.
I whimper, trying to obey. Cool air cuts through my tight throat, finally reaching my lungs.
“Again,” he gently commands.
The next breath is a little easier, but not much.
“Again.”
We fall into a steady rhythm as we walk. I suck in painful breaths of air while Basil coaches me through them. Everybreath I take is steeped in his soothing scent. Freshly fallen rain and clean linen swirls around me. And before I know it, my chest eases a bit, allowing me to take slightly deeper breaths.
Soon, the cool night air falls away, replaced by warmth. The familiar sounds of the house settle me even more. I peek my eyes open when Basil carries me up the stairs toward the bedrooms, but then a frantic Jeremy pops up out of Tristan's bedroom, and I snap them shut again.
I’m too ashamed to face him.
“Is she okay?”
I can hear the tears in his voice.
“She’s not wounded.” Basil’s words vibrate through his chest and into mine.
I can feel Jeremy near. The beta sucks in a harsh breath, before whispering, “Oh god. She smells so strongly of fear.” He coughs as if it hurts his lungs. “No. Put her in her nest.”
Relief slams into me and my eyes fly open as Basil kneels right next to the entrance to the cove. I shove away from him, scrambling to get inside. My hands curl around the soft pink blanket and the tension in my chest falls away.
I scent the pretty blanket, but all I can smell is the stink of those horrible alphas still clinging to my clothes. My hands tremble as I rip off my shirt and pants. I kick them toward the doorway, trying to touch them as little as possible.
Jeremy leans in my cove, and grabs them. I notice the way his fingers are careful not to touch anything else. I’m so thankful for how loving and considerate he is.
“I’ll get these in the wash.” He balls them up against his chest, then runs off.
