Blood.
He’s been bitten.
Shock slams into me, and I stagger backwards. Autry’s expression is twisted like mine—filled with shock, fear, something close to grief. Like something she never believed could happen, just did.
And I have to agree.
It doesn’t make sense. Alphas don’t crave betas with this kind of desperation. And even if they did, a beta can walkaway from an alpha even after being mated. There’s no intense biological bond or physical side effects for us. Charlie could kick Oli out of his life, and nothing would change. It’s simply not worth it for alphas to force a mating on our kind.
“Autry?” I take a deep breath as I step closer, and a wall of scent slams into me.
Sweet.
Thick.
Wrong.
I swallow hard, confused by how strong it is. As a beta, I’m not wired to pick up scent the way alphas or omegas are. But this? It's overwhelming. I look at Charlie again—sweating, pale, trembling while his cock leaks all over the place. And there’s so much fluid soaked into the sheets beneath him.What is that?
—and suddenly it hits me.
I take a slow, stunned breath. “He’s an omega.”
Autry doesn’t look up. “Don’t say that,” she snaps, like I’m making a bad joke.
“I’m serious. You have to smell it.” I gesture at the room, the bed, Charlie. “It’s slick.” My gaze falls to the damp sheets under him—dark and spreading. Slick is everywhere—his thighs and hips, gushing from his abused ass like a fucking river. “He’s going into heat…or he’s already in it?” I shake my head, my words barely making sense even as I say them. “That’s what’s been happening to him,” I whisper, shocked.
“Charlie is abeta,” Autry snaps. “He’s always been a beta. He’s twenty-five freaking years old, Myrick! Who the hell transitions that late?” She sounds so angry.
“I know,” I say quietly, trying to calm her.
Reaching out, I place my hand on her shoulder and shefinally turns to me. Her hazel eyes are wild, brimming with so much fear. “No one transitions this late,” she says again, voice shaking. “It doesn’t…It can’t—” She lets out a frustrated little growl, unable to finish the thought. “Itdoesn’t happen.”
I move carefully as I sit next to her, like I’m approaching a wounded animal. “Maybe it does,” I say softly. “Maybe it’s rare. But Autry… look at him. Listen to him. You think any beta smells like that?”
She doesn’t answer.
Charlie stirs on the bed, moaning softly. His hands curl into the sheets and his scent spikes again. We both go still.
Autry covers her mouth with one hand, like she’s about to cry. Or scream.
And all I can think is: We were too late to stop this.
Oli mated him.
And now we have to figure out what the hell we’re going to do next.
“Hurts,” Charlie’s chin quivers as he begs. “Puh—” His back bows, lifting clear off the mattress as he lets out a horrible scream. It makes the hairs on the back of my neck rise and my throat squeezes tight.
“He needs help.” Autry seems to snap out of it. “He’s in pain.” She tugs her nightgown off in one swift motion, baring her whole body.
I hesitate, not sure how to help. Omegas in heat need knots. Not betas.
“Don’t be scared, Charlie,” Autry says softly as she lifts one leg and straddles his flushed, trembling body. “I’m going to help.” She reaches between them, grabbing his shaft, then she sinks down, sucking his raw cock deep inside her.
Charlie winces, a choked sound escaping histhroat—but then the tension in his body starts to ease. It’s like magic. Her pussy instantly relieving something primal.
“That’s right,” Autry purrs, and her eyes float closed. “Such a good omega,” she moans, then moves.
