Through it all, I was aware of Sable. Not just professionally, though she was impossible to ignore in that capacity. She commanded the operation with calm authority, her voice steady on the radio as she directed resources, made rapid-fire decisions, and adapted to changing conditions. Every emergency responder in that building knew she was the one keeping everything together.
But I was also aware of her on a level that had nothing to do with professional competence. The way she touched the suppressant patch on her arm when she was processing information. The way her scent was getting stronger, more present, like her suppressants were failing under the stress. The way every alpha in the building kept glancing at her, their attention drawn whether they wanted it to be or not.
Beau noticed too. I caught him watching her from across the command center, that same protective intensity in his eyes that I felt in my chest. When our gazes met, he gave a slight nod. Agreement. Understanding. Whatever happened tonight, we’d make sure she was safe.
Silas was harder to read, but I saw him checking on her between coordinating medical response teams. Bringing her water. Making sure she ate the protein bar Beau had left on her desk. Small acts of care that she accepted without acknowledging, like she was too focused to process that three alphas were quietly taking care of her.
By eighteen hundred hours, the evacuations were complete and the storm was rolling in. Rain started as a light mist, then became steady, then turned into sheets of water that hammered against the fire station roof and reduced visibility to almost nothing.
“All personnel, this is Command.” Sable’s voice came through on the radio, calm and clear. “Storm has reached full intensity. Shelter in place procedures are now in effect. No non-essential movement until conditions improve. Emergency response teams, maintain readiness but do not deploy unless absolutely necessary.”
I was at the security station near the main entrance when Beau appeared beside me.
“She hasn’t stopped moving in four hours,” he said quietly, watching Sable through the doorway to the command center. “Hasn’t eaten more than that protein bar. Hasn’t taken a break.”
“She won’t,” I replied. “Not until this is over.”
“Her suppressants are failing.”
I’d noticed. We all had. The cedar smoke and autumn rain scent was getting stronger by the hour, and underneath it was something new. Something that made every alpha instinct I had stand at attention and demand I go to her, make sure she was safe, keep her close.
“Stress response,” I said, though I wasn’t sure I believed it. “High-pressure situations can interfere with suppressant effectiveness.”
Beau gave me a look that said he didn’t believe it either. “Or she’s scent-compatible with three alphas who’ve been orbiting her for six weeks, and her biology is noticing even if she won’t admit it.”
Before I could respond, Silas joined us. His usual irreverent humor was absent, replaced by the serious competence he showed during real emergencies.
“We have a problem,” he said quietly. “Medical team just radioed in from the Creek Hollow shelter. Multiple heat exhaustion cases, one possible cardiac event, and they’re requesting additional personnel.” He paused. “Sable’s going to want to go herself.”
“No.” The word came out harder than I intended. “She stays here. Command center needs her, and she’s in no condition to be in the field.”
“You think she’ll listen to that logic?”
Fair point. Sable didn’t take orders well, especially not from alphas who thought they knew better than she did about her own capabilities.
“Then we make it unnecessary,” Beau said. “Silas, you go. You’re the senior paramedic and you have the training to handle cardiac emergencies. I’ll deploy with you for transport support if needed. Dane stays here with Sable and keeps command center running.”
It was a good plan. Logical. Professional. And it meant I’d be the one staying close to her while she coordinated from here.
Something in my chest settled at that thought.
“Copy that,” Silas said. He clapped me on the shoulder. “Keep her safe, Marine.”
“Always.”
They geared up and deployed into the storm while I returned to the command center. Sable was on the radio with the medical team when I entered, confirming Silas’s deployment and updating response protocols.
When she finished the call, she looked up and noticed me standing there.
“Where’s Beau?”
“Deploying with Silas to Creek Hollow. Cardiac emergency.”
Something flashed in her eyes. Worry, maybe, though she hid it quickly behind professional composure. “They shouldn’t be on the roads in this weather.”
“They’re trained for it. They’ll be fine.”
She nodded, but I saw the tension in her shoulders increase. She cared about them. Maybe didn’t want to admit it, but she cared.
