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He gave me a smile and motioned for me to precede him. This was going to be a wild week.
Chapter32
Victor
Walking into the Druman house, it was like a wave of cinnamon and tea splashed over us. It was so strong that even Ryan took a step back. He looked utterly bewildered that he had caught the scent so strongly. Visibly swallowing, he shuffled his feet anxiously. He needed a task.
“Ryan,” I stated, bringing his deep brown eyes to mine. “Will you please make sure we shut all the windows down here? Can you do that for me?”
“Wha—oh yes, I can do that.”
“Thank you. Declan and I will go secure the doors. Meet us back here at the stairs, alright?”
Ryan agreed, still looking a bit out of it. As he left to go fasten the windows, Declan whispered to me, “Goddamn, brother. I’m getting close to a rut.”
I glanced at his eyes and saw them partially glazed over. It wouldn’t take much for him to fall to his alpha instincts, and he would soon. I knew I was just as close, but for my pack, I would keep my head on straight. I had to.
“I know! It’s driving me wild, too. Go make sure the doors get locked up tight. I’ll grab water bottles.”
He took off to check the doors, and I made my way to the kitchen. I opened the fridge and closed my eyes in sympathy when I saw how little was inside it. Riley’s family was truly struggling, and I was even more glad I had sent them off to the hotel for the week.
I gathered everything I could from the fridge, grabbed a nearly empty gallon of milk, swallowed it down, rinsed it out, and filled it back up with water from the tap. Opening the cabinets, I grimaced but took everything I found there as well. I would make sure to fill this house up with food before we left, as we were taking it all.
Taking my armful of food and the gallon of water, I went back to the stairs to await Declan and Ryan. They came over moments later. From upstairs, we could hear Storm and Riley as they shuffled around her room, presumably moving things to their liking. I took a moment to center myself and then I took the first step to go up.
As soon as I did, I knew this was going to be rougher than anything I had ever gone through before. Declan and I were no strangers to helping omegas through their heats. We used to belong to a heat help agency where an unbonded omega could go and request an unbonded alpha, or alphas, to help them through their upcoming heat.
Sometimes, it resulted with a happily bonded pack when it was over, and sometimes everyone just went their own way. Declan and I had assisted in several heats before, but we had made sure to never let the omegas bond to us, even if they begged. We knew that once the heat faded and their clarity returned, they wouldn’t want us, not like that. Declan and I had stopped doing this service when we met Ryan. He became the center of our world and nothing and nobody else mattered at that point.
Until today.
Their perfume was thick in the air. It coated my tongue and filled my senses. I felt a rumble start deep in my chest and beside me, Declan did the same. We were sinking into a rut for the first time. I tried to fight it off. I hated not being in control. My limbs felt shaky, and my vision crossed.
“Ryan,” I panted out, desperate to talk to him before I couldn’t any longer. “Ryan, Declan and I are struggling. Riley and Storm combined is driving our senses crazy. We may not communicate properly soon.”
“I understand.”
I rearranged my bundle of food stuffs and took his chin in my hand. “No, Ryan. I mean Declan and I won’t be thinking clearly. If we fall into a rut, I need you to make sure Storm and Riley drink their water. That they take breaks and sleep.”
“What about you, alpha?”
I smiled softly at my precious, caring beta. “Declan and I are less important than they are. Their separation was far too long. I have a strong feeling that it will be next to impossible to get them to stay hydrated. They will have moments of clarity; we all will. Can you please look out for those and help make sure we get drinks? Food? A shower?”
“Yes, I can do that.”
“Thank you, Ryan. I love you; you know that, right?”
Ryan nodded, a dopey grin on his face. “Yes. I love you too, both of you.”
He looked over at Declan and his eyes widened. It would have been comical, except he looked frightened. I knew without looking that Declan’s rut had taken hold. I could smell him thick in the air, like a goddamned bourbon lemonade. Mine was probably just as strong, though I was used to it and didn’t smell it. Ryan’s sweet vanilla cupcake remained the same.
“It’s alright, Ryan. We will never hurt you or the girls. Trust me.”
“I do. It’s just . . . a lot right now.”
“I understand that. Shall we head up?”
He nodded shakily, but that was all I needed. I ducked my head to his and pressed a chaste kiss to his lips, chuckling when he tried to chase my mouth with his when I pulled back. Turning, I started up the stairs, Declan right beside me and Ryan bringing up the rear.
