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“Joel?” she squeaked. “You smell like Joel.Please.”
I wasn’t going to deny her again, not only because I felt safe with her scent surrounding me but also because she was family. The innate desire to ensure her safety overrode everything else. She curled into my chest as I turned back into the house, carrying her to the couch. Nala scrambled into the corner, eyes peeled for her brother and when she found him, she launched herself into his arms.
Joel stumbled back a few steps before holding onto her, the little Omega burying her head in his neck as she sobbed. We all stood there, confused at this new addition and yet not put out with the new scent. Only the sounds of her sorrow were heard for several moments as we waited to figure out what was going on. Despite not minding Nala in the house, I still positioned myself by the hallway just in case.
“Nala? What are you doing here?” Joel asked.
“I tried calling you and finding you. You left the last place and-” She was cut off by a hiccup, her words muffled by his neck. Joel began the painstaking process of peeling her off of him and Nala only settled when she was firmly tucked into his side on the couch. The woman couldn’t be much older than 21 or 22,her petrified amber eyes searching the entire room several times before she allowed herself to relax. Even then, she was still on guard. “You’re okay.”
I blinked a few times before realizing she meant me. “Yes?” I definitely thought I was.
“Michael… he didn’t-” Nala cut herself off again, biting her bottom lip furiously as she thought of a better way to say that. She smacked at the tears rolling down her face and sat up a little. “He wouldn’t leave me alone and then he slipped up and mentioned you. I didn’t. It wasn’t supposed to-”
Joel pulled her a little tighter into his side. “It’s okay, Nala. I got you. You’re safe here.”
I nodded, giving her that extra little boost that she needed to relax. It dawned on me that Michael’s incident with Joel might not have been completely about me and the babies but me and Nala. If he had tracked her here, he wanted us—which would answer that fucking question regarding selling Omegas. I just needed to knowwhy.
Her scent blasted through the room again and I approached softly, kneeling in front of her. “Are you in heat, Nala?”
Her entire body went rigid, her eyes like a deer in headlights. She glanced between the others before looking back at me. “No one—why aren’t they reacting to my scent?”
I shrugged. “We’re all bonded, mated.” I pulled my shirt down a little to show off my bite. “It would make sense that they wouldn’t react the same to another Omega. But your heat…”
She shook her head. “I’m not in heat.” Nala let out a ragged sigh as I really took a good look at her. Her legs were the only bare part of her, cut to shit from what looked like weeks of running. Her clothes had seen better days and her hair was a tangled mess of chocolate sadness, remnant of someone on the run. I couldn’t imagine the shit she had gone through at such ayoung age. I had at least been able to run off to the army but where had she been?
Isaias stepped forward and then retreated when she cringed. He yanked Ren closer to him recognizing the same thing I had picked up. Michael’s presence had warded us offallAlphas, good and bad. It had taken me a lot less time to put myself back together because the men in this room were everything I needed. For Nala? I had absolutely no fucking clue what she needed to heal.
“You’re not in heat?” Joel finally asked.
Nala shook her head again. “No. It’s always been like that since I presented. That’s why mom didn’t want you around.”
The Beta scrunched up his nose. “What the fuck did she think I was going to do?” Nala scrambled from his arms straight into my lap and Joel weathered his emotions before apologizing. “Sorry, Nala. I didn’t mean to shout.”
Nala tucked her head against my shoulder and it felt weirdly comfortable to hold her. Like she belonged here. “Let’s go get you a shower and some clean clothes and we can figure out what’s going on.” She didn’t answer me as I stood with her in my arms. I met each of my mates’ gazes, silently asking for permission even though I didn’t need it.
This was a bit of a wrench in our plans but I was determined to make sure that Nala was safe—the same way I had been. No one mentioned anything as I carried her down the hall and moved into the bathroom to set her down on the sink.
She tugged her coat tighter around her, trembling a little. “I always thought Michael was lying about you. You… but it tracks. Joel always liked to be tossed around.” Nala managed a little giggle but it was strained. I grabbed a towel and a washcloth and set it on the toilet before heading for the bedroom to grab a pair of shorts and a shirt for her to change into. They’d be big on her but it was something.
“I grabbed Joel’s, is that alright? I suspect your aversion to my Alphas has more to do with Michael than anything?” She nodded, clutching the clothes to her chest. “Everything you need is in here and we’ll be right down the hall if you need us. Nala, you’re safe here, something my Alphas have been telling me time and time again. We’ll figure this out.” I tapped her leg twice before closing the door behind me and heading across the hall to the nest.
I wasn’t surprised to see Joel in there.
“Is she okay?”
“She will be,” I mumbled as I sat beside him. Elias and Leo were occupied with the rumbling toys next to them, oblivious to our presence. “It’ll take time but I have no idea what he’s put her through. I don’t think…” I grunted at the thought of Michael touching her the way he had with me. It didn’t seem like it but some people hid it better than others.
The sound of the shower switched on and I smiled, knowing that she was at least comfortable with that.
“I gave her your clothes. Thought it might be better. Where are Isaias and Ren?”
“Taking a shower with descenter. It might not do much but it’ll help a little.”
I pulled Joel into my lap, loving it when he curled into my chest. “She can stay, right?”
“For as long as she needs, Kieran. Isaias made that very clear after you helped her out of the room. I also know that there’s something special between you two, instant as it is. I think you’re clinging to the things that you love and trust.”
I wasn’t sure if that was a compliment. “She smells like you, safe but sweet.”
