Page 40 of Rustic Beauty

I met them outside, not wanting the detectives to startle my family after what just happened.

“I’m assuming you’re out here because that fucker kicked the bucket, yes?” Xylo asked, raising an eyebrow when I merely nodded. “Thought you weren’t going to make it in time.” As much as I didn’t want this on record, it had to be. It would be a quick open-and-shut case, especially since everyone in that room was mated or blood-related.

“I didn’t.”

Zahria gasped. “Are they all okay?”

“Yeah. Seems like Nala whipped out a pan and Kieran had a little aggression to work his way through.” I gave them a sheepish smile knowing full well that Kieran had been channeling my emotions and not his own. I knew for a fact that he tended to shut down and disassociate the past few months when it came to Michael.

“What room?” Xylo asked.

“The nest. The fucker was stupid enough to step in there with two fucking Omegas. I’m guessing he didn’t know anything about the people he kept trying to kidnap.” Of all the places in the house, an Omega was most territorial over their nest. I’msure Nala if she had wanted to, would have packed a mean punch, protecting her family as well.

Either way, it was time to clean this shit up and move on.

“Alright, we’ll write everything up. Does anyone need medical attention?” Zahria pointed to the house and I could see she was hoping I’d say no.

“Not really. Kieran’s in shock so I called our personal doctor.”

Zahria shook her head. “Let me try? I have some experience in this.”

“He’s on the cusp of a heat so I’m not sure how receptive he’ll be.” I had no idea how Kieran would react but there weren’t any other choices. Even with Dr. Ashton on the way, he’d be another few minutes and I didn’t want to wait any longer than I had to. I announced both Xylo and Zahria before Xylo moved down the hall to report Michael’s death and Zahria slowly approached Kieran. He seemed to have moved farther away on the couch until he was perched at the very edge as if he was about to take off.

Zahria’s nose flared slightly but her lack of reaction to Kieran’s sweetened scent told me she was wearing some kind of blocker. It was standard for most authority figures–officers included–so that they didn’t react inappropriately in public. An Omega in heat, however, around an unbonded Alpha, scent blockers or not, was never a good combination. I trusted Zahria though and I wanted Kieran back.

When Kieran let out a grunt, Zahria sat on the floor a few inches from him. “Hey, Kieran. Do you remember me? We saw each other a few times while you were working in Grimsby.” He gave her no reaction. “I would love to make small talk with you, but your body is shutting down, trying to block out what happened in that room. I can’t have that. You have a whole pack that loves you,needsyou. Kieran, I want you to breathe with me, sweetheart.”

She reached forward and surprisingly Kieran didn’t move when her hand landed on his thigh. He stared at her for several moments before his shoulders relaxed and he sucked in a breath.

“There you go. In and out. Deep breaths. Keep going. One and two. That’s great. You’re doing amazing.”

Color returned to his cheeks as she spoke to him, his scent softening as she did. His tense posture loosened and then he let out a shuddering breath. Another presence settled at my side and I turned to see Dr. Ashford leaning against the edge of my front archway. “Seems like someone has it all taken care of, huh?”

“Yeah.”

A blast of peaches hit me in the gut and I did well not to reach down and readjust my suddenly full cock. A quick glance over at my mates and they were all suddenly sitting ramrod straight, their eyes focusing on Kieran and then back at me, confused. Nala was holding back a giggle as if she knew but I just turned to Dr. Ashford for an explanation.

“Omega biology can be very unpredictable and as you’ve seen and experienced, one of Kieran’s triggers is stress. I’m not sure what happened here but going into shock right before a heat? I don’t care how many blockers and breathing exercises you’ve been doing, that heat is going to blast through every last one.”

Fuck that.“You’re saying killing a man gets him turned on?” The words tumbled from my lips before I could stop them but Dr. Ashford would find out from the newspapers soon anyway. I had already given him enough details over the phone to make the inference.

“No, Isaias. I’m saying that each Omega’s way of coping differs. A heat isn’tjustto make babies. Especially after an Omega is bonded, a heat is a way to regroup, for the Omega to feel in control and centered—however, that plays out. Kieran’s feeling lost, terrified, you name it. He’s gotten rid of someonewho’s plagued him for decades and what’s left? His need for you and the rest of his mates. Hence, a heat. He might not even want sex but he’ll need all of you.”

Zahria continued working her magic on Kieran until he was gazing around the room, his eyes falling on mine. I felt the tug across the bond and excused myself, barely sitting on the couch before Kieran dragged me into a kiss. I gave in, letting him direct and take what he needed. “Hey, sweetheart. I’m glad to have you back with us.”

Kieran didn’t respond as he pulled back, rubbing his nose along my cheeks and neck. He was dangerously close to his heat and I knew that when the haze dissipated, he would have to deal with all of his emotions from this morning. We would have to be ready for the fallout, however, that manifested.

Zahria picked herself up from the floor, grinning at her triumph. “We’ll write up a report and when you’re free, come to the station so we can take your statement, okay?” Her nose twitched and then she fixed her face, but I could tell Kieran’s scent was getting to her.

I nodded, glancing over at Terrence and Joel to gauge their reactions. They seemed confused and turned on, leaning forward as they cradled our sons. Nala was fidgeting next to them but not in reaction to Kieran’s scent. I followed her gaze and hid my smile when it fell on Zahria as the detective disappeared down the hall.That’s interesting.

We sat there for several moments as doors opened and closed, new scents coming in and out. Kieran grunted every time someone he didn’t know entered the house, adding additional scents to his safe space. Xylo and Zahria kept anyone unnecessary from walking down the hall but it was just going to be something we had to deal with for now. Xylo saved us from being bombarded with questions and from another detective who tried to declare the entire house a crime scene.

Fuck if I was going to spend one of Kieran’s heats in a hotel or someone else’s house. It wouldn’t be perfect but my room smelled enough like us. I hoped it would be enough.

“I think we’re done here for now, Isaias. Come by this weekend, yeah? Give us a statement.”

There were a few snickers as they rang through the hallway but soon silence greeted us, Kieran still rubbing his nose along my cheek. “Sweetheart…”

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