Page 15 of Rescue Me

I laugh, short and bitter because just yesterday, they didn’t want me anywhere near her heat. I guess having to pick up after Hailey sent her Alphas in a tailspin so they reached out to have someone else do it. Go figure. “Ah yes, the usual. Because goddess forbid Hailey lift a finger during her sacred time.” The pain in my side throbs, reminding me of what I have waiting for me when I return. It feels good to speak my mind, though, so I’ll just brace for impact when I get back.

“Watch your tone,” Jackson growls, his voice dropping an octave. “You’re already on thin ice, Beta.”

“Wouldn’t want to fall through,” I shoot back, the words laced with just enough sarcasm to make me feel better. “Why don’t you hire someone else? Surely there are plenty of people eager to kiss Hailey’s perfectly manicured feet.”

“You know why,” he snaps, exasperation clear in his voice. “No one else knows her preferences. You do. That’s your job.”

I roll my eyes, something that would have gotten me slapped or punched if the Alphas could see it. “Right, because teaching someone how she likes her tea is such an insurmountable task.”

“Reid,” Jackson barks, his Alpha presence pushing through the earpiece. “Fifteen minutes and lose the attitude or Lyle will make sure his boot catches your other side.”

The line goes dead and I toss the phone onto the bed like it’s personally offended me. “Asshole,” I mutter. Then, louder, “Why don’t you make her tea, Jackson? You’re the one who enjoys the sound of her voice.”

The Wilhelms own me. And they’ve made sure I know it.

“Just a few more days,” I whisper to myself. “Just a few more days, and then...” And then what? Another motel, another pile of unpaid bills, another round of Hailey barking orders in my ear? Instead of packing myself up, I curl on the mattress and tell myself that I just need a few more minutes of freedom.

Chapter eleven

ETHAN

The sun is barely peeking over the horizon as I make my way back to the house, clutching the warm pastry bag in one hand and a double shot caramel espresso in the other. The aroma hits my nose, sweet and rich, teasing my senses, but not enough to distract me from the buzz humming beneath my skin. My steps are lighter than they should be this early, my thoughts swirling with the memory of hazel eyes and dark hair. The scent of almond and sandalwood lingers in my nose, wrapping around my chest like a tether.

I push the front door open with my shoulder, kicking it shut behind me before realizing that I never locked up. Zana is standing in the entryway, her arms crossed over her chest, the large shirt she's wearing doing little to hide the strength of her frame. She’s staring at me, unimpressed and more than a little worried.

“You’re up early,” she says, her tone sharp enough to make me wince. “And out. Without telling me.”

I grin, setting the bag and coffee on the counter. “I texted you,” I say, holding my hands up in mock surrender. “Besides, I come bearing gifts, oh great and powerful goddess.” My voice wobbles, belying some of the anxiety from meeting Reid.

Her eyebrow arches, but her lips twitch, betraying the faintest hint of amusement. “Goddess?”

“Obviously,” I say, stepping closer and wrapping my arms around her waist. I rest my chin on her chest, angling my head up so that I’m looking straight into those beautiful eyes of hers. “Because you are. And guess what? I found it.”

“Found what?” she asks, her hands slowly moving to cup my cheeks. Her thumbs brush across the flushed skin from the early morning chill as she searches my expression.

“The scent,” I muse. “The one I’ve been chasing for weeks. I found who it belongs to.” A wild grin spreads across my lips as I focus on my Beta. Despite the circumstances, I at least know who he is. Now I just have to get to him.

Her brows knit together, confusion flickering across her face. But before she can say anything, I raise up on my tiptoes, stretching to kiss her. She doesn’t resist, her lips soft and warm against mine, grounding me for a moment in the chaos of my thoughts. When I pull back, I spin away, practically dancing around the kitchen. “Zana, it was incredible. He—he’s incredible.”

She raises a hand to stop me from falling into one of my monologues. “Slow down,” she says, her Alpha tone creeping in. “Sit.”

“But—”

“Sit,Ethan.”

I pout but obey, dropping into one of the kitchen chairs and leaning forward, my elbows on the table. Zana follows, her arms still crossed as she stands over me, her presence commanding. My gaze shifts around the kitchen for several seconds, the need to spill everything about this man growing. My brows furrow the longer she makes me wait, Zana’s lips curling up. It takes me way too long to realize she’s laughing at me.

“Baby, I made you sit because you have a tendency to run around when you get excited. So now, explain.”

My nose turns up in mock annoyance before I begin. “It was at the diner,” I say, the words tumbling out in a rush. “I went to grab the pastries you like—you’re welcome, by the way—and he was there. In the back booth. Asleep. And his scent, Zana—oh my god, it was like... everything. Almond and sandalwood, but deeper, richer. It justhitme.” A whine slips from my lips, my cock twitching in my pants.

She doesn’t say anything, just tilts her head slightly, encouraging me to go on.

“He has these eyes,” I continue, my hands gesturing wildly. “That makes you want to stare forever. And his hair? Dark, like midnight, but not flat, you know? Like, itshines.And his features—chiseled, perfect. He looked like he walked out of a damn painting.” Even beneath the bruises, he was fucking gorgeous. He’severything.I only had a few seconds with him and I’m obsessed.

“And?” Zana prompts, a mixture of amusement and concern in her voice.

“And he was hurt,” I finally let out, my hands stilling as the memory of those bruises flickers through my mind. “Like, bad. A black eye, swelling, bruises on his hands—Zana, someone hurt him. And I need to go find out who, and—” I jump out of my chair, a sudden need to rescue him building in my chest. I’m not even sure where it came from.

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