Page 22 of Rescue Me

Ethan shifts in my lap, leaning back into my chest as his fingers tap away. The glow of the laptop screen reflects off his glasses, and every few seconds, he mutters under his breath—half thoughts, little frustrations spilling out like steam from a pressure valve. I tighten my hold on him, grounding him, and he sags just a little more against me.

But while I’m holding him, my mind is racing. Turning over the pieces. The puzzle. The problem. Reid.

I’ve been over the laws so many times they’re practically etched into my brain, and no matter how I look at it, we’re in a tight spot. Pack Betas, once contracted, are practically untouchable unless their Alphas decide to release them. And the Wilhelms? They don’t release anything. They’re the kind of pack that digs their claws in deep and refuses to let go. Wealthy. Connected. Dangerous.

It’s not just a legal issue. It’s the time factor. Ethan’s met Reid, even if it was brief, and now his biology is kicking in, turning that connection into a biological need. It’s not just about wanting Reid—it’s about needing him. That tether, that bond, will tighten until it’s unbearable. And it’s not just Ethan feeling it.

I feel it too. That pull. That gnawing connection. It was faint at first, something easy to brush aside. But then I caught his scent when I visited the diner this morning and everything clicked into place. Almond and sandalwood. Warm and earthy, with something raw and unguarded underneath. It was undeniable. Reid isn’t just Ethan’s mate—he’s mine too.

The smell of coffee and grease lingers in the air, Margie watching me with that no-nonsense look she gives everyone who crosses her threshold. She sets a knit beanie on the counter, worn and frayed at the edges.

“He left this,” she states. “Didn’t realize it until he was long gone.”

I pick up the hat, turning it over in my hands. It’s nothing special, just a basic beanie with loose threads and faded fabric. But the moment my fingers brush against it, I feel it. That scent. My stomach flips and I bring the hat closer, inhaling deeply.

It’s him.

It’s Reid.

The realization slams into me so hard I can’t breathe. He's not just Ethan’s mate—he’s mine too. The connection thrums in my chest, faint but steady, and for a moment, I forget where I am.

“You okay?” Margie’s voice pulls me back, and I nod, setting the hat down like it’s suddenly too hot to hold.

“Yeah,” I lie, my voice steady even as my heart pounds. “Just thinking.”

She crosses her arms, leaning against the counter. “He didn’t look too good when he was here,” she says quietly. “Black eye. Bruises. Like someone worked him over good.”

Anger blooms in my chest, but I do well to keep my emotions in check. “His pack?” I ask, already knowing the answer.

Margie nods, her expression dark. “I didn’t want to say anything over the phone, knowing Ethan would be there. And I can’t say for sure, but if you’re thinking about getting involved, you better be ready. Reid’s got trouble following him like a shadow. The Wilhelms are not an easy pack to deal with.”

I’m ready. I’ve been ready since the moment I realized Reid wasn’t just Ethan’s other half but mine too. But getting him out of the Wilhelms’ grip isn’t going to be easy. They’ll fight tooth and nail to keep him, and if they even suspect we’re trying to take him, they could make his life worse.

Ethan doesn’t know the half of it. I haven’t told him how deep this mess goes. I haven’t told him about the risks, about the hoops we’ll have to jump through. He’s too focused on Reid, on the idea of having him close, to see the battle ahead. And honestly? I don’t want to be the one to dim that hope.

For now, I stay in the moment. Ethan’s warm weight in my lap, the soft hum of his frustration as he works. I press a kiss to the top of his head, lingering there as he mutters something unintelligible under his breath.

“You’re amazing, you know that?” I whisper, my lips brushing against his hair.

He grunts, still focused on his laptop, but his cheeks flush pink. It’s adorable, the way he pretends not to care. Unable to help myself, my hands dip a little lower, playing with the hem of his pants. He doesn’t acknowledge me, just shifts enough so that I have better access. Ethan’s scent blooms as he wiggles in my lap, silently edging me on.

So, I take.

I slip a hand into his pants, wrapping my fingers around his cock. A breathy gasp tears from his throat as I give it an experimental stroke, Ethan’s hips bucking against my grip. “Alpha,” he breathes as I continue. The laptop discarded, he holds onto my thighs on either side of him, his head falling back against my shoulder. A chuckle falls from my lips as I kiss his cheek, picking up my pace until he’s fighting against my hold on his cock.

I continue to kiss and nip at his cheek, moving down to give the same treatment to his jaw, and then my bite. His body shudders as he comes, liberally coating my hand and his pants. A whine soon follows as he sags against my chest, angling his head for a full kiss. I gladly oblige, laughing as he tries to dominate the embrace. My hand squeezes his cock, Ethan squirming in my lap before finding a way to untangle himself and stand up.

His eyes are brighter now, his expression less heavy but I know it’s a fleeting emotion. Still, I play into it, grinning as I suck a finger coated in his release into my mouth. The scent of his arousal thickens in the air as I take my time, tasting every last bit of my Omega. He’s basically vibrating at this point, for an entirely different reason than earlier.

“Let’s get you a shower and then we go visit your sister. It’ll take your mind off of everything because goddess knows you need a break.” He’s about to fight me on that when I stand and grip his chin, trying to hold back a smile. “If you’re a good boy, then I’ll fuck you with that knotty dildo you got for me for my birthday.”

His eyes widen comically before he dashes down the hallway to the bathroom attached to his nest. Seconds later, he’s rushing back toward the living room to drag me with him.

Chapter fifteen

ZANA

The tires crunch over the gravel driveway, the tension radiating off Ethan like a storm about to break. I swear the air feels heavier here, like the memories it holds are too dark to let the sunlight in.

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