Page 45 of Rescue Me

Her grin falters, just for a second and then she straightens, brushing imaginary dust off her designer jeans. “Because I don’t like my things being taken away from me,” she says, her voice cold.

“Maybe you should’ve taken better care of your things,” I snap, standing abruptly. Pain shoots through my side, but I ignore it. “You want tea? Get it yourself.”

Her jaw drops, her eyes wide with shock, and for a moment, I think she might actually lunge at me. But nothing happens. She just sits there, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water, as I turn and walk toward the stairs.

Zana was right. They won’t touch me. Not during the investigation. I’m safe—for now. I also won't bother staying to figure out how long that safety net lasts.

Chapter twenty-eight

ZANA

Ethan’s sprawled out on the couch, sweat sticking his curls to his forehead, his cheeks flushed a deep red that matches the fever burning under his skin. He’s restless, his fingers twitching against the blanket I tucked around him earlier. His scent—normally bright and warm, like summer rain—is off, tinged with something sharper, like ozone before a storm. It’s not pain, he keeps telling me, but I don’t believe him. Not entirely.

Dr. Bardin sits in the armchair across from us, her bag of supplies open on the coffee table. Her sharp eyes flicker between her notes and Ethan, her expression neutral for the most part. I watch her closely, the tension in my chest coiled tight like a spring. I’ve never felt more powerless and the feeling is starting to crawl under my skin.

“What can I do to make this easier?” I ask, trying to control my emotions. Both of my mates need me right now.

Dr. Bardin closes her notebook and sighs, rubbing her temple. “It’s his biology, Zana. Stress and not having his mate here are wreaking havoc on his system. His body doesn’t know whether to ramp up or shut down. It’s like being stuck halfway between a heat and a fever. Neither place is comfortable.”

Ethan shifts on the couch, muttering something incoherent and I immediately move closer, my hand brushing over his forehead. He leans into the touch, his eyes fluttering open just enough to focus on me. “I’m not in pain,” he mumbles, his voice hoarse. “Not like last time. When Reid was... you know.”

“Determined?” I finish for him, my heart aching at the thought of Reid still at that house. It’s only been a few hours but it’s longer than I wanted. Hell, I never wanted him back in that place. “Yeah, he is. He’ll be back, baby. I promise.”

Dr. Bardin clears her throat gently, pulling my attention back to her. “I gave him a sedative,” she offers. “Low-dose. It'll calm his system down enough to keep him stable. But it’s not a fix, Zana. It’s just a way to get through this. His heat is going to press forward regardless but he’ll be less irritable.”

I nod, my jaw tight as I process the words. “Thank you. Really.”

Dr. Bardin leans back in her chair, crossing one leg over the other as she watches Ethan with a critical eye. “You’re doing everything you can, Zana. But his body is fighting against the reality that his mate isn’t here. It’s not your fault. None of this is.”

I don’t respond right away, pressing a kiss to Ethan’s temple, my hand sliding down to hold his, squeezing gently. “You hear that, sunshine? You’re doing everything you can too.”

Ethan hums softly, his eyes slipping shut again. “I just... I miss him. It’s stupid. It hasn’t even been that long,” he whispers, his words slurring as exhaustion takes over.

An hour later and I wish Dr. Bardin hadn’t been right.

Ethan is curled up in my lap, his head resting against my chest as he shifts again, trying to find a spot that works for him. His scent hangs in the air, sweet and sticky, hovering somewhere between faint and syrupy. It’s driving me insane, that edge of arousal in his scent, pulling at me like a thread I can’t ignore. I’m just as hot as he is, fighting the urge to shift our positions, to press closer, but I keep myself steady.

Barely.

I press my phone tighter against my ear, my jaw clenched as I wait for Rourke to pick up. The line clicks, and his familiar voice greets me. “Zana, didn’t think I’d hear from you again this soon. It’s been what… a few hours?”

“Yeah, well,” I mutter, my fingers brushing absently through Ethan’s curls. He hums softly, a little noise that sends a ripple of heat through me and I have to clear my throat before I speak again. “I need more information. You said you’d dig, so dig deeper.”

A low chuckle rumbles through the phone and I can practically see his amused smirk. “You sound stressed, Zana. Your Omega giving you a hard time?”

“Don’t start,” I warn, my voice sharp, though I’m not sure who I’m warning—him or myself. Ethan shifts again, his thigh brushing against mine and I have to bite down on my lip to keep from growling. “I need answers, not jokes. I refuse to leave him in that fucking house.”

“Alright, alright,” he says, his tone still teasing but laced with curiosity. “Okay, give me a second. I’ve got some basic info here. Reid Wilhelm—no, wait, wrong last name. Reid... shit, what’s his actual last name?”

“Camden,” I snap, my patience wearing thin. “Reid Camden.”

“Right, Camden. Let me grab his file. Biology degree, graduated a few years ago. Top of his class, impressive marks, had a couple of offers lined up after graduation.” Rourke falls silent, a grunt following the sound of pages being flipped through. “There’s no reason he would sign a contract like this after that. Doesn’t make sense. But from the few people we’ve talked to, they always said that Reid wanted to help. Even his parents said he was the perfect Beta, always wanting to clean. So submissive.”

“Submissive?” I mutter, my fingers tightening in Ethan’s hair for a second before I catch myself and loosen my grip. He doesn’t seem to notice, too focused on shifting again, his scent warming the air between us. “The Beta I know isn’t submissive, maybe reduced because of all the abuse but he’s got a mouth on him. Nothing about this makes sense. Why would someone with that kind of future tie themselves to a pack like the Wilhelms? Unless...”

“Unless he didn’t have a choice,” Rourke finishes. “We haven’t found any evidence that he was coerced and his parents sound mostly like normal people. Both Betas.”

I don’t even know where to start but then it clicks. In the few days Reid was here, he never once asked to see his parents. In fact, he did well to avoid it the few times I asked if there was anyone he wanted to call. “Can you send me anything of what you have?”

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