Page 9 of Rescue Me

“We’ll figure it out,” she whispers against my lips. “Together.”

I nod, my eyes still closed, her scent anchoring me. “Can we go home now so I can fuck you?” I ask, trying to move the conversation to something a little more exciting.

Zana snorts as she helps me to my feet. “That sounds like a perfect plan to me.”

Chapter six

ETHAN

The drive home takes less than ten minutes, but I’m restless the entire way. The car is silent except for the soft hum of the engine and I keep fidgeting with the hem of my shirt, glancing at her hands on the wheel. She drives so effortlessly, her long fingers relaxed on the leather steering wheel, her gaze steady and focused. Even now, when I feel like I’m coming apart at the seams, she’s calm.

I hate how much I need that.

When we pull into the driveway, the sight of the house does what it always does—it takes my breath away. The sleek lines and abstract angles make it look like something out of a design magazine and I feel that familiar pang of disbelief that I live here now. The tall windows glint faintly in the moonlight, their geometric patterns casting shadows across the perfectly manicured lawn. It’s beautiful in a way that feels untouchable, and yet... something about it feels like home.

Zana parks the car and comes around to open my door before I even reach for the handle. Her hand rests lightly on my lower back as she guides me inside, her warmth grounding me for just a moment.

“Baby, I can see you worrying. Everything will work out as it always does.” She waits for me to rest against her, letting her words sink in. “Anything you want to change yet?” she asks, her voice teasing as she leans down to nibble on my ear.

I shake my head, managing a small smile. “No. I like it.” And I do. Most Omegas step into their Alphas’ houses and immediately want to move everything around to make it theirs. Me? I wouldn’t change a damn thing because this feels like an extension of Zana and I want her just as she is.

She hums in approval, her fingers tracing small, soothing circles along my spine as she nudges me forward. The familiar scent of her home wraps around me as we step inside—a mix of wood and faint citrus, undercut by the faintest trace of something... missing.

The thought makes my chest tighten, but I push it down as I kick off my shoes and head toward the living room. Zana is right behind me, her hands resting on my shoulders as she gently pulls me back against her, the weight of her presence is both comforting and stifling.

“What do you want to do?” she asks softly, her voice a low rumble that I feel more than hear. Her Alpha purr follows, keeping me from spiraling into whatever panic is edging its way into my consciousness right now. Zana always puts me first, even when I think I want one thing and need another. Fifteen minutes ago, the only thing I wanted was to be inside of my Alpha and now I’m just confused. Maybe disoriented is a better word.

I shrug, my hands fiddling with the edge of my shirt again. “I don’t know,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady but the restless energy from earlier hasn’t gone away. If anything, it’s worse now that we’re here. The house feels... off. Like something important has been misplaced and I can’t figure out what it is. “Fuck, I’m sorry, Alpha. I just…” Needing more than her makes me feel horrible, selfish even.

She doesn’t press me, just hums again and lets her hands slide down to my waist, holding me firmly as if she can sense how close I am to unraveling. I tilt my head slightly, catching the warm, spicy notes of her scent—rich cinnamon and honey, the combination as intoxicating now as it was the first time I caught it.

But there’s something else. Or rather, thereisn’t. That other scent, the one I can’t stop thinking about, the one I’ve been chasing for weeks now—it’s gone. Or fading. It’s that sweet, earthy mix of almond and sandalwood, the scent that’s been driving me insane. The one I can’t name, can’t trace, can’t pin down.

My heart starts to race and I pull away from Zana, pacing across the living room. I can’t sit still, can’t focus. The air feels too thin, too sharp, and I can’t stop sniffing, trying to catch even the faintest hint of that scent. It’s not here. It’snot here.

“Ethan?” Zana’s voice is cautious now, her eyes tracking me as I pace. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” I say quickly, the word tumbling out before I can stop it. “I just—nothing.”

She doesn’t believe me. Her gaze sharpens, but she doesn’t push. Not yet. Instead, she steps closer, her hands reaching out to gently tug me back toward her.

“Breathe, baby,” she says softly, her thumbs stroking my arms. “Whatever it is, you can tell me.”

“I don’t know,” I admit, my voice cracking. “I don’t know what it is, Zana. It’s like... like something’s missing, but I don’t know what. My chest hurts and I can’t stop thinking about—” I cut myself off, biting my lip.

“Thinking about what?” she prompts, her tone soft but growing insistent.

I shake my head, frustrated tears burning at the edges of my eyes. “It’s stupid.”

“Nothing that makes you feel like this is stupid,” she says firmly, her hands sliding up to cradle my face. Her thumbs brush away the tears before they can fall, her scent wrapping around me like a cocoon. Zana presses her lips to mine, tasting me for several seconds before whispering, “Tell me.”

I hesitate, my throat tightening. “It’s a smell,” I finally push out, the words spilling out in a rush. “It’s this scent—I don’t even know if I’ve really smelled it, but it’s been in my head for weeks now. It’s almond and sandalwood, and it’s everywhere—I keep buying things that smell like it, but it’s neverright.It’s neverenough.”

I wait for her to lash out like my father always did, the authority figure in the house wanting me to be grateful for what I have. But this has been bothering me for weeks. Her hands stay steady on my face, her touch grounding even as my chest tightens further.

“When did this start?”

“I don’t know,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper. “A few weeks ago. Maybe longer. I just—I can’t stop thinking about it. I need it, Zana. I don’t know why, but Ineedit.”

---