Page 98 of Fragile Heart

I frown. The only bed at her guest house is the one in the bedroom. If we use it, we’ll have to sleep on the couch. Or in the nest with her.

Kayla hated having us sleep in her nest, especially during her heats. She couldn’t stand the extra body heat when the need wasn’t consuming her.

That complicated ball of emotions tries to rise again. Fuck, I don’t want to deal with it, feel it, acknowledge it. I focus on something I know how to handle.

“Are there enough supplies?” I ask.

Emily frowns. “Probably not, but we can gather some and have one of the Betas bring everything over.”

Beau nods. “Dad and I are happy to play runners. Get me a list, and I’ll have Dad start grabbing things. You need new ones, or are things from your house all right?”

“From his house should be fine. She’s already been there and smelled the laundry detergent they use.” Emily takes control while I flounder with the reality that I’m about to get an Omega other than Kayla through a heat. An Omega who is my literal physical soulmate. An Omega who hasn’t had more than a passing greeting with me since I fucked her boneless over a week ago.

“I’ll coordinate with Hudson about getting you guys food,” Emily continues. She pulls out her own phone and sends a text to someone. “I know she just went to Jackson for a fancy food haul as she calls it, but there won’t be enough to feed all three of you.”

My heart pounds in my chest as I nod.

Beau looks over my shoulder, and his mouth tightens.

“Here they come,” he says.

I glance behind me. Sure enough, out of the trees exactly where I expected, they start toward us. Caleb pushes Daphne faster once they’re on the flat ground. He’s far enough away I can’t see specifics, but it’s obvious he has Brielle wedged in front of him, his arms holding her in place. Even from this distance, she looks like a mess.

Emily turns for Camden, picking him up and heading toward Mom and Dad’s house without a glance back. Thank fuck she understood without me having to say it.

“I need you to take the horses,” I tell Beau. He nods. “Emily will stay at the house until she sees us leave. And no one else should show up while we’re trying to get Brielle out of here, but?—”

“I’ll make sure you guys are safe,” he says, even more serious than normal.

It takes only a few minutes—that feel like an entire fucking hour—for Caleb and Brielle to make it across the clearing. He swings off Daphne before easing Brielle into his arms.

She’s even more of a mess up close. Tears track down her face and wet her shirt. Her eyes are unfocused, her hair a tangled mass. I can’t help but scan both sides of her neck, looking for his mark.

Something dark twists in my gut when I don’t find one.

I start toward them, but Daphne flattens her ears and takes a step back.

“Easy, Daph girl,” Beau murmurs.

He keeps up a low stream of soothing phrases as he rushes around me and grabs hold of Daphne’s bridle. Once she’s calmed enough, he undoes Phoebe’s line and then walks both horses into the barn.

“Let’s get this gear off you, and then you both can get hosed down and eat a treat,” he says. “That was a hard ride.”

As soon as Beau disappears, I approach Caleb. His eyes are wild as he pants, and his hands flex every few seconds where they grip Brielle’s body. Brielle whimpers with every breath she takes, every movement of Caleb’s body against hers. Her scent is so damn strong, it’s all I can think about and breathe in even from five feet away.

“She needs help,” I say, trying to keep my voice unreactive. “Now, before we go.”

Every second she’s like this is unfair to her. The longer the heat’s triggered need goes unfulfilled, the more physically painful it becomes for the Omega. She needs to be knotted. Now.

My dick jumps like it’s volunteering.

Caleb nods before groaning. “I can’t. Not after that damn ride. I don’t trust myself.”

To not drop into a true rut and claim her while she’s in heat. Fuck, he really didn’t bond her. But he said she hadn’t said no. I frown but don’t ask.

“Emily said we should use the guest house. She’s apparently built a true nest there,” I say instead as I pull Brielle into my own arms and turn toward my truck.

Caleb nods. “She has. I forgot about that.” He stretches his neck and groans again. “I need like three minutes to get my bearings again.”

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