Page 36 of Consider The Lilies

“Lucy?” Stanley’s tone is hard. Obviously irritated.

“Yes, sir?” She rocks on the balls of her feet, just as anxious as I am.

“Bear is going to carry Stefan up to my room,” he says. “Donotleave them alone.”

“Yes, sir!” Lucy hangs up, then she runs to the back door. I follow her, racing across the porch and into the house.

All the color is gone from Stefan’s face, and his head lolls from one side to the other as I run up the stairs. I curse how big this fucking house is as we cut down one long hallway and then another, finally reaching Stanley’s room.

“Found it!” Lucy yells the second she enters the bedroom. She snatches it from the side table, and I sink to my knees in the middle of the floor.

“Stefan.” I adjust the omega in my arms, forcing him to sit on my lap. “We have your inhaler.” I cradle his face as Lucy brings the device to his lips. She squeezes it, pushing the medicine into his mouth. Stefan inhales as deeply as he can, then he holds his breath. After what feels like a lifetime, he slowly exhales.

“Thank you,” he mumbles, lifting his hands to take the device from Lucy. His hands tremble slightly, and his upper body sways as he takes another puff, inhaling once again. This time, he doesn’t squeak, and it’s a deeper breath, pushing his whole chest out.

The fear in my gut slowly eases when he finally exhales.

“Thank goodness.” Lucy lets out a breath of relief. “You scared me.” She cups his cheek as she pretends to scold the omega.

“Sorry,” he whispers, giving her a half-hearted smile.

“It’s okay.” She leans in, brushing the hair off his forehead. “Thankfully, Mr. Cosner was here. He got you inside very fast.” She smiles up at me, her blue eyes twinkling. I always liked Lucy, but now I have a whole new appreciation for the beta. She was so calm and focused. She’s the perfect person to watch over our omega.

“Lucy,” I wish I could express all of my gratitude, “call me Bear.”

Her brows shoot up, then she smiles. “Really?”

I nod then smile as Stefan lays his head against my shoulder. He’s so exhausted. “We’ll be spending a lot of time together.” My eyes flicker to Stefan. “We might as well be friends.”

Lucy’s smile grows, and a deep blush creeps across her freckled cheeks. “I’d like that.”

“Let me see him.” Stanley bursts into the room. My hold on Stefan instinctively tightens, but I know I won’t be able to keep him. “Omega?” The pack alpha drops to his knees next to me. “Are you okay?” He angles his head down, looking into Stefan’s eyes.

“I’m okay,” he mumbles. “You didn’t have to come.” But the rose hue creeping across his cheeks tells me he likes that the alpha is here. It’s a good sign—both Stanley’s willingness to abandon work for the small omega and Stefan's reaction.

They’re bonding, and it’s beautiful.

“Give him to me.” Stanley slides his hands under Stefan’s body, lifting him off my lap. It takes everything in me not to snarl and lash out. “Go get Jessica,” he says to Lucy. “Stefan will be taking the rest of his meals in my room today. He needs to rest.”

Lucy bows her head before walking briskly from the room. I stare at the door as she vanishes down the hall. I’m so thankful I had her with me today.

“Alpha,” Stefan says in such a calm and composed voice. “I promise I’m okay.” But Stanley ignores him.

“What exactly were you doing that caused this?” the pack alpha growls at me as he places Stefan on the bed. The omega seems to shrink into the bedding, clearly upset by the alpha’s tone.

“Nothing,” I say honestly. “We were on the back porch, looking at the trees. The wind kicked up, and he suddenly couldn’t breathe.”

Stanley's dark eyes narrow, assessing me. “It just happened?” He turns his hard gaze on Stefan. I know he’s not actually pissed—he’s simply scared for the omega—but Stanley doesn't know how to express that without sounding like a dick. “Is that true?”

Stefan swallows thickly and nods. “Yes.” His voice is so small. “It’s the pine trees.”

“What?” Stanley’s face screws up. “The pine trees?” he asks in his usual booming voice.

Stefan nods. “I’m allergic to them.”

Stanley pulls in a deep breath, flexing his fingers to calm himself down. “Allergic to trees,” he says like it’s just one more fucking thing. “Bear.” He cuts me a glare, then he marches past me.

Understanding his silent order, I follow him into the hallway, fighting every instinct I have to stay and comfort the sweet omega.

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