Page 10 of Hunting for Love

“I think--” Carlos cuts himself off, looking away. His cheeks grow pink as he tries to find the right words. “Well, I’m not sure how to say this delicately but I’m pretty sure he might need a umm,helping hand.”

Axel and Jeff look at each other before nodding. “Yeah, we smelled it too but we didn’t want to say anything,” Axel says. I tilt my head in confusion. “He probably went to take a cold shower.”

“What are you guys talking about?”

Axel looks up at me with a frown. He lowers his voice so JJ won’t hear. “I’m pretty sure our new friend is going into heat. At least, that’s what it smells like.”

The words play over and over in my head. Heat? Oh my gods. Zander is going into heat. I’m not clueless. I’ve read enough of Cooper’s books to know what that is, but for some reason, the idea ofZandergoing through that, all alone, sends my nerves alight withsomething.

I should be there to help.

Wait, no, he wouldn’t want that. I’m just a fucking stranger!

And yet, I feel myself pulled in his direction. “Okay,” I say, clearing my throat when my voice breaks. My cheeks are bright red as I run my fingers through my hair, not wanting the guys to see just how this is affecting me. “Well, maybe I should go check on him? Just to make sure he’s okay?”

Axel looks up at Carlos and the two of them share a look. Part of me is annoyed to be excluded but the bigger part of me can’t think of anything other than Zander. He’s all alone. He must be so anxious. I’ll do everything in my power to make sure he’s okay, even if that means guarding the bathroom door so no one bothers him.

“It should be fine,” I hear Carlos say under his breath, “he’s human so the smell of heat won’t affect Ronny like it would a shifter.”

“That’s true,” Axel finally says, turning back to me. “Go make sure he’s okay but if he wants you to leave him alone, come right back.” I narrow my eyes, feeling offended that Axel would think I wouldn’t do just that. Before I can retort, Axel continues. “I’m sorry, I’m just being overly cautious, Ronny.”

“I understand,” I say with a nod. “Okay, I’ll be back.”

Martin gives a wolf whistle as I start walking towards the bathroom and I can feel my face heat so bright he must be able to see the red on the back of my neck which I confirm as true when the guys all chuckle. I give them the bird over my shoulder in response, pulling it back when I remember JJ is with them. Thankfully, he doesn’t seem to be paying me much mind, too focused on talking to Lily who’s sat in Jeff’s arms.

I take my time finding my way towards the bathroom, assuming that’s where Zander would go if what Axel and Carlos told me is true. What better way to cool off than with a cold shower? Although, how would he even reach the controls of the shower in his cat form? Is he lying in the sink, wishing someone would come turn the water on for him? I have to find him so I can help him, however I can.

The sound of the shower running hits my ears and my steps slow even further. Is that a random person? Or has Zander shifted into his human form? My stomach flutters uncontrollably at the thought of seeing Zander in this form.

I shouldn’t even be feeling this way! From what I can piece together, Zander is on the run from something or someone. He doesn’t need some hunter catching feelings for him. And that’s without even thinking about the fact that I’ve somehow gained feelingsfor a cat. What the fuck is wrong with me?

I rub my face with my hands, letting out a long breath. After steeling my nerves, I knock on the bathroom door. I hear someone suck in a shaky breath.

“Zander?”

There’s a long pause where no one answers. I think maybe I’m bothering someone’s shower. Just before I resign myself to turn away and keep looking, I hear a soft voice call back.

“Ronny?” That voice. Zander’svoice. This is the first time I’m hearing it and it’sbeautiful. A shiver runs down my spine.

“Is that you Zander?”

“Yes,” I hear back, Zander’s voice breathless and barely there. He sounds worried and something inside me snaps, wanting him to know he’s safe with me. I step into the bathroom, clicking the lock behind me to give both of us a moment of uninterrupted peace.

“Are you okay, Zander? I locked the door behind me so no one will be able to come in here and bother you.”

“I’m okay,” he says but I don’t believe him, not when his voice sounds sobroken.

“I won’t take a step closer, okay? You’re safe in here.”

“I trust you,” Zander says and that statement, said with such conviction, is the first thing I believe without a doubt. I warm all over, realizing Zandertrustsme. “I know you won’t do anything I don’t want you to do.”

“Can you tell me what’s going on? You sound upset.”

Zander snorts but the sound is anything but amused. My heart squeezes painfully in my chest. “I sound upset because I am, in fact, upset,” Zander says, grinding the words out through clenched teeth. “I’m an omega, Ronny. I’m an omega shifter who’s just gone into heat for the first time in like seven years. Do you have any idea what that means?”

I swallow thickly. My mind races with all the things I know about omegas. Zander must be so uncomfortable right now. Does he have an alpha? Is there anything I can do to make him more comfortable?

“Do you umm...” my words sputter out and I run my fingers through my hair, trying to find the courage to ask the question I want to ask. I’m not sure I want to know the answer but I know it needs to be answered. “Do you have an alpha?”

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