Page 16 of Last Pack Standing
Leo’s grin softened into something more thoughtful. “Well, if we’re going to be a real pack, I guess we’d better get used to having two omega attitudes to deal with! The only issue is, will they ever be okay with each other?” He pondered as I sat into the chair.
“I think it could happen. It’s rare, but have you seen them together? Normally two omegas would be at each other’s throats by now with three unbonded alphas around.” I said, scratching my beard. There was a small but growing possibility that these omegas might actually be something special, not to us, but to each other.
“Let’s see what happens. We don’t want to force anything.” Jace added.
“Of course not. But lets keep an eye on things. If we can take this team all the way to the end of the game, it would begroundbreaking.” Leo chimed in. He was right, no team with two omegas had ever gotten so far.
If these two were different, they might actually be able to be in a pack. I didn’t want to let myself hope too much, but I wasn’t stressed either. Something inside felt like this team was perfect as it was. We just needed to work together, and time would reveal all.
Chapter 13
Cassie
I’d laughed when they first announced our next challenge. A heat simulation? How in the world would they do that? I found out soon enough when the assistants were setting me up with a medical grade monitor and a scent suppressor patch, while the team alphas were just there to support me during the challenge.
“For this challenge, we’ll be activating your nervous system with artificial pheromones. You’ll feel like the beginning stages of a heat, but don’t worry, it’s not real.” The producer explained as they finished up. “Now, if at any point you want to tap out, let us know and the challenge will be over. But the team who lasts the longest wins.” He said as I groaned to myself.
“This is ridiculous,” I muttered as the assistant clipped the bio-monitor to my collarbone. “It’s not even real.”
But when they led me to the room, complete with a bed that looked like a quickly thrown together nest, I started to worry. My heats were such a vulnerable time and I hated showing weakness. But I vowed to myself that I wouldn't let that stop us from winning.
Once I was in the closed room - dressed only in pajamas - the host gave a quick announcement, and the simulation started. Pheromone triggers pumped discreetly into the closed studio air, and my confidence melted fast. This suddenly felt way too real.
My body reacted as if I were actually entering a heat cycle. My skin flushed, my temperature spiked, and my scent thickened and sweetened. Logically, I knew I was on suppressants and that none of this was real, but I couldn’t separate that from what I was feeling.
I could hear the producers speaking just outside. “Yes, we’ve got a spike, confirm the readings, get the alphas in.”
I stumbled a little, catching myself and blinking hard. It was like my body had been hijacked. I hated it, feeling this loss of control. And especially because it would be broadcast to the public. The door opened, and as I looked up I saw them enter one by one.
Rys came to me first. I looked over at him, my forehead already beading with sweat. He dropped to his knees in front of me, his voice steady and soft.
“Hey Cassie, how are you feeling?”
I wiped my hand across my forehead, glancing up at the cameras which were semi-hidden around the room. “I’m fine, nothing I haven’t dealt with before.” I said nonchalantly. But then another wave of warmth coursed through my body and I bit back a whine, looking at Rys with panic.
He reached for my wrist, two fingers pressed to the pulse point. “Heart rate’s high,” he murmured, more to himself than to me. “Take a slow breath. In with me, okay?”
He inhaled. I mirrored him. Exhaled. He matched it again. And again. Until the panic started to flow lighter, the tightness fading from my ribs.
“No matter what, I’m here. You don’t have to be strong. Just tell me what you’re feeling.” He reassured me. I nodded, afraid if I spoke I’d let out a whine of need. He was so big, so sturdy, and so caring. And right now, with his thick, dark hair pulled up and his hazel eyes boring into me, I wanted him to care for me for real. I had no doubts that if I was in a heat, he would know exactly how to handle me.
Then, a cramp rolled across my stomach. I hunched over, even though I knew it was electrically stimulated from the patches they’d put on me earlier. Leo appeared beside me like sunshine in the middle of a storm. He leaned in and cupped my face gently, his thumbs brushing along my jaw with a caress.
“Still with us?” he asked, eyes flicking between mine. “You’re doing so good, Cassie.”
“I hate this,” I whispered. “It’s like I’m not even in control.”
Leo didn’t flinch. “That’s why we’re here. You don’t have to do it alone.” I nodded, looking up at him and catching his scent. It calmed me to breathe him in, and Rys was stroking the inside of my forearm in a slow, soothing manner.
Then the door opened, and Jace stepped in. I was getting close to panicking. The anxiety of my usual heats could be quelled once the heat began, but this wasn’t a real heat. Just ongoing anxiety. Jace assessed me, and I felt exposed. He knelt down next to me, but didn’t touch me at first. He studied the readings on the monitor with a calm, calculating gaze.
“She needs balance. She’s panicking.” He said. I tried to argue and say that I had everything under control, but another wave of warmth ran through my body and I let out a whine, which immediately triggered the alphas surrounding me.
Moments later, the rumbles of three alphas purring filled the room. The vibrations of their combined purrs was like a euphoric drug to me, and I calmed down to a manageable state. Jace gripped my hand.
“I’m right here Cassie. Whatever you need, say the word.” He said, his voice soothing as he ran a hand over my hair, which was now damp from the feverish reaction to the fake pheromones in the air.
“I can do this, I can make us win. I just have to-” I stopped mid-sentence as another cramp rolled through me.
