Page 17 of Last Pack Standing
“You don’t have to be strong, Cassie. Let us take on the pain.” Leo rumbled, offering his hand. “Squeeze as hard as you need to. Let it out.” I gripped him with my other hand, and he gave me a nod. I squeezed it, hard. Letting out all my frustrations, all my fears, and soon I heard another sound added to the rumbling purring - my whine.
Suddenly hands were on me, gently rubbing me as the three of them gave me encouragement.
“We’re here, Cassie.”
“You’re doing so great, let it out.”
“Good girl.”
Their praise was hitting me in a place that suddenly caused a crack in my shell. My body, before my mind, realized that I trusted them. And furthermore, I wanted them way more than I was letting on. Even though this experience was scary, I was now beginning to enjoy their attention and care. I looked over to Rys, his eyes deep and understanding as he encouraged me. Then Leo, nodding and stroking my back as he purred his soft words. And Jace, who seemed to maintain his control even though I was spiraling. They were phenomenal.
My mind started to feel somewhat muddled, like it did during a real heat. I started to forget what was real and what was supposed to be acting. I reached out, touching Rys’s cheek with my hand. He rumbled his approval, and then I reached for Leo as well.
“Alphas…” I murmured, now caught up completely in the simulation. I wanted more. Then, I heard a faraway voice.
“Send in the omega.”
The door opened, and we all turned to see Ash being pushed into the room.
Chapter 14
Jace
The producers had been unusually quiet. That was the first red flag. The second was the assistant knocking once before swinging the door open like she was throwing in a bomb - which would have been less stressful than what happened, to be honest.
They pushed Ash in. Not escorted in - pushed. Like they were trying to start something - and we all knew what.
Cassie was still curled against the padded bed in the center of the simulation chamber. She was flushed, her breathing shallow, pupils wide. We'd been working to regulate her scent and heart rate for the last ten minutes, and she’d just started stabilizing. She was doing so well, and I was proud of her and glad that she let me help her through the challenge.
Then came Ash. The scent shift hit instantly. My nostrils flared without meaning to. Leo's hands twitched on his thighs, and Rys went stiff beside me.
In any heat, real or simulated, throwing two omegas into the same space was a recipe for a chemical and emotional explosion. Omegas didn’t share during vulnerable moments like this. It triggered every protective, territorial instinct in their blood. It would cause chaos if it were to happen during a real heat.
We all froze, waiting to see what would happen. Cassie sat up fast, her eyes wild as she locked onto Ash. Her scent soured a bit, and I braced for a meltdown. But then, she controlled her breathing.
“It’s fake. It’s for a challenge. It’s not real.” she said to herself, and I could feel her fighting her urges to lash out. Ash, who should have been bristling and growing agitated, walked slowly toward us.
“Cassie, what do you need?” He asked, his jaw clenched. I could tell he was doing everything in his power to stay calm.
Cassie took deep breaths, her scent still wavering. After a minute, she let out a breath with a whoosh. “It’s okay, Ash. You can come sit on the bed. I’m alright.” She managed to say. I was still worried. I didn’t want either of them to get triggered into a fight. Both of them were a victim in this scenario. But Ash slowly, quietly approached, then reached the edge of the bed. Cassie didn’t react.
“Kinda a shitty time to get reunited,” he said quietly, but there was a gentleness in his tone I’d never heard before.
Cassie’s shoulders were tight. But something in her eased slightly at the sound of his voice. She panted, still trying to fight the artificial heat. The medical devices they’d attached to her must have made only her susceptible to the pheromones, because Ash seemed unaffected. Yet Cassie still had enough energy to prop herself up.
“They threw you in here?” She asked breathlessly.
“Apparently I’m today’s plot twist.” He crouched in front of her slowly. And then he did something no omega would normally do.
He reached out and touched her wrist, very gently. Her scent spiked, then steadied. His did too. Then their heartbeats synced on the monitor in real time. I could barely believe it. I looked at Leo and Rys, who were waiting, watching to make sure things didn’t go south.
Ash leaned closer, murmuring something too low to catch. Cassie closed her eyes, and to my shock, smiled. He slid up beside her, wrapping an arm gently around her back as she leaned into his chest.
It was so soft and gentle, not sexual but rather very intimate. Like something primal - two bodies remembering they were the same. Cassie’s nose skimmed along his jaw. Ash tilted his head slightly, offering his throat, almost as if he were giving her permission.The air in the room changed.
Leo let out a low breath beside me. “Holy shit.”
Rys looked between them, stunned. “That shouldn’t even bepossible.”
