Page 126 of Broken Omega

“River!” Donnie exclaims, stopping him in his tracks.

He blinks at us and frowns at Donnie. “She’s our mate. We should take care of her.”

“The other Alpha has marked her,” Donnie reminds him quietly.

OtherAlpha? I open my mouth to ask what he’s talking about, and then the first pang of pain makes me pitch forward in Donnie’s grasp. I let out a low groan.

“Fuck, it hurts. It hurts so fucking much …”

“I’ll take you to your Alpha,” Donnie tells me, his voice soft.

“Don’t …” I start, gasping in a breath as the ache deepens and another burst of pain hits me hard.

I pull away when he tries to lift me up. River captures me in his arms, and I rest my head on his shoulder, trying to concentrate on my breathing.

I don’t want them to leave me with Kellan, I want them to stay.

They’re all my mates. I don’t want to go through this heat without them.

I just can’t get the words out while my heat is punishing me for not immediately impaling myself on an Alpha’s knot the second it started to make my skin warm.

River touches my face, his hand cool on my flushed skin.

“Is it okay if I touch your stomach?” he asks.

He’s using his touch to calm me. My breathing feels less shaky already.

“You can touch me anywhere,” I tell him.

He lifts my shirt up and places a hand on my skin right where it hurts most.

“River—” Donnie starts, cutting off when his mate lifts his gaze from mine to shake his head.

River looks back at me, and I stare at him, barely believing what I’m feeling.

An Omega’s touch can be used to calm their mate or mates. I’ve never heard of it being used to ease pain, but that’s what seems to be happening. The ache doesn’t vanish completely, but it dials down to a manageable roar.

“How did you do that?” I ask.

“It might not last,” he tells me, not moving his hand. “An Omega’s heat is tied into emotional bonds, so it’s possible to calm the pain with touch.”

“I’m impressed.” I’m also finding it incredibly difficult to move away from him.

Our combined scents create one hell of a perfect blend.

It has me desperate to make a nest.

The only trouble is that would mean a home. This apartment is temporary, and all of us know that. I don’t know where we’re going to live permanently. I don’t know where our nest will be.

“You’re feeling better?” Donnie asks.

“As long as River’s touching me, I think I’ll be okay.”

I’m starting to feel really good again, now that the ache is less powerful. The desire I have burning inside me is ready to be released. I move my head back from River’s shoulder, just enough to gaze at his throat. His hair is obscuring some of the skin, but I can’t find a mark there when I brush it back.

“We should wake the other Alpha,” Donnie mutters, capturing my attention.

I clear my throat and straighten up, turning slightly to look at him. “Why do you keep calling Kellan the other Alpha? As if there’s … Oh my God. That’s why Frost feels like an Alpha.”