Page 28 of Knot For Keeps

“I called Gage on the way up here, what on earth happened?” he said as he kneeled at the entrance taking in the wardrobe nest with a frown. It really wasn’t an ideal nest at all.

“I don’t know, she’s feverish. Help me get her out of here.” I gestured to the pillow mountain we were currently buried in. It would be easier to help her if she was extracted from the mountain of pillows.

“Do you think it’s a smart idea to remove her from her nest?” Kane asked.

“I don’t know, but I doubt that if the Doc comes, he’ll be able to get in here,” I said.

Nodding, Kane made his way over to us, kicking a few pillows as he went, ducking his head to avoid the coat hangers. Once he was within a few feet of me he held out his arms to take the limp omega off me. Hesitating, I handed her over, both of us able to lift her easily.

“Put her on the bed,” I told him. There was a thin mattress and a sheet on it, but everything else was now in the nest.

Kane remained tense as he took Lavender off me. She whimpered at the contact, her clammy skin against his bare chest. Instinctively, she nestled into him, purring at the smell of Kane. Blindly, she nuzzled her face into his pec, humming in happiness as the scent relaxed every muscle in her body. Her breathing started to deepen.

I wanted her to be nestling intome.Not Kane. I was the one who knew her and cared about her.

Kane gently laid her down on the thin mattress, and Lavender's face contorted in pain as she gripped onto him desperately, her fingernails leaving little half-moon indentations.

“No,” she mumbled in a desperate voice. “Stay.” Her eyes flitted open and she looked at him, wide lilac eyes mesmerising.

Kane looked pleadingly at me, as I grabbed a few of the pillows from the nest for her. My head was spinning from the scent. Were it not for Lavender's ill state and the burnt tinge I doubted I would have been able to control myself with a scent so strong. I did find a second to be amused at the stoic Kane looking panicked at the small omega clinging to him.

“Oh.” Lavender looked around hazily, noticing the alphas in the room. “I-I’m sorry, you should go.”

“No way, Lavvy girl. What’s happening?”

“I dunno,” she mumbled. “Probably shitty omega stuff, just let me sleep it off.” She moaned, running a hand through her hair, but it got tangled in the waves. Grunting she tried pulling her hand out but it just got even more entwined.

Kane lent forward, helping her untangle her hand, sweeping her matted hair behind her back. “Do you have a hair tie?” he asked, gently.

“Bathroom,” Lavender groaned.

“I’ll get the hair tie,” I offered, as Kane was currently still being clutched by Lavender. A sweet, almost slick-like smell hit my nostrils in the bathroom. Had Lavender been doing some self-pleasuring in there? Unable to dwell on it, hair tie in hand, I made my way back to the bed where Lavender was still sitting up. Kane was before her, holding onto her forearms to keep her up. Her head was lolling slightly as he tried to get her to concentrate on him.

Kane gently combed his fingers through her hair, manipulating it into a loose braid to keep it off her face. I raised my eyebrows at him, wondering where he had developed this new skill. Kane’s only reply was a glare.

The bedroom door swung open and Gage strode in, looking around frantically. “What the fuck happened here?” he asked, taking in the scene before him.

“Feverish, not entirely lucid, maybe a little feral. Did you call the Doc?” I asked.

“I will in a moment, I wanted to check on her first.”

“I don’t need a doctor,” Lavender groaned. “Stupid omega shit,” she mumbled the last part to herself.

Kane took the opportunity of Gage getting closer to back away, wincing at Lavender's whine of pain as he did so.

Gage walked over to the bed, taking in the sight of Lavender, pale and sweaty, the strap of her camisole pyjamas slipping over her shoulder. “What stupid omega shit are you talking about Lavender?”

“It’s nothing—we get sick if our needs aren’t met. Just leave me to get over it,” Lavender grumbled, batting my hand away as I tried to feel her forehead.

“What have you been missing?” Gage asked. Hadn’t he provided everything she possibly needed? Kane had taken pleasure in providing everything she could ever need, judging by the mountain of pillows dotted around the room.

“It’s nothing. I thought I would be fine without it.”

“Lavender.” Gage made his tone forceful, putting a hint of a bark behind it. Not enough to force her to do as he wished, just enough to make her take notice. Her eyes widened at the tone, focusing on him for a moment.

“Human contact,” she moaned, pushing away from us, reality still a little fuzzy. “That’s one of the reasons omegas need packs.”

“That makes sense,” I said. “In a mated pack an omega would always have prolonged contact with their alphas. Their needs would be met without even realising it.”

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