Page 61 of Perfectly Yours
Macon is already there, scooping our Omega up into his arms and carting him down the hall. I follow, frantic and scared as we enter the nest, my Alpha emptying the nest of its blankets until it’s just a few sheets covering the mattress. Everything happens so fast, Macon stripping Savin down to his boxers and then rushing back to the kitchen.
He returns with two ice packs, pressing them on either side of Savin, the Omega letting out a sigh of relief. I’m still standing there at the edge of the nest, wringing my hands together, tears in my eyes when Macon finally turns his attention to me. It was all going so well this morning and then…”Why aren’t we taking him to a hospital?
“Because they can’t do anything. They’ll give him a few painkillers or sedate him, keep him under observation, and then release him when it all goes away. Sweetheart, I…”
“Don’t apologize. You mentioned that there are good times and bad times but it hurts my heart to see this, to feel this.” That temporary bite in my shoulder is channeling my Omega and I can feel how painful it is, like a sharp sensation beneath my skin. “Does this happen often?”
“His heat is always stressful. It just manifests in different ways. However, this afternoon might not have helped. Why don’t you go curl up on the couch and I’ll bring you something to eat? It’s a bit cold in here and I’m not sure what Savin is going to want.”
Macon is trying to take care of us both, catering to our needs. It’s also visibly tearing him apart that our needs don't coincide at this moment. I shake my head, pressing my hands to my Alpha’s chest. “I’m not abandoning him. Or you. I just need a blanket but don’t deny me my Omega.” My Omega. It sounds so sweet on my tongue, like it belongs there.
“He is yours. So am I,” Macon purrs, tucking a stray curl behind my ear. I crawl in beside Savin after grabbing one of the discarded blankets and swallow a sob at the image before me. His skin is a few shades lighter, his shallow breaths interrupted by the occasional gasp for air. How this happened so quickly, I have no fucking clue but I hate it.
Our Alpha is still moving through the room, preparing for Savin’s heat as I cuddle as close to Savin as possible. His lips purse out as a gasp slips out, his words cutting me to the core. “Don’t cry for me, angel. It’s not worth it. I’m just so glad he has you.”
His words take a little while to register and I only truly understand his meaning when a tear slips down his face. Savin thinks he won’t make it, that our future won’t include him. I don’t accept that. I won’t. I push up on my elbow, jabbing my finger into his chest. “You’re not fucking dying on us, on me, Savin. That’s not what this is.”
“It’s never been this bad,” he croaks. “And I’m just so tired.”
I’ve seen my fair share of horror in my classes, learning about the moments when patients give up, when they no longer want to fight anymore but I can’t fathom a world without Savin in it. “And you’re not fucking leaving me or Macon. Don’t you want to see your babies? Savin, listen to me. Don’t you fucking die on me. You’re not allowed to die. Rest but you better open your fucking eyes in the morning.” I’m desperate but I need him. I need him more than the air I breathe. Losing Savin would break us and that’s not a pain I think I could survive.
Macon has told me that his Omega isn’t dying, that the pain Savin experiences isn’t life-threatening but that it will be an obstacle for years to come. Savin doesn’t answer my demands so I place my head on his chest, listening for that slow beat of his heart.
I’m not sure what I’ll do if it stops.
Chapter forty-two
MACON
I had hoped that the start of this heat would be a pleasurable one, that Savin would at least be able to enjoy himself for a little while before the pain took over. Not only is that not the case but his words killed a little part of me. Feeling him slowly fall apart during the interview was terrifying but he kept pressing against my hand, silently telling me to let Camila finish.
I hated every fucking moment of that.
Savin is breaking my heart and I’m not sure how much longer I can stand watching him in pain, especially when he whispered that he was tired. Does my Omega not want to fight anymore or does he need more from me? From us?
I escape down the hall, needing a minute to weather my emotions. Savin will feel every bit through the bond and he doesn’t need my sympathy or my tears. He needs my comfort and protection. He needs me to tell him that everything will be okay. Maybe it’s a coward’s move standing out here as I try to gather myself and fail, quickly dialing Bailey. I need reassurance that Savin will be alright.
“How is he?” Bailey immediately asks after the dial tone ends. Knowing that this isn’t a social call and that I would only be calling for an emergency this late, she doesn’t beat around the bush.
“It’s worse than it’s ever been. He passed out and he’s on the cusp of another heat.” The heat flares aren’t out of the ordinary. The only good thing is that these flares last for less than three days and they’re usually highly predictable based on how much stress his body goes through. I clutch the phone in my hand, staring down the hallway, unsure how to help my mates. Goddess, I am not prepared for this shit.
“I’m assuming his other mate is there? Good. That will definitely ease some of his pain, however, you know this but as stress mounts, so do his symptoms. You’re a good man, Mac but we’ve both known that this isn’t going to be easy. An Omega’s biology will cater to that of his Alpha. He will unconsciously try to appease you so not only is he dealing with his stress but he’s dealing with yours and from what I’ve seen in the media? All three of you are going through an immeasurable amount.”
I hadn’t thought of it like that. Whilst trying to protect my home and my family, I somehow missed the part where my mate bond with Savin was a channel that went both ways. Every single moment he’s felt my hurt and fear and anger. He’s been weathering pieces of my emotions even if he hasn’t noticed.
“I fucked up. He even alluded to the fact that he’s dying.” I grit my teeth and clench my free hand at my side, trying to swallow down my anger.
“Mac, no. This is an impossible situation for you. You can’t physically ease his pain and you feel helpless. You’re not the only one. But,” Bailey lets out a deep breath before continuing. “he’s not dying. It might feel like it—his biology is warring with itself but he’s not dying. There’s one thing we could try. It’s an experimental drug not usually used for-”
“Why haven’t you mentioned it before?”
“Because I wasn’t at liberty to. I also wasn’t going to mention it if Savin didn’t need it. Macon, this is one of those last resorts and I didn’t want to offer Savin something if any of the other prescriptions worked in some way. Now that they aren’t and Savin is getting worse? I’m at liberty to offer it.”
I’m desperate enough to try anything at this point so I readily agree.
“It’ll help neutralize some of the hormones in his body but occasionally it takes away aspects known to an Omega’s biology. Less heats, muted scent, and… he’ll most likely be infertile.” Bailey knows how much we’ve wanted children. She has no idea about the babies but that’s hardly what I’m focused on right now.
“The pain could go away? Bailey, that’s all I care about. You don’t see how much pain he is in every day, how he tries to hide it from me. He might feel my emotions but goddess, I feel his pain. And I can’t fucking do anything about it. If there’s a drug out there that might help? Bailey, I need it. I’ll speak to Savin when he wakes up to figure out what he wants but…” I trail off, not sure what to say next for Bailey to understand how much this could change our lives.