"But the violence?—"
"Would have been ten times worse if Morris had gotten what he wanted," I interject, surprising myself with my boldness. "Or do you think omegas in heat are fair game? Is that the story you're pushing?"
The reporter, a blonde woman with too much makeup and predatory eyes, focuses on me. "And who are you, exactly?"
"Someone who thinks you should be more concerned about an alpha who lost control at the scent of an omega than about the alpha who protected his packmate," I shoot back. "Because if he's a danger to omegas on the ice, he's a danger to omegas off of it, too. But I guess that doesn't sell papers, does it?"
She looks like she's about to respond, but then she's stopped short.
"Enough," Jax says, his bark cutting through the noise. "We're done here."
He guides us the final few feet to the SUV, practically lifting me into the backseat. Aidan follows, slamming the door hard enough to rattle the windows. Jax slides into the front passenger seat, and the driver, someone who works for the team, judging by his Grizzlies jacket, peels away from the curb.
The sudden quiet is almost overwhelming. My hands are shaking, adrenaline making my whole body vibrate. Outside the tinted windows, I can see reporters still chasing us, cameras flashing uselessly against the dark glass.
"Holy fuck," I breathe, slumping back against the leather seat. "Is it always like that?"
"No," Jax says, turning to look at me. "Tonight they're extra. But it could be worse."
I laugh, slightly hysterical. "Worse? How could it possibly be worse?"
"You handled yourself well," he says, and the approval in his voice makes warmth bloom in my chest. "Quick thinking with those responses."
"She was fucking brilliant," Aidan adds, grinning despite everything. "Did you see that reporter's face when you called her out? Priceless."
"I just..." I run a hand through my hair, trying to process what just happened. "They were talking about Darren like he's some kind of liability. Like being an omega makes him less than. It pissed me off."
"Good," Jax says simply. "That protective instinct? That's pack."
His phone buzzes, and he checks it quickly. "Zayn. They're out. On their way to the rental."
Relief floods through me so intensely I feel lightheaded. "Thank God. Is he okay?"
"As okay as he can be," Jax says carefully. "Heat is... intense. Especially when suppressants fail. His body's been fighting his biology for a while now, and now it's demanding payment."
"Will he be alright?" I ask, worry gnawing at my insides. "I mean, physically?"
"He'll be fine," Aidan assures me. "Uncomfortable as fuck for a few days, but fine. The bigger concern is..." He trails off, exchanging a look with Jax.
"Is what?" I demand. "Don't start keeping secrets now."
"The psychological impact," Jax says after a moment. "Darren's spent all this time trying to prove he can still compete as an omega. Tonight probably felt like a very public failure to him."
"But it wasn't his fault," I protest. "The suppressants?—"
"Logic doesn't matter when you're dealing with this kind of thing," Aidan says quietly. "Trust me. The shame spiral is real."
The city lights blur past as we leave downtown behind. The rental is outside the city proper, isolated enough to provide privacy. My mind is tangled chaos, trying to figure out how to help Darren through this. How to make him understand that nothing's changed, that he's still the same person who makes my heart skip and my body ache.
"What can I do?" I ask finally. "To help him?"
"Just be there," Jax says. "That's more than enough."
"And maybe help with nesting," Aidan adds. "Omegas in heat have a powerful urge to nest. Having the right materials, the right scents... it helps."
Nesting. I've read about it, of course, but I've never actually seen it. The idea of Darren creating a safe space, of potentially letting me help... it appeals to me on a level I don't quite understand.
The rest of the drive passes in relative quiet. I text Jessica to let her know I'm okay, since she's definitely seen the news bynow, and try to prepare myself for what's waiting at the rental. An omega in heat.
