Just that morning, the three of them had discussed Teal’s impending heat. With his body already stressed due to not being able to fully recover after the poisoning, Teal would likely be fairly mentally checked out during the experience. Dr. Kinzinger had been blunt that this heat would be risky and fraught for him.
Sorcha sent off a text to Jax and Niall, who were asleep on their side of the duplex. When they didn’t reply immediately, he banged his fist on the wall. He had to do it a few times, but eventually he heard them stir. A minute later, they let themselves in the McGinns’ unit.
A subdued knock sounded at the bedroom door and Ronan commanded the betas to stop playing around and come in.
Niall and Jax had been so urgent in responding to Sorcha’s message, but they looked nervous as they stepped into the room.
“His heat?” Jax asked the alpha, as though needing Ronan to confirm.
“Yes,” Ronan answered. “I finally scent the shift I’ve been waiting for these past few days. It’s time.”
“He’s okay?” Niall’s question was tentative, the concern clear on his face.
“He’s fine,” Sorcha said, determined to stay positive. “His body was made for this. He’s a little banged up right now, but we’re going to help him. I’m guessing we have about three hours until his first wave starts in earnest.” Sorcha tried to tamp down thememory of his own terrible first hours of heat, writhing in agony, a prisoner of his bedroom.
His thoughts must have shown on his face, because Ronan placed a firm hand on his wrist. “Teal’s going to be fine, little one. It won’t get as bad as yours because he’s not alone. We’re going to give him what he needs.”
“Okay,” Sorcha murmured.
“We’re here to help,” Jax said. “Do you want us to wake the boys and take them to our unit?”
Ronan started to answer, but Teal moaned from the bed, “No.”
“No?” Ronan asked his husband.
“No.” Teal turned his head weakly toward Niall and Jax. “Need you…both.”
Niall chewed his bottom lip. “You want us to stay in the house with you?”
An exasperated huff escaped Sorcha. “C’mon, Niall. You know what he means.”
Niall looked at Jax and Jax nodded.
“You’re sure?” Niall inched closer to the bed. He directed the question to Teal, but his eyes also darted to Ronan and Sorcha.
“Yes,” Teal replied, the most forceful he’d been since waking. “My body…is…so tired. I need my…family…my partners.”
Niall sat down on the bed, taking one of Teal’s hands in his. With the other, he tugged Jax to stand next to him. “Of course we’ll stay, Teal. If that’s what you want.”
“Okay. Ronan will…tell you…what to do,” Teal panted. “I…trust you…all.” With his last breath before succumbing to fatigue, the omega glanced at his alpha. “Breed me.”
Chapter Forty-Two
Ronan
Dayson arrived an hour after Teal passed out to pick up the boys. He’d agreed to watch them at his apartment. Since Dayson had maintained his guard for another week out of an abundance of caution, everyone felt comfortable with the arrangement.
Dayson greeted Ronan at the front door.
“You’re okay if Mikel spends some time around the kids? We’re not living together or anything, but he’s been coming to my apartment a lot lately.”
“I respect your judgement. I still can’t believe you tamed that alpha,” Ronan mused.
“We’ll see how settled I can get him,” Dayson answered with a grin. “I kind of like how he challenges me, when his bullheadedness about how thingsshould bekicks in.”
“Sounds like you’ve met your match.”
“I could say the same to you.” Dayson peered toward the stairs. “All of you.”
