Page 34 of Omega Ruined

"I think being around her helps," I admitted. "I haven't even felt the feral fog yet."

"Wow. Imagine if this really is the fix we've been waiting for?" Zephyr gave me a tired smile. "I hate to say it, but maybe Kienan had the right idea."

"Taking away her choice and freedom was never the right way."

"No, it wasn't. We owe her a lot. Kienan especially, but he has to get his head out of his ass to see that." He shook his head. "Fucker just doesn't get it. We could have gone to her and asked if she wanted our help getting out, once she knew we were scentmatches, but he went in there with only one purpose in mind. The fact she was a scentmatch… that was just luck on her part."

"I don't know if I can forgive him for that, Z."

We sat in silence for a while before he responded. "Me either."

Back inside, I found Olivia digging through the games cupboard that we hadn't touched in years. Not since I'd first started showing symptoms of this virus. We used to have game nights with friends, but all that had ground to a halt when first I, and then Dean, couldn't be trusted any longer.

"Find anything good?"

She jumped at my voice, banging her head on the upper door of the cupboard.

"Shit, you okay?"

"Yeah, sorry. I don't know why I spook like that."

I knew. Her piece of shit exes had scared her and made her jumpy, then the ORC and heat dens had finished the job.

"I was, uh, wondering if you want to go on a date with me."

She stared up at me from her crouched position. "A date? I thought we couldn't?"

"It's not public."

Her lips pursed. I'd scared her again. "It's okay, we won't be alone. Zephyr is coming, too. He kinda has to with the whole feral thing."

"I'll go." Her voice was small. I instantly felt bad for putting her into a situation where she would be afraid. Fuck.

"You don't have to. I get that it's weird. Going out in the wilderness with two alphas you don't really know." I cursed myself internally for asking in the first place.

"Vale." Olivia stood up in front of me, careful to avoid the upper door this time. "I'm not scared of you. I'm not used to alphas doing things for me instead of to me."

"Fuck." The thought of her being forced to do anything made the fog surge in. I bent to nuzzle her neck and inhale that tart lemon scent with the mint chaser until the fog eased away and I could stand again.

"Are you all right?" Olivia put a hand on my face, tilting me slightly so she could peer into my eyes. "I thought you'd changed."

"I did." I blinked at her. "Your scent pulled me back."

Her lips formed a perfect O and she stared into my eyes. "Then let's make sure you're never without my scent. I'll mark something you can carry with you."

I scooped her up without warning and she shrieked and laughed, wrapping her arms around my neck.

"Why can't I just carry you with me all the time?"

"Because that's a bit impractical. And I think the others might want you to share."

"She's right. You can't have her all to yourself," Dean grumbled as he walked over to us.

He took a hank of her hair in his hand and brought it to his nose, inhaling just like I had. "Give him his scent token, omega, but you need to give me one, too. I haven't tested if your scent stops the feral from taking over, but it's worth a try, right?"

"Of course." Olivia kicked her legs playfully. "I'll make you all scent tokens. What would work for that?"

"Maybe handkerchiefs," Kienan suggested from the doorway.