First Street Heat (Beastverse #1)

10. Lilah

10

Lilah

I tell Ian everything. And not just the parts I told myself I was going to allow myself to share. I tell him all about how this whole thing got started, which means he knows about Maggy and how my boyfriend at the time scent matched her and jumped the table to claim her when we went on a double date.

He knows who Scott and Fenrir are and their separate personalities. How Fenrir wants to claim me, and Scott's holding him back for some reason. I even tell him about the scent matching him to my utter mortification.

I'm pretty sure the bartender made my drinks extra strong at Ian's request, but I'm not exactly saying no to them as they show up.

I'm sipping on a glass of water when Ian returns from the bathroom. His phone is to his ear, and a blush on his cheeks. He narrows his eyes on me and then to my drink before nodding approvingly that I'm not trying to get even more drunk.

I made it to tipsy two drinks ago, which means I'll be fine for the rest of the night and should be heading home soon to curl up in bed.

"Is your alpha going to be mad if Gale drives us home?" Ian leans in close to ask me, his voice too loud since there's not much noise in the bar to begin with. It's nine on a Wednesday night, so there's only a small crowd here.

"Not my alpha," I say. The words cause a pang of sadness in my chest. Ian rolls his eyes and waits for me to give an actual answer. "I don't know. Probably not."

"She says probably not," he projects his voice way too loud into the phone. He nods for a moment, motioning for me to keep drinking my water, and then takes a sip of his own. "Hold on, I'll ask."

Ian covers the phone as though that'll stop Gale from hearing him yell the next question at me. "Is the beast going to try to kill him? You said he's been watching your apartment at night, so Gale wants to make sure he doesn't have to fight over your honor or something."

A giggle escapes my lips as I shrug. I honestly have no idea how Scott would react if another alpha took me home. The more I think about it, the more I know how Fenrir would react, and it wouldn't be a good time for anyone involved.

"I can just call a ride," I say, my face flushing at the idea of Fenrir and Gale making a scene right outside my apartment complex.

It's bad enough that I've had to explain to management that an alpha is courting me so they don't call the cops on him for sitting outside every night. One of the security guards talked with him the first night and directed him to where he could park. Every night, that's where I see Fenrir and Scott waiting and watching me.

"You're not calling a rideshare like this," Ian's eyes go wide. Finally, he somewhat learns how to whisper. "Please tell me you've never called for a rideshare when you're drunk. That's how omegas get forced into bonds."

"I do the majority of my drinking at home since, as you've so kindly pointed out, I'm an unclaimed omega." It's my turn for my words to be a bit too loud, a few omegas offering me sympathetic looks, others nodding in approval like it's great that I'm still unclaimed.

"Okay, well, Gale is about ten minutes away, so figure out if he's going to die to a beast tonight in that time frame." Ian turns his attention back to his phone. "She's calling him right now."

Ian pointedly looks at my phone and then motions at it like he told me to call, even though that was never part of the plan. I shake my head at Ian, but he's already two steps ahead of my alcohol-riddled brain.

He snatches my phone off the bar, where it's still open to Scott's messages since I read over them constantly. He clicks the call and holds it up to my ear before finally letting it go in my hand.

"Lilah, are you okay?" Scott's worried voice shouldn't send butterflies fluttering through my stomach. I'm drunk, though, so of course, his care makes me feel giddy.

Who am I kidding? His concern for me would make me feel giddy if I were stone-cold sober.

"I'm fine." I try not to slur my words too badly, but I know I've failed miserably as I try to ask my question. "I'm out with a friend, and his alpha wants to know if he can drop me off at my apartment or if you'll try to kill him."

The growl on the other end tells me all I need to know about whether Gale can survive the night if he takes me home. To my utter horror, I also tilt my head to the sound of the growl, offering my submission even though Scott and Fenrir aren't here. Ian cocks a brow at me before making a tsk sound.

"Yeah, that's a no," he says to Gale.

" No other alphas, little omega. " Fenrir's voice is dark as he takes over. " Tell us where you are. We'll be there soon. "

My face flushes as I try to keep my voice low so Ian doesn't know I'm about to tell Fenrir where we are. I'm sure he'll hate the idea of me going with Fenrir more than he'll hate the idea of Gale maybe getting into a fight with a beast.

I'm intoxicated. Fenrir obviously wants me. And there are plenty of horror stories out there of omegas being claimed against their will when they're drunk or in heat. It's almost like Ian can sense how close I am to giving in because he snatches my phone away and holds it up to his other ear.

"I'm talking to her alpha now," he says to his phone and then turns to talk into mine. "This is Ian, the new best friend. Is this Scott or Fenrir?"

I can't hear what's being said on the other end of either phone, but I can tell by the flush coating Ian's cheeks that his alpha is probably as upset as mine is right now.

"Okay, so here's what you can do, Fenrir," Ian says in such a way that I know he's cutting the beast off from whatever threats or warnings he was giving.

I cover my mouth, forcing myself not to laugh because I know, somehow, Fenrir will find out about it, and it will not end well for me.

"We're at that omega bar on First Street. Do you know it?"

Ian pauses for just a second before continuing, once again in such a way that I know he's cutting Fenrir off and probably making him more and more agitated.

"You can pick us both up and then take us to Lilah's. I can sleep there for the night."

There's another pause. Ian has to hold his phone further away from his ear because of how loud Gale's disapproving growl is. He didn't give this plan the okay, and Ian doesn't seem to care.

"Two minutes." Ian sounds surprised but nods. Scott's clinic is right down the block from where we are, but I don't know why he'd still be there at nine at night. "Good, we'll be right outside."

I hold out my hand for my phone, but he ends the call before I get a chance to say anything else to Fenrir. I don't get to be irritated with Ian either because he's getting a verbal lashing from his alpha that I'm not about to interrupt. Ian motions for me to get up, and I follow him to the bar's entrance.

"I'll stay on the phone the whole time." Ian rolls his eyes and points at his phone like Gale is being the ridiculous one right now.

I shake my head because I can't even imagine being in a dynamic like that. I enjoy being an omega that pleases her alpha, not one that enjoys riling their alpha up like Ian apparently loves doing to Gale.

Ian turns away from me, covers his mouth, and then, not at all, quietly says. "Plus, think about how feral you'll be when I show up tomorrow morning smelling like a beast."

Yeah, I do not understand how Ian can do it. Gale's growling is so loud on the other end that if I hadn't already scent matched an alpha, I'd be offering submission. Yet Ian's smiling like a damn kid in a candy shop as he works his alpha up even more.

I tune out their conversation, watching out the glass door until I see Scott's car pull up in front of the bar.

"Oh, he's here," Ian says with way too much glee. "I'm putting you in my pocket, babe, but I'll pull you out after I meet him."

Ian is out the door before Fenrir can even step out of his car. That doesn't stop Fenrir from coming around to the passenger side, opening the back door, and pulling his lips back in a snarl.

" If you're not my mate, you get in the back. "

"Oh, big scary beast," Ian says with a wiggle in his brow and a smile on his lips.

Fenrir's being good and keeping his growling and snarling to a minimum. I wonder how much Scott's in his ear, telling him not to freak out on my friend. It helps that Ian is an omega, a mated omega. If he was a beta or unmated, Fenrir might think of him as competition for my attention even though he has no interest in me.

"I thought you'd be more threatening."

Fenrir looks down at Ian, narrowing his eyes into small slits. " I've been told I have to be on my best behavior. Something about omegas and caring about what their friends think of their mates. "

Ian's eyes widen for a moment, and then he smiles back at me. "I like him."

He slides into the back of the car and buckles in. Fenrir goes to close the door but leans down to say something to Ian that I can't quite hear. I worry for a second that he's threatening him, but Ian's cheeks are flushed when he pulls away, and he's nodding along to whatever Fenrir is saying. The devilish smile on Fenrir's face doesn't make me feel any better, though.

" Come here. " Fenrir's command has a bite to it when he looks over at me.

I push my hair behind my ear, tilt my head, and walk quickly to the passenger door he's waiting to open. My eyes dart over to Ian, who's now very pointedly looking out the opposite window and speaking to Gale with his hand covering his mouth.

" Eyes on me, mate, " Fenrir growls to get my attention back on him, and the sound has me perfuming into the cool night air. His lips tug up a bit higher on one side, making his smile lopsided as he stares down at me.

"Thanks for coming to get us," I say, tucking my hair behind my ear again to make sure my neck is still fully available to him.

He leans down, his nose grazing over the scent gland in my neck as he takes a deep breath. " I think I deserve more than just a thanks. "

"What do you want?" I ask, letting my body fall into his.

Fenrir's growl is a low rumble as his hands wrap around my waist and tug me tighter to his body. I push into him, my fingers grabbing onto the button-down shirt he's wearing, wishing they were dragging down his back.

" I want you sober, on your knees, and mated to me, " Fenrir snaps his teeth close to my ear before opening the car door and all but pushing me inside.

I whine at the loss of his touch and whine again when he doesn't immediately try to climb into the passenger seat with me and fuck me here. Not that it's logistically possible unless I'm the one crawling in on top of him, but it's what I want.

I turn around to face Ian, wondering if he's watching this injustice being done to me. Once again, he keeps his attention away from us and is half whispering, half mumbling into his receiver. Every once in a while, I can hear my name mentioned, and it has my cheeks heating.

" How good of an omega are you? " Fenrir asks. He looks in the rearview mirror at Ian before putting the car in drive and moving us away from the bar.

Ian's surprised by the question for a moment before answering behind his hand a muffled answer that he has to repeat after he drops his hand. "Not very, why?"

Fenrir frowns at his answer and then shakes his head. " No reason. "

Ian has the gall to laugh at Fenrir. To his credit, Fenrir doesn't get his hackles raised by it. If anything, he slides his eyes over to me, pink staining his cheeks, like he's almost embarrassed instead of angry that my friend is poking fun at him.

"Are you wanting me to pretend not to see or hear something, or are you trying to figure out if I'm a bad influence on Lilah?"

" Yes. "

Ian leans his head back on the back of the seat, a smile still tugging at his lips. I can't tell if he's going to give Fenrir more shit or if he's done trying to poke my growly alpha. He nestles his phone against his ear, and I wonder if Gale's saying something on the other end or if he's only listening.

"I'm tired. How far away is your apartment?"

Before I can answer, Fenrir's hand squeezes my thigh, and the only thought in my head is how I want his hands all over me.

" Fifteen minutes. "

"I think I'm going to take a nap then," Ian says in a voice that definitely doesn't make me believe him in the slightest. He does close his eyes, though. After a few minutes of silence with no movements from Ian or words, I start to think maybe he did mean it.

I shift in my seat as Fenrir's fingers tighten on my thigh. Every small touch of his has all my nerves igniting, warmth pooling low in my belly, and my core aching to be filled with his knot. I wiggle around a bit, trying to get him to shift his hand higher on my thigh since he's nowhere near where I need him.

He cuts me a sideways glance and then growls softly. It's low enough that it doesn't interupt Ian's probably fake sleeping. Unfortunately, it's enough to get my attention and have me perfume in the car.

Fenrir clicks his tongue, but there's a smile on his lips. " Naughty girl, " he murmurs so quietly I can barely hear it over his growl. His words should be embarrassing, but if anything, they only spur me on more.

This is the first time we've been around one another since he dropped me off at my apartment. It's the first time I've spoken to either of them since the night I sexted with Fenrir.

I'm proud of myself for not trying to mount him right away. The thought does remind me that he's not mounting me, either.

How is he able to control himself so well around me when every other male I've dated all but forced themselves on the omega they ended up mated to? His eyes flicker dark before I can ask him why he hasn't mated me in my wonderful drunken filterlessness. Scott purrs loudly in the car, and it calms me so fast.

"You should sleep, Lilah," Scott says as he gives my thigh another squeeze. "It's hard for us to be so close to you right now."

"I don't want to sleep, though," I say, hating how I'm relaxing into the seat even more.

My eyelids get heavy as his purr continues to warm and relax me. I want to stay awake and enjoy the small moments I get with Scott and Fenrir before I have to ignore them for our own good until I finally finish my schooling.

I need to pass my final certification test before I can mate. If I mate beforehand and Fenrir and Scott want me with them for weeks on end to solidify the bond, I'll have to postpone my certification even longer. I want to be done with school, though.

It's standard for newly mated couples to take a couple of weeks off from work or school, but I just took off for my heat. The certification test is only available once in the Spring and once in the Fall, and I'm not trying to wait until the Spring to start this job that I'm already accepted for.

"Sleep, Lilah. I'll make sure you get home safe."

"Don't want to." My words come out slow and slurred as my body begins to submit to my mate and his command.

It doesn't help that I'm already sleepy from the drinks, and his purr only makes it a thousand times easier to relax because of how safe it makes me feel. Before I know it, my mind is foggy and dark. I can still feel the car rumbling down the road, but the journey only feels like a couple of seconds as my mind drifts in and out of consciousness.

I wake up enough to know we're at my apartment when the car slows to a stop. Scott wraps his arms around me and holds me close to his chest as he carries me up to the gate. His purr vibrates through my body, and his smell engulfs me.

I nuzzle as close to him as I can, hoping he doesn't leave me even though I know he has to since no alphas are allowed in the complex.

"Can you get her inside?" I hear Scott ask someone.

Ian, oh, I completely forgot about Ian.

"Yeah." Ian sounds just as sleepy as me, but he must be more awake than me because there's no way Scott's carrying both of us. "I have a friend who lives here, so I have a guest code already."

"Probably for the best, you don't tell me," Scott says. There's humor in his voice, but I can't tell if he feels it or not. "Fenrir has no problems not following societal norms."

"Can't mate her if you're in jail," Ian says, and then I feel his hands on me as Scott transfers my limp body from his arms into the much smaller omega.

I whine loudly as I cling to Scott's shirt and not letting him go. I can feel the laugh rumbling in his chest. He grabs my hands and slowly pries my fingers from his shirt.

"Damn, what kind of spell you have on her?"

"She scent matched us," Scott says.

His voice takes on a harsher tone like he's either upset Ian doesn't know I'm already scent matched or upset that I scent matched him and we still haven't mated. I don't know which one it is, and I'm too out of it to ask. Instead, I whine again as I reach out for him, but instead of feeling Scott take me back into his arms, his lips brush my forehead.

"Sweet dreams, mate. I hope you aren't planning on making us wait much longer."

I cling to the final vibrations of Scott's purr before Ian walks us through the gate and closes it behind us. Scott says something I don't quite make out, but I can hear Ian's response as he laughs. "I'll wave when I get her put in bed. Her window's right there?"

I would be blushing and swooning if it weren't for me already being carried. Scott wants Ian to let him know when we're safe in my apartment, and I'm tucked in bed. Of course, he does. He's always outside watching and waiting for me to go to bed. Why would he be any different when Ian's the one tucking me into bed? I shift my weight in Ian's hold, and he carries me tighter as he takes the stairs to my apartment.

"You have that alpha wrapped around your finger, Lilah," he murmurs to me as he rattles around with the keys before finally getting the door open.

I make a sound of acknowledgment, but I don't know if he even registers it. One moment, I'm in Ian's arms. The next, I'm tucked into bed. My eyes crack open, and I watch Ian open my blinds and wave outside.

He shakes his head before looking over at me, shaking his head again, and then holding his phone up to his ear. I lie my head back on the pillow and fall asleep listening to Ian explain to Gale every single thing that happened in the car and telling him he's safe in my apartment now and there's no chance of Fenrir or Scott coming in and trying to ravish either one of us.

I don't know if I can fall asleep with a smile on my lips, but I think tonight I do.