I was crouched by the side of my bed in the pitch black, my heart racing before I realized something must have startled me awake. Fear flooded me as I curled up on the floor, the darkness pressing in on all sides. I held my breath, keeping completely still as my body braced for a threat. A soft knock on the door had me jolting. I looked around, cursing that I hadn’t asked Donovan to get me a weapon.
“Josie, it’s me,” a voice whispered through the door. A shuddering breath left me, and I almost collapsed on the bed as tears sprang to my eyes.
Sam.
I stumbled to the door, hitting my knee on the nightstand before throwing it open. Sam immediately pulled me into his chest and wrapped me in his arms. I sobbed as I breathed in his familiar scent.
“You’re okay, shhh,” he murmured, rocking me back and forth as my tears soaked his sweatshirt.
A gentle hand touched my shoulder. “Hi, Josie,” Gerald whispered.
“How are you here?” I asked, pulling away to look at them both, the soft hall light illuminating their faces.
“Would have been here sooner if Pack Turro had responded to me quicker,” Sam said, scowling down the hallway.
Gerald cleared his throat in disapproval. “They didn’t know who we were,” he said, squeezing Sam’s shoulder. “They were just trying to protect Josie.”
“How did you even get in?” I asked, wiping the tears off my face as I tried to suppress a yawn.
“Nico,” Sam responded.
“I suggested we wait until a more reasonable hour to wake you,” Gerald said with a grin. “But these ridiculous alphas do what they want.”
“Gerald, you’re an alpha,” I said with a giggle.
“Yeah, but I like to think I have at least a little common sense.”
“Alright, enough of this,” Sam growled. “Josie, tell us everything. The last I heard, Glen had fucking kidnapped you. Then I find out you’ve escaped and rescued your own damned self before we could get to you. So what the fuck happened?”
I bit my lip, overwhelmed by the idea of rehashing everything from the past week. But Sam and Gerald had come all this way and deserved to know.
“Come in,” I said, tugging Sam into my room. Gerald followed, carefully closing the door behind him.
I hopped up on the bed, leaning back against the headboard. Sam sat down next to me with Gerald on his other side. I leaned into Sam’s shoulder, taking a moment to ground myself before launching into the cliff-notes version of the past week, skipping over the worst and most debasing parts of Glen and Pack Madden’s treatment. I didn’t want to relive it, and Sam didn’t need to hear it.
“Can’t believe you risked yourself to get those files,” Sam growled.
“My lock-picking skills had to come in handy at some point.” I couldn’t help smiling at his reaction, imagining my alphas responding the same way when we were finally reunited. Anxiety seized my chest at the thought.
“What if something happens to my alphas before I can get to them?” I asked.
Sam pulled me closer to his side, and Gerald reached over to squeeze my hand.
“I think Pack Turro is right,” Gerald said. “The public trial means they can’t do anything too serious to them. It would make the government look bad.”
“But after the trial?” I whispered.
“We’ll just have to make sure to get them out before then,” Sam said.
His voice was filled with a confidence I didn’t feel, but it soothed me.
“First things first—we need to get some rest. Tomorrow—well, I guess it’s already tomorrow—but we’ll start making plans later this morning,” Gerald said.
“Nico said the room next door is empty,” Sam said. “We won’t be far if you need us.”
“Wait, don’t leave.” I gripped his arm. I couldn’t stand the idea of being alone again with nothing but my anxious thoughts to keep me company.
Sam’s eyes were soft as he met my gaze.
“Sorry,” I said, my cheeks heating with embarrassment. “I just… don’t want to be alone.”
“I’ll stay,” he said, squeezing my hand.
“Do you want me to go?” Gerald asked.
“No, stay.” I peered over at Gerald with a smile. I might not know him as well as Sam, but he had a soothing, comforting energy that felt much more like an omega’s than an alpha’s. He was the perfect balance to Sam’s intensity and my anxiety.
They both popped into the bathroom to get changed and ready for bed. For a moment, I wondered if this was too weird—cuddling with my best friend while his boyfriend was in bed with us. But I couldn’t find it in me to care. I needed something to make me feel like I wasn’t totally alone in the world.
Sam settled back in bed, lying down next to me, and Gerald lay on his other side.
“Come here,” Sam murmured, holding his arms out.
I moved until I was resting against his chest. We’d spent so many nights like this after I had revealed as an omega. Both of us had needed comfort, and my omega especially had craved touch. Sam’s arms had always been a safe place for me.
“I’m so fucking glad you’re here,” he said. “I don’t know what I would do without you.”
I clenched his shirt in my fist. “Thanks for coming.” The words weren’t enough, but I knew he understood.
