Omega Bound Chapter 249

Ayla

"I'm sorry for losing it earlier. Thane put me in charge of your safety, and I failed." Damon is on his knees before me in my living room with his neck bared in submission, holding my small hand inside his large ones. Amani looks saddened for her mate. 

"You don't need to be on the floor, Damon. It is okay. I understand."

"No, I failed my Luna, and it is your responsibility to decide what happens from here." Damon straightens his head and looks up at me. His shoulders curled inward, spine bent like it couldn’t bear its weight.

"You don't need to explain anything to me, Damon. I have had quite a few panic attacks, and I have been a danger to myself and others.  I know it is not comfortable for you in that moment and a horrible experience. I'm not trying to make light of it, but you cleaned my house.... I mean, if at any time you want to take a toothbrush to my house again, feel free. You have my permission, but please do not apologize for it. I get it, and you did me a favor." It hurts my heart seeing him before me so dejected. I realize he may also feel embarrassed, and I do not want that for him.

"Technically, based on pack law, you need to inflict some kind of punishment." Damon sighs loudly. "I failed my post. I failed in the protection of Luna. The most honorable protection detail to be given."

"That is absurd." The idea of it causes me to go from calm to aggravated quickly. I would never punish a pack member for something out of their control.

"It is considered a failure. I insist." Damon has a determination in his eyes to right this perceived wrong in some way, and I know that he will not relent unless I think of something.

"Babe, I think you're being too hard on yourself," Amani says from the kitchen. 

"No, no....I got this.... punishment.... well...yeah...okay....so I punish you...no... no I order you to frost my cake......lots of frosting and... you know...growl." Damon's facial expressions changed with each line I stammered over. 

"Growl?" Damon smiles as he climbs off the floor.

"Well, Thane's always growling at somebody." I pat him on the bicep.

"Good point. I think I can handle my punishment."

"Good, get to work. Luna wants cake."

Damon and Amani laugh as they frost my chocolate cake. "Why am I getting rewarded with cake again?" I asked the two of them.

"I just wanted to do something nice for you." Amani shrugs.

"You heard me crying, didn't you?"

"No....I heard you growling...a lot."

"I don't like the feeling of not being able to help. There were so many times in my life that if I had had one shifter step up and help, my life could have been totally different.”

“I get the feeling, but the circumstances are different, and you have a pup to think of,” Damon says as he turns the cake stand. I don’t think I am doing this right. Is it supposed to be so floppy?”

“You’re being too aggressive.’ Amani nudges him with her elbow. She raises her arm and wipes her forehead.

“It does have an aggressive lean to it.” I bit my bottom lip trying to hold in my laugh, caused by this giant wolf trying to frost my cake. I think there is more cake on the spatula than the cake itself.

“You know, I don’t know what got into me. I haven’t had an episode like that in a long time.”

“Stress. My pregnancy hormones have flooded the home and are confusing everybody. Who knows.”

“My wolf is very agitated… on edge. I seem to be hyperaware of everything around me.”

“Do you feel okay otherwise?” I asked. He nods, turning the cake stand again. I watch as Amani throws on another glob of chocolate frosting, and I can just taste how good this will be…. Oh, I need chocolate syrup.

I turn and dig into the fridge and quickly shut it before Damon gets any ideas of snooping around in there. Some of the condiments were moved from Thane’s apartment, and his Worcestershire sauce expired 10 years ago. I believe he stole it from his mother’s refrigerator.

“Are you sure you can handle all of this chocolate?” Amani asks as I set the bottle on the counter. Damon starts laughing to himself. 

“Sorry. I was just imagining you saying that to me.” He clears his throat, and I start laughing, enjoying the side of Damon I rarely get to see. Amani smacks him in the chest and wipes her forehead again. I watch as she starts to scratch her neck, staring at her mate. The air suddenly becomes more citrusy, her scent becoming stronger the longer she stares at her mate.

“Are you feeling alright?” I ask Amani. “Are you hot, itchy…uncomfortable?” 

“Yeah, just a little. I don’t know what's going on with me. My skin feels tight.” My eyes widen, and I dart my gaze to Damon, who also has a knowing look on his face.

“That is why my wolf is on edge.”

“Yeah…Amani, you’re going into heat.”

“I am?” Amani looks over at Damon while scratching her neck. 

“You are. It’s okay. Damon will know how to take care of you...it’s instinct.”

“Yes, definitely. You are right. Nothing abnormal. Nothing to freak out about. I can totally do this….” Damon talks with his hands in an exaggerated manner that would indicate that he is anything but okay now.

“It will be….”

“I am NOT prepared…. I need stuff…I need to get the house ready…” Damon is in panic mode now, moving lighting fast around the kitchen as if Amani were preparing for labor. By the way she is hungrily watching him lose it, we may not have that much time.

“Go to town and get snack food, bottles of water, soft blankets, tell them it is a heat emergency. The town is still closed, but that should be enough to get anyone to let you into their store. If not, mind-link me and I will take care of it.”

“No vehicles here, I will have to walk.” Damon runs his fingers through his thick, brown hair that apparently messes in a way his mate enjoys because she swallows hard and wipes her neck.

“Thane is hiding his motorcycle from Raven in the woods behind the house. Covered with a green tarp. Take it and then steal a vehicle when you get there.”

“Steal? Raven’s wearing off on you.” Amani jokes. 

“Well, let’s hope her murderous desires and pyromania don’t.” I smile thinking about the time we set the forest on fire…Then I cringe thinking about all the fur babies now that I have opossum love.

“Okay…. alright. I’m going right into town, and I am going to get everything we need and you…”

“She can stay here, and I will keep her safe until you’re ready. I don’t think it is wise to leave her at your house when first heats can escalate really quickly.” I think back to Thane finding me crawling through the yard. That felt like it happened in a matter of a few minutes.

“It’s a good thing you are here to help.” Damon rubs my shoulder and winks at me. 

“Yeah, yeah…. don’t tell Thane.”