Escape is Only Temporary [boyxboy]

Chapter XVI

~Saturday 18th June 2016~

Reece was too hot. No matter how many cold showers he took, or ice packs that melted over his molten flesh, he was still burning up. The ice only worked into the skin, soothing the flames under his flesh but never reaching his core. That was where the real heat was. Burning up from the inside out, a deep ache within his navel, trapped in the master bedroom for the safety of those around him. The door wasn't locked, Reece could leave at any time, he simply chose not to. For Shepherd's sake, he had to be isolated during his rut.

A low growl rumbled from deep within Reece's chest as he caught the muted scent of sandalwood and ash, eyes darting to the closed door. Shepherd. He was staying with Aris and Tavien that night, who would protect him should Reece lose all control. He refused to leave the hotel, refused to leave Reece, even for his own safety. Aris and Tavien were evidently worse off in this scenario, since the scent pulsing from Reece was thick and heavy, cloying within that room, and nauseating to the mated pair. They were giving the man a wide berth that night, it was only Juda who was allowed to enter the bedroom.

Reece sat up, tearing off his shirt and tossing the offending fabric across the room, slumping back to stare at the ceiling as he panted. He thought about sitting on the balcony for a while, hoping that it might help, however, he knew that wouldn't work. With summer closing in, the evenings remained warm, and the humid air would only irritate Reece more. He just had to cope with the discomfort, writhing around on the bed, searching for any trace of Shepherd's scent within the dampened sheets.

"Alpha?" Reece's eyes snapped to the door once again, another growl passing over his lips as he spotted Juda just within the threshold, carrying a tray of hideously scented food. It was ruining it. Juda was ruining it. The longer that food was in the room, the less Reece could smell Shepherd, and it drove his wolf mad.

"You have to have something to eat, alpha, Shep made this for you," during Reece's rut, his wolf was able to reach through the vale, taking more control than the man normally offered. That meant that his pack members couldn't refer to him by Reece's name, not when the beast was puppeteering his body. It would only agitate the, already on-edge, animal.

"Closer..." Reece's voice was rough, the tenor low and gravelly as he spoke in simple terms. His fangs ached, cutting his gums occasionally when he grew careless with his limited speech, spreading that sickening metallic taste over his tongue. Shepherd's blood was what he really wanted, coating his fangs and mouth, running down his throat. He yearned for that, to lick it off his skin after he sank his teeth deep into the man's neck as a claim over him. Nothing else would satiate him. Still, despite the state of his alpha, Juda listened. He moved slowly, perching on the foot of the bed and resting the tray down beside Reece's hip. There was a bowl of soup, two slices of buttered bread, a cup of ice and a balled-up t-shirt. Of course, the latter was what Reece reached for first.

"Mate..." Reece rasped out, bringing the t-shirt to his face and inhaling deeply, eyes rolling back as he did so. Shepherd's scent was all over the fabric, saturating the fibres with that dusky aroma and sending blood plummeting down to Reece's cock. At least he was coherent enough not to take it out there and then, in front of Juda. The boy didn't need to see his alpha that far gone.

"Will you eat something please, alpha?" Juda didn't speak with much confidence, "Shep told me to insist, he doesn't want you dehydrating," Reece's heart fluttered at the sound of Shepherd's care, and he sat up obediently. With his hands trembling so much, he couldn't feed himself. He knew it was a humiliating scene to be fed by anyone other than his mate, however, he had to oblige. He opened his mouth each time Juda brought a spoonful of the soup to his lips, glowering at the boy unintentionally, wishing Shepherd was in his place. At least it didn't take very long.