Let's just get into it (veneer will make a appearance)
Velvet's POV
We finally make it home. The journey was long and uneventful, each step dragging me deeper into a fog of irritation and exhaustion. The leader had dismissed us to our homes, and though I would've preferred to leave Y/n anywhere but mine, duty demanded otherwise. I carry her towards my place, every step weighed down with obligation rather than any sense of responsibility.
As soon as I push open the door, a scent hits me—sharp, overwhelming, unmistakable. Rut. Not mine. Veneer's.
Of course, my brother had to be in rut the second I arrive with an omega in tow. "Veneer!" I bark, my voice slicing through the air like a blade. Moments later, he stumbles out of his room, looking disheveled and desperate.
"Hey..." His voice is rough, almost hoarse—a rare sight for him, considering how meticulously he usually presents himself.
He catches a whiff of Y/n and his tail starts wagging like he's some kind of rabid animal. I can see the hunger in his eyes, the kind that makes my stomach twist. "Is that what I think it is?" he asks, his gaze locked on Y/n like she's the only thing that matters.
"Yes, it is, but she's not for you," I snap, narrowing my eyes at him, daring him to push it further. I hear him whine, the sound grating on my nerves.
"Just go to your mate's house, Veneer. Go solve your problem there," I say, my voice harsher than intended, but I can't bring myself to care. The last thing I need is him losing control with Y/n in the house, especially after everything else I've had to deal with.
Veneer whimpers, his eyes pleading, but I'm not in the mood for his excuses. "I can't. If I leave the house... I might get tempted. You know how I get when I'm like this, Velvet."
I roll my eyes, exasperated. Without another word, I turn on my heel and head towards my room, Y/n still cradled in my arms. Why am I suddenly so protective of her? I met her yesterday, and yet here I am, shielding her from my own brother like she's something precious. It makes no sense.
But as I lay her down on the bed, something tugs at the back of my mind. The air feels thicker now, heavy with Veneer's rutting pheromones. I glance at Y/n, expecting her to remain oblivious in her sleep, but her face contorts slightly, a soft whimper escaping her lips.
Damn it. Veneer's scent is getting to her.
I watch as Y/n's breathing quickens, her body starting to respond instinctively to the pheromones saturating the air. Her cheeks flush, and a faint sheen of sweat forms on her forehead. A sharp pang of something unfamiliar hits me—anger? Concern? Lust? It's all muddled, and I hate it.
"Veneer!" I hiss, marching back to his door. I push it open without knocking, finding him sprawled out on his bed, looking worse than before. "You're leaking pheromones all over the damn place!"
He groans, trying to pull himself together, but it's clear he's barely holding on. "I'm trying, Velvet... I can't control it..."
I narrow my eyes, the urge to snap at him almost overwhelming, but I hold back. "Y/n's going into heat because of you. You're going to make things worse if you don't get a grip."
That seems to get through to him. Veneer's eyes widen in panic, and he scrambles to sit up, but he's still too far gone to be of any use. "I didn't mean to... I just..."
"Stay in here," I order, my voice cold. "Don't come out until you've got yourself under control."
I slam his door shut and rush back to Y/n, but it's already too late. She's trembling, her breath coming in shallow gasps, the scent of her heat growing stronger with every passing second. Her eyes flutter open, glazed with confusion and need, and she lets out a soft, desperate moan.
I curse under my breath. This is the last thing I wanted to deal with. My instincts scream at me to distance myself, to leave her to deal with this on her own, but something keeps me rooted in place. I can't just walk away, not when I'm the one who dragged her into this mess.
"Y/n," I murmur, my voice coming out far gentler than I intended. "Can you hear me?"
She nods weakly, her body writhing on the bed as she tries to fight the overwhelming sensations. "It... it hurts," she whispers, her voice strained.
"I know," I reply, my jaw tightening. I can't let this spiral out of control. "Just focus on me, alright? I'm going to help you through this."
As I move closer, her scent washes over me, rich and intoxicating, making my pulse quicken. I try to shove it aside, to focus on keeping her calm, but the pheromones cling to me, clouding my thoughts. My body betrays me, responding in ways I never anticipated, ways I don't want to acknowledge.
Y/n's hand reaches out, grabbing onto my arm with surprising strength. "Don't... leave me," she pleads, her eyes filled with raw, desperate need. Her scent intensifies, flooding my senses, making it harder to think clearly, to remember why I'm doing this.
"I'm not going anywhere," I promise, but the words feel like a lie. Every fiber of my being is screaming at me to get out, to distance myself before it's too late. Yet I can't. I'm caught in this strange, confusing pull between wanting to protect her and needing to keep my own head clear.
The air between us crackles with tension, and I can feel the heat radiating from her skin, seeping into me, making it harder to breathe. My heart pounds in my chest, and I clench my fists, fighting against the urge to just give in, to let the pheromones take over.
No. I won't let that happen. I can't.
"Just breathe, Y/n," I say, my voice strained. "I'm right here."
But even as I say it, I'm not sure how much longer I can hold out. Her scent is overwhelming, stirring something deep inside me that I've tried to bury for so long. I try to keep my distance, to remind myself that this isn't about me, but every second is a battle against instincts I'm barely able to control.
As the minutes drag on, her breathing slows, the initial intensity of her heat subsiding into something more manageable. But her scent still lingers, wrapping around me like a vice, refusing to let go. I stay by her side, not because I want to, but because I have to. Because I'm the only one who can keep her safe right now.
And because a part of me, the part I've tried to deny, can't stand to see her suffer. Even if it means I have to suffer too.
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Veneer rn in rut...
(Lalacatdog1234567890 ) this was for you pooks. I added veneer to the story earlier than intended just so you can see your mans 😏
Anyways thanks for reading, dont forget to hit that star :)
