Y'all win, expect Blaise x Lucas chapters next!
I apologize for the long wait in between chapters this month. The flu overtook my household. It started with me, then my partner, then my toddler! It was a mess...
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[Day 5]
It was one of the longest nights of Teru's life. He only knew it was around five o'clock in the early morning because of Kieran's old watch. To keep track of time, he clasped it around his wrist.
The heat was unbearable, like sitting next to a campfire in summer's midday.
I don't know how long I can handle this. It sucks, but I don't feel like panicking. I'd be out of my mind if we were in the caves. The deeper you go, the more dangerous it is, too. Lucas is more confident navigating the system. I hope they'll be fine.
Teru took everything off but his underwear, occasionally patting his body down with water from the barrel. It helped a little. He laid down on the old, handwoven blanket and fanned himself.
The penthouse spoiled me. I wish I had that machine on the wall that makes hot and cold air.
He was already squirming moments later. In this position, the weight of his stomach was beginning to squish his insides. It would soon be difficult to lie on his back. He sort of dreaded the nights to come in future months with such constricting options.
"Ouch," Teru hissed when he shifted to his side. The scratches on his arms were sore and there wasn't a first aid kit. Wasn't nesting bewildering? Resorting to self-harm was easy because you became numb, not recalling it at all. If Teru had never been trafficked and continued to live his life in the caves, what would he have done to his nesting self while locked up alone? Unimaginable!
I want to sleep. The heat is making me tired, he thought, eyes drooping. His hand rubbed his belly, swearing it was a little bigger than a week ago. It had been so hectically busy that he failed to notice. I'll pay more attention to you soon. Right now, Daddy is...
Kieran was kinda preoccupied.
Teru looked over at his mate and shined the flashlight beam on him. He was squatting in the corner, not moving from that spot ever since taking away the nesting pain. The last time that happened, Kieran had made a grander nest, one that was better than what Teru could ever build. The prince had all the money in the world and employees to fetch him ridiculously expensive decor. Any pretty thing you could think of was at his fingertips, ready with just a simple order.
But here, in this humid bunker with soil coming in, was the opposite of a plush and pampered nest. No people to buy satin curtains. No king-sized beds. No natural light to shine through crystal lights and create rainbow spots on the walls.
Teru understood what Kieran felt, not having the materials to make a decent nest. It was itching torment that wouldn't go away until he completed his goals-
SHUFFLE SHUFFLE.
Alert at the sound of someone moving, he quickly shone the light back at Kieran. The corner was empty.
"Kieran?"
BOOM! CLASH!
"Huh!" Teru gasped loudly, flinching when the underground room shook. Thunder? Was it raining? This was good news, right? Would the fire above go out quicker?
BOOM!
More trembling. Dirt fell from the split crack in the broken wall, rolling all the way to his feet. That worried him.
Water trickled through the several newly formed cracks in the ceiling. When...when did those form? From the thunder? From the weight of the rain soaking into the grass? Was it raining that hard up there? Even if the fire went out, would they drown? No, it would take weeks for this space to fill up with water. Being buried was more likely.
Okay. Teru admitted he was feeling panicky now. New fear unlocked.
"Hello?" he squeaked and flitted the light back and forth. There was no vampire in sight. What the heck? There was nowhere to go, so where was he?!
"Hmm?" Teru sat up when he smelled blood, followed by a low growl. The sound came from under the bed.
Slowly, he slid off and got to his knees. "Kieran?" Teru leaned down. Just when he shined the light into the dark space, the flashlight suddenly died, leaving him in blackness.
The scent of fresh blood grew stronger. A noise of something eating gave him goosebumps.
"Ugh, seriously?" Teru cursed and shook the damned thing. It flickered. His heart beat madly, believing he was back in the caves where Nolan kept him confined for days on end.
In a frenzy, he beat the flashlight on the floor. The clanging from metal on cement rang in his ears. Somehow, it came back on. The light immediately revealed Kieran only an arm-length away; a lot of blood smeared across his face.
Teru screamed in surprise at the jump scare. He fell back on his butt, getting his legs dirty from kicking the wet ground. This was a horror movie!
Concern and shock quickly replaced the momentary terror. Kieran was on his belly, literally devouring his own body. The back of his hands were eaten clean, exposing the delicate ligaments that connected muscles. Each twitch of his fingers squirted blood. He chewed mouthfuls from his arms, fangs scraping the bone for any shreds of meat. GULP.
"K-K-K-," Teru stuttered, unable to say his name.
GULP.
Kieran's half-red eyes were open wide and staring ahead, but not looking. His awareness wasn't there.
The human took a shaky breath to compose himself. If the roles were reversed, he'd stop me no matter what. I have to protect him, too.
His voice wavered confidently, "Kieran." As expected, there wasn't a reaction. "Y-you don't mind if I touch you, right? Can I come in?"
BITE. GULP.
Teru reached under at a snail's pace, wanting to-
SNAP.
He withdrew immediately. Kieran tried to bite the offending hand and missed, his teeth snapping loudly together. "GRRRR." Blood dripped from his sharp fangs, staining his chin and stubble. Seeing his arm injured again with huge chunks missing almost made Teru pass out. He would never get used to the sight of the red and beefy stuff within their bodies.
Teru swallowed, knowing he couldn't leave him like this. "Please. Let me help you. I know it's not the greatest place for a nest, so just a little longer, okay? Let's find a better home and collect pretty things for it."
When he attempted to touch Kieran again, the alpha's growls turned into a snarl.
"What, are you going to hurt me? Your pregnant omega? Isn't the nest you want to make for me and the pups, anyway?" The warning in Kieran's shining eyes turned to rage.
His hand went closer. Anyone would reprimand him for being stupid. An alpha was stronger physically than an omega. Their territorial instincts were on a whole different level that could lead to death. He may have been foolish, but what else was he supposed to do? Let Kieran eat his arms and legs while in a crumbling bunker?
SNAP.
Teru squeezed his eyes shut and yelped. He waited for the intense pain of losing a finger or two. It didn't come. All he felt was a pinching pressure on his knuckles. Peaking an eye open hesitantly, he saw Kieran had indeed bitten him but stopped before his fangs could break the skin. The tips poked him, yet there was no injury. It was amazing that Teru didn't have a scratch.
"I knew you wouldn't hurt me," he sighed with relief. "May I please help? I hate seeing you like this. I really, really do. It must be so frustrating for you when I do the same, too. Unlike me, you can hold back. I'm proud of you."
His nesting alpha seemed to understand and let go.
He caressed Kieran's cheek and purred.
Would my pheromones help?
Brown sugar filled the air. Kieran nestled more into his palm, like a cat that wanted to be petted. Teru didn't mind the blood getting on him.
"Better?"
"..."
"Will you come out?"
"..."
They stayed like that for a while, listening to the violent thunder and hail pounding on the hatch door. Teru kept releasing pheromones laced with the too-sweet fragrance of pregnancy. Kieran lay there with closed eyes, no longer eating his arm.
The alpha could finally speak. "Nesting is very unpleasant."
And the omega wholeheartedly agreed. "Yes. It's fucking awful."
"Language," Kieran scolded Teru's foul mouth.