Lila nodded slowly, twirling a strand of wavy hair around a finger. “If she officially changes, she’ll always be at risk until she gets claimed, right?”
“Yes. I don’t want to rush her to get claimed. My pack and I can protect her.”
“But you would always have to be on guard.”
“Yes, until at least one of us claims her.”
Lila dropped her hand and sat back in her chair. “She’s so stubborn. I love her, I really do. She’s smart. She knows the risk. I think she knows she can trust you.”
I leaned on the table, wanting her to talk. I needed to get in the mind of Billie if I had any hope of winning her over. “Then what is it? You like me. Her father vetted us.”
She shrugged. “I think she’s embarrassed. Omegas are known to be weak and submissive. She doesn’t want that stigma.”
I opened my mouth to speak but closed it when I saw Billie stumbling toward us. She looked sweaty and ashen. I stood up. Her scent was out of control. Everyone within a quarter-mile radius could probably smell her.
“Billie,” I said in a careful voice.
She leaned on the back of her chair. “I don’t feel so good. I think it’s something I ate. And it’s so hot.”
Lila looked up at her with worry. “It’s not that hot in here. We need to get you to your room. Actually, go to Kai’s.”
Billie rubbed her stomach as if to pat away the pain. “I don’t need to go to his room.”
Lila stood up. “I’ll take care of the check.” She looked over to me. “Get her out of here.”
I gave her a curt nod. She didn’t have to tell me. I would teleport her back to the States, but I knew Billie would have a fit. The best I could do was get her back to my room.
I offered to pick her up, but she nearly took a swing at me. Her eyes were glazed over, and she seemed almost high. However, she was a trooper. She walked with my arm around her waist the three blocks back to the hotel. She was partially bent over in pain, her nausea turning to cramps. Her face was tight with discomfort.
When I got her to my room, she didn’t complain, only laid down on the bed, over the sheets. She kicked her sandals off. “It’s so hot,” she whined, still clutching her stomach.
I raced to the thermostat and lowered the temperature to 60 degrees. She had too many clothes on. However, she was only wearing a colorful wrap dress, and I knew she’d be in no hurry to get undressed. She was definitely in heat. I could see the wetness between her legs begin to stream down her thighs and her hard nipples pressed against the soft fabric of her dress.
My dick grew hard as I stood over her, deciding what would be the right next move. Looking at her. Smelling her. It took all my will not to grab myself and rub one out right before her. But it wasn’t about me now. It was about Billie, and she was in pain. She had to stop resisting, or it wouldn’t end. It would get worse.
“Can I come to you? Let me help you,” I said in a low voice. Of course, I could command her as an alpha. She was an omega in a mini heat, she’d have to listen to me instinctively, but if I controlled her like that, she would never give me her trust, and I needed that. I had to work at her pace and level.
She tossed her head back, her legs spreading open. “No, I just should be alone.”
I got a strong whiff of her scent and could have come right there. “That is the opposite of what you need, kitty cat. There’s nothing to be ashamed of. You’re still strong.”
“I’m scared,” she whispered in a barely audible voice.
“Let me help you. It doesn’t have to be sex. At least not right now. But you need to release for the change to fully happen. If you fight it, it will just get worse.”
She nodded, shutting her eyes. Before she closed them, I could see the fear but also the resolute understanding that she was forever changed now.
* * *
BILLIE
Aching cramps attacked the pit of my stomach worse than menstruation pains. Sweat ran down my back, and a heaviness in the back of my head made me almost dizzy. I gritted my teeth against the discomfort. But beneath the pain was a looming ache between my legs that begged to be addressed. I crossed my legs, foolishly trying to hold in the slickness beginning to pool at my apex. I shouldn’t have done that. The friction rapidly increased my desire, and I absentmindedly began to rhythmically press my legs together. I needed relief, and I needed it now. I’d deal with the head trip of becoming an omega tomorrow.
Kai carefully laid down beside me, leaving space between us.
“Your scent is amazing. Do you know that?” he said, staring into my eyes with so much emotion I thought I might melt away. His eyes were now glowing red, and he was losing his human façade.
Just his look, the desire, fed my heat. My body wanted this man in me, but I would fight it. I couldn’t be a slave to my body like this. I was not an animal.
