My teeth clack from both anxiety and the temperature as the chill soaks into my bones. Itisoddly and exceptionally brisk in Florida, and I didn’t have many options for winter clothes. I ended up in a thick and bright wool rainbow shirt and a pair of jean overalls. While the material is thick, it is scratchy against my skin.
Continuing up the hill and down a winding path, I take several turns and end up lost more than a few times, but finally a large, surprisingly nice building comes into view. A red-bricked ranch house with white pillars lining the front porch sits in themiddle of an expansive piece of land. I pull carefully around the driveway towards a separated large garage.
My apprehension notches up impossibly higher as a whine leaves my lips. Serena’s words circle through me.
“Xenia, this would be a shock to anyone.”
I harden my shoulders.
“I’m so sorry. I can’t believe this has happened.”
I steel my nerves.
“His file is clean, but you don’t know how he will react.”
Looking down, I find the paper with the alpha’s name, number, and address. She had rattled it off to me before begging that I bring her. But I didn’t want to. Serena would force him to take responsibility.
While this man—this alpha—deserves to know, if he wants nothing to do with me that is completely fine. I won’t take that choice from him, he didn’t sign up for this.
Neither of us had.
Putting the car in park, I lean back, reaching behind me and retrieving my bag. It is the same one from the heat clinic that I never got around to fully unpacking.
Inside is a bottle.
Heat-blockers.
The same ones from my apartment.
The doctor advised me to use them. That it would help me maintain myurgesandinstinctswith the alpha. She said it was perfectly safe, even in my current state.
Pregnant.
Taking out the bottle, I shake out a pill and swallow it dry.
Earlier, I had showered with scent-blockers, and the clothes I wore were clean and should only smell of industrial detergent.
My eyes land on the mace, reaching out, but my hand hesitates over it.
I should not bring mace when meeting my alpha. He was so kind, so caring. He won’t hurt me. Even with this news.
Releasing an uneasy sigh, I unclip the seatbelt and take another look around. The house is beautiful, but it holds no weight to the land it is on. The fence that spills out on either side and wraps far behind it, further than I can see. Even with the setting sun in the distance, I can just make out a barn and a small cabin next to it.
Realization strikes.
This is a farm.
A memory splices into this moment.
“You haveme.”
The three words knock around my brain as I continue to shake in pain and exhaustion.
“I’m scared.” I whimper, shivering on the ground. The pain is slowly and steadily transforming into what I remember my previous heats to be.
Lust. Neediness. Want. Desire.
His voice, his determination, his aura. They are subconsciously telling me I am safe. That he will give me what I need.
