Chapter 21
Grayson
"Then let's take care of our omega."
The words leave my mouth, and Bea's eyes lock on mine. Desperate. Pupils blown so wide there's barely a rim of green left. She's trembling in her perfect nest, surrounded by our scents, and everything in me demands I get my hands on her.
Claim her.
Make her stop hurting.
River's already moving to her left side, Seth hovering near the doorway looking like he might bolt or pass out—hard to tell which. He looks nervous as hell, but right now, Bea needs someone who's willing to take charge.
She needs me.
"Grayson." My name comes out as a broken sob, and she reaches for me with shaking hands. "Please. It hurts. It hurts so much?—"
The pain in her voice cuts through me. I'm across the room and kneeling at the edge of her nest before the thought fully forms.
"I know." I catch her hands, and the contact makes her whimper. "I'm going to make it better. I promise."
River moves to the other side of the nest. "Let's get you more comfortable first."
Between the three of us, we peel away her sweat-soaked clothes. She's shaking so hard she can barely help, but finally she's bare. And fuck—the sight of her steals my breath.
Skin flushed pink from chest to thighs. Nipples peaked. And between her legs, slick is already coating her thighs, glistening and obscene. The scent of it makes my mouth water and my cock throb.
"Look at you," I murmur, running my hands up her trembling legs. "Already dripping slick for us. Your pussy's making a mess of your nest. Body knows exactly what it needs, doesn't it?"
She whimpers, trying to press closer, but I hold her still with firm hands on her thighs.
Seth hovers near the doorway, his scent sharp with arousal but also uncertainty. His eyes are locked on Bea, on all that bare skin and slick. He knows he's not ready to take the lead yet.
But I am. I've been ready since the moment I saw her.
"Seth," I say without looking away from Bea. "Water. And those energy bars we bought. Now."
"On it."
Bea's hand fists in my shirt, pulling me closer. Her pupils are blown black, heat making her desperate. "Don't leave. Please don't leave me."
"Not going anywhere." I catch her face in my hands, making her focus on me through the haze. "Drink first. Need you hydrated."
She nods frantically, and Seth reappears with a water bottle. I help her drink, watching her throat work as she swallows. Some of the desperation in her scent eases—not much, but enough.
"Good girl." The praise makes her melt, and I file that away for later. "First heat with alphas?"
She nods, and satisfaction—dark and possessive—rumbles through my chest. "Only had sex on suppressants before. Never like this."
"So you've been knotted, but never during heat?" I drag my fingers through her slick, making her gasp. "Never been this desperate, this soaked, begging for it?"
"No," she whimpers. "Never this much. Never felt like this."
"Good." The word comes out as a growl. "Get to show you what it's really supposed to feel like."
"Then we're doing this right." I strip off my shirt, toss it aside, then work my jeans off. Her eyes go dark watching me. When my cock springs free—already hard, knot swelling at the base—she licks her lips.
"Want my cock in your mouth?" I wrap my hand around myself, stroke slowly just to watch her pupils dilate. "Want to choke on it while you're in heat?"
