Bea's in my arms, crying and desperate, and every instinct I have is screaming at me to help her. To make it stop hurting. But I've never done this before, and what if I do it wrong? What if I hurt her or?—
"Seth." River's voice cuts through the panic. Calm and steady. "Look at me."
I drag my eyes away from Bea's face.
"You know what to do," River says. "Your instincts know. Trust them."
"But I've never?—"
"Neither had we." Grayson settles beside us in the nest. Close enough to help but not crowding. "First time knotting an omega for all of us. You're going to be fine."
"No, I—" My face burns. God, why is this so hard to say? "I mean I've never. At all. With anyone. I'm—" I can't even finish the sentence.
There's a beat of silence. Then understanding dawns on Grayson's face.
"You're a virgin," River says quietly. Not judging. Just stating fact.
"I know, okay? I know that's pathetic for a twenty-seven-year-old alpha and I should have—I just never—" The words tumble out in a rush of embarrassment and panic. "I couldn't figure out how to talk to anyone and then it had been so long it seemed even weirder to bring up and now Bea needs me and I don't know what I'm doing and what if I hurt her or?—"
"Hey." River's hand on my shoulder, firm and grounding. "Stop. You're not pathetic. And you're not going to hurt her."
"But I don't know how?—"
"Your instincts know," Grayson says, and his voice is gentle in a way I've never heard before. "Your alpha knows what to do. We'll guide you through the rest."
"You're not doing this alone," River adds. "We're right here. Every step."
Bea whimpers again, and the sound cuts through my panic. She needs me. Virgin or not, terrified or not, I'm her alpha and she needs me.
Get it together, Monroe.
"Okay," I breathe. "Okay. Tell me what to do."
"Start with touch," River instructs. "Skin to skin. Let her feel you're real and here."
I'm already shirtless—shed it hours ago when the nest got too warm—wearing just my sweatpants. Bea's completely naked, has been since this whole heat started, her skin fever-hot and flushed pink from collarbone to belly.
"Seth." She's pressing against me, her hands sliding over my bare chest, my arms, like she's trying to memorize me through touch. "Please. Need you inside. Need your knot."
My cock throbs at the words, already hard and aching against my sweatpants. My knot is starting to swell just from her scent, from having her pressed against me.
"I know." I cup her face, making her look at me. "I'm going to give you what you need. I promise."
"Now," she begs. "Please, now. Can't wait. Hurts too much."
"She's at peak heat," Grayson says quietly. "Fastest you've seen her cycle back. She needs you now, Seth. No more waiting."
Right. I can do this. I want this. I've been dreaming about being with her since the first time I saw her, and yeah, I'm terrified, but she needs me.
The sight of her—naked and trembling and slick coating her thighs—makes my mouth go dry. She's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Flushed from chest to belly, pupils blown wide with heat, and between her legs she's swollen and pink and glistening.
"You're—" My voice cracks. I clear my throat, try again. "You're beautiful, Bea. So beautiful."
She makes a desperate sound and reaches for my sweatpants. "Off. Need them off. Need to see you. Need you."
Between the two of us—mostly her, because I'm clumsy with nerves and she's frantic with need—we get my sweatpants and boxers off. My hands are shaking so badly I can barely help. My cock springs free, hard and aching, knot already partially swollen at the base from her scent alone.
Bea's eyes go dark with want when she sees it. Her hand reaches out, wrapping around my shaft, and the feel of her touching me makes me gasp. Nearly makes my knees buckle.
