My heart was beating too fast to joke around. Why did such an innocent question make me react this way?
I imagined a future where I was happily mated with a child or two. The mental image made me smile.
And the figure standing next to me in that fantasy looked suspiciously like Cloud.
Claws tightened around my heart. That couldn't be possible... He was a harpy. I was a mouse shifter. We were too different to be together in a serious relationship.
But the thought of the figure in my happy family image being anyone else gave me hives. No other alpha would do, because he wouldn't beCloud.
Shit.
I was really head over heels for him, wasn't I?
"Your shoulder," I murmured, running my hand around his wound without touching it. I hated that Animus did this to him. "Does it hurt?"
"It's not pleasant but I'll be fine." Cloud stroked along my collarbone where Mistral had scratched me. "Look. Now we match."
I rolled my eyes with a scoffing laugh. Of course he always had to look on the bright side, even when it came to spirit-induced injuries.
But as Cloud ran his thumb gently over my collarbone, my heart fluttered. My mind felt fuzzy, like my head was in the literal clouds. What were we even doing before this?
My eyelids drooped as I looked at him. As the adrenaline and sting of my wounds wore off, something else was left in their place. An all-encompassing warmth that burned brighter for every second I looked at Cloud.
Cloud paused. He gave me a slightly concerned look. "Do you have a fever?"
"No." For some reason that single word was difficult to say without sounding breathless. "Why?"
"Your skin is really warm."
I huffed. "It's probably because your scales are cool."
But Cloud shook his head. "It's not that. You definitely weren't this hot a second ago."
I realized he must've been serious when he didn't even acknowledge his accidental innuendo. My chest felt tighter and a trickle of sweat beaded at my brow.
It was almost like…
I inhaled sharply. It couldn't be. I wasn't due for my heat yet. But as the simmering desire pulled below my belly, I had a sinking feeling that was the cause.
I felt an initial stab of fear because I was having my heat here alone with an alpha. My dads taught me always to seek out shelter to wait out my heats. Clearly, my body had other plans.
But once my ingrained paranoia passed, I was left with a sense of relief. I wasn't alone this time. Cloud was here with me.
What were his desires? What did he want?
His pupils were blown out. No doubt he scented my arousal.
His self-control shocked me. Alphas were supposed to be lust-fuelled demons around omegas in heat. The man in front of me wasn't like that.
Cloud cleared his throat. "Meeko?"
He was still waiting patiently for my reply.
"I think," I began hoarsely, "my heat just started."
Cloud stiffened. His pupils were so wide and black that only a sliver of his golden irises remained. He bit his lip, clearly conflicted.
"I'll leave," he said quickly, standing up.
