"Hours. Maybe less." I could feel the heat building in my core, spreading through my limbs. "It's close."
"Signs?" Luca asked, sitting across from me.
"Fever. Sensitivity. And the scent..." I looked down at my hands. "I can smell myself. It's so strong."
"It's not just strong," Jaxon said, his voice rough. "It's incredible."
Luca made a sound of agreement. "How are you both handling it?" I asked. "The scent. Your instincts."
"Barely," Luca admitted softly. "Every Alpha instinct I have is screaming at me to claim you. Fuck you. Make sure everyone knows you're mine."
"Ours," Jaxon corrected, looking at Luca.
"Ours," Luca agreed.
The word sent heat through me that had nothing to do with my approaching heat.
I forced myself to eat the sandwich even though I had no appetite. Drank water even though my throat felt tight.
They were right. I'd need my strength.
"We should talk about logistics," Luca said. "Before you're too far into it to think clearly."
I frowned. "Logistics?"
"Boundaries. What you need from us. What we need to know."
I set down my sandwich. "I've never had an unsuppressed heat. I don't know what to expect."
"But you know the basics," Jaxon said. "From health class. From research."
"The basics are: I'm going to lose my mind. I'm going to need both of you. And it could last from hours to days."
"Three to five days typically," Luca said. "For a first unsuppressed heat after long-term suppressant use."
I stared at him. "You researched this?"
His ears turned red. "I wanted to be prepared."
Of course he did. Luca Vale, always prepared. Always in control.
"What else did you learn?" Jaxon asked.
"That the first wave will be the worst. Most intense. After that, it comes in cycles. A few hours of need, then a few hours of recovery. Back and forth until it's done."
"And the bonding?" I asked quietly.
Both of them went still.
"That's up to you," Luca said carefully. "When you're ready. If you're ready."
"I want to bond with you. Both of you. That's the whole point of this."
"The point of this," Jaxon said, "is to get you through your heat safely. The bonding... that's permanent, Reina. We need to make sure you're sure."
"I'm sure."
"You say that now. But when you're in the middle of it..."
