Whatever had just happened between us…changed everything.
Chapter 12: Rowan
Ihad no clue what time it was.
I had no clue what day of the week it was.
I had no clue how many times I had orgasmed.
All I knew for certain was that Killian had forgiven me and apologized over and over for how long it took him to do it.
His knot locked us together, vibrating, eliciting orgasm after orgasm from my already spent body. Every time I swore there was no way I could climax again, Killian took it as a challenge and forced another one from me.
Arms wrapped tightly around my waist as he administered lazy licks to my neck. We both were purring, driven by instinct to soothe each other and reconnect. His mouth found the mark he had given me and rested there. I suddenly remembered what he had said about wanting to bite me again once it had healed fully.
"Killian?"
"Yes, Little Bird."
"Are you going to mark me again?"
"Yes."
"When? Also, am I supposed to um, you know… mark you too?"
He chuckled with that rough, deep laugh that I had grown to love so much.
"Yes, omegas mark too. When this heals fully," His fingers brushed the scar, "I will mark you again."
He then added, "Maybe during your heat."
Heat.The thing I dreaded more than anything else.
His words reminded me how imminent it was, and nerves bubbled in my stomach. I tried calculating how long it had been since my last heat, which I hadn't even been awake for. I was overdue for my next one, but Dr. Michaels told me they would likely be irregular due to my prolonged suppressant use.
Most omegas looked forward to their heat. Packs did too. It was anticipated, talked about openly, even celebrated. Heat meant pleasure, release, and a sense of fulfillment that went deeper than the physical. It was when packmate-bonds tightened and instincts aligned.
And beneath it all was the possibility of pups.
That was the part that made it sacred. The chance to strengthen a bloodline, to bring new members into the pack. For many omegas, heat was not something to endure but something to want. Something they prepared for with eagerness instead of fear.
I had never felt that way.
While others counted down to it, I had spent my entire life fearing the loss of control it represented. What excited them terrified me. The vulnerability, the attention, and the way my body would want things my mind was not ready togive, weighed on me. And now, with everything else closing in around me, it felt more dangerous than ever to relinquish control.
Killian, sensing my nerves through the bond, put his large hand on my belly, rubbing in circles to soothe me. "It's okay, Crane. You'll do good. We've got you."
Suddenly, Cade's loud knock stirred us from the cocoon of pleasure we had wrapped ourselves in.
"Pack meeting, ten minutes! Attendance is mandatory."
"Busy," Killian growled.
"Killian, deflate your knot and bring Rowan out herenow.She needs to eat. You can't keep her locked in your room forever. That's an order."
Killian growled again but didn’t argue, mainly because I turned over my shoulder and said, “I’m actually pretty hungry…”
A few minutes later, Killian slid one of his massive shirts over my head and carried me out to the kitchen. He sat at the table with me still in his arms, pulling me close against his chest. The smell of something delicious hit my nose, and my stomach growled loud enough to echo.
