“Yeah,” Ryker said, smirking at me. “But you love us for it, boss.”
For the first time since I’d known him, Cade’s lips twitched like he was fighting a smile. “Don’t push it.”
They went over a few additional topics before Cade finally dismissed everyone. I stood, but his hand closed around my arm.
“Hang back a minute, Rowan. I need a word with you. Alone.”
“Uh, sure… what about?”
“Just come with me,” he said, standing and heading down the hallway.
I followed, nerves prickling as we stopped near the locked door at the end of the hall. Cade reached into his pocket, pulling out a key. I’d always wondered what was behind that door, but figured it was probably another bedroom, maybe even mine eventually. Was Cade finally going to let me have my privacy back?
When the door swung open, I froze. The sedative had left me mellow and detached, but the sight before me sent my pulse racing again.
Cade stepped inside and motioned for me to follow. “Do you know what this is, Rowan?”
My face flushed, and I nodded hesitantly. “I think so…” He waited, so I continued. “It’s for my heat, right? A nesting room?”
“Yes. When you joined our pack, Arca assigned this housing to us and moved our belongings in. Every pack with an omega has a room like this. I wanted to show it to you so you could become familiar with the space. Your heat is coming soon, and you need to be prepared.”
I said nothing at first, just looked around the small, cozy room. There wasn’t any furniture or windows, just a massive, thick, padded mat that covered almost the entire floor. The cushioning ran several feet up the walls. In the corners of the room, someone had stacked blankets and pillows in every color and texture imaginable.
Then my eyes caught on the far wall. A paddle, whip, and rope hung neatly from hooks.
Cade noticed where I was looking and chuckled. “Talon supplied those. He’s… enthusiastic about your upcoming heat.”
My eyes went wide. “He’s going to use those on me?!”
“Yes,” Cade said matter-of-factly.
“Why would he want to hurt me?”
“Talon enjoys that kind of play. He always has. But it’s not just for him. Omegas often need a little pain during heat. It helps to ground them, keeps the heat from dragging on too long, and reduces the strain on your body.”
“Omegas need pain?” I repeated, blinking.
He tilted his head, studying me. “Yes… Rowan, do you really not know what to expect when you go into heat?”
“Yes! I mean—no. Not really.” I winced, fumbling over my words. “I remember what happened when we first met, when I went into heat and begged you to—” I stopped, cheeks burning. “It was mortifying.”
Cade’s expression softened, though surprise flickered across his face. “You really never learned anything about being an omega, did you? Weren’t you even a little curious?”
“No,” I admitted. “I didn’t want to think about it and just pretended I wasn’t one. I thought no one would discover my secret or that I’d ever go into heat, so I ignored it. Guess that was stupid of me…” My voice cracked as tears welled in my eyes. “I’m nervous, Cade. I don’t know how to make a nest, or what I’m supposed to do. I don’t know how to do any of it right.”
He stepped closer and pulled me against him, his low purr vibrating through my chest. I buried my face in the crook of his arm, breathing in his scent as he held me steady. His hand moved to my back, rubbing in circles. The rhythm of his movement matched the low grumble of his purr, comforting me.
"It's okay not to know. Instinct will guide you, like it's beendoing. Your body knows what it needs, and we know how to read your body. We'll all be there to take care of you. You won't be alone, Rowan."
I pulled back, looking up at him. His intense amber eyes met mine.
"You make it sound easy." I said in a whisper.
"It's not," he said sternly. "When you were detoxing, your first heat could have killed you. After ten years of suppressant use, nothing about this will be typical. And now that you're bonded to us all, it will be intense. The connection will overwhelm you. You won't always be in control and that’s why you have to trust us.”
“Trust,” I repeated softly, the word catching in my throat. "Is that what we're doing now? Trusting each other?"
“Yes. Trust that we’ll keep you safe and that we know what we’re doing. That we know what your body needs. No one here will hurt you, or give you more than you can handle.”
