I picked up my fork and pushed a piece of chicken around my plate.
"You need to eat," Etienne said, watching me.
"I'm not hungry."
"You barely ate lunch."
"I ate the strawberry."
"One strawberry is not sustenance, Princesse."
I took a small bite to appease him. The food was perfect, but it sat heavy in my stomach. Everything felt wrong. I was too hot, and too tight, like my skin didn't fit right.
Etienne reached across the table, his fingers brushing my forehead.
I froze.
His hand was cool against my burning skin, and the relief was so immediate I nearly whimpered.
"Princesse." His voice dropped, serious now. "You're burning up."
"I'm fine."
"You're not fine. Your heat's coming faster than we thought."
Panic clawed up my throat. "But the spray—"
"Can only do so much." He stood, moving around the table to crouch beside my chair. His hand cupped my face, gentle and grounding. "It's okay. We knew this was coming."
"I need to talk to Maeve."
The words tumbled out before I could stop them.
Etienne's expression softened. "Of course. Go. I'll clean up."
I practically ran upstairs.
My hands shook as I pulled up Maeve's number and hit video call.
She answered on the first ring, her face filling the screen. She was in her caravan, the familiar cramped space behind her, and the sight of her made my chest ache.
"Pres?" Her smile faded the moment she saw my face. "What's wrong?"
"My heat's starting."
"I thought you had another week at least?"
"So did I. But it's coming early and I'm panicking, Maeve. I can't do this. Three alphas. What if I lose control? What if they go into rut and I can't—"
"Breathe, Presley. Just breathe."
I sucked in air, but it didn't help. My lungs felt too small, my chest too tight.
"Heats aren't a bad thing," Maeve said gently. "Some alphas, good alphas, look after their omega. They make it good."
"But I'm not theirs, Maeve." My voice cracked. "I'm only here because I'm being paid to have their baby. Why the hell did I agree to this?"
"Because you were broke and desperate and they offered you a way out."
