If my brothers were here, they might offer some advice. Perhaps they know of someone who went through rut alone and survived. All I can do is deliver her to my brothers and take myself away, so I do endanger anyone with my rut induced madness.
That means I need to get her to the ship, before my mind ceases to function and the need to mate takes over. How long do I have?
“Stop, I need to pee,” Ruby says. “I was trying not to…”
I turn and the scowl on my face is enough that she stops speaking. She doesn’t look away, though. She holds my gaze. Does she not realize how dangerous I am at the moment?
“Go.”
“Will you wait?”
I laugh, but it’s bitter even in my ears. “I couldn’t walk away even if I wanted to.”
“Because of the bond-rut thing?”
“Yes.”
I watch as she steps off the trail and goes behind the nearest tree. I keep rolling the options around my head, hoping that a new one will turn up. There must be something I can do.
She straightens her clothes as if she’s been with a lover while I waited. “Rut is like being in heat? You need to fuck?”
I jerk my head in agreement.
“So if you need to fuck, why didn’t you just say so?” Ruby asks, as if that is the answer.
“Because you are not my mate.”
“You said I was.” Her voice has that sharp edge again, and it does nothing to diminish the need in my blood.
I roll my eyes skyward and remind myself that she is not Honey and so has no understanding of our ways, of us. Of me. “My body thinks you are.”
“And if you don’t have sex, you’ll be in agony?”
“Yes.” I grit out. I want to reach out and pull her close and kiss her, to soften the edges of my need, but it might sharpen them.
“And cranky.”
“Yes.”
She crosses her arms. “And distracted from the task at hand which is surviving long enough to reach the others, who might be able to help you?”
“My brothers won’t be able to help.” And I wish it were as simple as sex with anyone. My body needs her. Even though she doesn’t want me.
“So you’re stuck like this forever?”
“The changes are permanent.” I start walking again and hate the chafing of my meq on the rough cloth of my pants.
“What changes?” She hurries to catch up. She’s close enough that if I reach out, I will be able to grab her. “Are you stuck glowing?”
“No, that will fade when the rut does.”
“And when is that?”
“Without a mate?” I shrug. “If I survive, I don’t know. With a mate, several days. It’s meant to be a time of bonding—”
“Sex,” she corrects.
I sigh. She is right. “Yes.”
