"Then you can hate me when this is over," she said. "But I'm not watching you suffer like this. Plus, at least you’ll be alive to hate me. Without them, you could die. I’m calling the hospital first, and depending on what they say, determines what I do."
She left before I could respond.
I tried to get up, to chase her down, to stop her. But another wave of pain hit and I collapsed back into my nest, whimpering. A second one hit right after knocking me out cold.
The next morning was worse. The cramps had evolved into something constant, throbbing. My skin felt too tight. Every breath was labored. And the need twisted so tightly in my core that I thought I’d explode. I needed to be filled, claimed, knotted.
No. I didn't need that. I didn't need Alphas. I would be fine. I was lying in a puddle of my own sweat, clutching that t-shirt, when Kira came inside.
"Naomi. We need to go."
"Go where?" My voice was hoarse from crying.
"To get you help."
"No. No Alphas. I told you."
"I don't care." She grabbed my arm, trying to pull me up. "You're dying. Do you understand that? Breakthrough heats can kill Omegas. And I'm not letting that happen."
"I'm fine."
"You're weeping in a ball in a nest. You haven't eaten in two days. You can barely speak. You are the opposite of fine."
She was right. I knew she was right. But the thought of submitting to an Alpha, of needing them, of becoming my mother was far worse than dying.
"Please," I whispered. "Don't make me do this."
"I'm sorry." She managed to get me to my feet. "But I'd rather have you alive and angry than dead and forgiving."
She half-carried me to the car, wrapping a blanket around me even though I was burning up.
"Where are we going?" I asked.
But I already knew. I could see the determination in her. The resolve. She was taking me to them. To Kellan and Rowan.
"I hate you," I sobbed.
"I know," Kira said softly. A tear slid down her face, and I realized that this was probably hurting her more than it was hurting me.
"But you'll thank me later."
I bit my tongue to prevent me from saying anything. That’s when I realized how fucked this situation was for everybody. I was about to go back on my word for only needing the Alphas for one night. Kira was suffering because I was. They would be drawn to help me cause it was in their nature whether they wanted to or not. All because this damn heat had surfaced within me. I was unleashing everybody’s instincts and there wasn’t a single thing that I could do about it. The loss of control was humbling and as she got me inside the car and closed the door, I fell apart. Sobbing so hard that years of trauma surfaced, looking for a way out. I didn't have the strength to argue or fight. I was doomed and we both knew it.
When Kira got inside, she didn’t say another word. She started the car, blasted the air conditioner, and pulled off. I just closed my eyes and let her take me to the one place I'd sworn I'd never return to.
Back to them.
KELLAN
The knock on our door at seven in the evening was unexpected. We didn't get visitors. Ever. Our home was private, a converted brownstone in Grand Park Aisles that we'd meticulously kept off any public records. The address wasn't listed anywhere. Not even our employees knew where we lived.
So when I opened the door to find Kira standing there looking exhausted and desperate, my first instinct was alarm.
"How did you find us?" I asked.
"I called in a favor," she said quickly. "I know I shouldn't be here. I know this is a violation of privacy. But there's an emergency and I didn't know who else to turn to." She stopped, took a breath. "If you don't want to help, just say so and I'll leave. But I had to try."
That's when I smelled it. Loud. But unmistakable. The scent that had haunted us for twenty-nine years. Sweet and warm withundertones of honey and something uniquely hers. Our mate. The baby we'd lost. But it wasn't coming from Kira. It was on Kira. Clinging to her clothes, her skin, like she'd been in close contact with her.
