“I’m sorry.” He looks confused by my apology, and that just makes me feel worse. “I’m being a prick. You didn’t ruin anything. From what Luc’s said, you’ve actually helped.” I hold his furrowed gaze. “I’m not mad you’vebeenwith her first. I’m really glad you’ve finally found someone you like. I just don’t—”
“I do like her,” he confirms with a nod, almost to himself.
My mouth twitches as I lean back in my chair, rubbing my jaw. “That’s what worries me, Syl.”
His posture stiffens. “What worries you?”
“What might happen… after.”
“Afterwhat?” He frowns, voice sharper. Angrier.
I think about my next words carefully. “If this doesn’t last.”
He chews over those words, his pale eyes darting between mine. “But we’re having her next heat together, as a pack.”
“Yes, at the moment. But people can change their minds, Syl. And they do. All the time.”
“I don’t think Revea does.” He shakes his head, adamant. “She knows what she wants and gets it.” Then he places a hand onmyshoulder, squeezing it. “Don’t worry, Kaiden. I feel really good about this. I won’t let it end.”
I have to smile, because that’s how Sylvan’s mind works. He thinks he somehow has the power to make promises like that. But when I find him smiling, all I can do is nod and pray that Revea doesn’t change her mind, because I don’t know how I’ll handle a heartbroken Sylvan.
I’ve never had to.
My phone buzzes, and his hand falls.
I catch Luc’s name on screen as I quickly answer, “Everything okay—”
“Revea’s having a heat spike.”
For fuck’s sake.
“Don’t go near her, you might tip into a rut—”
“Too late,” he grits out. There’s a shuffling sound. “She’sonme, and she’s…fuck, baby.” There’s more movement. “I’m not strong enough to bark her off, I can’t…”
“Put the phone to her ear.” I wait a second, and there’s a quiet whimper. “Revea,” I purr gently.
A pause, some shifts, then the sweetest, softest: “Alpha?”
We all groan.
“Yes, omega.”
She whines, and my pants are suddenly too tight.
“Do you want Luc and Val to help you through your spike?”
“Yes, alpha.” She doesn’t even pause.
My god, this is...Fuck. My fingers curl into a fist over the desk.
“Okay, they can do that. But first, I need to bark. You’re lost to the heat, and we need to know you want this, okay?”
“She’s nodding,” Luc murmurs.
“Revea,” I bark, “you want my men?”
“Yes.” There’s still a rasp, but her tone is firmer. “I want them.”
