“What?”
“Your mate.”
Pasquale’s gaze swung to Giuliana, and she bit her lip against the answering heat licking between her legs. Red was driving her insane, and this was not the time for this shit. But the more Giuliana stared at him, the more she couldn’t deny she wanted more.
Giuliana?
She couldn’t answer him. Red was too loud, burning with need for her mate. Red didn’t care that this wasn’t the time. That neither Pasquale nor Giuliana hadn’t come to this point.
No, all Red wanted was her mate.
I can’t stop her.
What do you need?
You … Giuliana swallowed, afraid of what it would mean if she let her wolf take over. But she couldn’t fight Red.
Snow?
She’s going into mating heat.
That only happens with … Fuck!
Giuliana didn’t know what they meant. Mating heat? That isn’t a thing for wolves, only the feline shifters.
Not exactly. Out loud, Pasquale addressed Fabiana. “What did father tell you about mating heat?”
Fabiana frowned harder before understanding lit her gaze. “Mating heat only happens with Alpha pairings. It forces the couple to bond the longer their wolves are around each other. He’d hoped it would happen between me,” she cringed, “and Dominic.”
“Any way to stop it?”
Giuliana could be thankful he wanted to make this better for her, truly. But Red turned into a screaming and snarling fucking banshee the minute the words left Pasquale’s mouth.
Mine!
Our Alpha demands—
Pasquale is our Alpha.
Giuliana could sense power rolling off Snow. She didn’t know if he reacted to Red’s affirmation, or if he was in the throes of the heat himself.
“Take your mate, brother.”
Pasquale shook his head. “Not like this.”
“You may not have a choice.”
His eyes were sad when he looked at Giuliana. I’m sorry.
The wolves didn’t care, and the more Red fought, the less Giuliana cared either. Her body was on fire, smoldering, muscles twitching with need. She’d fucking rip off Red’s head later, but right now, she needed Pasquale.
Help me.
Even in her mind, her voice was angry and afraid.
I will. Trust me through the fear.
She could trust him, but mating meant a cage she wasn’t prepared for. She didn’t want to face what it would mean, the freedom she’d lose. And she didn’t forget he’d warned her about how being with him would be.
