I’d been in denial about my heat coming. Distracted by all the changes. Maybe even hoping the changes would screw up my schedule and I might skip right over it. That had happened once when I was seventeen and had a very bad flu. I’d been so sick, I hadn’t realized the time going by. Two weeks later, when I felt better, I found out my heat had skipped right over me.
Maybe that would happen this time?
Over the next couple of weeks, we spent a lot of time together. It was like having a friend I’d never known. I cooked breakfast and even dinner a few times. He always thanked me but also continued his love for takeout. We hung out in the game room a lot. One night we watched TV in the grand living room which was hardly ever used. Malin built a fire in there and it was more shadowy and cozier than the game room.
The small flame in my stomach burned higher. My body was definitely attracted to him but my mind was still wary. I was afraid of a lot of different things. Alphas included. They were at the top of my list along with being vulnerable and getting emotionally ridiculed or hurt. And since I had never been with anyone consensually, and barely remembered the two times I’d been bred, I was afraid the act might hurt. Afraid I would hate it.
But that flame still flickered for Malin. It burned higher the more time we were together.
One afternoon the following week, Malin said he had to go out for a while. I had observed the pattern. Every Wednesday he either locked himself in his room for a couple hours or leftthe house. Those were his therapy days. I worried this time he’d return drunk again, but I prepped for dinner and hoped the urge to barhop didn’t take him.
With all the food prepared and ready to be cooked after Malin returned, I decided to explore the pool area. We hadn’t swum together yet even though Malin said the pool and hot tub were heated.
I opened the back French doors and wandered toward the sparkling blue water. The pool filter was on, making a soft soothing rumble. The water emitted the faint scent of chlorine. The air was chilly with an autumn breeze, but I sat down by the pool and dangled my feet. The water churned around my ankles, warm and wonderful. There was a patio over half the pool but the rest was exposed to the elements. It had to cost a fortune to keep it heated.
I rolled up my pants legs and scooted forward, getting my legs wet up to my knees, swinging them back and forth. I began to eye the hot tub. That would be even warmer and I could totally submerge myself.
Just as I was thinking of shucking my pants and shirt, I heard a sound in the yard. Footfalls on the concrete path by the north gate. And voices.
Instinctively, I froze. The gate was locked, so maybe whoever it was would just go away.
Then I heard voices calling. “Malin. Hey, Malin, are you out here?”
Another voice, “Maybe he went flying.”
Laughter. “Then he won’t mind if we use the hot tub until he gets back.”
“I’ve got the gate code somewhere,” the first voice said.
No worse sound could have come than that of the gate opening and closing.
I hunched my shoulders in panic and lifted my dripping legs out of the pool. Water splashed against the tiled side and I was horrified the sound might alert them with their dragon hearing.
I stood, my body shaking, my knees weak and eyed the still open French doors. They were about fifty feet away.
The voices got louder. It was now or never.
I pushed off and sprinted toward the center of the patio but not before three young men rounded the corner of the house and spotted me. I turned my head in fear, only to slip. Damn, didn’t that happen only in movies?
I jumped up but not before I heard someone call, “Hey! Who’s there?”
Another voice. “It’s not Malin.”
“Hey, kid, what are you doing?” The three alphas began to sprint toward me and they were fast.
I turned for the back doors, this time fueled by panic. I was just about there, ready to run inside and lock them out.
But before I could get there, an alpha was in front of me blocking my way. I nearly crashed right into him. When I turned to go around him another alpha stood to the side, arms out, blocking me. The third came around to my other side.
I stopped dead in my tracks, my mind spinning. When I looked up at the first guy I recognized him. It was Bish, the one who’d given the party that first night Malin and I had met.
“Hey, I know you,” Bish said. “You were at my party.”
The second one said, “Yeah. I saw him, too. He’s a fucking set omega.”
I looked from one to the other as their eyes took on a strange, hard look.
“Hey, set. What are you doing here? What’s your name?” Bish asked.
