Elias falls into step beside me without being asked, maintaining the distance that’s become our pattern. I feel... grounded. Like his presence is somehow keeping me from tipping over the edge I’ve been walking since this all started.
“Thanks,” I say as we reach the row of trailers. “For the escort. Although it’s not really necessary.”
He meets my eyes briefly. “I know,” he says simply. “But I wanted to do it anyway.”
The statement causes warmth to unfurl in my chest.
Nadia’s trailer is at the far end of the row, set slightly apart from the others. The light is on inside, the small window glowing yellow against the gathering dark. Elias stops at the bottom of the steps. “I’ll wait,” he says. “Take your time.”
Something in his tone makes me pause. “You don’t have to,” I say. “I can get home on my own. The subway’s not that far, and—“
“I know,” he says. “But I’m staying. That’s already decided.”
The words hang between us, his intentions clear. I nod once, suddenly unable to look at him, and climb the three steps to Nadia’s door. My knock is answered immediately—she’s been waiting, probably watching through the window as we approached.
“There she is,” she says, pulling the door open with a flourish. “The woman who’s been ignoring my texts for days.” Her eyes move past me to where Elias stands at the bottom of the steps, then back to my face. “Come in,” she adds, stepping back to make room. “We’ve got things to discuss.”
She closes the door behind me with a soft click, the sound of the lock engaging oddly final. The trailer is warm after the cool evening air, the small space lit by a single lamp in the corner. Nadia’s things are everywhere—costume pieces hung carefully on the rack by the door, makeup spread across the small counter, a half-empty coffee cup beside the script open to tomorrow’s scenes.
“Sit,” she says, nodding toward the small couch against the far wall. “And start talking. Because something’s happening, Maya. Something beyond just presentation. I’ve been watching you all day, and whatever‘s going on with those blockers, it’s not working like it should.”
The directness catches me off guard. I sink onto the couch, suddenly aware of how tired I really am. “They’re helping,” I say automatically. “Just not as much as yesterday. But I’m managing. I can get through the production, through whatever this is.”
Nadia sits across from me, her expression softening just slightly. “That’s the thing,” she says. “I’m not sure you can. Not the way you’re thinking.”
Something cold settles in my stomach. “What do you mean?”
She leans forward, her voice dropping. “Your timeline’s shorter than you think. A lot shorter. The blockers are losing effectiveness faster than they should. Your symptoms are accelerating. And being around multiple compatible alphas...” She hesitates, choosing her words carefully. “It’s pushing you closer to full heat faster than normal.”
The word—heat—hits me like ice water to the face. “How much time do I have?” I ask, my voice sounding strange in my own ears.
“Days,” she says simply. “Not weeks. Maybe four or five, if you’re lucky. Less if you’re not.”
“But that’s...” I start, then stop, not sure how to finish the sentence. Impossible? Unfair? Exactly what I’ve been afraid of since this started?
“I know,” Nadia says. “But it’s happening, Maya. Your body’s making the call, not your brain. And there’s something else.” She hesitates again, her eyes on my face. “The way those three are responding to you. The way you’re responding to them. It’s not just presentation. It’s compatibility. Real compatibility. The kind that doesn’t come around very often.”
The words hang between us as I stare at her, heat crawling up my neck. “That’s not possible,” I say, though we both know it’s not true. “Scent matches are rare. Like, one-in-a-million rare. And I’ve known them for months. If we were compatible, I would have—“
“Would you, though?” Nadia interrupts. “Think about it, Maya. Really think. How long have they been watching you? How long have you been watching them? The way Adrian includes you in conversations without making it a thing. How Bash teases you just enough to get a reaction, but never crosses the line. Even Elias—and don’t think I haven’t noticed how careful he’s being with you—has been tracking your movements since week one.”
Each word carries more impact than it should because Nadia is forcing me to look at it all at once.
Adrian making room for me without asking permission first.
Bash noticing things I never say out loud.
Elias showing up every time I need him before I've figured out how to ask.
None of it feels accidental anymore.
“It’s not true for Elias,” I say, the words coming out before I can stop them. “Adrian and Bash, maybe. But Elias is just... doing his job. Making sure I’m safe. That’s all.”
Disbelief flashes across Nadia’s expression. “Elias Stone,” she says, each word precise, “has been noticing you since the first week of filming. I watched him track you across the set while you were still firmly in beta territory, Maya. He’s just more subtle about it than the other two. He doesn’t wear his reactions where everyone can see.”
“He’s just doing his job,” I repeat, though we both know it’s not that simple. “Making sure everyone’s safe. That’s what security does.”
“Sure,” Nadia says. She lets a beat pass. “And I’m actually an alpha.” The eye roll is small, almost fond. She lets that sit for a beat, then tilts her head. “So. Now that we’ve established we’re both liars— what’s actually going on with you?”
