“She can’t go through this alone,” I growl. “And she can’t stay here.”
“No,” Simon agrees. “She needs her Alphas. She needs to be knotted, and soon, or the pain is going to get worse. The cramps are her body demanding what it needs. If you don’t give it to her, she’s going to go into shock.”
The door opens again, and Jude slips in. He closes it behind him, his face grave. He sees us on the floor, Amber shaking like a leaf, and his jaw tightens.
“What’s happening?”
“She’s in heat,” I say, not taking my eyes off her. “We need to get her home.”
“Is Maisie...?” Amber whispers, her voice breaking. “Where is she?”
“Right here,” a small voice says.
Maisie peeks around Jude’s legs. She’s holding her stuffed rabbit, looking sleepy but worried. Her eyes go wide when she sees her mother on the floor.
Amber cries out, a sound of pure distress. She tries to cover her face, ashamed. “No. Not here. I don’t want her to see me like this. Jude, get her out. Please.”
Jude steps forward immediately, scooping Maisie up into his arms. “Hey, bug. Mommy isn’t feeling well. Remember how Rosie was sleeping when we saw her?”
“Uh-huh,” Maisie says, rubbing her eyes, staring at her mom.
“We’re going to go to my house,” Jude tells her, his voice steady and calm, shielding her view of Amber. “You’re going to have a sleepover with Uncle Jude and Aunt Norah and the new baby. Mommy is going to go with Knox and Eli and Fallon to the doctors to get some medicine.”
“Medicine?” Maisie asks.
“Big girl medicine,” Jude lies smoothly. He looks at me over Maisie’s head. “I’ve got her. Don’t worry about a thing. Ryker is with the car. We’ll keep her safe. You just focus on Amber.”
Amber reaches out a trembling hand toward her daughter. Jude steps close enough for Amber to touch Maisie’s shoe.
“Be good, baby,” Amber sobs. “I love you. Mommy loves you so much.”
“I love you, Mommy,” Maisie says, waving.
Jude doesn’t wait. He carries her out, the door clicking shut behind him. Dorian gives me a nod and follows them, ensuring the path is clear.
“Okay,” Simon says, standing up. He offers me a hand to help Amber up. “Take her home. Keep her hydrated. If her fever goes over one-oh-four, you call me. But mostly... just let nature take its course. She’s going to be insatiable, Knox. She won’t be herself.”
“I can handle her,” I say, lifting Amber into my arms. She wraps her legs around my waist, burying her face in my neck, her teeth scraping my skin. She’s trying to bite me, mark me, driven by an instinct she can’t control.
“I know you can,” Simon says. “Go. Before she screams.”
We move fast. Eli and Fallon are waiting by the truck, the engine already running.
“Wren texted us,” Fallon explains, jumping into the passenger seat. “She told us to get the car ready.”
Eli doesn’t hesitate. He climbs into the back seat with her, pulling her from my arms as I slide into the driver’s seat and slam the door.
“Drive,” Eli commands.
I gun the engine and peel out of the parking lot.
The drive to the warehouse is a blur of streetlights and shadows. It’s only five minutes, but it feels like an hour.
The cab of the truck fills with her scent so thickly it’s suffocating. It’s a physical weight, pressing against my chest, making it hard to breathe.
From the back seat, I can hear her whimpers, the wet, slick sounds of her moving restlessly, and Eli’s low, rumbling voice trying to soothe her.
“Breathe, Amber,” Eli says. “Just breathe. We’re almost home.”
