"Loz! I haven't, uh, had the chance to talk to them about that yet—"
"Oh forfuck'ssake," she huffs, throwing her hands up in the air. "Youse fucking lot. I swear." She glares at me. "There's no fucking way you're fitting six people in that fucking linen cupboard you pretend is a nest.Pleasetell me you booked yourself a fucking heat hotel?"
Embarrassment floods through me. I shake my head.
She growls. "Fuckinghell, Dellie. This isfuckingridiculous. Y'know what—I'm out. You need to seriously get your shit together." She storms out of the room and slams the door.
Not even ten seconds later, she storms back in. "Once you've got your shit together and talked like adults about her fucking heat—unless one of youse has a mansion stashed away on a random fucking backlot, youse lot can stay in the Annex. At least there's a proper fucking pack bedroom and a proper fucking nest and it doesn't fucking stink like wet bathers."
"Loz—"
"You always order me enough heat supplies for, like, three packs anyway, and there's likesixextra boxes of energy gels out there," she mutters. "And it's probably not a bad fucking idea to have someone I can trust close by. Just… just in case."
The last part was much quieter. I rest my hand on her upper arm. She leans into it and smiles at me, then turns and walks towards the mezzanine stairs.
"Just put down a fucking towel first before you fuck on the furniture," she shouts as she walks away, without turning back.
"Huh.Thisis an Annex?" James seems to be struggling to keep his face composed.
"The house I grew up in wasn't this big," Zeke mutters.
Allen makes a slight growling sound. "We can look aroundafterwe've had a talk. Apropertalk. All of us."
My chest is twanging with nervous energy. Allen goes and sits on the big, squashy sofa where I slept last night. I see his nostrils flare as he inhales deeply. He clears his throat and gestures to the empty space next to him.
I perch on the edge of the sofa, one leg tucked under me, but shuffle back and lean into it when I catch Allen's expression. Seb plonks down next to me, snuggling up against me. His comforting petrichor wraps around me. It's all I can do to stop myself leaning back into him like a pillow. Ralph folds himself in behind him. James is glaring at me from where he leans against the sofa arm. Zeke has claimed the coffee table as a seat.
I can feel their gazes burning into me. I feel myself blushing, my body tensing, but the warmth and scent is wrapping around me, cocooning me, ever so slightly easing the impending sense of panic. "Um, so, I guess there are some other, um, pressing things we should talk about?"
Allen nods. His mouth looks pinched.
I take a slow breath. "Um. So. I got a bit, um, overenthusiastic with my heat suppressants for a bit too long. I kinda had to go off them on Saturday—"
Seb shifts behind me. "Extended suppressant use can have some nasty side effects. Like problems with your liver and kidneys. Ornot being able to recognise a scent match." He clears his throat. "How long were you on them without a break?"
I glance behind me. Apparently, my face is asking a question, because Zeke chuckles. "He's a registered nurse with a Doctorate of Nursing Practice. I know, you wouldn't know it when you talk to him."
Seb rolls his eyes. "C'mon, Balga. This matters."
I sigh. "Um. Seventeen months, I guess?"
His lips pinch. "Good thing you're off them now, I guess. And, Balga—"
"Mmm?"
His firm hand grasps my chin. His usual wry expression of good humour is nowhere to be seen. His eyes are dark with intent. "Never. Do. That. Again."
His low growl makes my undies wet with slick. I bite back a whimper as my scent curls around us. He raises an eyebrow. "None of that 'til we've talked, Balga. Behave."
The answer escapes my lips as a breathy whisper before I can pull it back. "Yes, Alpha."
Seb's nostrils flare. He clears his throat. "Shit, Balga. You're making this really fucking hard."
I hear Zeke mutter something aboutit isn't the only thing she's making really fucking hard, and swallow a giggle.
James growls from across the couch, his freckled face tight with concern. "This is important, lovely. You haven't been looking after yourself. That stops. Now."
It's a statement of fact. Of how the world will be from here on out. It's not a request or a command. I shiver. "I know."
