Page 104 of A Nest of Maple & Mist

“It’s okay to be scared. But we’re here. You’re safe in your nest, baby girl. With your pack. Trust your omega.”

Jason’s beard brushed against my face as he pressed a kiss to my lips. I sighed, the relief a fleeting reprieve.

As if on cue, another white-hot cramp bloomed in my lower abdomen. The pain made spots blur my vision. I gasped, doubling over as the pain radiated through my hips.

Growls and snarls rang out.

Still, I couldn’t make them out through the din of pain drowning everything else out. I sobbed, unconsciously bucking my hips. I fell back into the sheets, the silk clinging to my skin.

My face scrunched as I thrashed. It burned. I burned. I was a second away from flames engulfing me in a torturous inferno. Strong hands gripped my wrists, pinning me to the bed.

I fought harder, hissing and crying.

“Stop, Omega.”

My body went limp. My alpha’s bark cleared the whir of my mind. A shaky breath stuck to my ribs. Jason caressed the top of my head, purring and whispering sweet words against my skin.

“What do you need?” Shane asked, his voice strained.

“Knot,” I demanded.

THIRTY-NINE

SHANE

An explosion of maple showered the room with Mia’s perfume. Our omega panted, muttering the word knot over and over again. Eyes glazed with fever widened almost too large for her slender face.

“Soon, Omega,” Jason cooed, leaning against the mountain of pillows and pulling Mia back into his chest.

She ground against his cock, and by some miracle, Jason held his composure. Keeping one arm banded around her waist, he grabbed the discarded glass of water.

“Drink, Omega.”

This cute noise of protest made her cheeks puff out as she shook her head. She tried to grab his cock. Jason growled, nipping at her throat in warning. I shared a glance with Ty, whose eyes blazed with desire, wonder, and concern.

We needed to keep her strength up. It was her first heat, and she had skipped breakfast, planning to eat after we played. Now, not only was she in the throes of heat, but she was already dehydrated and underfed.

We had to get something in her—at least a little—before doing anything else.

“Listen to your alpha, love.”

Her doe eyes gazed up at me. I smiled, grabbing a nearby bowl of fruit.

“Eat, Mia,” I murmured, holding a ripe strawberry to her lips.

“No,” she hissed.

The feral sound made me blink. She slapped my hand away, the berry tumbling into the folds of a discarded shirt. Her teeth were bared, her pupils so blown out there was hardly any remnant of brown in her eyes.

“Knot. I want a knot.”

Jason huffed, a mix of frustration and aggravation marring his brow.

“I don’t want to bark at her again,” he sighed, his shoulders slumping.

Despite being one of the most dominant alphas I’d ever met, Jason didn’t outwardly display it. And barking at an omega or any member of his pack to get them to comply wasn’t something he’d do lightly.

Even though it was expected for an alpha to have to bark at an omega in heat to get them to stay safe, most alphas didn’t revel in doing it.