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My inner alpha wanted me to simply claim my mate, but I couldn’t do that. This had to be on her terms.
I also wasn’t about to bite her during the heat. We weren’t at that stage yet.
“Baby girl, just tell us what we can do for you,” Riven begged. His leg was bouncing anxiously, his jaw was clenching and unclenching as he watched her fight with herself.
She stopped walking at his words and gave each of us a look, trying to decide whether she was ready to give in or not.
Shaye let out a breath. Her scent sweetened even further as she bit her lip nervously.
“Will you help me through it?”
“Of course, we will,” Micah said without an ounce of hesitation.
“We need to make sure we have things. I need to run to the store,” Drew said, standing up and speaking into his phone, likely making one of his lists. “We need food, water, electrolytes.”
Then the color drained from his face, and he looked up at her. “You don’t even have a nest.”
“That’s because it hit out of nowhere. It was like I decided to give you guys a chance, and my body said, ‘bet.’” Her voice was still panicked and her hands were flying wildly as she spoke.
“But you don’t have a nest,” he repeated slowly. I wasn’t sure what he was getting at by rubbing it in.
“I’m aware I don’t have one,” she said.
At first, she didn’t understand, and then her face paled as she realized.
“Oh god, I don’t have a nest. I need pillows, and I need...”
She started breathing heavily as a fresh wave of panic set in.
“Breathe,” Riven barked out the order.
She gasped and sucked in a long breath before letting it back out.
“Thanks,” she said.
Micah moved in front of her so she had to look at him. “Shaye, I want you to feel safe and comfortable with this, so I need to know some things.”
“Okay,” she said hesitantly, eyes wide as she waited.
“How do you want to handle protection? What are your limits? What is something you want us to avoid?”
“I’m not ready to be claimed,” she said, her voice strong and sure. I was so proud of her for setting boundaries. “No bites.”
“Done,” we promised.
“No condoms. I want you as you are. They do automatic testing at every checkup, and I’m good.”
“So are we,” I confirmed, looking at the others. Everyone nodded along.
“What about birth control?” Riven said. “If you’re not ready for a bite, you’re not ready for a baby, Shaye.”
“It’s a heat,” she said, her words strong and steady, making sure every one of us was understanding. “I’m on birth control, but they are only about fifty percent effective during heat. I understand the risk I’m taking, and I’m willing to take it. Yes, I understand what the consequences could be, but we’re mates. You’re not strangers. I want this heat to mean something, to be a turning point, and condoms would make it so much more uncomfortable.”
“I’m fine with it,” I said, warmth spreading through me. She trusted us. She wanted us, and was willing to take risks for us. That was huge.
Was I ready to be a potential father? Well, was anyone? You could never really prepare yourself for fatherhood, but I was willing to figure it out with her and with them by my side when the time came.
“Why don’t you go start on that nest?” Riven said. “Everything’s going to be fine.”
