“Well, that explains why no one else found it. It seems to be keyed in to people from your bloodline” Fell says.
“How did they know to look for it in the first place?” Panic tried to claw its way to the surface. Beads of sweat roll down my neck, and my skin itches. The dust and grime are affecting me.
“We’ll add it to our lists of questions. Let’s go,” Cadoc, sets a grueling pace, leading us into the surrounding woods. I race to keep up with the boys’ long legs, dodging small branches and tree roots. We round a clearing. Sticks snap behind us.
“I’ll circle back. Get her to the car and I’ll meet you back at the house,” Cadoc says.
“No. we’re not leaving you.” I shake my head.
“Sorry, Princess.” Bo scoops me up and tosses me over his shoulder as he takes off running.
I grip his bulky sweater to keep from banging into his broad back. I swallow my curse words, to stop from giving away our position. I’m going to rain hell on him the second we’re out of this.
Dizziness hits. I close my eyes to block out the blurring landscape. With his protective pheromones flooding out of his pores, my nipples harden, and my breasts grow heavy.
I hate the instincts I have no control over. Inhaling a lungful of the scent spiced honey and vanilla against my will I nestle my face into his clothing. Humming, I wiggle on his shoulder. His hand comes down on my ass.
“Stop that.” Bo darts to the left and slows, sliding me off his shoulder. Disoriented, I peer up at him with heavy-lidded eyes.
“We’re here.”
Blinking, I force away the stupor. “Thanks. Never do that again.”
“No promises.”
He opens the door and I climb into the back with the books, feeling like my head is stuffed with cotton. “If I’d known a little rough handling is all it took to get you wet, I’d have done it sooner.”
Leaning back against the seat, I close my eyes, ignoring him. I lift the hoodie and sniff.
The material holds hints of all of them, burnt orange, rosemary, licorice lemon, and camphor. Dragging the smell into my lungs, I feel my temperature spike as a sense of safety tempers my lingering fear.
No. I can’t go into a mating heat over that asshole. Disgusted by the response, I shove it away from me. Fully accepting them as my mates will trigger my biological response. I don’t want that. whether I want it to or not.
As a beta, I’ve never experienced this needy time of bonding that’s thought to be a gift from the gods. Omegas experience the heat cycle regularly, for others, it’s a state that only comes with an official mating.
Horrified, I roll down the window and stick my head out, trying to escape the swelling of my breasts and the tension building in my belly.
I press my thighs together, easing my pulsing core. My breasts become sensitive. Taut nipples press against my bra. I stifle a moan and press my thighs together. When we pull up to the house, I leap from the vehicle.
“I need to shower. I ran into so many cobwebs.” I shudder and shift my weight from one foot to the other.
Kirk laughs. “Sure.”
He moves to the front door unlocking it, and I dart inside and up the stairs, ignoring their curious looks.
Removing the books, I rest them on my desk. I need to cool down. Tearing off my clothes, I hurry to the bathroom.
Running the water as cold as I can get it, I climb in. When the tub is full, I sink beneath water and scream. Sitting up, I slump over the edge, letting the soothing liquid lower my core temperature.
I ignore the need to sate my lust. Relieving the ache would only make things worse. Inhaling and exhaling, I meditate.
This can’t happen right now. I rack my brain to think of ways I can slow the process.
I never had to deal with this at college. I’d started to think I might be one of the few who got to skip this part of our biological makeup.
No such luck. Tomorrow, I’ll take the herb Ashwagandha to dull my emotions. I just need to get through tonight. No one will ever have to know. Going into heat now would be disastrous.
I smell the increased hormones seeping from my pores and swear. This situation is spiraling out of control. There’s no way I can hide this from the four of them.
A knock comes at the door. I slosh water on the floor. Dunking myself, I force my thoughts away from anything remotely sexy. They’ve already scented me.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Ijerk into a sitting position.
“Yeah?” I call after the second knock.
Kirk’s voice comes through the door. “Cadoc and Fell are back. We’re having a meeting in fifteen.”
The thought of being surrounded by the four men arouses, and frightens, me. They’ll know immediately if I don’t do something.
“Okay.” I peer at my wrist, remembering his vow. He’s duty-bound to help me, I can trust him. I climb from the bath and towel off. Maybe if I layer my clothing?
Another knock comes again. I freeze.
“Ylva?” Kirk’s voice is softer and concerned. He knows.
“Yeah. I uh. Just need to get dressed.”
