“Is that all you need?”
His pointed question irritates me. Kirk isn’t going to let this go.
I lower my head and squeeze my eyes shut. “What do you mean?” I release a bitter laugh.
“I can smell you. I noticed when we got out of the car, but I thought it was in my mind.”
Rushing forward, I yank the handle toward me and he stumbles inside, viewing me still clad in only a towel. I slam the door behind him.
“Did anyone else notice?”
“I don’t think so.”
“We need to keep it that way.”
His eyes widen and he inhales sharply. “Trust me, they’re going to figure it out fast.”
“I can’t do this, Kirk. I’m not ready yet.” My lower lip trembles.
His shoulders slump. “I know.”
“What can I do? I don’t have any ashwagandha.”
“I do in pill form.” He presses his lips together and studies me. “I’ll get it for you—” he points at me. “As a temporary fix.”
“Trust me, I’m very aware the reprieve will be brief.” I bite the inside of my cheek and wait for his response.
“You have to stop taking the pills when I tell you to, or things could get a lot worse.”
Worse than binding myself to virtual strangers?
“I mean it.” His gaze narrows and the bass that creeps into his voice pleases my she-wolf.
“I will. I promise.” I’d agree to just about anything for another couple of weeks to come to terms with the situation.
He nods. “Stay here, I have some things in my emergency supplies.”
He moves to leave and I catch his wrist.
“Thank you.”
His lips quirk.
“Glad I can help.”
He walks away. I’m softening toward the healer. He’s a sweet, caring soul, with a past that left him bruised and battered. I understand what that feels like.
I like the strong yet silent man who’s made it clear I’m more than a vagina and a means to getting in good with the Alpha.
I slather myself in fragrant lavender lotion and pull on a comfortable pair of sweatpants with a matching top. I’m tugging on socks when Kirk knocks.
“Come in.”
He walks toward me with a bottle of water and two small white pills. “Take two every five hours with a full glass of water. I told the others you had a headache.”
Scrambling up, I take the pills and throw them back with water. He hands me a small bottle.
“I’m not sure how long this will give you. But once your body starts resisting, you’ll have some tough choices to make.”
Knowing I have to pick one of them to mate with has my anxiety shooting through the roof.
“Can you give me a guesstimate?” I toy with the end of the oversized towel.
He shakes his head. “Everyone’s body is different, and I don’t know your medical history well enough. You’re accepting us, and until the bonds are created, you’re going to be like an omega caught in a heat cycle.”
“What signs should I be looking for?”
“Intense headaches, nausea, irrational arousal levels.”
“Got it.”
“I know this sucks, but it’ll be better if you do it on your terms. If you wait too long and the mating heat takes over, you’ll end up losing your say. Make a plan before it’s too late.”
“I will.”
“Give it ten minutes, and you’re good to come down.”
Before now I thought Fell would be my default first mating match. Now, he’s the one I trust the least. I might not know the other men, but they all appear to be exactly what they seem to be.
