Page 39 of Queen of Diamonds

Oh no. This was bad.

And it had started… could we stop heat after it started?

“What do we do?” I asked stupidly.

We couldn’t fuck her—right? I’d almost rutted from a kiss. We couldn’t. And she didn’t want us—that truth smashed into me. She’d chosen an ice shower over telling us.

She didn’t want us.

“Sh-shut the door.” Her voice shook. “Just k-keep them out for a few days.”

“Are you joking?” That would be agony.

“Knight—” She reached out to me, trembling fingers, seizing my shirt. “P-please. I can’t—” She broke off with another moan of pain. Tears were streaking down her cheeks, chestnut eyes glistening. “I’m scared…”

My mind was foggy with panic.

“If you don’t want us, there are drugs…” Fuck. It had already started. I was sure that made them a whole lot less effective. “They’ll shorten it…”

What was I saying?

She was still going to be in agony.

“Is there…” I almost winced at the words that were coming out of my own fucking mouth. “Is there someone we can call?”

Right.

Invite another Alpha over to our pad, so he could fuck our mate senseless while we tried to drown out the sound of literal heat.

There was a beat as her gaze snapped to mine, shock so complete that it seemed to wipe her mind of the pain for a moment.

Her lips parted like she didn’t know how to answer. Then she swallowed, shaking her head.

“No one?” I demanded.

What? As screwed up as the idea was, it had kind of been the solution. And I was still fucked in the head enough I had to stamp down little embers of relief that flitted to life in my chest.

“Just… go.” Her tears were back.

I… Shit.

I needed help.

Zed would know what to do.

I was on my feet in a moment, backing out. Leaving the bathroom and her intoxicating scent sent shivers of panic down my spine, my hindbrain screaming that it was unnatural to leave.

I reached Zed’s door in seconds, ripping it open and finding him in his bed, laptop open.

“What?” he said, glancing at me. He set the laptop down the second he caught my expression. Oh. I’d forgotten how hard I’d locked down my end of the bond. He had no idea I was panicking.

“Glade,” I hissed. “She’s in heat.”

“She can’t be.” He scoffed, getting to his feet. “I saw her last night?—”

“She’s in heat,” I spat, crossing to him and jabbing him in the chest. It was his stupid fucking idea to bring her here. “In agony. Right fucking now—and she doesn’t want anyone to fuck her.”

“She doesn’t what? That’s stupid?—”

---