Page 24 of Take All of Me

“He’s still got her,” I say as I slip on a pair of sweatpants and a shirt before grabbing my phone. “I’m gonna pick up the food. I’ll let him know it’s here.” My hand drifts down, rubbing at my cock through my pants as I step outside, trying to ease the ache. I’ve been hard on and off all day—Dakota’s scent does that to me, especially now—but this is different. It’s painful, like a wisdom tooth coming in at twenty, but worse,way worse, a deep throb that’s got me hissing as I move.

I try to ignore it, waving down the delivery driver in the parking lot, the smell of fresh deli meat and cheese making my stomach growl despite the discomfort. However, every step of the way back is like torture, the pressure building at the base of my cock. I’m all but panting when I reach the dorm room, shooting Brogan a quick text.

>>> Food’s here.

>>> Maya’s passed out. We’ll be there when she gets up.

Every move has me clenching my jaw as I set the bags on the floor, Dakota all but crawling over to find a spot next to another pillow. Holt joins us and I’m about to sit down when the pain worsens. I’m half-convinced my dick’s about to fall off.

“Forgot something at the rink,” I mumble, shoving toward the door, wincing as the movement sends another jolt through me. “Be back soon.” Holt’s look lingers, suspicious, but he doesn’t call me out.

Back outside, I relish the cool air of the evening but it does nothing for the fire in my groin. I’m too embarrassed to tell them what’s going on, because who the fuck wants to admit their cock’s swelling like some horror show? I jump into my car, jaw clenched, and peel out toward the hospital, one hand grippingthe wheel, the other reaching down to adjust myself. The base is thicker now, way thicker, a hard, sensitive ring that’s got my heart racing with panic. My cock’s still swelling and every bump in the road makes me hiss, pain spiking through me.

I skid into a hospital parking space, nearly clipping a curb, and rush inside, trying not to bend over like some guy who took a puck to the nuts. I mumble through an explanation, a nurse leading me over to a small cot and pulling the curtain around us for privacy. She lets me know that she’s already paged a doctor and that just to sit tight as I’m bending over, holding my junk in my hands.

“God, this is fucking humiliating,” I push out, trying to breathe through the pain. A sudden urge to come slips through the torture before being overshadowed again, the confusion giving me a second of relief before the pain comes barreling back at me.

I don’t have to wait long, a Beta stepping in through the curtains and making sure it’s fully pulled shut behind. He’s wildly handsome—model material, all sharp jaw and warm brown eyes, a comfortable smile playing on his lips. “I’m Dr. Windham but you can just call me Lincoln. Jules wasn’t really clear on...”

I huff out a laugh, wincing as I shift. “My dick’s on fire,” I blurt, no point sugarcoating it. “It’s swelling.”

Lincoln nods, unfazed, like I didn’t just announce my cock’s staging a mutiny. “I have an idea of what’s going on,” he says, pulling on gloves.

I raise a brow, skeptical. “How? You haven’t even seen it!”

“I’ve been at this a long time,” he says, “but I do need to check and take a blood test. Got a name we can work with?” I mumble ‘Roman’ and he nods again, plopping onto the stool with a grace that doesn’t seem possible before scooting a little closer. “This is going to be uncomfortable but can you drop your pants for me? I need to see what’s going on.” His nostrils flare and I can’timagine why unless he’s scenting Dakota which does something to me.

A snarl plays on my lips at the thought of Lincoln taking my Omega before I swallow that reaction and do as he asks, shoving my pants and boxers down, the cool air hitting my skin. Lincoln leans in, takes a cursory look, and then gestures for me to get dressed again. “When did this start?”

I rub my neck, trying to think past the pain. “Few days ago, I guess? Thought I was just… I don’t know, growing into my dick or some shit. But it didn’t—fuck, this hurts like a bitch.” I laugh because what else can I do? “I just need to know if it’s going to fall off.”

“I need to do a quick blood test, but it looks like you’re growing a knot.”

I blink at him, brain stalling. “What did you just say to me?”

“It’s not common to present this late,” he says, pulling off the gloves, “but it’s not as rare as people think. A few of us have dormant genes that don’t manifest until we’re in the presence of our mates. Betas don’t always stay Betas.” He shrugs, like he didn’t just upend my entire world, and turns to a drawer, pulling out a syringe before unearthing a small vial from his lab coat.

“So you’re saying I’m… what, turning into an Alpha?”

“Likely. A blood test will confirm that. I’m gonna give you a painkiller to take the edge off, but your, uh, equipment’s gonna be sensitive for a while.”

I swallow, my mind racing to Dakota, Maya, the pack, and blurt, “Can I still have sex?” Because that’s definitely the most important thing right now.

“Everything’ll work, but you might not last long, and your knot may not swell fully the first few times.” He injects the painkiller into my arm, and I hiss, then relax as warmth spreads, dulling the fire to a manageable throb.

“Damn,” I mutter, “that’s some good stuff.”

“I’m guessing some things have changed recently in your relationship? Your pack?”

I laugh, leaning back on the bed, the painkiller loosening my tongue. “Yeah, my Beta mate showed up, and my other Beta presented as an Omega. Shit’s been wild.”

Lincoln’s eyebrows shoot up, but he recovers, nodding. “Well, that’d do it,” he says. “Sounds like the changes around you threw your system into overdrive. Explains why you’re presenting now. Your scent seems to be shifting, becoming more dominant. There’s nothing extra you need to do, but your pheromones will be chaotic until you fully present. Emotions might fluctuate, too.”

I don’t like the sound of that at all. “What do you mean?”

“As a Beta we deal with less instinctual responses. Alphas are more reactive, protective. You might act before you realize it, especially around your mates.”

I snort, shaking my head. “Great news for a hockey player,” I say, half-joking, but my mind’s on Maya and Dakota. If I’m an Alpha, what does that mean for us? Hell, how is Holt going to take this?

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