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"Well," Ash says, sipping his coffee like it’s whiskey and not a coping mechanism, "that could’ve gone worse."

Kai shrugs. “Ten bucks says he’s downstairs right now choking a punching bag with his bare hands.”

I barely hear them. I’m too busy trying not to cry. Or combust. Or launch myself off the nearest surface like a feral squirrel who accidentally slurped an energy drink.

Because despite the wholeI’m fine, thanks for askingvibe I was trying to maintain, I am decidedly Not Fine.

My body is buzzing like a microwave left on too long. My knees lock, then buckle. The room tilts - just a little - and suddenly I’m gripping the counter like it’s the last lifeboat on a sinking ship.

Kai catches it first.

“You okay, Bambi?”

I shake my head. “I can’t - I can’t -”

And there goes the air. Abandoning me like Lucian’s bedside manner.

Theo’s already moving, calm but fast. “Hey. Hey - look at me. You’re alright.”

I am not alright. My thighs are soaked. My nerves are screaming. My brain has turned into a slideshow of hot, dangerous alpha memories.

And worst of all?

My heat, which I naïvely thought had packed its bags and left the building, is back.

And it brought friends.

“Shit,” Kai mutters. “She’s spiking.”

Theo scoops me up like I’m made of smoke and unresolved trauma. I fight him, because obviously now is the perfect time for a feminist crisis. “Put me down - I’mfine!

“You’re not,” he growls, tightening his grip like I’m about to levitate. “You’re spiraling. You need grounding.”

“Don’t touch me -”

“Breathe, sweetheart.”

Kai materializes on the other side, his tone dropping intoI’ve got you, babyterritory, which does something truly evil to my ovaries.

“C’mon, Bambi. You’re not dying. You’re just… very horny and emotionally compromised.”

Ash steps in like the grim reaper of sanity. “Lounge.Now.”

So that’s where they take me. Or carry me. Or spiritually exorcise me. I’m not sure.

The lounge is big and expensive and smells like leather and male stress. Theo lowers me onto the couch like I’m glass, and for a second, it’s fine.

Then his hands leave me, and I flinch like someone just unplugged me from life support.

“Rhea,” Theo says, kneeling, his hand brushing my knee. “Just breathe. In. Out.”

I do my best impression of a fish on land.

“Breathing is canceled.”

“Pressure,” Kai says from my other side. “We need pressure. She’s spinning out.”

Ash doesn’t speak, doesn’tmove, but everything about him screamsI’m planning fourteen ways to fix this and five of them involve violence

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