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Theo narrows his eyes. “How many times?”

“That’s irrelevant.”

Kai whistles low. “You’re down astronomically bad.”

“She felt...wrong,” I mutter. “Like static under my skin. Like a threat.”

Theo tilts his head. “And now?”

I stare at the door, and Ifeelher.

Her need bleeds through like heat through glass. Her cries echo in the back of my mind.

“She still feels like a threat,” I murmur. “But one I want to wrap my hands around.”

Kai sighs. “God, that’ssohot.”

I glare at him. “Talk to me like that again, and I’m sending you back to the car.”

“Yes, Alpha,”he grins.

I growl in warning as Theo pinches the bridge of his nose.

“We need a plan.”

“She’s in peak,” I say. “We give her time. Let her burn it out.”

Kai groans. “And do what? Knit? Play charades? One wrong move and we’re gonna rut right through the drywall.”

“Speak for yourself,” I snap. “I’min control.”

“Good for you,” Kai mutters. “I’m two seconds away from humping your antique console table.”

Theo glances at him. “You’re not going into rut already, surely.”

“I’m not made of stone, asshole. She’s scenting like sex and sunshine and maybe a little goddamn cinnamon behind that fucking door.”

Ash shifts, jaw tight.

“It’s not just you. I can feel it starting to tug. Like it’s… circling.”

“It’s her heat,” Theo nods. “And if we really all are compatible…”

Kai stares at him. “Great. So we’re four ticking time bombs in a pressure cooker.”

“No,”Theo starts, but Kai interrupts him.

“We’re a goddamn four-man sex grenade!”

“No,” I interrupt coldly. “We’readults. We. Stay. In. Control.”

“Oh sure,” Kai mutters. “Tell that to my dick.”

“Maybe keep it in your fuckingpantsand we won’t have a problem,” I bite.

Kai shrugs. “No promises, boss man.”

I round on him immediately, andKai raises his hands in easy surrender.

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