Page 37 of Broken Rejected Mate

Sarina steps into Kira’s arms without word, and Kira holds her for a second, then pulls back, smiles, and says, “Come on. We’re going to have a sleepover, and it will be so much fun.”

As Kira gets Sarina into the car, Dorian comes around the front, his eyes meeting mine. It’s the look of two alphas, knowing exactly what it’s like to be around an omega in heat.

“You going to be able to handle this?” Dorian asks, dipping his head.

“Yeah.” I swallow, try to give him my most confident grin as I shrug, act like it’s nothing. “It’s all good, man.”

Dorian stares at me for a long moment. Obviously, Omegas in this pack go into heat frequently. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not like we lose our heads the second we smell them—but being alone in the house? It’s a different ball game. A little more tempting, sure, but stronger alphas shouldn’t really struggle.

The only difference is that Dorian doesn’t know Veva is my mate. If he did, he probably wouldn’t leave me here with her alone.

“Okay,” he says, finally, and I feel the twinge of guilt—the knowledge that I’m keeping something from him. But I know without asking that Veva wouldn’t want me sharing this information. Even with the alpha leader.

“Okay. Thanks for taking her.” I nod to the car, where Kira is buckling Sarina in.

“I’m surprised Veva is cool with it,” Dorian says, running his hand over his chin. “But Kira is excited. She wants to have a girl next, I think.”

That makes me laugh, then Kira is shoving a basket into my arms.

“These are for her,” she says—then, eyeing me, “You’d better be a gentleman, Emin.”

I nod, accept the basket, wave goodbye to them from the porch. Just outside the door, I can smell her—her scent amplified, thick, heady and feeling like it’s wrapping right around my throat.

“Veva,” I say, hearing how hoarse I am as I push through the door. “I’m coming back in—”

She’s standing in the center of the living room, her eyes shut, her hands pressed into her stomach. When I step in, her eyes fly open.

“They have her?”

“Yes, they just pulled away.”

“Is Kira going to text?”

“She said she would when they get home.”

“I need to get Sarina her own phone,” Veva says, starting to pace the floor. I stay rooted to the spot, ignoring the urge to go to her, put my hands on her.

Help her ease away some of this pain.

Moving slowly, I set the basket down on the table, then back up, like I’m doing a hostage exchange. “Here. This is stuff from Kira.”

But Veva doesn’t even glance at it, she’s too busy stalking back and forth, her hands in her hair.

“This is going to be horrible,” she says, voice low, eyes on the floor.

“It’s okay,” I try. “I’m here—”

“You don’t understand.” Her voice is rough, desperate. “Ten years of suppressing my heat—I’ve never heard of anyone doing that before. It’s going to—it’s going to be bad.”

“It’sokay, Veva. I’m here for you.”

“Ha,” she lets out a dry laugh, turning to face me, her pupils blown so big it instantly makes my skin feel warm. “Right.”

“Listen.” I cross my arms over my chest, shake my head, back up so there’s more space between us. More space, andthe couch, and the coffee table—my mind is already making a mental map of the quickest way to get to her. Despite that, I go on. “Veva, listen—you’re safe with me, okay? I’m not going to lie—it’s going to be rough, but I can behave. I’ll keep you here, and I’ll keep you safe, and you can get through it and—”

“You don’t understand, Emin,” she says, her eyes roaming up and down my body. She’s practically licking her lips as she looks at me. “It’s notyouI’m worried about.”

I frown. “Nobody is going to bother you here—”

---