Page 126 of Mate
“It could make your Heat last longer or be more painful. Worse, it could inflict long-term damage to your reproductive system.”
“What if I’m willing to take the risk?”
“Serena.” She pins my eyes with hers.Listen carefully, they say.Because I’m in charge. In her own way, she’s as scary as Koen. Scarier. “No self-respecting healthcare professional will give you that shot right now. What Icangive you, however”— she turns to her bag and pulls out a small packet— “is this.”
It’s so unsubstantial, as I hold it up to the light, I wonder if she’s joking. “What is it?”
“Contraceptive pills.”
I blink. “What? I can’t even . . .”
“We don’t know that for sure. These will prevent pregnancy. If you would like that, take themafteryour Heat is over.”
“How will I know— whenisthe Heat over?”
“You’ll know, believe me.”
I don’t want to believe her.Orto know. “Why would I need contraceptives? Is there some kind of asexual reproduction . . . I can’t get pregnant just by having a Heat, right?”
She stands. Sets a small card on Koen’s nightstand. “You have my number. For any question, call me. Anytime.”
“Layla, I don’t understand.”
“If I don’t answer, Sem will. But for the most part, it’ll be a very intuitive process— ”
“Layla.”
At last, she stops. She glances in the direction of the door. Then murmurs, “I won’t tell a soul. And neither will any of the seconds.”
“I . . . Why does it sound like people have been talking about this?”
She swallows. “I know this embarrasses you, but it’s not . . . We are not Human, Serena.”
We are not Human.
“We don’t feel like you do when it comes to our bodies. I know every person in that room. I know Koen. And I really . . . I wouldn’t have wanted this for him.”
Who else has told me these very same words? Ah, yes. Brenna. Of course. “It’s a common feeling,” I say flatly.
“I don’t meanyou. It’s clear that he’s so happy with you— ”
“Happy?” Laughter bubbles out of me. “The dude who constantly looks like he’s a hairbreadth from slashing every tire in the universe?”
Layla shakes her head. “When I heard that he had found his mate, and that it was unreciprocated, my first thought was that it was a blessing in disguise. I knew from the very start that Koen would put the pack first. It’s always been his priority, after all. It would be a terrible choice to make for any Alpha— either renounce his pack for his mate or renounce his mate for his pack. But in your situation, if he chose the pack, you wouldn’t suffer from it. You didn’t want him, anyway. That made things much easier for him.” She swallows. “But this— your Heat, what you are about to experience . . . It changes everything. Koen is now being asked to choose between respecting the covenant or guaranteeing his mate’s well-being. And if you need him, he’s never going to say no.”
“I never asked him. I didn’t— ”
“Do you really think you need to ask him, Serena?”
I fist the comforter. Clench my jaw shut.
“The thing is . . .Weneed him, too. The Northwest needs Koen precisely because of everything I just told you. And that’s why I’m not going to tell a soul.” Her lips, I realize, are quivering. “No one will ever know where he’ll spend the next few days. He’ll be yours for a while, Serena. But after, you must return him. So think of it as a loan.” One last, sad smile. “What I always tell my daughter is that all lies come to light. Let’s hope that I’m wrong.”
A few minutes later, the cabin falls silent. Everyone leaves— except for Koen.
CHAPTER 32
Indecent. Filthy. Outrageous. Lewd, in the best possible way. Those are the words he’s thinking of.
