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“Is this some sort of caveman alpha thing?”

Connor’s eyes flash and he pinches my chin, tipping it until all I see is him. It doesn’t feel cruel, like when Jacob did it. Just asking for my attention. “This is us wanting to care for an omega honoring us with her presence and her body.”

His scent deepens to fathomless ice caves and the thrill of the unknown. My perfume follows, getting so thick, I feel like we’re swimming in it. This alpha is going to test me. Pull every ounce of pleasure from my veins and set it ablaze. I can’t wait.

After the attendant takes me to a separate room to fit my teeth with temporary caps, she gives a refresher on the code words I’ll use if I need the monitor watching nearby and sends us on our way. Each step toward the elevator grinds my thighs together, and by the time we make it to our floor, I can’t think about anything but who’s getting inside me first.

“Here’s your nest, baby.” Nate sweeps open the door, shepherding into my temporary suite.

When Mellie signed me up, we decided on a different theme from what I have at home, and this is exactly what I expect fromCloud Cover.The suite is bright and airy with hints of marigold peeking through white, fluffy pillows like rays of sun. Gorgeous sky-blue linens and blankets sit on the lowered bed with some additional pale greens added to the mix. It’s plush and luxurious, the mattress big enough to fit us all. The secluded alcove hiding the nest from the main space leaves me feeling protected rather than exposed.

“Do you all like it?” This isn’t my real nest and these aren’t my alphas, but I need them to say yes. Need to know I did well.

“It’s beautiful, omega,” Connor rasps. He gives the nest a haunted glance before turning for the nearest door. His scent shifts from sharp to smooth as soon as I’m out of view and I try not to let it hurt my feelings. “They have rainwater shower heads. Want me to run one for you?”

Warm bodies and slippery skin sounds heavenly, but I hurt too much right now. I need to get naked and knotted in quick succession.

“Later.” I whip my shirt off, only to find him edging toward the door.He’s leaving.“What the hell?!”

“Don’t panic. Just need to get our stuff before things get messy.” Or maybe it’s him that’s panicking. His eyes are getting wilder by the second and I’m almost positive he’s going to duck and run. I’m nearly swimming in his anxiety and it’s bleeding into me, making me wonder if this is the right call.

Leave now before they steal pieces of you forever.

I can’t go. My heat’s too far along for anything beyond seeing it through or sedation and that’s a last resort. Beyond that, I don’twantto go. When have I ever taken something for myself like this? It’s always been me giving, offering, holding my desires for people to chop up and discard. This heat is my chance to have something for myself.

“But you’ll be back?” Ihatethe way I whine the words. Hate that tears pool on my lashes at the thought of this alpha forsaking me like the others because already, I want him too much.

Connor Morgan is fucking dangerous, and he doesn’t even know it.

He swallows, glancing over my shoulder at the nest. There’s that shuttering again; the blue of his eyes swallowed by pain and history. “Yes.”

He doesn’t look certain, though, and when he twists the doorknob, I have to turn away. Can’t watch as he leaves when I know there’s no real reason for him to come back. My own alphas didn’t want to deal with me. Why the hell would he?

“Don’t worry, kitten. I’ll bring him back.” Nate darts away before I can snatch his shirt and trap him with my cunt. Rude, honestly.

The door closes and I find a very intense Dez watching me. He stares like he could spend his whole life doing it. “Connor’s got his own issues, but I promise he’ll be here for you.”

“I don’t want him to leave, but I don’t want him to force himself to do this, either. He should have a choice. We all deserve a choice.”

The admission rips from my lips without thought, and I wish I could take it back. Not because it’s wrong, but because I feel so fucking bare now.

“Never doubt that he wants you, Daphne. Connor’s just too cynical to believe he can have you.”

“I’m here, aren’t I?”

“You are, and so am I. Do you want to play until they get back?” Dez’s cool breath feels good trailing across my heated skin, drawing goosebumps and a breathy groan. Despite the emotional whiplash, my body is primed and ready for rutting. Knots. Sex until I can’t move without one of them inside me.

There’s more to talk about, but when his teeth rake against my neck, I decide all that can wait. The heat under my skin is building to uncomfortable levels and the cramps in my belly feel more like hot spikes than anything else. The emptiness inside me makes my skin uncomfortably tight.

Yet, Dez just stands there staring at me.

He’s new to this, I tell myself.Be gentle.

Yeah, no. This is a trial by fire situation. He either learns or he gets left behind.

“Don’t tease me,” I growl, fingers clawed against the pain and desire twisting around one another in a nearly indistinguishable tangle.

“I’m not,” he promises. Connor’s forgotten as I watch the alpha in front of me take a careful step closer. “Tell me what you need, and I’ll give it to you. Always.”