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Find her. Soothe her. Claim her.

Two out of three isn’t a bad start.

When I’m finally close enough to wrap my fingers around the window ledge, I keep my voice soft, hoping not to startle her into attack mode. “Daphne?”

Her shriek splits the night, and I have a second to thinkoh shitbefore something swings for my skull. Darting back, I hold onto the sill out of sheer luck as the projectile thuds heavily against the side of the house.

Yep, definitely trying to brain me.

“It’s me!” I shout.

She’s midway through pulling the cord back into the house when the curtain flicks aside, showing a very panicked omega. “Nate?”

The rush of air pushes more of her scent out until I’m full-on growling. All I smell is Daphne and the tears that mar hercheeks and redden her nose. Connor Morgan, my best friend since damn near birth,made our omega cry.Fucking asshole.

“What are you doing here?” Daph’s chest heaves, bottom lip trapped between her teeth as she fights to regulate. Agony pours out of her, and I can’t help but reach for her hand.

There’s a certain heartbreak in watching someone pull away. A type of pain that cuts deep and settles to fuck with your head for months to come. It’s worse for me because losing Daphne when I’ve already lost so much…I think it would break the final pieces of me.

This woman feels like hope. She can’t shut me out.

Need to be closer. Show her I’m here.

The window obviously wasn’t made for my big ass, but I heave myself inside regardless. My first step on the carpet is accompanied by a growl so fierce, I nearly climb back out.

“You didn’t ask,” Daphne snaps.

“Ask?” I parrot, looking around in shocked realization.

The room I assumed was her bedroom is more than that. It’s the demolished nest. Her sanctuary. And I just entered uninvited.

Fuuuuuuck, this is bad.

“I didn’t?—”

“Ask before you invaded my home? Check before you stepped into my territory? What didn’t you do, Nate?” Daphne’s face is lit with savage intensity, tears gone in the place of so much anger. I know most of it is for Connor, but I’ve earned some ire for myself.

My legs buckle, dropping me to the floor. Head bowed, I stare at her toes, hoping I can fix this. “I apologize for intruding, omega. I didn’t realize this was your nest.”

The heat of her ager and the weight of her eyes travels along my body. I want to scream when she steps into my space. Daphne smells like soap now when an hour ago, she smelledlike pack. I cautiously peer through my lashes and find wet curls plastered to her scalp, the skin of her arms and legs bright red. My heart nearly crawls out of my chest when I see the scratches that trail along her body. Connor’s done even more damage than I expected.

“Baby.” My voice breaks and I lean in just a little, those perfect sleep shorts brushing my cheek. They’re so soft, silky smooth like her skin. I vibrate with the urge to rub my cheek along the fabric and add my scent to it. I don’t, though. I’ve taken enough liberties tonight.

Daphne’s forces my chin up, red-rimmed eyes catching mine with determination and something worse. Final. “You shouldn’t be here, Nate.”

“I couldn’t stay away,” I admit.

“Why?”

“Because you needed me.” The words drop between us, a stone in a lake. The barest hint of the truth. “He shouldn’t have spoken to you like that. Not to anyone, but especially toyou.It wasn’t fair, and you didn’t deserve it.”

The words flow from my lips, desperate, and a little unhinged.Please don’t leave me. Fight for this. Let me love you.

I don’t care how fast it happened or that it’s a risk. Already, I would do anything for Daph. All she has to do is ask.

She sees it. The insanity of my feelings. Her shudder isn’t one of pleasure, but of fear. Remembered pain. She’s right in front of me, but I feel her fading. Pulling away in every way she can. Trapped in memories and visions of a future that may never come to be.

I reach for my omega’s wrist, anchor her with touch. “Helping you through your heat, as wonderful as it was, doesn’t entitle us to your secrets. You had every right to keep this to yourself until you were ready.”