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I know what it’s like to need an alpha’s knot and be denied it. I’m all too familiar with the burning sort of pain that makes you want to tear your skin from your flesh and your flesh from your bones.

It wouldn’t just break my body if this pack denied me. It would break my soul, too.

“Fuck, Moonlight, don’t cry,” I hear Chase say from above me. “What’s wrong?”

He turns me so I’m cradled on his lap. I sink into his arms and ocean breeze scent.

I try to form coherent words, but his proximity makes my brain short-circuit. I try and communicate everything I’m thinking, all my jumbled, feverish thoughts, but all that comes out is two words.

“It—it hurts.”

“Shit, did I do something wrong?” Madden asks from behind me.

“You didn’t do anything wrong, but omegas are sensitive during their heat spikes,” Archer explains. “She probably just interpreted you setting her down as you leaving.”

Madden’s jaw clenches, and he runs his hand through his hair with panic. “What—what’re we supposed to do?”

“I don’t think she can wait until we get back to our place.” I feel Chase shift underneath me. He presses a cool hand against my cheek, making me practically start purring and rubbing into his touch. “She’s burning up and she’s scared as hell.”

“Then we take the edge off in the car.” Archer’s tone is firm and definitive, as if that’s the simplest solution. “Get her dress off of her.”

When Chase moves from under me, trying to put space between us, I instinctively whirl around in his lap and clutch at him desperately.

I know it’s silly. I know what they’re trying to do. I heard Archer. And I want it to happen. I want to feel their touch on my body. But I don’t want to lose the contact I have with Chase right now.

“Hey, hey, hey,” Chase says softly, his tone soothing. “We’re just gonna take off your dress so we can help you better, that’s okay, right?”

I give him a quick and jerky nod.

“I’ve gotta let you go to do that.”

I shake my head and grip onto his shirt again.

Chase bites his lip before nodding to Madden behind me.

When Madden’s arms close around me, I relax enough to let Chase turn me and start unbuttoning my dress.

“I—I’m sorry,” I whisper. “I—I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

“Nothing’s wrong with you, Angel. I promise.”

I feel Chase’s cool fingertips against the bare skin of my back and shiver.

“Kiss her, Madden,” Archer orders from behind us.

His command makes my perfume explode into the car. There’s something about the dominant energy he’s exuding right now that makes the omega inside of me melt.

When Madden’s lips meet mine, the entire world feels like it fractures apart. It sends a lightning bolt straight down between my thighs. I can feel slick dripping from me and into my panties. If this were any other situation, I’d be ridiculously embarrassed, but I’m not.

I just want more.

Madden’s kiss is all-consuming. It’s all I can taste. All I can feel. I get lost in it and I think he feels the same.

A hand tugs at my hair, pulling me away from Madden’s lips and tilting my head.

“Fuck, your scent,” I hear Chase murmur against the crook of my neck.

A whine leaves the back of my throat at the loss of contact with Madden.