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I don’t know how long Jax has been under the water, but for once, I’m not worried. This is all meant to be. The five of us, down here, together. With Lunara’s relic.

The necklace seems to grow brighter, like it’s agreeing with me. The gold should be dull from years of disuse, but it’s as bright as the sun in the dimly lit room. It’s clearly not a standard piece of jewelry from this era, from any era really. Maybe it’s made of something other than gold? Some alchemistic metal, lost to antiquity. Or maybe it really is magic, imbued with the power of the goddess who wore it. It’s easy to believe in the occult here, in the secret temple of Lunara, surrounded by scent matches I never thought I’d find, men so uniquely suited for me I could have never imagined them.

Jax with his intense adoration, breaking through every doubt I have that I could ever be loved as I am, even if this relic doesn’t fix me. Bear with his steady strength, alleviating my fear. Roman, with his irritating fire, pushing and challenging me, but also always protecting when it’s needed most. And Archer, my beta. The calm beneath it all. The linchpin holding us all together.

I want this pack. I want to bond them and keep them and create a home with them.

Far away, I hear my men, but their words seem distant. All that matters is this moment.

My fingertips brush over the centerpiece, tracing the blood red gemstones. It’s warm to my touch. A warmth that spreads across my skin. My breathing picks up as I slowly reach around the bust and unclasp the hook at the back. When I pull it away, the bust lifts an inch, like a weight has been lifted from the molded shoulders.

The solid heft of the metal settles the shaking in my hands. A whimper climbs my throat as my skin tightens, nipples pebbling into firm peaks. Without thought or hesitation, I wrap the choker around my neck. It fits perfectly.

Roman turns, and our eyes lock, his widening as he takes in what I’m about to do. But I feel none of his panic. All I feel is calm. And warm. Tingly and happy.

“Just so we’re clear, if this makes me go into heat, I want all of you.” I know they’re not ready to bond me, but I want to experience a heat with them, and this might be my chance. I don’t want one of them holding back because they aren’t sure if I’d want it. Thinking of Jax’s off-hand remark about condoms yesterday, and all the nights I cried about not being able to have kids, I add, “No condoms. Uh… if you want. ”

Maybe it’s reckless. But right now, I don’t care. It feels right.

When I bring the ends of the necklace together to clasp them, they pull from my grasp and snap shut with power I don’t possess. A wave of heat unlike anything I’ve ever experienced washes over my body. My insides twist and cramp. It’s a feeling I’m familiar with, but this time, it’s ten times worse. A whine pitches through the air, my whine, needy and desperate.

My skin is sensitive and even the scant clothing I’m wearing feels oppressive. I want them off. I need them gone so nothing is separating me from my mates’ touches. Except, I’m so lost to this haze that I can’t bring myself to remove them on my own. My whine grows louder, a sound befitting the absolute desperation ricocheting through my body and soul.

So this is what a heat feels like.