“Where did she go?”
“I don’t know but she’s mine when I do.”
“Like hell!”
She kept quiet, waiting for the others to leave.
“What the hell is that smell?”
“Get out of the way.”
They all spoke, moving around until she heard nothing at all. Another wave of heat passed through her, and a sharp pain shot through her lower abdomen. Zira grabbed the counters to brace herself as she took deep breaths through the pain. She had never experienced anything like this before. Heat pooled through her body, soaking her panties as she fell to her knees.
“Fuck, Nina?”
“Like I said before, it wasn't the worst,” Nina said sadly.
“Nina, please. You have to stop it or control it or something,” Zira pleaded as hot tears fell down her face.
“I can control this as much as you can control your periods,” Nina said. “It is nature, Zira. You have to either fix it or let it run its course.”
“And how long does this usually last,” Zira asked. She could hold out for an hour, give or take a few minutes.
“I do not know. It varies from she-wolf to she-wolf.”
Of course, it does. Nothing is ever simple with us, Zira thought. Another sharp pain had Zira clutching her knees close against her body. She could hear footsteps passing the door and she was grateful no one had opened it. Though if they did, she was hoping it was Isaiah. If only there was a way to speak to him.
“Nina, if someone else finds us, we can’t. If you believe in our mate, in Isaiah and Devon, then we have to get to him. It has to be only them. Do you understand?”
Nina didn’t respond nor could Zira feel her. She closed her eyes to bring Nina forth in her mind. Nina was lying down with her paws crossed in front of her. Her head laid on top and her eyes were closed. Zira could see her body shaking and then it hit her. Of course, Nina would be feeling this too. Nina opened her eyes and stared straight ahead as if Zira was standing right in front of her.
“You should try to listen to me more often, Zira. These decisions you make affect us both. We would have been mated by now if you had listened,” Nina simply said solemnly.
“I know and I’m sorry. I’m sorry I’ve been selfish to your feelings,” Zira said, and she really meant it, “but sometimes I just wish you wouldn’t kick me down so much. I get enough of it from everyone else.”
Nina blinked a few times as if trying to see her clearer before closing her eyes once again. “I…I just want you to be better than everyone because…because to me we are better, and everyone is lucky to have us.”
Zira was surprised at the sympathetic tone in Nina’s voice. Did Nina actually apologize in a weird way? Nina was never the empathetic one. She was always mean and judgmental, and argued with Zira every step of the way. Still in a pinch, Nina would occasionally come out to save them. Occasionally.
“Aww. You like me,” Zira teased. “You actually like…wait, do you love me?”
Nina huffed at Zira’s question as she stood up. She walked in a circle just to sit back down again. She laid her head on her paws and closed her eyes.
“Don’t be ridiculous. I love no one,” Nina argued, but Zira knew it wasn’t true.
Another pain spiked through her as she held onto the counters for support. Her body was completely drenched in sweat now. The clothes on her back were starting to irritate her, so she took them off and sat back on the floor. The closet felt a bit too small and the fumes from the cleaning supplies were giving her a headache.
“We have to leave this room,” Zira said to Nina. “I’m starting to feel nauseous.”
“Fine, let’s do this,” Nina said back. “We just have to make it to Isaiah and have him mark us.”
With renewed energy, Zira got up to her feet, ignoring the wetness sliding down her legs. She walked slowly to the door, listening and scenting for anyone on the other side. She got a mixture of scents, probably from the wolves passing by earlier. With her ear pressed hard against the door, she heard someone running by, so she waited.
Unfortunately, they stopped by the door and Zira moved away. She noticed the shadow of the person under the door just as the doorknob turned. Her breath was caught in her throat as she thought of what to do when they opened it. The scent was familiar, but with the other scents and her heat taking over her mind, she couldn’t tell if it was Isaiah or not. She readied herself and waited as the door slowly opened wide, revealing a man’s posture.
“Zira?”
The man’s voice called out to her, but she didn’t wait to respond as she barreled her way out of the closet and right into him. Zira stared down at the man she pummeled into with a shocked expression.
“Percy,” she exclaimed. “Thank the Goddess,” she said, giving him a quick hug before helping him off the floor. “I thought you were one of those other males. We have to find Isaiah or somewhere I can hide.”
It took a moment for Percy to get his bearings, but when he did, he froze. Zira was standing close to him with nothing but a bra and panties. He was standing behind her as she looked down the hallway. He had seen her naked before when she shifted, but now felt different. He didn’t know if it was her heat or the fact that he never had enough time to really see her.
Her dark skin had a shimmer to it from the light coming in from the windows. It covered every piece of exposed skin and Percy noticed the sweat trailing down the side of her leg. His eyes traveled up the lean muscles of her calves to the thickness of her thighs. He swallowed hard when they came upon the swell curvature of her ass. He could tell by the look if he touched it, it would feel firm in his hands. Everything about her at this moment looked perfect.
“Percy!” Percy snapped out of it when she called his name. “Did you hear me?”
“Yes, right. Somewhere to hide…um…I know a place,” Percy stammered. “Follow me.”
He stopped himself from grabbing her hand and turned on his heels and led her down the hallway. He painstakingly kept his eyes forward as her scent wafted around him. After three more turns and two flights of stairs, they came to a door. She wondered how he knew his way around like this and planned to ask him about it later. One crisis at a time, she thought. Percy peeked inside to make sure it was empty before leading Zira through it.
Zira quickly made her way inside as Percy closed the door behind them. The room was small but beautiful. The inlaid hardwood floors were layered with intricately designed rugs. The sofa bed, loveseat, and chair surrounded a circular glass coffee table that was decorated with fresh flowers. Two of the four walls had arched windows overlooking a small pond.
Zira walked over to open one of the windows and fresh air swirled around her. It was cool on her skin and gave her momentary relief from her heat. She took a few deep breaths, forgetting about everything that happened before, until she felt Percy moving behind her. She turned towards him and backed away.
“Are you alright,” he asked.
“Yes,” Zira smiled. “I need you to find Isaiah before…”
She tried to get the rest of her words out when it struck again. This time she moaned and nearly fell to the floor. Percy caught her at the same time she screamed at him not to. The moment he touched her, he could feel everything she was feeling. The pain, the feverish temperature, tiredness, and more than anything lust. He took in her emotions and gave them back. Everything they were feeling was tenth-fold. Their eyes connected and, as if by some force, Percy cupped the back of Zira’s neck and pulled her into a kiss.
Her body responded to the kiss before she could fully register it. She was kissing Percy. Zira blinked her eyes a few times before realizing what was happening. She was kissing Percy.
I’m kissing Percy, she thought, and felt a growl ready to release from her throat. The thought of her clawing his throat was interrupted by Nina.
“Then stop kissing him, you fool,” Nina growled. “Isaiah would…”
Nina didn’t have to finish her sentence as a roar as loud as the Alpha King filled the room. They both turned to see Isaiah standing in the doorway. His shirt was torn in a few places with blood streaks in different areas. His gray eyes went from Zira to Percy to Percy’s hands holding Zira.
“You…are…dead,” Devon growled, lunging over the furniture towards Percy.
Percy pushed Zira out of the way to dodge Devon’s attacks. Zira fell to the floor dazed from her heat and Percy’s touch. She watched Percy dodging Devon’s outstretched hands until he backed into one of the boudoirs. Devon took this chance to wrap his claw around Percy’s throat. Percy touched Isaiah’s skin, trying to calm him with his powers, but Devon’s claw held him tighter. Percy could only feel Devon's overwhelming anger.
“Devon! Stop it,” Zira screamed, running to them and placing her hand on his claw. She could see his nails biting into the side of Percy’s neck. Percy’s eyes widened at the realization that Devon was actually going to kill him. His eyes went to Zira, and she saw it too.
“Zira,” Percy choked out.
“You dare speak her name,” Devon growled, pulling Percy forward and slamming him into the boudoir.
“Nina, speak to him. Do something,” Zira begged.
Nina quickly took control. She didn’t really have a solution, but she had to try something. She released her scent and that got Devon’s attention almost immediately. Nina watched him and with labored breaths she walked backwards until she fell onto the sofa bed. She could see him loosening his grip on Percy. She leaned back against the soft pillows, beckoning him to join her.
“Take me,” she whispered.