40. Zane
40
ZANE
I stand guard outside Aria’s room, every muscle in my body taut with tension. The scent of leather and sandalwood—my own pheromones—mixes with the intoxicating sweetness of Aria’s heat.
A particularly strong wave of Aria’s scent washes over me, and I grip the doorframe, my knuckles turning white. Her heat is intensifying. We’re entering dangerous territory now.
She pushed off her heat for a long time, so this could be days or weeks. There really is no telling. Hell, it’s already been one day, and the event is tonight—an event in our name.
One we won’t be able to make.
“Zane?” Malachi’s voice pulls me from my thoughts. He approaches, his own scent tinged with concern and barely contained desire. “How is she?”
I take a deep breath, forcing myself to focus. “It’s getting stronger. We need to prepare for the peak.”
Malachi nods, his jaw clenched. “I’ll gather the others. We need to discuss our strategy.”
As he walks away, I can’t help but admire his control. It’s why he’s our leader, our rock, but even rocks can crumble under enough pressure.
Minutes later, we’re all gathered in the living room. The air is thick with conflicting pheromones—desire, anxiety, and determination. Quinn paces restlessly, while Dash sits unnaturally still, his usual energy contained like a coiled spring.
“Alright,” I begin, my voice gruff with the effort of maintaining composure. “We need to establish a rotation. Aria needs constant support, but we also need to make sure we’re all getting rest and staying in control.”
Quinn nods, his eyes bright with a mix of concern and excitement. “I’ve prepared more of those specialized energy drinks. They should help us stay alert and… focused.”
“Good thinking,” Malachi praises. “Dash, how are you holding up?”
Dash’s laugh is strained, lacking its usual carefree tone. “I’m hanging in there, boss, but I won’t lie, this is… intense.”
I feel a pang of sympathy for him. As the youngest of us, this must be especially challenging. “We’re all here for each other,” I remind him, surprising myself with the gentleness in my voice. “If anyone needs to tap out at any point, there’s no shame in it.”
“What about the event?” Dash questions with tired eyes.
“I’ll call Willow,” Malachi states. “I’m not leaving Aria.
“Neither am I,” I state.
The others nod in agreement, and I feel a swell of pride in our pack’s unity. We may be struggling, but we’re struggling together.
Suddenly, a cry pierces the air—Aria’s voice, filled with need and pain. She’s awake. Every alpha instinct in my body screams to respond, to rush to her aid, but I force myself to think rationally.
“I’ll go,” I say, my voice tight with the effort of control. “The rest of you should rest.”
It speaks volumes that no one complains. This is our first heat as well, and nothing could have ever prepared me for this.
As I approach Aria’s room, her scent almost becomes overwhelming, a sweet, intoxicating perfume that envelops me, tugging at the very core of my being. I pause at the door, taking a deep breath to steady myself before stepping inside.
The room is bathed in soft, warm light, creating a cocoon-like atmosphere. Aria is curled up on the bed, her body trembling, her cheeks flushed with heat. Her eyes meet mine, filled with a mix of desperation and relief.
“Zane,” she whispers, her voice hoarse with need. “It hurts.”
I cross the room quickly, sitting down on the edge of the bed. Her scent is even stronger here, wrapping around me like a physical touch. I reach out and brush a damp strand of hair away from her forehead. Her skin is hot to the touch, burning with the fever of her heat.
“I know, love,” I murmur, my voice gentle despite the storm raging inside me. “I’m here. We’re all here for you.”
She leans into my touch, her eyes fluttering closed. “I don’t know what to do,” she admits, her voice barely a whisper. “I’ve never… I’ve never felt anything like this,” she says with odd clarity.
“None of us have,” I confess, my thumb tracing circles on her temple. “But we’ll figure it out together.”
Her eyes open, locking onto mine. There’s a moment of silence as understanding passes between us. Then, she reaches up, cupping my cheek. Her touch is electric, sending a jolt of desire coursing through me.
“Zane,” she whines, sliding her hands down her body.
I quickly grab her wrists. “Did I tell you to touch yourself?”
A coy little smile tips her lips before a haze settles over her gaze and her pheromones spike, drawing me in.
I swallow, trying to retain my control, which quickly slips away as I look at this beautiful woman.
“No, Master Zane.” She rolls her hips indecently.
“Such a naughty little omega,” I purr. “Present for me.” I release her.
This is what I want, what I need, and damn myself to hell, but as she moves, that barely restrained control begins to snap thread by thread.
With her breasts resting against the pillows and her ass in the air, I have to close my eyes and breathe through my mouth.
“That’s it, love,” I encourage, my voice a low growl as I open my eyes, tracing the curve of her spine with my gaze. Her scent is a drug, and I feel my control slip further, but I rein it in, determined to give her what she needs.
She looks over her shoulder at me, her eyes glazed with heat and desire. Her hips sway slightly, her body instinctively seeking relief. I reach out, running a hand over her heated skin, feeling the shiver that runs through her at my touch.
“Please, Zane,” she begs, her voice a needy whine that sends a surge of dominance through me. I lean down and press a kiss to the small of her back, tasting the salt of her sweat and the sweetness of her scent.
“Shh, I’ve got you,” I soothe, my hands stroking her sides, hips, and thighs. Each touch draws out a gasp or a moan from her, each sound pushing me closer to the edge, but I hold back, focusing on her needs and desires.
Her heat is a living thing, a tangible force in the room. It wraps around us, demanding satisfaction. I feel my body responding, my own desire pressing against the confines of my jeans, but this isn’t about me. This is about Aria, about her need and pleasure.
I run my hands over her again, this time allowing my thumbs to brush against the insides of her thighs. She shivers, parting her legs in invitation. I accept, trailing my fingers up to the source of her heat, feeling the evidence of her need.
She moans, bucking her hips as I touch her, her body begging for more. I give it to her, my fingers exploring, stroking, and teasing. Her responses guide me, her moans and gasps a language I instinctively understand.
“Zane, please,” she begs again, her voice breaking with need. I can feel her growing desperation, her body trembling with the force of her desire. I press a kiss to her hip, my fingers stilling.
“Not yet, love,” I murmur against her skin. “We have time. Let’s make it good.”
She whines, but I smell the fresh wave of slick her body produces at my words. She wants this, needs this, and I’m going to give it to her. In the meantime, I’m going to make her my meal.
I sit back, my eyes roving over her body. She’s a sight with her flushed skin and trembling body, her hips rocking as she seeks relief. I could watch her like this forever, but right now, I need to touch her.
I lean down again, this time allowing my lips to follow the path my fingers had taken earlier. She gasps, her body tensing as my mouth finds her center, my tongue tasting her desire. Her hands fist in the sheets, her moans filling the room as I explore her.
This isn’t about me , I remind myself again. This is about Aria, and I’m going to make sure she gets exactly what she needs.
I lose myself in her taste, her scent, her sounds. Her body writhes under my touch, her hips bucking against my mouth. I grip her thighs, holding her steady as I delve deeper, my tongue exploring every inch of her. She’s so responsive, reacting to every touch, lick, and kiss. It’s intoxicating.
Her moans grow louder, and her body tenses with the promise of release. I can feel it building, her orgasm just within reach. I focus on her clit, my tongue circling and flicking, my lips sucking gently. Her hands find their way to my hair, and she tugs urgently.
“Zane,” she pants, her voice desperate. “I’m close. So close.”
I growl against her, the vibration sending her spiraling over the edge. Her orgasm crashes through her, her cries of pleasure filling the room. I lap up her release, my own body throbbing with need, but I hold back, focusing on wringing out every last drop of pleasure.
As she comes down from her high, her body relaxing, I press a gentle kiss to her thigh. Her skin is slick with sweat, and her scent is filled with satisfaction. I move up her body, pushing her torso down into the mattress as I rip off my shirt and toss it across the room, followed by my pants. My eyes snap right back to her cunt, where her slick continues to drip out of her.
I lick my lips, still tasting her on my tongue, as I climb on the bed behind her. My finger swipes through her cunt, gathering her slick, which I lick off with my tongue.
“Fucking delicious.” I groan with need and thrust inside her in one quick movement.
Aria cries out, her back arching as I fill her completely. Her inner walls clamp down on me, drawing a groan from deep within my chest. She’s so tight, so hot, and so perfect. I still for a moment, pressing my forehead against her back as I fight for control.
“Zane,” she whimpers, squirming beneath me. “Move, please move.”
I take a deep breath, then another, before I begin to move. Slowly at first, my hips pulling back before thrusting forward, each movement drawing out a gasp from Aria. Her body rocks back to meet mine, her hips syncing with my rhythm.
The room fills with the sound of our bodies coming together, the scent of our combined desire. Her heat is still a palpable force, wrapping around us and urging us on. I feel my control slipping again, my body aching with the need for release, but I hold back, determined to bring her to the brink again before I let go.
I reach around, my fingers finding her swollen clit, sensitive from her earlier orgasm. She jolts as I touch her, her body trembling. I rub gentle circles, my touch featherlight, drawing a whine from her throat.
“You feel so good, love,” I murmur, my voice hoarse with desire. “So tight, so hot. Perfect for me,” I praise her as I press my knot deep inside her, locking in with a quick little pop.
She moans, her body clenching around me. Her hips move faster, urging me deeper. I obey, my thrusts growing harder, faster, matching her pace. My fingers move faster too, pressing harder against her clit.
“Zane,” she gasps, her voice tight with need. “I’m going to… I’m going to come again.”
I growl, feeling her body tightening around me. I press harder against her clit, my thrusts growing erratic as I chase her release. Then, she shatters, her orgasm ripping through her, her cries of pleasure pushing me over the edge.
I come with a roar, my body shuddering with the force of my release. I thrust deep one last time, holding there as I spill into her, her body milking me for all I’m worth. It’s intense, overwhelming, and unlike anything I’ve ever felt before.
As we both come down, I press kisses along her spine, my body still joined with hers. Her scent is sweet with satisfaction, her body relaxed and sated. I gently pull out and collapse onto the bed beside her. She turns to face me, her eyes soft, her smile gentle.
“Thank you, Zane,” she murmurs, tracing patterns on my chest with her fingers.
I capture her hand and press a kiss to her fingertips. “Anything for you, love,” I reply, my voice soft. “Always.”
We lie together for a while, our bodies cooling, but I know this is just a brief respite. Her heat isn’t over yet. There’s more to come, much more, and I’m ready for it. We all are.