61. Clara
Clara
"I'm so excited about the Halloween Party!" Winnie squeals, loud enough that half the café glances over.
I grin. "The guys are starting to set up this week."
"Good. That place is probably a lot to handle. Especially with where you are in your cycle. Pre-heat symptoms must be kicking your ass by now." Rose doesn’t even look up from her phone as she says this. Ironic, considering she’s a beta without a heat, but she’s the one who’s driven me to the heat clinic for my bi-annual cycle.
"Have you talked to them about your heat?" Sunny asks.
My face goes up in flames. I glance around, relieved none of the other diners seem to be leaning in to gossip.
"No. I know I should. It’s only a couple weeks away, but…
I don’t know. We’ve had so much going on with the haunted house, courting, and I only just started to really connect with Victor.
We’re going on our first courting date tomorrow at the festival.
And Bram’s in the middle of a new novel.
It doesn’t feel like the right time to bring it up. "
"When would be a good time? When you’re already in heat and can’t talk?" Rose says dryly.
I stick my tongue out at her.
"Un less you don’t want to spend your heat with them," Winnie says gently. "Considering what happened with Victor, it would be perfectly reasonable. You have to fully trust them."
"I trust them. I love them."
Three pairs of eyes snap to mine, all of them beaming. My cheeks burn hotter. It’s the first time I’ve said it out loud to anyone.
"But it’s just been… a lot,” I say. “The living situation. Figuring out things with Finian."
They’re all still staring at me expectantly.
"I will. I’ll tell them, soon."
They look unconvinced.
" Soon ," I repeat. "My heat always hits a couple of days after Halloween. I’ll bring it up this week."
Sunny opens her mouth to argue, but a customer waves me over for more coffee.
As I spend the rest of the day waitressing and then helping to decorate the house, I can’t help wondering what my first heat with a pack will be like.