Chapter 10
NAOMI
The next time I woke up, I was soaked in sweat and groaning. The cramps had intensified. I’d never had them this bad. Plus, it felt like it was a hundred degrees in this room. It had to be the reason that I was in so much pain and my skin seemed to be on fire.
God, it’s so hot.
I kicked away all the blankets and groaned loudly. Nothing seemed to help. There was a knock at my door.
"Naomi?" Kira's voice. "You okay in there?"
"Fine," I managed.
"You don't sound fine. You sound like you're dying."
"Not dying. Just," another cramp hit and I curled into a ball. "Fuck!"
The door opened.
"I said I'm fine!"
"Are you in heat?"
I looked up at her. "What? No. I don't go into heat. You know that."
"Naomi. You're burning up. You're sweating through your sheets. You're making sounds like you're in pain. And your scent—" She wrinkled her nose. "Your scent is different. Loud, musky, heady, like you’re summoning every Alpha and Beta in the city to our apartment."
"It's not heat. It's just my period."
"Omegas don't get sick like this."
"Well I'm not in heat." I pulled the blanket over myself even though I was burning up. I kicked it off immediately ready to claw off my skin. "I'd know if I was in heat."
"Would you? You've never had one before. How would you know what it feels like?"
"Get out."
"Naomi…"
"Get out." My voice came out sharper than intended. "Please. I just need to sleep."
Kira looked like she wanted to argue, but she backed toward the door. "Fine. But I'm coming back in a few hours. And if you're worse, we're going to the hospital."
"Whatever. Just leave."
She left, closing the door behind her. I buried my face in the t-shirt and tried to breathe through the pain. This wasn't heat. It couldn't be. I was on blockers. Strong ones. Medical grade. Heat was impossible on these. So what the fuck was wrong with me?
But when I woke again—hours later, the light outside my window fading to dusk.
I found myself doing something I couldn't explain.
Nesting. I'd pulled every pillow from my bed, every blanket from my closet.
Arranged them in a circle around me. Creating barriers, walls, a safe space.
And in the center, right where I'd positioned my head, was that damn t-shirt.
I stared at it, at the nest I'd unconsciously built, and felt panic rising in my chest.
"No," I whispered. "No, no, no."
The door opened.
"Nai—oh fuck." Kira stood in the doorway, taking in the scene. "You're nesting."
"I'm not. I can’t be."
"You're literally in a nest right now."
"I was just… I was just uncomfortable and I wanted…" I blinked back tears, unable to control my thoughts. What was I doing? This can’t be happening to me. Not now…
"Naomi." Her voice was gentle but firm. "You're in a breakthrough heat. And you need help."
"No. No Alphas. I'm not—I won't—Can’t you get me something to knock me out? I can sleep and… and…"
"You're in pain. You've been at this for two days. And it's only going to get worse."
"I can handle it." But even as I said it, another cramp hit, vicious enough to make me cry out.
"No, you can't." Kira's expression was determined. "I'm calling them."
“Them, who?” I asked.
She took a deep breath. “Rowan and Kellan. They’re the only Alphas you’ve ever trusted, and you can’t go through this alone, Nai.”
"Don't you dare!"
"I'm calling them."
"Kira, if you do that, I will never forgive you."
She looked at me and I saw her decision crystallize.
"Then you can hate me when this is over," she said. "But I'm not watching you suffer like this. Plus, at least you’ll be alive to hate me. Without them, you could die. I’m calling the hospital first, and depending on what they say, determines what I do."
She left before I could respond.
I tried to get up, to chase her down, to stop her. But another wave of pain hit and I collapsed back into my nest, whimpering. A second one hit right after knocking me out cold.
The next morning was worse. The cramps had evolved into something constant, throbbing. My skin felt too tight. Every breath was labored. And the need twisted so tightly in my core that I thought I’d explode. I needed to be filled, claimed, knotted.
No. I didn't need that. I didn't need Alphas. I would be fine. I was lying in a puddle of my own sweat, clutching that t-shirt, when Kira came inside.
"Naomi. We need to go."
"Go where?" My voice was hoarse from crying.
"To get you help."
"No. No Alphas. I told you."
"I don't care." She grabbed my arm, trying to pull me up. "You're dying. Do you understand that? Breakthrough heats can kill Omegas. And I'm not letting that happen."
"I'm fine."
"You're weeping in a ball in a nest. You haven't eaten in two days. You can barely speak. You are the opposite of fine."
She was right. I knew she was right. But the thought of submitting to an Alpha, of needing them, of becoming my mother was far worse than dying.
"Please," I whispered. "Don't make me do this."
"I'm sorry." She managed to get me to my feet. "But I'd rather have you alive and angry than dead and forgiving."
She half-carried me to the car, wrapping a blanket around me even though I was burning up.
"Where are we going?" I asked.
But I already knew. I could see the determination in her. The resolve. She was taking me to them. To Kellan and Rowan.
"I hate you," I sobbed.
"I know," Kira said softly. A tear slid down her face, and I realized that this was probably hurting her more than it was hurting me.
"But you'll thank me later."
I bit my tongue to prevent me from saying anything.
That’s when I realized how fucked this situation was for everybody.
I was about to go back on my word for only needing the Alphas for one night.
Kira was suffering because I was. They would be drawn to help me cause it was in their nature whether they wanted to or not.
All because this damn heat had surfaced within me.
I was unleashing everybody’s instincts and there wasn’t a single thing that I could do about it.
The loss of control was humbling and as she got me inside the car and closed the door, I fell apart.
Sobbing so hard that years of trauma surfaced, looking for a way out.
I didn't have the strength to argue or fight. I was doomed and we both knew it.
When Kira got inside, she didn’t say another word. She started the car, blasted the air conditioner, and pulled off. I just closed my eyes and let her take me to the one place I'd sworn I'd never return to.
Back to them.