Chapter 9 Reina
REINA
Finding a secluded spot had been Jaxon’s idea.
"We need somewhere private for your pre-heats and eventual heat,” he'd said. "Somewhere away from the city. Away from teammates and media and anyone who might notice."
Luca had agreed immediately. "My brother has a place. Up by the lake. He barely uses it in the winter."
"Your brother?" I'd asked.
"Noah. He owns a bar in the city but he bought this cabin a few years ago. Says he needs somewhere to escape." Luca had pulled out his phone. "I'll call him."
Now, three days later, I was standing in the middle of said cabin with my overnight bag in hand, looking around at what would be our sanctuary for the next week.
It was rustic but comfortable. One large main room with a stone fireplace, a small kitchen tucked into one corner, and a bedroom visible through an open door. Big windows looked out over the frozen lake.
And most importantly, it was isolated. The nearest neighbor was a few miles away.
"This is perfect," Jaxon said, dropping his duffel bag on the floor. "Your brother's not going to show up, right?"
"He knows we're here. He won't come by." Luca was already building a fire in the fireplace. "I told him I needed it for the week. He didn't ask questions."
"He's going to figure it out eventually," I said. "When I go into heat. When the scent gets everywhere."
"Noah's good at keeping secrets." Luca struck a match, held it to the kindling. "And he's not going to judge."
I hoped he was right.
My skin was already starting to feel to hot and tight like a rubber- band being stretched to the max. The suppressants had been completely out of my system for three days now, and every hour I could feel my body gearing up for what was coming.
My first unsuppressed heat in twelve years.
And it was going to happen here. With both of them.
The thought was terrifying and thrilling in equal measure.
"You should eat," Luca said, standing up from the fireplace. The flames were catching now, spreading warmth through the cabin. "Before it hits. You'll need your strength."
"I'm not hungry."
"Eat anyway."
Jaxon was already in the kitchen, pulling food out of the bags we'd brought. "Sandwich okay?"
"Fine."
I sat at the small dining table, watched them move around the cabin. Luca adjusting the thermostat, checking the windows. Jaxon making food, filling water bottles.
They were taking care of me and getting preparing for what was coming.
"How long do we have?" Jaxon asked, setting a sandwich in front of me.
"Hours. Maybe less." I could feel the heat building in my core, spreading through my limbs. "It's close."
"Signs?" Luca asked, sitting across from me.
"Fever. Sensitivity. And the scent..." I looked down at my hands. "I can smell myself. It's so strong."
"It's not just strong," Jaxon said, his voice rough. "It's incredible."
Luca made a sound of agreement. "How are you both handling it?" I asked. "The scent. Your instincts."
"Barely," Luca admitted softly. "Every Alpha instinct I have is screaming at me to claim you. Fuck you. Make sure everyone knows you're mine."
"Ours," Jaxon corrected, looking at Luca.
"Ours," Luca agreed.
The word sent heat through me that had nothing to do with my approaching heat.
I forced myself to eat the sandwich even though I had no appetite. Drank water even though my throat felt tight.
They were right. I'd need my strength.
"We should talk about logistics," Luca said. "Before you're too far into it to think clearly."
I frowned. "Logistics?"
"Boundaries. What you need from us. What we need to know."
I set down my sandwich. "I've never had an unsuppressed heat. I don't know what to expect."
"But you know the basics," Jaxon said. "From health class. From research."
"The basics are: I'm going to lose my mind. I'm going to need both of you. And it could last from hours to days."
"Three to five days typically," Luca said. "For a first unsuppressed heat after long-term suppressant use."
I stared at him. "You researched this?"
His ears turned red. "I wanted to be prepared."
Of course he did. Luca Vale, always prepared. Always in control.
"What else did you learn?" Jaxon asked.
"That the first wave will be the worst. Most intense. After that, it comes in cycles. A few hours of need, then a few hours of recovery. Back and forth until it's done."
"And the bonding?" I asked quietly.
Both of them went still.
"That's up to you," Luca said carefully. "When you're ready. If you're ready."
"I want to bond with you. Both of you. That's the whole point of this."
"The point of this," Jaxon said, "is to get you through your heat safely. The bonding... that's permanent, Reina. We need to make sure you're sure."
"I'm sure."
"You say that now. But when you're in the middle of it..."
"I'll still be sure." I looked between them. "I've been sure since I came back to this city. Since I saw you both again. This is what I want."
Luca reached across the table, took my hand. "Okay. Then we'll bond. When the time is right."
A wave of heat rolled through me, strong enough to make me gasp.
"Reina?" Jaxon was at my side immediately.
"I'm okay. Just... it's getting stronger."
"Maybe you should lie down," Luca suggested.
"Not yet. I need to..." I looked around the cabin. "We should make a nest. I'll need a nest."
Understanding crossed both their faces.
"Bedroom?" Jaxon asked.
"No. Here. By the fire."
They moved without question. Jaxon grabbed blankets from the bedroom. Luca pulled cushions off the couch. Together they built a nest in front of the fireplace. Soft and warm and perfect.
I wanted to help but another wave hit and I had to grip the edge of the table.
"Breathe," Luca said, his hand on my back.
I tried. Failed. Everything was too hot, too tight, too much.
"Clothes," I managed. "I need them off."
Jaxon helped me out of my sweater, my jeans. He left me in just underwear and a tank top.
It still wasn’t enough.
"Nest," I said. "Need to be in the nest."
Luca and Jaxon each guided me over with steady hands at each elbow and allowed the blankets to practically swallow me.
It felt like I was in a sea of softness, and soon my muscles started to un-clinch and my heartbeat started to slow.
The fire warmed my skin even further, as Luca and Jaxon’s scents made my eye lids flutter.
This was my space. My nest. My sanctuary.
"What do you need?" Luca asked.
"You. Both of you. In here with me."
They climbed in without hesitation. One on each side. Their scents mixing with mine. Cedar and smoke and ice and cinnamon and lilies.
Perfect.
I turned into Jaxon first because he was closer. Buried my face in his neck, inhaled deeply.
"Pretty Girl," he groaned. "You're killing me."
"Need you."
"I know. But not yet. You're not far enough into it yet."
He was right. As much as my body was screaming for relief, some part of me was still present. Still rational.
That wouldn't last.
"Talk to me," I said. "Both of you. Keep me grounded as long as you can."
"What do you want to talk about?" Luca asked, his hand stroking my hair.
"Anything. Everything. Your lives. What I missed."
So they talked. Took turns telling me about the last twelve years. About being drafted. About the rivalry that developed between them. About the games and the wins and the losses.
About the women they'd dated and couldn't bond with.
About the nights they'd thought about me and wondered where I was.
I listened, soaking in their voices. Letting the sound of them ground me even as the heat built higher.
But eventually the talking stopped making sense. The words blurred together. All I could focus on was their scents, their warmth, the feeling of their hands on my skin.
"Reina?" Luca's voice came from far away. "Are you still with us?"
I tried to answer. Couldn't form words.
The heat was taking over. Rational thought slipping away.
I turned to him, grabbed his face, pulled him down for a kiss that was more desperation than technique.
He kissed back, careful and controlled even as I could feel him shaking with the effort of holding back.
Then Jaxon's hands were on me, turning me toward him. His kiss was different. Rougher. More demanding.
I moaned into his mouth, pressed closer.
"She's going under," Jaxon said against my lips. "Heat's taking her."
"I know." Luca's hands were in my hair. "Reina, sweetheart, can you hear me?"
I managed a nod.
"We've got you. Both of us. We're not going anywhere."
"Need..." The word came out as a whimper.
"We know. Soon. I promise."
But soon wasn't good enough. My body was on fire. Every nerve ending screaming for relief.
I reached for them both, tried to pull them closer.
They came willingly, surrounding me with their warmth and scent and strength.
This was it.
This was the moment I'd been afraid of for twelve years.
And I'd never felt safer.
"Together," I managed to whisper. "All three of us."
"Together," they promised.
Then the last of my rational thought burned away in the heat, and there was nothing left but need.