I start pacing, trying to fit his words into something that makes sense. The shot didn’t work. You’re in heat. Dr. Alaric waits without rushing me, hands folded, like patience is part of his job description.
The door bangs open.
Ryker strides in like he’s bracing for blood. “Is she okay?” His gaze snaps to Alaric, then to me. “Why did Kia say he called the doctor for you? What’s wrong?”
The last word dies on his tongue. The scent hits him like a wall—thick, sudden, undeniable. His pupils flare wide, swallowing the green. His body locks for half a heartbeat, then he drops to his knees as if the floor yanked him down.
“Yes, Alpha,” Dr. Alaric says, voice steady. “Your mate is in heat. I was just explaining that the injection didn’t suppress it.”
My panic finds teeth. I cut in before Ryk
