Page 77 of The Alpha’s Heir

“You’re back… again.” Alec sighed as I stepped into the clearing. My walk had led me to the same place my runs did, and I’d stumbled upon the same faces.

At least this time, Alec wasn’t snarling at me. She, and Coral, and even Alpha Kera sat vigil by the fire outside the cave. Exhaustion hunched their shoulders and slowed their reaction times.

I’d like to say I had great instincts, so that’s how I knew something truly serious was happening, but at this point, it was obvious.

“What’s wrong with Meg?” I asked, feeling drawn to that darkened cave in a way I couldn’t comprehend.

Smile lines softened Beta Coral’s face. “Megaera is in heat.”

Alec and Kera shared a long, pointed look.

I scratched the back of my head, searching for an understanding of that word. Our knowledge of female shifters was limited at best. I knew they carried births like human women, but I assumed heat meant… procreating during certain times of the month.

That made my stomach churn, to think of her in there, with someone else. If it took this long, was she being used? Hurt? Having the time of her life while we waited out here?

Anger had me gritting my teeth.

“Is it supposed to take this long?” My voice sounded cold, even to my own ears.

Coral shook her head. “No. It’s… complicated. She needs help.”

“Then help her,” I snapped, sick at the thought that they’d been here for days when Meg obviously needed something.

“We’ve tried that already.” Alec cocked an eyebrow. “Perhaps you should give it a shot.”

“Enough,” Kera growled softly, causing the hairs on the back of my neck to rise.

“What?” Alec glared at her. “He obviously keeps coming around for a reason.”

“She doesn’t want anyone to know,” Coral whispered. She and Kera stared at Alec.

Meg’s sister glared right back. “Sometimes even fate needs a helping hand.”

I left them to the argument, my feet moving me before I had a chance to think it through. They hadn’t fought my arrival this time, and that was all the invitation I needed to check on Meg.

I convinced myself that it was for the mission. We’d gotten word that we could return to the city, and had to lie to Justus and stall because of whatever was happening in that cave.

But the whimpers coming from inside had my heart racing. Ashamed to say, I imagined the worst. That she’d be pinned under some male wolf and I’d need to save her. Or that she’d scream in my face, telling me to get out.

I caught myself wishing I had a weapon as I took one last look at the women sitting by the fire. They made no move to stop me, and I had to assume they wouldn’t be sending me into an enemy situation.

Or Coral wouldn’t.

I was still on the fence about the other two.

Something between a whimper and a cry came again. I took a deep breath as I pushed open the flap to the cave and stopped short of entering fully.

There, in the low light of a lantern, Meg lay on a bed of furs in what could only be described as a porno image pulled straight from the depths of my darkest dreams.

She sat up at my arrival, hair spilling over her shoulders and caressing the tops of her breasts. Her nipples had hardened into pretty peaks I ached to tease, and her thighs fell open, revealing dark hair glistening with need.

Meg’s skin was flushed and her eyes looked wild. I’d expected to come upon a wolf, but found this feral beauty instead. And I couldn’t help the way my cock hardened painfully.

I forced myself to look away. “They said…”

“Roman.” The way she spoke my name, half prayer, half plea. My eyes shot to her face.

“You shouldn’t be here.” She licked her lips.