Chapter Thirteen

Chasten

In my dreams, Kirk danced naked on the kitchen table while I threw fruits and nuts at him. I couldn't find my wallet and made do with whatever finger food snacks my friends packed away inside the baskets they dropped off every day since I gave Treg a head's up that I was in heat.

I woke with a start to the smell of eggs and bacon sizzling throughout the house. My wolf barked inside his inner sanctum startling me. It was time to eat – right now! My wolf buzzed with gnawing hunger and that fuzzy feeling that came along whenever my blood sugar dropped too low. It wasn't quite to the ‘swooning zone' but it was Frost-damned close to it. I pawed my way out of my oh-so-comfy blanket burrito and grabbed one of the mini candy bars Kirk had tucked away inside the nightstand drawers on either side of the bed. I inhaled it on the way to the bathroom to empty my bladder and wash the sticky scent of heat from my pores and hair.

While the feverish side effects of heat had mostly receded, I didn't risk a hot shower. I hated being too hot under the most boring circumstances and heat had offered me enough overpowering warmth to last a lifetime. So, a lukewarm shower it was. In the bedroom, my phone chimed a couple of times.

"Is that you, Kirky?" I asked, trying out the nickname I'd only muttered while romping up until now.

"On the link? Yep. Only me," he teased.

"Did you text me?" I asked, sudsing up my hair.

"Uh, no," he said. "I'm cooking. It's probably Treg or Grina again."

"Are they okay?" I asked.

"I haven't read your texts, mate. I'm not that sort of nosey."

I hurried my shower up and dried off. I sniffed myself in several places. I still smelled like heat. I'd need another shower soon, but hopefully the worst of it had passed. Sex and romping were only fun so many times in a row.

"It will be worth it if our alpha put pups in our bellies," my wolf yawned, rolling onto his back inside his inner sanctum.

I blushed at the thought of myself with a big pregnant belly as I stepped into clean pajama pants and headed into the bedroom to check my texts. A few were from potential clients inquiring if I was taking commissions again yet but most of them were from Grina and Treg. Treg's were mostly practical – notices of when they dropped off the baskets or asking if I had any special requests. Once they asked if I needed pregnancy tests. I wondered if they left some in one of the baskets even though I hadn't responded to them.

Grina's were mostly because she was bored or worried. She'd always been that way, more worried about everyone else than herself. I loved her to pieces, but all her worries were going to send her through her death door younger than she needed to be. The last couple were from her, of course. She was never the sort who understood that sending one long text was just as good as sending a dozen or more short ones.

GRINA: I DID IT!

GRINA: It finally HAPPENED!

GRINA: At one of my shoots – a late night shoot

GRINA: I've met her!

GRINA: My true-mate!! 3

GRINA: Oh my Juda and Frost romping in a ball pit!

GRINA: Are you fucking right now?

GRINA: Just realized you probably are since you're in heat! Shit! Sorry!

GRINA: Love you!

GRINA: I still want to know what happened!

A smile pulled at the corners of my lips. I couldn't stop it! Two of us meeting our other halves so close together felt like a mini miracle! Okay, maybe not so mini.

"Shit! Treg!" I swore aloud.

They were on again/off again with Grina for as long as I could remember. Had she told them yet? How were they taking it? I shot Grina a quick text first.

ME: CONGRATS!

Then I sent a whole line of party blower emojis before asking the big question.

ME: Have you told them yet?

GRINA: Who? Her? Abby? Yes, I've told her she's my mate! She smelled me too you silly Frost damned goose.

She followed the text up with a line of laughing face emojis.

ME: No! Have you told Treg?

GRINA: When? I just told you! It's not like we're together anymore!

ME: Congrats! I'm going to check on them so you don't have to worry about it.

GRINA: You worry too much!

ME: And you're one to talk!

GRINA: I'm only letting you by with that comment because I'm about to get my pussy eaten again! Just so you know!

ME: TMI

GRINA: Is it?

GRINA: You've told me worse!

ME: Fair. Have fun getting your twat licked.

GRINA: I plan to!