Page 34 of My Shy Alpha

“Oh, I’m definitely coming in now,” Amy says. “Can I? I want to make sure the heat isn’t clouding your judgment, and I promised to protect you.”

“Shit,” I whisper, inspiring Noah’s eyebrows to raise. “Fine,” I shout. “But just give me a second to–”

By the time I pinch the thin sheets beyond Noah’s muscular thighs, Amy arrives.

She stops in the doorway, squeezing her eyes shut. “Oh, Goddess, Alpha, I never expected to see your ass this close in my lifetime. I mean, I knew what I was getting into today, but–” She gasps, studying us closer. “Wait, why aren’t you separating? You look done to me.”

I shrink, and Noah hugs me tighter.

“Leave, Amy. We just settled her heat.”

Amy’s protective scent makes Noah’s chest puff against my back in defense, and I cower into him.

She storms across the room with a scowl. “Noah Greenfield! I don’t care if you’re my Alpha. You did not knot my best friend five seconds after meeting her! Bro, you probably blasted that condom. What if she’s pregnant now?! Fuck, I should’ve been here to help–”

As Amy approaches, instincts well inside me, spilling out before I can register them.

I catch Amy’s hand before she urges Noah off me, giving her a rough growl. “Stay away from my mate!”

Amy jerks back. “Holy shit, okay, okay! Sorry!”

“Hey, it’s okay. We’re okay.” Noah licks my neck, each caress loosening my tense shoulders until I expose my full jugular to him. A flash of heat explodes through my chest.

But I whine as Noah exits me, surprised by his sudden absence.

Noah clears his throat. “Thanks, Amy. You helped turn me completely off.”

Amy laughs. “It’s my job, after all.”

My whines warp into cries; panic washes over my wolf now that I’m not fused to Noah. I cling to him, trying to hold on, but Noah is so strong that he easily sits back.

“Hey, I’m still here.” Noah positions me on my back to face him. He hovers over me as I quiver through a wave of sadness.

“No, I– I was liking that, and now I–” I can’t speak through hiccupping tears.

Noah’s expression warps with mine. “Oh, you look so sad... I’ll go back to holding you, I promise. Just give me a second to clean up.”

I fall silent, wide-eyed as Noah pulls off his condom. The tip is full.

To my surprise, my heart sinks; it hasn’t broken like my wolf hoped.

I groan, curling over in bed as my abdomen cramps with a heavy, dull ache. I expect the pain to stabilize like period cramps, but as my cheeks flush with heat, it only worsens.

“What’s wrong?”

“Noah, you didn’t get me pregnant.”

His brows arch. “I told you I can’t, sweet Omega. Is your heat coming back?”

“It hurts...”

Amy bites her nails. “Another reason why I wanted to be here to help mediate. This is going to be a challenging topic for her to let go of, Alpha. It might prolong her heat.”

I let out a heavy sob, unable to agree with Amy aloud no matter how true it is. I’ve always wanted a baby, but I’ve been so afraid I’d never find a partner I’d feel safe to raise children with after being hurt so many times. Amy and I even discussed a plan for me to carry a child alone with her and Kira’s caregiving support. But Noah arrived, and so has my wolf. Now that I’m not censoring her, there’s nothing she craves more than to finally carry a child.

Noah nuzzles me with soft whines, lying flat against my chest. The pain softens with the pressure of his warm body, but I need more.

I frantically rub my nose against Noah’s scent gland, hoping to entice him to stay huddled into me.

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