Page 65 of Knot Giving Up 2

My pack mates all share the same look. We’re clearly in agreement that it wasn’t Ava. But who then?

When my eyes land on Meggie, it’s clear we’re in trouble. She’s positioned herself on Harrison’s lap, facing out so she can rub her ass on his crotch. The guy is as rigid as a board, about ready to snap.

“Sorry,” Meggie whispers, stopping now that she’s noticed all of us staring at her. “I’m okay. I’m fine. Really. It’s just…”

Ava rolls her eyes and waves her hand through the air. “Seriously, what are you going to do about this?”

“Well, we…” I don’t know how to finish the sentence, because there’s no way we’re going to find an available heat suite at a hotel this last minute in a city overrun with tourists. I was honestly considering just driving around and knotting her in the car. A ridiculous idea since heats can last for days if not well satisfied. Shit, days!

I don’t know how I forgot that we have another match in a little over forty-eight hours. I’ve been so focused on Meggie it’s been hard to think about anything else. We’ve got to get her somewhere safe, take care of this, and hope her fever breaks before the final game. I can’t even think about what we’ll do if it doesn't.

“Get in,” Ava says with an exasperated huff and a shake of her head.

She opens the passenger side door and gets in the car. What the hell is happening?

“I said, get in!” Ava snaps her fingers at the rest of us, still standing around looking confused.

“We don’t have time to deal with whatever this is.” McQuinn crosses his arms and glares at Ava. “If you’re going to turn us in, or you’re planning to have us drive ourselves right to the committee, or join us for her heat—fuck, I have no idea what you’re doing in this car! Get out!”

“Ava.” Our pack alpha finally finds his voice.

“Shut up, all of you,” Ava says. “I’m saving your ass. That’s what I’m doing.” Her eyes soften as they land on Meggie. “You okay with that?”

“You can really help?” Meggie asks.

Ava gives our girl a curt nod.

“Okay, then.” Some determination comes back into Meggie's voice

“Good.” Ava buckles her seat belt and glares at McQuinn. “Unless you want someone else to stumble upon you and learn your little secret, I suggest you get in and drive.”

***

We pass the stone facades and clustered windows of the Parisian townhomes and apartment buildings. But the only ones paying attention to the streets are Ava and McQuinn.

I don’t know how McQuinn is driving right now, considering the haze of pheromones consuming the car. It smells like summer and sex.

I reach for Meggie, needing her closer, but Harrison snaps his teeth at me and pulls Meggie against his chest. His eyes are glossy and unfocused as he buries his nose in her hair. Oh, boy. The guy looks ten seconds away from going into a rut.

“Ava,” Meggie suddenly calls to the woman in the front seat who hasn’t said anything apart from barking directions at McQuinn. “Will it make you uncomfortable if I… I need…”

Tears glisten in my beautiful omega’s eyes and it’s torture, pure torture. I want to give her everything she needs and being stuck in this car, fully clothed, and unable to help her is killing me.

Ava curses under her breath. “Do whatever the fuck you have to do. Believe me when I say my eyes are glued to the road.”

“T-thank you,” Meggie says. For a few more minutes, she stays fairly controlled and lucid. She doesn’t say or do anything more. But it’s clear it’s getting harder. Her eyes are steadily growing glassier. Her breath comes faster and faster as she worries her lip between her teeth.

Without warning, she crumbles in half, grasping her stomach and whimpering. “I can’t… I need… Please, alphas.”

Her head swings from one side to the other, her body shakes, her hips buck and find nothing but air.

Nils puts his hand to her forehead. “She’s burning up.”

“Are you all just gonna sit there like idiots, or are you going to take care of her?” Ava says without looking back.

“Now?” I ask.

“With you right…” McQuinn takes one hand off the wheel to wave it in her direction. I can see his scowl in the rearview mirror.

---