Page 14 of The Dancer

His words trail off, and I try to focus on his features. He looks worried and a little sad. But that doesn’t make sense either.

“I need you to focus, Quinn. There are only two ways to do this. I leave, go to a cabin far away from here, and let you ride itout, hoping no other male breaks in to claim you as his own. Or you tell me you want me as your mate, and I help you through this. But if I help you, I will claim you, and you will be bound to me forever.”

“Elias,” I keen. “It hurts.”

“I know, baby. It hurts me too, but I promised I wouldn’t take this choice from you.”

“Please,” I beg, my body thrashing. “I want you, Elias.”

I already decided I wanted to move forward with our mating, I just hadn’t told him yet. I was planning on telling him tonight. My heat is just speeding everything up.

“Are you sure?” His voice is low, and the bright ring of amber is blazing in his gaze.

“I need you.”

I don’t need to tell him twice before he has me wrapped in his arms, pulling me against his chest and pressing his lips against mine. His heat and scent seep into my body, and I finally feel some of the pain ebb away.

Chapter Twelve

Elias

The moment I reached the outskirts of the pack compound, I could smell her arousal in the air. My beast pushes at my skin, wanting to get to our mate before any other male can, but I keep him in check. Barely.

Reaching my house, I see that Waylon and a group of mated males have surrounded my place to keep the rest out. Affection and appreciation for my pack members bloom deep in my chest. They know how much Quinn means to me and that means she is important to them as well. I don’t greet any of them as I stalk through my front door. My entire house is permeated with her scent, and I know she has gone into heat.

My heart breaks for her.

We have been working on getting closer and building the trust I know she so badly needs before she can accept our mating. But now she is in heat, and there are only two options. I let her ride it out in pain while I drag my ass far away from here, or she allows me to help her. But I won’t be able to fuck her without marking and claiming her, and I know she isn’t ready yet.

I follow her scent to where it is the strongest and find her in my bedroom. My knees nearly give out when I see the nest she has constructed from my bedding. This is all I have ever dreamed of since I can remember. I have always wanted to find my mate and give her the world. Now, I have to give her the option to, once more, push me away.

Slowly, I approach her nest, knowing that a female in heat, especially an omega, will likely get violent when disrupted. I call out to her, but all I get in reply is a pained moan. My heartbeat accelerates, and I push further into the bundle of bedding.

She swipes at me with elongated nails when I touch her, and my wolf mewls in my mind, knowing our mate is in pain enough that she tries to harm us.

Holding my hands in the air, I explain her options, keeping myself at bay when all I want to do is hold her and make her pain go away. My soul feels like it is being torn apart, waiting for her to tell me what to do.

“Please,” she begs, her body thrashing. “I want you, Elias.”

These are the words I have wanted to hear since the moment I saw her in Dark Side of the Moon, what feels like a lifetime ago.

“Are you sure?” I ask. My body coiled tightly.

“I need you.”

I have her in my arms in a heartbeat, my lips fused to hers. She melts against my body, and I can feel the heat through the thin fabric of our clothing. Quinn rubs her body against mine, trying to get as close to me as possible and rubbing more of my scent all over her skin.

There are no words between us as I hurriedly undress us both. My arousal is riding me hard, my cock weeping pre-cum, begging to be buried inside her. Her scent has only been amplified by her heat and it is driving me insane. Pulling Quinn’s underwear down her legs, I lose all focus. My animal roars in the recesses of my mind at the slick dripping from her cunt. She is in full heat, her body is prepped to take the cock of an Alpha, hold a knot, and be pumped full of cum.

Instinct takes over, and I flip her on her stomach before pulling her up onto her knees. I don’t hesitate or ask more questions before spearing into her heat.

The bloodcurdling scream that rips from her is the only thing that has me stopping. My mind is telling me there is no way I could have hurt her but the rigidity in her body and thepain radiating off her tell me otherwise.

Chapter Thirteen

Quinn

My mind is at war with itself, and my body is throwing its own opinion into the mix. The pain is excruciating, but so is the pleasure. My body goes rigid with the scream that falls from my lips. Elias freezes behind me.

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