Page 22 of Fever

A metal cage appears at the end of the rope. Christy unlatches the small gate that’s part of the balcony’s railing and pushes the cart inside the cage. He steps after it, extending a hand.

I gape. “What the hell is that?”

“Elevator. Regha style. Wanna ride?”

“No way.”

“You’ll tire of climbing to the office. Oh!” He lifts a finger. “Congrats on the new job, and good fucking luck to ya, girl.”

“Eeeek.”

“Yeah. Some days, I worship the prince. Most days, I want to clonk him over the head with my shoe. Anyway, your massive and pierced Alpha is probably stuck inside the gate. I haven’t checked, but you can.” He hooks one thumb over his shoulder. “You can’t miss the monstrosity that will eat us all.”

“Actually, I was going to take a walk around the compound.”

Christy shakes his head. “I wouldn’t linger here. Lots of heat-inducing hormones in the hallways. Your pussy might catch fire.”

“You mean I can enter heat?”

“Oh yes. By all means, explore, but don’t linger. And also, while I’m giving away Omega wisdom, don’t get any pack Alpha ideas. I doubt Sotay shares.”

I chew my lip. “I doubt that too.”

“Well, enjoy your stay, Leah. God only knows how long we’ll be here in the first place.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m not at liberty to say. Ciao!” He pulls the rope, and the cage jerks up.

I close the gate behind him and exit the service room, pausing in the hallway for a think. Christy seems to know things around here. I’d be stupid not to listen. Looking around the Omega compound will have to wait when my breasts aren’t heavier than normal and my lower belly isn’t tingling. My heat cycle won’t start for another two weeks, but around Sotay, my body knows no boundaries or schedules.

I walk toward the stairs. A door opens, and the scent of sex and male hits me like a sledgehammer. Liquid pools in my belly, churns. I cover my nose and freeze. Five Alphas exit the room, leaving the door open. They descend the steps. I peer inside the room. Water bottles, sheets, and blankets litter the floor. A made single bed is pushed all the way into the corner. Under the window, a woman about my age sits on a bed of fur and pulls a white sheet over her body. We lock eyes, and she smiles a wicked smile.

“Hey, you new?” she asks.

“Sort of.”

“That Alpha pack was good. Try them sometime.”

Oh my God.“Thank you.” I rush down the steps, through the entry hall where Alphas surround the women, and their laughter follows me outside. I cross the expanse of the grounds and round the mirrored office building, heading for the front door. Again, I freeze.

Hundreds of Alphas stand in the yard, all gathered around the gate. There’s…aggression in the air. I don’t know how I smell it or even how I define it as aggression, but I do. The liquid in my belly drops like a bomb. I press my thighs together. Today, I wore a panty liner and have extras in my back pocket. I’d hate working all day with soaked panties.

A male in a red cape spots me and whistles low. In seconds, four Collectors surround me. They don’t speak or even look at me, content to just stand there. “What’s going on?” I ask.

Nobody answers.

Hesitant, I walk toward the gate. The Alphas part for me and my entourage, who direct me onto a bench where I sit and watch Sotay stand inside the massive milky fog that swirls in place within the gate. His head down, his fingers move over something round in his hand. Prince Raven circles the gate. He’s marching in long angry strides. He emerges from behind the gate again, and I believe the prince is pacing. When he circles the gate for the third time, his fierce glare falls on me. He walks over.

Crap.I stand.

“Leah Jenkins,” he says by way of greeting. “How are you this morning?”

“Fine. How are you?”

“I’m as good as Florida during a hurricane. Your Alpha has been stuck inside the gate all night.”

That explains why he didn’t sleep in the apartment again. “Well, Prince, I was just heading to work. Is there anything I can get you?”

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