Page 7 of Scrum Heat

“This is anightmare,”I groan. “I’ve fainted twice, I've panted on a physio table, and I told my new boss I wasn’t a hormonal liability while actively sweating through my blazer. Cape or no cape, there’s nowayEvie’s still going to hire me.”

Rory mutters something under his breath that sounds vaguely threatening to my self-esteem, and Jax folds his arms.

“You’re staying.”

“I mean… temporarily, sure,” I say weakly. “I can’t go anywhere until I stop vibrating.”

“No: you’re stayingwith us,” Finn smiles. “Besides, you shouldn’t be on your own right now.”

“I’m not in heat,” I clarify.

Theo snorts. “Sure. That’s why you werepurringon the table.”

“I was not—”

“You were,” Finn confirms. “Little softbrrrsounds. It was adorable, honestly.”

I make a strangled noise and bury my face in my hands. “I am going to self-combust and haunt this training facility out of spite.”

That’s when Evie reappears. “Well,” she says. “It’s settled. The board approved the temporary arrangement.”

I gape. “Wait—I still have the job?”

She raises a brow.

“Frankie. I told you: no one else applied.”

“But—”

“Wait, no, theydidapply, but the other candidate sent a dancing baby GIF and a note that saidgo sports.” She exhales. “Look, we need someone. You’re here, you’re semi-experienced, and you're breathing.Mostly. That qualifies.”

“…Oh.”

Theo claps his hands. “Excellent. I call bunkmate rights!”

“Absolutelynot,” Evie snaps, rounding on him. “I once managed a PR crisis involving a rugby player, a feral heat, and a shattered vending machine. Donottest me.”

Theo pouts. “It was a joke,” he offers.

Evie ignores him and turns to me. “Frankie, so long as you’re happy to go ahead, then we’ll have you start remote next week. Contract, logins, tasks—light load while we get you settled.”

“Okay. Yes,” I nod slowly.“That sounds great. And I’m definitely ready.”

“Perfect,” she nods. “Oh: and FYI, you can’t leave the house until your cycle stabilizes.”

“What? But it’s not a heat!” I insist. “Ialwaystake my suppressants. It’s just… a lot. New place, new people, new pheromones. And, you know: alpha saturation. I’ll adjust.Quickly.”

Evie looks like she’s drafting a risk assessment in her head.

“Well… Until then—you rest. Andyou,” she eyes the four alphas, “follow the plan. No funny business.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Rory mutters.

“I am trusting you on this,” Evie continues, pointing between them. “Do not make me regret it. Andno one,” her gaze sharpens on Theo, “scent-marks.”

Theo raises his hands. “Not even asniff.”

“Good.” Evie softens slightly at me. “I’ll check in tomorrow. Don’t stress.”

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