Page 7 of Sweet Omega
“You have nothing to worry about,” Luci said, nudging him out of his thoughts. “If you’re anything like me, you’ll have the best time of your life.” He paused, then added with a sly smile, “Although…”
“What?” Ludiin asked warily.
“I spent my first heat with an alpha,” Luci said.
Ludiin’s lips parted in shock. “You did? Wait. Did Dad know?”
Luci recoiled, eyes wide with mock horror. “Are you insane? Of course not. If he’d found out, he would’ve chained me to my bed like a prisoner. I snuck out and handled it myself.” He tilted his head, a playful glint in his eye. “Do you want me to find one for you?”
Ludiin’s eyes widened. He shook his head quickly, almost panicked. Just the thought sent a ripple of nerves down his spine. He wasn’t ready for that. Not even close. He could barelymake eye contact with them. Having sex with one would be a disaster.
Machines he understood, people were…Ludiin shook his head.
“I’m sure I’ll be fine,” he said quietly.
“You will be,” Luci assured him, patting his arm before rising to his feet. “And if anything goes wrong, connect with me, and I’ll come back. But only if something is wrong, Ludiin.”
“Can something go wrong?” Ludiin asked, his voice tight. Luci’s gaze lingered on him for a moment before he gave a quick shake of his head.
“No.”
“Then why would you say that?” Ludiin snapped, his voice pitching higher.
Luci rubbed the back of his neck, a sheepish grin tugging at his mouth. “Uhh… you’re so wound up it’s making me jittery too. And now I’m blurting out dumb shit. Stop stressing.”
“Okay,” Ludiin said, wiping his clammy hands on his thighs.
There was nothing to worry about.
He’d done the research, read every medical journal available on the subject. He knew the biology. And in the rare, near-impossible case that he did need an alpha…Ludiin slammed the door shut on that thought before it could take shape. He didn’t want to think about being vulnerable like that. Not now. Not ever.
No. He was going to be fine.
“I should get going,” Luci said, crossing to the door. “Have fun.”
“Okay,” he murmured, watching Luci walking out the door. The soft click of the latch sounded louder than it should have, intensifying the nervous energy inside him. He took in a shaky breath, arms curling tightly around himself as he drew his knees to his chest.
“I’m going to be fine,” he whispered as he counted the seconds, waiting for the fire to take hold. For the change. For something. But two hours later, all he felt was a faint tingling at the base of his spine and a prickling sensitivity crawling across his skin.
Restless, he got to his feet and began to pace. That intense nervous energy surged, stronger now, impossible to ignore. It clawed its way up his throat.
This was it. It was starting.
His heart pounded wildly, breath coming in short, shallow gasps.
Just relax. Just breathe. It’s fine. It’s going to be fine.
But the longer he paced, the hotter his skin burned like he was in a fucking inferno. He yanked the tie from his hair, gasping as the sudden looseness felt like too much. His fingers trembled. Sweat beaded at his temples.
And then—
“Fuck!” Ludiin cried, knees buckling as a tidal wave of need crashed through him. He collapsed, palms flat against the floor, chest heaving.
It was more intense than he’d imagined. Overwhelming. Terrifying. But he was still okay. He had to be.
Dragging himself to the bed, he curled up on top of it, the sheets too rough, the air too thick.
“It’s going to be fine,” he whispered, again and again, as if the words alone could calm the fire burning inside him.
