Page 48 of Frenzy
I led him from the room, trying not to look back as we left. It wasn’t just Pryce who was feeling that insatiable pull to her, who struggled to leave her alone. Bonnie had become our heart somehow, and without her, we were merely animated corpses.
When Pryce was at the door, I rushed back and kissed Bonnie softly, but she still didn’t wake. I was the Black Prince—a villain, not the hero—and I couldn’t shake the feeling that I wasn’t the Prince she needed after all.
We pulled into the drive of the house just as Naja and her mates arrived. They’d been collecting the cubs on days Pryce wanted to sit with Bonnie, returning them just as the sun set, happy and content.
Naja climbed out first, a baby strapped to her chest. She gave us both a warm smile. “Hey Court, Pryce.” She frowned slightly. “Any change?”
I shook my head as Pryce extracted the cub from her arms. Both of her Alphas were loitering behind her, barely taking their eyes off her. I took Georgia from Finlo, and he held my eyes for a long time.
I stared him down, my lip curling back, and Naja huffed. “Fin, cut it the fuck out.” She seemed impatient and restless, and I frowned.
“Are you feeling okay?”
Naja waved a hand. “My heat is nearly here and it's making these two hover like boneheads.” She paused. “It means that I won’t be able to look after the cubs for a week or two. These guys won’t let me escape the house for a while, until my heat breaks, and it will be dangerous for you guys to come to the house. Finlo’s parents have offered to babysit the cubs if you need it though. I trust them implicitly, with my life and the lives of my own cubs; I’m confident you can do the same. I’ll text you their numbers.”
“Thank you.” We wouldn’t take them up on their offer because I wouldn’t trust my offspring to strangers, but it was a nice thought. “I appreciate your help over these last few days.”
Naja stepped into my arms, ignoring the warning rumbles from her mates. She may have muttered something about not being a hillbilly, but it was muffled by my chest. “It’s what family do, brother.”
I let myself relax into the hug, just taking the moment to seek comfort without having to give any in return. But just as quickly, I bolstered myself back up and stepped away, looking over her shoulder at Gatlin and Finlo.
“Another doctor is coming from out of town to look at Bonnie.” I held their eyes, letting my Alpha power swirl. Might have been an asshole move considering how on edge they were, but I needed them to know how serious I was. “He’s Lycanthrope. Radic suggested that it might be an issue for you guys.”
The low growl emitting from deep in Gatlin’s chest told me Radic was right. Gatlin stepped forward and hefted Naja into his arms. She looked between us, totally confused.
“The hell? Put me down!”
Yeah, the threat of an old enemy this close to Naja’s heat was going to send them insane, but better they know now rather than stumble into an incident later that might end in bloodshed. “I’d appreciate if you guys controlled yourselves while they’re here, or stay up at your home. Bonnie needs them, and I don’t need your Beasts killing what might be Bonnie’s hope for survival.”
Finlo nodded. “We’ll stay away from town until after the heat.”
They walked back to their ATV, Naja still hefted over Gatlin’s shoulder. “Gatlin, put me down. I have a girls’ lunch to go to and I swear I will kick your ass if you caveman me back home,” Naja protested. She was still chewing him out as they drove away.
I turned back to the house, ushering Pryce inside. Rosa appeared as soon as the door clicked closed, her face drawn into a mask of concern. “How’s Bonnie?”
I shook my head. “No change.”
She reached out and took the cub from my arms. “Here, I’ll feed the babies.”
I looked at the young woman in front of me; it felt like she’d been the squawking baby just yesterday. But the last few days had proven she wasn’t a child anymore. She’d picked up the slack for us all, both here with her siblings and helping over at the Sanctum too, according to Darius.
“You’re a great kid—you know that, right? I appreciate you helping out more than you know.”
She punched me in the arm. “We’re family,” she said, unintentionally echoing Naja’s words. “You literally did the same for me.” She looked over at Pryce, her eyes softening. Pryce looked like hell. “Want me to take Gabe as well?”
Pryce shook his head, looking guilty again. “No, I haven’t spent enough time with them in the last few days. But I’d appreciate the help feeding them and putting them down.”
I kissed Pryce’s cheek as he followed Rosa deeper into the house. I needed a shower and to change out of my suit, and then I would head back down to the infirmary. I dragged myself up the stairs to the top floor, loosening my buttons before I even pushed open the door to my room. I eyed my bed with longing, but even if I did lay down, I knew I wouldn’t sleep. Instead, my head would just run with a million thoughts.
I peeled off my clothes, folding them roughly and hanging them over the back of the armchair.
Resting my head against the tiles of the ensuite as I turned on the shower, I let myself rest just for a second, trying to remember when I felt this out of control.
Finally warm enough, I stepped into the water and let it wash away the day. Let it wash away the worries like it was the blood of my enemies.
A noise outside the shower caught my attention, and I wiped the fog to see Dominic kneeling on the bathmat in the perfect submissive position. My heart leapt and my dick hardened, and then I felt guilty. I grunted as I pushed my dick down, trying to keep it under control. “Not now, Dominic.”
He looked up from his submissive position, his eyes on fire. “Yes, now, Prince. You are so tense you’re about to explode. You need this, and I promise you, none of us would begrudge you a moment of release.” His chin dipped down. “We both need this control right now, Court.”
