?

　　“What is that sweet scent…? Is that coming from you?” Cassian asked hesitantly but his grip around me had yet to loosen.

　　“Please let go…” I struggled to even say, tugging my hand with whatever strength I could fathom.?

　　Cassian’s alpha scent was driving me to the brink of madness as I could feel my body start to tremble before him. I was so preoccupied with thinking about how I was going to get away from Cassian that I had not realised that my heat arrived earlier than expected.

　　“Is this…” he started before realisation caused him to recoil from me. He backed away significantly, acting as though I had the plague.

　　I was grateful that he did so, as I took backwards steps until the back of my legs bumped into the couch. I flopped down, hand clutching onto my dress as I struggled to breathe properly. “It’s my heat.” I told him between heavy pants.

　　“Shit.” He muttered, covering his nose and mouth with his hand. “I thought you were monitoring your cycle?” he sighed as he started to look around the room, probably more alert now to look for another way out.

　　“I am… But it would seem that it came early.” I exhaled, pressing my back against the couch, silently hoping that I could just melt into the furniture instead of going through this all over again. My first heat lasted nearly half a day even with the suppressants to help me calm down but now I did not have any access to the suppressants and worst of all—there is an alpha in the same room.

　　“How is that even possible?” Cassian was starting to breathe in heavily now, matching my desperate pants. He had backed away so much that he had his back pressed against the door. “They weren’t exaggerating when they said an omega in heat is more dangerous than a blade on the throat to an alpha.” He muttered to himself.

　　I wanted to laugh at that silly saying but it was taking all my strength to even keep myself seated upright. It was getting unbearable, the pain and heat spreading over my body. Tears pricked in the corner of my eyes as I attempted to resist moving towards Cassian. I knew that the longer we were locked in this room, the more likely Cassian’s alpha would take over.

　　Cassian slumped down until he was seated on the ground. “Hey? You alright?” he called out as though he was in great condition.

　　Even from this distance, I could see the thin coat of sweat that had appeared on his forehead and the appearance of the noticeable tent forming in his trousers.?

　　“Please … Could you stay quiet?”

　　Cassian let out a choked laugh and for a second I thought he was going to do as I said. “This is my first time experiencing an omega’s heat.” Cassian said suddenly, voice growing hoarse. I wanted to tell him to be quiet again but all I could do was stare at him as he continued to talk. “It’s also my first time witnessing someone else’s assassination attempt happen right before my eyes.”

　　I started to wonder if he was speaking in an attempt to distract himself. I then thought that it might work, since I was more focused on his words then on the condition of my body. “And yet you were so calm and collected as you took me away from the chaos.” I said, throat hurting just to speak at a controlled volume.

　　“I said it was my first time seeing it happen to someone else. I’ve dealt with a few myself.”

　　I wanted to ask him why they would target a duke but instead, I felt myself sliding to the side as I could not hold myself in a seated position any longer. I laid on the couch, breathing heavily and vision blurry due to the tears feeling in my eyes.

　　“Cordelia? Hey, say something.”” he called out and just listening to his voice say my name made my core knot up.

　　“Cassian…” I uttered in a complete trance. I was not sure if he had heard me and I knew some part of me, the sensible one was hoping he had not. But unfortunately for me, I could hear Cassian standing up from his spot. A second later I could see him approaching me. I shifted from the couch, wanting to stand away and move away as the further I was from him the less of my scent would reach him but it was too late when Cassian nudged me onto my back and hovered above me.

　　The gaze he had on me was something I had never seen before. So full of desire and desperation as his beautiful eyes appeared dilated the moment his gaze met mine. His hands were on my shoulders, pinning me down onto the couch, knees pressed on either side of my thighs. Even if I wanted to run from him, I knew I lacked the strength to push him off me in this state.

　　“Don’t,” I begged when his hand trailed down to my legs, hiking up my dress until I could feel his gloved hands on my bare skin. I tried to squirm away but he merely pressed harder onto my shoulder, dangerously close to my wounded arm. “Cassian—!” I cried as he lowered his body over me.

　　It was as though the Cassian from a minute ago had completely vanished, now taken over by his alpha, by his desire to mate with an omega in heat. His face inched closer to mine and I moved my head to the side to avoid him from kissing me, only to regret my decision instantly when his lips were pressed onto my neck.

　　“Please… don’t!” I cried, afraid that he was going to mark me.

　　“Cordelia…” he sighed out my name, his breath warm against my neck. “So sweet, so intoxicatingly…sweet.” He muttered as he inhaled my scent. This mere action sent shivers down my spine, a strange yet pleasant feeling.

　　“Cassian, get a hold of yourself…” I pleaded but I knew my body was reacting differently as I shuddered under his touch, his hand getting closer to my groin. His fingers brushed my inner thighs as he pushed my legs slightly. My body was anticipating his touch while my mind was screaming, not wanting to experience my first time like this when we were both not in our right minds.

　　He then pulled himself away from my neck and for a moment I wanted to feel relief that he was coming to his senses. I turned my head to look up at him only for Cassian to take this opportunity to smash his lips against my own. His tongue slid into my parted lips, hungrily tasting every corner of my mouth while his hand had a firm grip on my thigh, spreading my legs wider until he shifted to position himself between them.

　　I choked when I felt his bulge pressed against my core, feeling how hard his erection was from me, for my omega. I soon found myself melting under his kiss, melting under his touch that I could not think straight anymore. I desperately wanted to feel him inside me, knowing that he would be able to get rid of this pain I was feeling, the burning sensation of my heat that was causing me to lose my mind.

　　Cassian broke our kiss, a string of saliva connecting our lips before snapping when he opened his mouth. “You are driving me insane, Cordelia.” He growled, voice going straight to my core before I came to a realisation as to what he meant.

　　I was moving my hips on my own, pushing myself up against his erection in such an obscene manner. I opened my mouth, hoping that I would say something, anything to stop both of us from continuing. The fear of the consequences of the both of us sleeping together was enough to snap me out of whatever trance I was in. I forcefully squirmed out of his hold, even when his finger dug deep into my shoulder to hold me still.

　　I cried out as my wound arm began to throb but did whatever I could to push him away from me. He recoiled back from my sudden attack and I rolled off the couch, desperately looking around for a place to go, to hide away from Cassian now that he was completely engulfed by his alpha.

　　I struggled to get to my feet due to the weight of my heat dragging me down, making my body weak and my mind dizzy. Cassian was quick to use that at his advantage, grabbing me harshly and slamming my body against the edge of the couch, he repositioned himself in front of me as he used his body to cage me in. He grabbed onto my chin roughly.

　　“Don’t run away from me, Cordelia.” He snapped, strong fingers digging into my flesh as a silent scream left my lips. He forcefully pushed my face to the side as he bared his teeth, revealing his fangs.

　　“Don’t—!” I begged, knowing what he was trying to do but my plea fell onto deaf ears as Cassian inched closer to my neck. He was going to mark me.