“Keep it down. We’re too close to that alpha’s territory.” Diego falls to the ground beside me, rubbing my back. His soft touch doesn’t help matters. It only hurts me more.

I try to pull myself away on my hands and knees, but he stops me. “Please, Diego. It hurts.”

“I know it hurts, and this is hurting you more than most on their first shift. Please hang on. It’ll all be over soon enough.”

Though he says it’ll be over soon, just how long does he mean? It feels like an ...