Kylie fiddled nervously with the leaflets, pens, and free merch on the table in front of her. This was her first convention, and the endless crowds of people made her more nervous than she'd expected. She could do this. She totally could. Barbara was counting on her.

“Hey, look at you, still alive after an hour up here alone?” Her co-worker and their development team leader, Andrew, gave her a soft punch in the arm.

Andrew was decidedly human and normal, and sometimes, she was incredibly jealous of how easily he charmed and flirted with everyone. Kylie was terrified of flirting, fearful of her own kind, though she tried desperately not to show it. As soon as her company benefits kicked in, she'd gotten herself birth control and suppressants and prayed to every god she knew that she was some genetic anomaly, that her heat would never kick in, and she'd just be… dormant for the rest of her life. Her first change had come so late; everyone had assumed, despite her blood tests confirming her heritage, that she didn't have enough blood after all, and it wouldn't happen.

And then she had, at seventeen, waking up with an itch under her skin and a desperate need to run… and she loved it. Her wolf form was sleek, mostly white, with tufts of gray at the ears and a stripe along her back spread out over her flanks, and she was fast. Marlon could yell all he wanted; the grubby old bear could never chase her down.

She had run away from that shithole and never looked back as soon as her secondary certificate was in her hand. She'd gotten odd jobs in tech, fixing private computers and setting up small business networks, until she randomly applied for a scholarship-to-work program offered by Myst Tech. Kylie remembered Barbara Myst from a TED Talk about women in tech, omegas especially, and she thought, why not? Her bloodwork showed it clearly, although she’d never gone through heat.

And before she knew it, she was sitting behind the table at a tech security convention, representing Myst’s newest Spacelock app. This mobile application stores and aggregates all your banking info, coordinating with Google and Apple Pay based on your preset preferences. She and Andrew had spent a year developing it; now, they had to sell it to an increasingly paranoid populace. He gave her an easy grin as a young man stepped up to try out the app on one of their testing tablets.

“Does this work on all Android devices? I only see Samsung tablets here.” He looked at her when he spoke, and Kylie felt giddy pride.

“Yes, everything is available in the EU and North American markets. It depends on your carrier elsewhere, but we're working with the Asian markets.”

“So this will work on my Sony Pryde?” He held up a larger smartphone, and Andrew leaned forward with interest.

“Oh, hey, is that a Pryde Z? I've never seen one,” he watched as the man went to the Play app and typed in Spacelock, a flicker of surprise in his eyes as he saw it was compatible.

“This is a nice interface,” the young man observed. Again, his eyes fell on Kylie. “You designed this?”

“Andrew and I did, yeah.”

“Huh. Nice.”

The visitor left, and Andrew gave her a mischievous wink. Kylie frowned at his teasing.

“What?”

“He was checking you out,” he grinned. Kylie shook her head, laughing. She'd been so nervous that she barely paid attention to his appearance.

“I think you were checking him out,” she teased, fluttering her eyelashes dramatically. “Oh, is that a Pryde? I've never seen one of those before. Please. We're in a technology and communication convention. He knows you're lying.”

“Yeah, and he left when you weren’t interested.” She rolled her eyes but had to admit it was a good thought. That a man had come to their booth to talk because he found her alluring was a completely new idea to her. “It's your turn to take a break if you want. The falafel place is good, and it's right next to the novelty frozen custard stand.”

“Ooh, I think I will take lunch then. Good luck on your own.” She gathered her wallet but left her jacket and purse over her chair. “Don't steal my stuff.”

“You took the good part anyway,” he laughed, gesturing to her wallet. “Bring me a coffee? Iced mocha, extra shot?”

“Ugh, okay, but only if the line at Starbucks isn't down the street.”

She was turning, a black currant-flavored custard in one hand and Andrew's coffee in the other, when he practically mowed her over. Immediately, they were both apologizing, but she took one look at him and realized he was the worse for the wear.

“I'm so sorry - they didn't get the lid on the right - I'll buy you a shirt-” her voice trailed off as his eyes, a piercing liquid brown, found hers, and the most wonderful scent of something woodsy and very masculine rolled over her. Kylie gulped when she realized she had almost closed her eyes in pleasure. What the hell was that about? Was he wearing some expensive cologne? His eyes bored into her as her speech stammered to a halt.

“Don't worry about it. Are you alright?”

He was concerned for her, ready to care for her needs like an alpha should. Kylie felt a blossom of warmth in her belly and had to fight the urge to rub her face against his broad chest. She stopped herself when she realized they were in the middle of a crowded food court, and she was standing as if in a daze, staring at him while coffee and ice cream dripped down their clothes.

“Oh! I… I have a jacket at my booth; I think if I grab some napkins…” she flushed under that intense gaze.

“I’m Thane.”

“Kylie.”

“It's alright, Kylie. I was just about to leave anyway.” He paused, and she could see his nostrils flare. Of course. He was a wolf and definitely an alpha wolf. She idly found herself wondering what he'd look like…

“What the fuck?” She muttered under her breath. Thane tilted his head as he continued to dab napkins at her blouse. Thankfully it was a dark gray, though one of her favorites she hated to see ruined. “I'm sorry, I don't… I don't know a lot of shifters.”

Thane paused, then stood and tossed the soiled napkins in the trash, along with Andrew's destroyed coffee and the crushed ice cream container. He held his hand out to help her up.

“Come on. You’re almost in heat, and there are three alphas in here,” he said quickly.

Kylie felt a shudder flow through her whole body, not all unpleasant. But why did this have to happen here, now? He was right; she had to leave, but what would she tell Barbara? Her boss was a werewolf, too, so hopefully she'd understand, but she'd still be leaving poor Andrew by himself.

“Kylie,” Thane insisted, his hand still extended. “Come with me, just out of the building. I'll give you a ride anywhere, or if you don't trust me, I can call you an Uber. But I won't just leave you alone here.”

She nodded, taking his hand and climbing to her feet. As she stood, his scent washed over her again, and she felt something then, warmth and wetness between her legs.

“Oh, fuck. My stuff - I need my purse and - I have to tell Andrew.”

“Wait in my car. I'll get your things. Which booth is it?”

“Spacelock,” she managed to force out.

“Okay, come with me.”

She could only nod, letting him lead her into the parking lot, where she was instantly sweating even though it was early May with a high in the seventies. He opened the door to some stupidly expensive sports car, and she gingerly arranged herself inside. He leaned over her to put the key in the ignition and start the car so she'd have air conditioning, and her instincts ultimately betrayed her. She moaned at the pleasure of his scent and reached out to catch his wrist, rubbing her face against it like a cat.

“Holy shit. Okay. I'm going to take care of you, alright?” He looked down at her with pupils gone full dark. “Just wait here. I'll be back. Is your co-worker-”

“He's human, but he knows. Sort of.” He knew she was a werewolf. Kylie wasn’t sure what else he knew about shifters or had guessed about her.

“Okay, I'll be back, Kylie.”

“Hurry!”

That sad note couldn't be her voice, could it? She wanted to dig out her phone and start Googling all these feelings and reactions, but it was in her purse. Fuck. His scent was all over the car, surrounding her. Curiously, she glanced around, and her eyes fell on a leather jacket tossed in the back seat. She wasn't in the least bit cold, but that's not what Kylie was after. The coat smelled even more strongly, and she greedily pressed her face into it.

Before she realized it, she had slipped her hand down the waistband of her skirt and panties, fingers easing over the incredibly swollen, wet flesh at the top of her inner folds. She had only done this a few times, though she had a vibrator at home on her bedside table; she had purchased it only at her doctor’s advice when she went to get the suppressants, knowing she couldn't hold it off forever. God, she wished she were home now. She would try out every damn setting.

Where the fuck was Thane? Why was he taking so damn long? She thought of his broad hands and long fingers, how good they would feel on her demanding body. Maybe he would help her; perhaps he would stay? She knew that's how most shifters did it. Find a partner to ride out their heat or rut if they were an alpha. There hadn't been much information on omegas in her government health class, just that they were unusual, highly sought after, and had some weird power to soothe their alpha mates. If they mated, supposedly, they had a stronger sex drive and a more intense heat… honestly, the educator was an elderly woman with missing teeth, and Kylie had been too embarrassed to ask questions.

Later, when her bloodwork returned after she shifted, her caretaker, Mr. Marlon, had just laughed and told her to get used to being knocked up. She had gotten an implant the next day because the last thing she would do was prove Rex Marlon right and end up falling pregnant on accident.

Her hand worked faster, and she closed her eyes, inhaling the strong scent of Thane’s jacket, practically curled beneath it as she imagined it was his hands on her. Little, frantic whining sounds reached her ears; she knew it was her, and she couldn’t make herself care. She wanted Thane to come back and put his hands on her.

The door behind her opened, and his scent hit her, along with the sound of her phone ringing and the sharp lemon-tang of her cat, Bee, on her jacket. Then he got in beside her and cursed. She didn't even have the presence of mind to be ashamed.

“Fuck, Kylie, are you…?”

His hand lifted the jacket, and he groaned, and she whined sharply in response.

“Will you…” She swallowed. She'd never had any touch on her that wasn't wholly platonic, and she didn't know this man at all, but her instincts insisted he was trustworthy, and she was in pain, God damn it… “Will you touch me? Please? I'm sorry… I know it's wrong, but I…”

He grabbed the jacket and pulled it away, then dragged her hand off herself. Wordlessly, he licked her fingers with slow, purposeful movements of his lips and tongue, his eyes never leaving hers. She whined, her other hand grasping desperately at the car seat, and he growled low in his chest.

“Now I’m going to touch you. You can’t touch yourself unless I give you permission. Understood?”

She nodded, watching his eyes as his fingers slid over her in a rough, circular motion, pressing in and teasing out her sweet spot. When his finger brushed over it in just the right way, she convulsed, and it only took a few more strokes before she was crying out and clinging to his arm, trembling with the most wonderful, pure feeling of pleasure.

Slowly she relaxed and opened her eyes to find his beautiful gaze studying her carefully, his hand resting gently over her, cupping her mound firmly.

“Was that enough? Will it get you home?”

Even as she felt her breathing calm and her wits coming back to her, she shook her head. It was too expensive to live in the city proper; like most people, she rented a shared apartment in the suburbs, a good half-hour drive even without traffic. The warmth, the need was already building; she would never make it all the way home. Softly, she made a stifled noise of frustration.

“I don't know what to do, I can't afford a hotel, and I live all the way in Richmond.” Tears started to form in her eyes, and to her utter surprise, he leaned over swiftly and licked them away.

“Shhh… I'll take care of you, just like I promised.”

“But you don't even know me! How can I trust you?” She turned away to look out the window, searching for any woods or a park nearby. “What is it with you, Americans? Do you not believe in gardens? Or woodland countryside?”

He laughed. “Kylie. This is San Francisco. There are parks if you know where to look, but if you're thinking about changing and running away….” His expression darkened. “That's not a good idea. You're in heat, for one, and your wolf form will only strengthen the scent, and two… we’re on an island. How would you get across the bridges?”

She said nothing, just huddled under his jacket in despair. How had her day gone from happily teasing Andrew to this… If there was a worse timing for her first heat to hit finally, she couldn't possibly think of one.

“I won't hurt you, I swear it. Here,” he reached his long arms into the backseat and dug around to find her purse. “My name is Thane Argyle. I’m the head of OVPN. You can Google me while I drive.”

“To where?”

“Well. I can get a hotel room if you want. Or my apartment is not too far. But either way,” his tone turned serious, and he fixed his dark, worried gaze on her. “I assume you don’t have a boyfriend or a friend with benefits, or you'd call him. So I’m not leaving you alone to be shark bait. I'll guard the door if that's all you'll allow, but I will not leave you.”

After a minute of silent Googling, Kylie found several articles under his name, some of which he wrote himself. He was exactly who he said he was, and she had heard of the somewhat risky OVPN project, a resource that provided secured VPNs for free to charitable organizations, including political parties. She didn't particularly like what they were doing, it skirted the edges of what was legal and decent, but that was how American capitalism worked.

“Okay,” she said hoarsely after a few minutes. “Wherever you want, as long as it’s close.”

He momentarily turned his stupid beautiful eyes on her like a hot knife struck her gut. She moaned unconsciously and could sense him tensing and shifting in his seat.

“I’m sorry. I know I’m making you uncomfortable too.” Why did she feel so desperate for him to forgive and reassure her? Why did she even care if he was uncomfortable? He was the one who had bumped into her with his hard fucking chest and broad shoulders and wavy dark hair that she wanted so desperately to touch…

“Don’t worry about me, Kylie.” His hand smoothing her hair over the back of her head was the most natural thing ever. She leaned into his touch, closing her eyes, and he absently caressed her ears, rubbing slowly at the base…

“Shit!” She sat up in embarrassment, willing herself to stop, to be human, to control the mindless beast that whined and begged for release. “I’m sorry, I… I’ve never done that before.”

Thane’s eyes were wide, but he had to focus on driving. He stroked and pet her gently, reassuring her that the primal part of her was safe and that he would take her soon; it would all be alright.

Wait… Take her…?

Suddenly, she felt ill, and thankfully he was turning into an underground, gated parking complex with one of those electronic buttons that he tapped hanging over the visor to let them in. She could hear him, feel him panting, and knew she was breathing heavily too. But for a moment, they sat in the car while he collected himself, turning again to regard her, his eyes catching on hers. Crap. When had her vision switched over?

“You’re an omega….” He reached out wonderingly to cup her face, and she leaned into his touch. “How… You’re too perfect not to have a mate. How old are you?”

“Nineteen. I didn’t have my first change until about two years ago… malnutrition when I was a kid, I guess. This is my first—”

“Your first heat.”

He stared at her blankly for a second, and then he was out of the car and opening her door so fast she barely saw him move. When she tried to stand up, she found her feet couldn’t quite decide how to hold her, her ankles kept twisting from one degree to another, and she whined helplessly.

“I’m going to carry you. Is that okay?”

She nodded, satisfied just to be close to him, and he gathered her in his arms after he collected both their jackets and her purse. Kylie nuzzled her face against his chest, her mouth half open to better taste his scent. The ride from the lobby was hazy, Kylie couldn’t keep her eyesight from switching back and forth, so she had this strange amalgamation of usual colors and furnishings and the same decor in washed-out yellows and blues.

When they reached his floor, she was swollen again, and he fumbled with the keys. It seemed there were only two suites on this floor; the one right across from his had a black doormat with white lettering that said Wipe Your Paws. Kylie giggled at it as he set her down and turned to close the door and apply two deadbolts and a maglock.

“Friends of yours? Across the hall?” She asked. He raised his eyebrows, and she was thrilled to see a smile on his face finally.

“Perry and Victoria - Most of this building is my pack.” He hesitated, watching as she pried off her heels, her toes shifting in and out on the plush carpeting. “Does that make you uncomfortable? They won’t bother you; they wouldn’t dare.”

“No. I mean, I would assume… if you have a pack, you’d want to be close together.” She looked around at the well-furnished apartment, the expensive leather couches and rugs, the wine rack, and the granite countertops in the kitchen. “It must be nice to have… a place to belong.”

“Kylie…”

“Oh, God,” she looked down at his patient, eager eyes. “You’re going to make me say it, aren’t you?”

“Consent is very important, especially during your first time. I don’t want you to wake up Monday feeling like you were coerced into anything.”

She let her head fall back, and her hands, fingernails having shifted unintentionally to claws, found his shoulders and hair and pulled him towards her.

“Touch me, like you did before. And use your tongue if that… If you want to, I think I would like that.”

Quickly, he slipped her skirt up to bunch at her waist, and her underwear disappeared at the jerk of his wrist. He ducked down, pulling her legs over his shoulders, and she yelped in surprise.

“Thane, wait-” she waited for his eyes to find hers, swallowing nervously. “I’ve never… I’m nineteen. I’ve never even kissed anyone. I have no idea, but… God, I want you. I want you so much. And I’m scared.”

The edge of hunger faded from his eyes, replaced by a rush of warm tenderness. He pushed himself up from between her legs and reached for her with one hand, and Kylie leaned forward so he could fold his soft, warm lips over her own.

It was the sweetest, loveliest feeling she could ever remember, and suddenly she wanted more of it; she wanted his mouth all over her, and he diligently complied. His tongue swept into her mouth, teeth nibbling gently, then more firmly on her bottom lip, before he trailed kisses down her jaw, ghosting his lips over the nodes at the base of her jaw and ear. She gasped, practically howling at that gentle touch, and he went on down her body, nipping her neck and pulling open her blouse to drag his warm mouth over her shoulders, between her breasts, down to trace his tongue over her belly button and the edges of her hips.

He drew back to look at her, his eyes searching her face for any trace of hesitance or uncertainty or fear. But Kylie just whined and leaned forward, her hands tugging him back to her.

“Was that okay?”

Kylie nodded, wiggling her hips nearer to him, down to the edge of the couch. She was far more exhilarated than frightened, realizing this could have gone a lot worse. She remembered the alphas at school, all that prideful posturing and graceless demand to be waited upon. Thankfully, by the time her designation was out, she was done with secondary school and working up to her scholarship and fancy foreign tech job.

“Yes, oh, yes. I want more; I’m just… please be gentle, like you have been.”

He leaned down, and she could feel his warm breath on her, and then he was licking her, kissing her with his tongue down there, and her thighs squeezed against him, and she whined, high and loud, panting as each stroke of his tongue grew faster and harder. She had never imagined her body could produce so much fluid down there, and it felt embarrassing, but he just kept licking it up, making the most vulgar noises that were so fucking hot. He groaned against her, the sound vibrating through her body, and it was all she needed to lose herself again.

Before she realized what she was doing, she held him there while her hips moved, thrusts slowly winding down as his tongue dragged every last shiver from her. He lapped her up until she grew oversensitive and gently pushed him away, and he climbed onto the couch next to her and pulled her into his arms.

They lay there still until Kylie shifted, and Thane bit back a groan. Wide-eyed, she turned to face him, her legs falling over his waist, and slipped her hand down to trace the outline of the hardness in his pants. He caught her wrist with slightly more pressure than he had used on her thus far, and a low growl came from his chest.

“Kylie,” he warned. She looked up, her eyes open and concerned, but she let him pull her hand away reluctantly.

“Thane. You took care of me. I want to… Can I hold it? Or put my mouth on you?” He groaned, closing his eyes, and his whole body tensed. “I really… I don’t know what to do, but I want to.”

“Okay.” He opened his eyes, and a shudder of defeat ran through him. He stood up and took her hand. “Come in the bedroom; I have… things.”

She let him guide her, wondering if by things he meant toys, and utterly unsure if she wanted something he used with… with another woman (she felt a fierce growl fill her)... used on her. Of course, she needn’t have worried. He did have toys, it turned out, but they were all still in the packaging. Her eyes barely had a chance to skim the items before he withdrew a bottle of warming lubricant and laid it on the bed. Kylie cast the closing drawer a curious glance, and he caught her gaze and smiled.

“Later,” he promised, voice dark. She remembered his offer to lay in front of the door until her heat passed, and she wondered if this was what he’d had in mind. It was a kind thought, and Kylie appreciated it for what it was, but this was much better. Not that she had any comparisons to make.

Thane was undressing, which only seemed fair given she was standing by his bed in nothing but her lace bra and open blouse. Neither of those items appeared to have much point now, so she took them off while he removed everything but his boxers.

They remained where they were for a second, taking in the view, and then Kylie spied the bottle on his nightstand and grabbed it, climbing onto the bed beside him. This, she understood. She’d never done it with anyone, but she had caught enough banter between her roommates, Seth and Ax, and the intent was pretty obvious anyway.

“You don’t have to do this,” he reminded her.

She frowned at him, leaning down to place clumsy but fervent kisses on his neck, jaw, and shoulder, dragging herself down until she gently slipped her fingers inside the waistband of his underwear and slid them down.

“Jesus Christ.” She stared, wrapping it in her hand to see if it would fit. She could touch her middle finger to her thumb if she squeezed gently. “Okay, well…”

Her eyes finally moved back to him, catching a sort of lopsided smirk and a trace of smugness in his eyes. Kylie just poured some of the lubricant on her hand and wrapped it around him, starting with slow, soft strokes.

“Tell me what to do, Thane,” she whispered, watching the expression of pleasure play over his face while his eyes were closed. “And look at me. I want to see your eyes, please, please? ”

His eyes opened with a smile playing at the corners of his lips. He raised his hand to cover hers, showing her the speed and pressure. She used her other hand to cup his balls, her hands warmed by the lubricant, and he groaned in a way that sent pleasurable tingles down her back, but then his eyes started to close again. She kissed him until he remembered, smiling sweetly as his intense, dark orbs found hers.

“Faster,” he groaned, still looking only at her. His hips raised, thrusting into her hand, and Kylie leaned forward on her knees, watching the pleasure build until his eyes went all glassy and unfocused. “Oh, Fuck, Kylie, Kylie!”

“Yes, say my name,” she encouraged. “Let me please you; let me make you come. Please, Thane, I need to make you happy.”

Her soft begging seemed to light some fire in him; he groaned louder, bucking wildly into her grip, her name rising to a feral howl on his lips. Somehow, she instinctively felt what was coming and wanted to taste it. She ducked her head at the last minute, mouth covering and holding the head while his seed spilled over her tongue, and she swallowed it, sucking up every drop because it belonged to her.

He was panting, stroking her hair and face with both hands, pulling her up to lie beside him. He kissed her forehead, eyes, neck, and then her mouth thoroughly, although she hadn’t expected him to want to taste himself.

“Kylie… Oh, God, Kylie.” He buried his face in her shoulder.

She realized his scent filled the room now, and with his taste on her tongue, she was growing warm again. Sighing, Kylie flopped onto her back and whined impatiently.

“Again?” He murmured, pressing kisses into her neck.

She nodded, sighing in pleasure at his touch. He sat up, and she heard the sound of that drawer opening, packaging crackling, and splintering. He crawled back up with a device resembling a softball on a stick, and Kylie looked at it curiously.

“What’s that do?”

“Hold out your hand, and I’ll show you,” he promised with a knowing smile.

She did, and he switched it on, the ball attachment spinning slowly. He pressed a button low on the stick, alternating through different speeds and pressure, until she hummed and wriggled closer. He brought it down over her wet center, and she yelped, followed by a low, filthy-sounding moan, drawing a laugh from him.

“Oh, you like this, do you?”

“Yes,” she panted. “Can you make it go faster?”

“Hmmm…. I could.” But instead, he gave her a genuinely evil grin and turned it off, laying it aside.

Before she could fully argue, he replaced it with his mouth and tongue, teasing her hard nub free of the surrounding flesh and sucking it into his mouth while he lapped over her lazily. Kylie let her head fall back again, whining and moaning, begging him for something she couldn't quite describe.

All this teasing and stimulating the apex of her sex was lovely, but her body longed for something else; although she’d never felt the need for it before, now she squirmed with unbridled want.

“Thane, put something inside of me. Please, anything… I need… I feel empty.” She looked up into his soft, thoughtful eyes.

“Have you ever - “

“No,” she flushed. “No, I don’t think you understand. Until today, I’ve never even had an orgasm.”

“God, Kylie,” he breathed out against her sensitive flesh, causing her to shudder. “I feel like I’m corrupting you inch by inch.”

“Is that bad?”

He crawled up the bed until he was beside her, then gently rolled until he was on top, and she could feel his girth pressed against her again. He leaned down, kissing, nipping, and tracing the gland behind her jaw with his tongue before biting into her earlobe with enough force to make her gasp. When he whispered in her ear, his voice was different, darker, the careful, gentle man finally giving way to the alpha beneath.

She trembled beneath him, frightened but so unbelievably, undeniably aroused. Her brain was working overtime for some middle ground. For whatever it was, she wanted out of this in the end and found no answers. There was only one need, and it wasn’t just purely physical. Deep down, something inside of her liked this kind, but powerful man, who would protect her and still choke back on his own needs for fear of hurting her. When it came down to it, that was a lot of fucking willpower.

On top of that, he was funny, and she had skimmed his articles enough to want to read more, to know more about him. If she had met him at any other point in her life, she would have been happy to date him, maybe even exclusively, beyond all this biological shifter baggage.

Her eyes stung with tears, but she couldn’t waste this moment. Kylie was always alone; her whole life had been a series of broken friendships and waiting for people who never came back. She raised both hands to frame his face and met his eyes directly.

“I want to go on a date.”

“Yes. I can - we can do that. Of course.”

“Exclusively.”

“Okay,” he nodded. “Anything else?”

“I need to let my job know that I will be off for a few days. It’ll be fine, my boss is a werewolf too, but I’m here on a student work visa. If I leave my job,” she shrugged. “Have you ever seen Sweeny Todd? That song about London? Pretty much sums up my experience with it.”

He laughed, and she pushed back a lock of hair that fell in his face.

“That movie was awful. I’m sure there are some nice parts. Of London, I mean.”

“Maybe, but I don’t fucking care to see them. There’s plenty of other, nicer places in the world to visit.” He nodded, a hint of a smile playing at the edge of his mouth. “Also, I want to be in your pack.”

“What?!”

“Unless you think I’m… Not good enough, or…”

“No, Kylie. You’re incredible; I’d be… We’d be happy to have you; I just… I didn’t think you would… Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Yes. I agree to all of your conditions. Now I need you to answer some questions for me. Don’t be ashamed of anything, but be honest.”

She nodded.

“Is there anything you’re one hundred percent not willing even to try? Bleeding, fisting, being tied up?”

“I don’t… I’m not opposed to any of that on principle. I don’t know for sure. The only thing I can think of is…” she flushed. “Like being pissed on or scat, that’s just… unhealthy. Oh, and my foster father used to punish us by locking us up blindfolded in a closet, so I have this thing where I start to freak out if I can’t see. I have unpredictable panic attacks, but I have pills in my purse in a Tylenol bottle with a red cap.”

“What kind of pills?”

“Umm, it’s a generic for Ativan. It’s like Xanax, but not as strong, but they act really, really quickly.”

“Okay. If you start to panic, let me know. If you’re tied up and can’t get through to me, suddenly finding a wolf instead of a girl in my bed is a pretty good signal.” He smirked, and she laughed. “Never be afraid of that around me, Kylie. It’s part of who we are.”

“I don’t… I don’t want to have sex that way, though.” She hoped he didn’t think she was being judgmental, her wolf form was sacred to her, and it felt like a loss of freedom. But Thane’s expression was dark.

“That’s not something…” he sighed. “I assume you were never told, but that’s a taboo in the shifter community. Some people do it, and if they’re consenting adults in their own homes, then whatever, but generally, it’s frowned upon. Personally, I think it’s disgusting, like a half-step above bestiality, so… Don’t worry about that.”

“Oh… Thank God,” she breathed a sigh of relief. “No, no one ever told me; I thought I was just a prude or something. Is there anything else you need to know?”

“No. Are you  sure this is what you want?”

Kylie swallowed, trying to breathe while her body insisted that talking time was over and time for fucking should have started ten minutes ago. She tried not to think of his massive cock and how it would feel tearing her open or taking her in every way a man can take a woman. Somehow that only made her squirm and leak more fluid, and she reminded herself he had that warming stuff.

“Yes,” she whispered.

Surprisingly, he didn’t try to take her right then. He started gently, with one finger and the lubricant, and gently worked at her with just his first two fingers while he used the wand over her until she came, sobbing and groaning in ecstasy at the feeling of her muscles spasming around his fingers. It was sort of what her body wanted, at least enough to sate her for a few minutes.

“We should break for a minute while you can,” he said, rising from the bed.

Thane got up and offered her a robe, which she accepted despite swimming in it. She followed him into the kitchen, where he offered her a Gatorade from his well-stocked refrigerator while he got his phone and went quietly to another part of the apartment, the room on the opposite side of the living room. She took the opportunity to shoot some texts to Barbara and Andrew and then to Seth. Predictably, it was Seth who responded first.

Seth:

The hell do you mean ‘first heat’?

You’ve never had one?

No. The first change was 17.

Drs think it’s from malnourishment as a kid.

That’s fucked. Okay.

Be careful.

Use protection.

I can send Ax anytime if you need to leave.

I think I’m alright, thanks.

I’m not an imbecile.

I know, sweetie.

Just don’t want to see you used and abused.

There are some bad alphas out there.

No worries. He’s been nothing but kind.

He offered to let me lock myself in and guard the door.

That’s good, but if I don’t hear from you in 24 hours,

I’m sending a search party.

I don’t know how long this will last.

I’ll try to check in again.

Barbara:

Who is he?

Thane Argyle. The OVPN guy.

Oh, Kylie.

He’s actually been kind.

I know he is. He’ll be good to you.

I hate to lose you.

I’m just sleeping with him.

He didn’t offer me a job, and I like where I’m at.

Call me when your time is up.

There are things you need to know.

I’ll check in.

She was frowning down at Barbara’s last message, absently chewing a thumbnail, when Thane returned to the room with a selection of take-out menus.

“I’m going to send Perry for food. Don’t worry; he’ll leave it by the door. I’ve done it enough times for him and Victoria. Just mark what you want, and I’ll drop it through the mail slot.”

“Oh...” She glanced over the various options, then looked up at Thane. “Um. I want some meat... Ahhh, it’s like shifting, isn’t it? The redder, the better?”

“Yeah, it is. I usually get barbecue. The Korean place, or the Texas smokehouse.”

She nodded, handing the menus back.

“Just order double of whatever you’re having. And a pint of midnight dark chocolate and currant gelato from that stupid hipster place by the convention center.”

He flashed her a surprised smile, marking the order and adding the note about the gelato before sticking it halfway out the mail slot of his front door. He paused to send a text, and Kylie lingered uncertainly in the kitchen and back bedroom doorway.

When he looked up, the heat in his eyes caught her breath. Without a word, he stalked towards her, lifting her into his arms and throwing her into his bed.

“Take that robe off, now.”

Wide-eyed, she followed his command, curled up in the center of his bed completely naked, the scene already bringing heat and slickness between her thighs. Thane crawled up and knelt over her, his eyes deep, dark, and possessive. His mouth traveled the expanse of her bare skin with a new urgency, licking her collarbones down to her breasts, where he licked and sucked at each nipple until they grew sore.

By the time he reached to part her legs, she was so wet for him, for the idea of finally having precisely what her body craved fully inside her was almost embarrassing. Would he knot inside her? She didn’t remember exactly how it worked, but she had been on enough forums to see that it was something most found pleasurable. But there was something different about omegas, wasn’t there? The knotting had more significance, something important… But she couldn’t think because his mouth was on her, and then he thrust his tongue inside, the tip dancing against her walls just enough to drive her crazy and make her thrash under him.

“Easy, Kylie.”

“Thane, I want… I want you. To take me.” She flushed but looked him in the eye, hoping he would understand she was being serious.

“I know, sweetheart, but I want to get you a little more ready first. I will try to break you in with my fingers first, and if you bleed, I'll lick it up.” He watched her eyes widen as he explained, and she braced herself when he pushed his fingers in, the first two, deep into the knuckle.

Kylie moaned in pleasure and pain, but the need to be filled soon won out, and he slowly pushed in a third finger, wiggling them around vigorously, and she felt a sudden, sharp stab of pain, crying out before she could stop herself. Thane pulled his fingers out gently, and they could both see her blood, though there wasn’t much of it, thankfully. He caught her eye as he slowly licked every inch of her fluid and blood off before he lapped at what leaked out between her thighs too. She had no idea why this should be so fucking erotic, but it was, and she came again while he was licking at her, moaning his name.

He took the bottle of lubricant in his hand and liberally coated his cock, until it shimmered in the soft bedroom lighting. Slowly, he fit the head against her, and she helped, reaching down to hold herself apart, canting her hips up to make for a better angle.

It still hurt, even though her whole body was practically singing with completion so near at hand, and she whined pitifully, tears breaking off the corners of her eyes. She groaned in relief when he finally pushed the head in, pausing to give her a moment to breathe and readjust.

“More?”

She could tell he was hanging by a thread, his hands on the sheets shifting from fingernails to claws and back. She wondered if he would be able to keep himself stable throughout.

She nodded, and he pushed further, gently cupping her face as he slid in, eased by the lubricant and her gush of arousal at the feel of him finally filling her. Kylie closed her eyes and bit her lip. It was packed and heavy, unlike anything she had expected, but not in a way that felt invasive. She was afraid it would make her feel claustrophobic, having someone's body inside hers, but it soothed that painful, insistent need, and once she moved around so it didn't pinch so much, it was pretty amazing. He grunted when she wrapped her legs and arms around him, drawing his face down to engage his lips in a passionate kiss.

“Good? You’re okay?”

“Yes, yes! God, Thane!” She dug her hands - claws? - into his shoulders. “It hurts, but I love it.”

That seemed to be the right thing to say because he gave a savage groan and pushed into her, penetrating deeper until she felt like there wasn't any more room inside her. One final thrust and he was fully sheathed, and she clamped her arms and thighs down with all her strength to stop him from moving again.

“Wait! Let me… I want to feel this. Just hold still, please.”

“Anything you want, Kylie.” He looked down at her, a hint of pure wonder in his full-dark eyes, one hand stroking her head. “You took all of me so well. You're incredible.”

She closed her eyes and felt herself warming under his praise, leaning into his touch. Gently, she moved her hips, and he let her set a slow, leisurely pace as her body quickly acclimated to him inside her. And, oh, oh, it was exactly what she needed, this complete, thoroughly claimed sensation; she could feel herself growing slicker around him, moving more until her thrusts weren't enough, and she whined for more friction.

“Okay, you can move now. Please move.” She moaned loudly as he did, her hands sliding down to grip his hips and pull him to her. “Do what you said… take me.”

“ Kylie."

He buried his face in her shoulder, teeth clamping down on her neck, and she moaned beneath, clinging to him with all her strength as her body sang and her vision blanked out with the force of her sudden climax. He kept moving through it, thrusting and growling, when he felt her quiver around him. He was truly fucking her now - there was no other word for it - pounding her into the bed with crushing strength so she could do nothing besides hold on, but that was fine; she wanted it; she needed him like this; she just hadn’t understood.

Her eyes fell on his hands beside her face, on his claws digging holes into the bedding, and when she looked up and met his eyes, they were bright gold, and she knew hers were, too. She shuddered beneath him, sobbing and howling with the force of another impossible climax.

“Do you… understand knotting…?” He managed to growl in her ear.

She could only nod; she remembered thinking about it earlier and wished she had taken the chance to look it up. There was something about bonding, his cock would swell and stay inside her for a while, and right now, that sounded like the most amazing thing she'd ever heard of. She didn’t need to know all the details.

“Yes, do it, please,” her brain might not be wholly clued in, but her body was.

She shifted her hips beneath him to get more comfortable, and he growled and slid his arms under her, crushing her against him as he thrust violently once, twice more, and then stilled, panting and holding her tightly as they both came down.

As her mind cleared, she felt him thick and swollen, keeping her stretched open. She let out a contented sigh, her body relaxing, finally feeling that deep aching need soothed. He took a deep, shaking breath against Kylie's neck, gently kissing her face. He tipped her head down to search her face, his eyes anxious, and she leaned forward impulsively to place a mostly chaste kiss on his lips.

“Did I hurt you? Are you alright?”

Kylie tried to push herself up on her elbows but grimaced at the sudden pain where they were still connected, and she realized the significance of the knot.

“Oh! Sorry, I-”

“No, it's okay, you didn't know.” He pulled her against him and rolled over carefully, shifting her on top of him. “Are you okay? I’m sorry, I was too rough-”

“Is this what we do after?” She snuggled herself up, resting her head comfortably on his chest and licking under his chin lightly. “Argue about who’s sorry?”

She thought she felt him tense, but his hand caressing her head was gentle, and his laughter rumbled through his chest.

“No, because you'll lose.” His breath caught suddenly, and she gasped as he swelled and rereleased within her. His arms around her tightened while his cock twitched, and Kylie closed her eyes, reveling in the sated, gently aroused feeling drawn out through her body. It took him a moment to gather himself again, and she raised herself on his chest to regard him with sleepy eyes.

“ That's what they were talking about in health class,” she laughed, though her head felt heavy. “It really does feel… so nice…”

“Are you falling asleep on me? Kylie?”

“Hmm?” His skin was warm against her, and even though his chest was too hard to be a pillow, she still needed to be as close to him as possible. She could feel him talking, the breath moving through his body beneath her, but she was too tired to catch the words.

“Kylie?” He shook her shoulders a little, and she blinked, stifling a yawn. “Are you on any birth control?”

“Yeah. I have an implant, and I got the backup shot last month when I went in to get suppressors. It’s fine.” Another thought struck her, and although it was too late to worry now, she felt she had to ask. “Please tell me you're clean.”

“I have a card in my wallet. I'll get it later.” He kissed the top of her head. “Are you going to sleep?”

“Yeah,” she could barely rouse herself enough to respond.

“Like this?” He sounded halfway amused, and she felt him moving beneath her, trying to roll them to the side. She grabbed a handful of his hair at the nape of his neck, and Thane gave an undignified yelp.

“No. Bad Alpha. You can move me later.” She tried to growl but was faint, so she licked under his chin again in supplication. “I want to fall asleep this way. Please?”

“Whatever-” his voice broke, and he coughed hoarsely. His hands moved over her, soothing strokes across her back and over her hair. “Whatever you want, Kylie.”

She woke up alone, tucked up under the covers with a pillow neatly arranged under her head and a clean T-shirt that smelled like laundry soap and Thane covering her nakedness. Her legs felt surprisingly less sticky and gross than she had expected when she moved. It filled Kylie with affection to know that he had tended to her so diligently, not just putting her to bed, but dressing her and cleaning her up. He had promised to take care of her; she just hadn't expected him to mean it so literally.

Carefully, she rolled onto her back and stretched, assessing the state of her body. A few parts were still sore, and there was some rawness still inside of her, but thankfully her accelerated healing had her mostly recovered. Enough for her heightened arousal to kick in, she noted as she swung her legs off the side of the bed and stood up.

She stretched again, and as the rest of her senses came online, she realized she was absolutely ravenous. She could smell something wonderful (besides Thane) coming from the kitchen. She followed her nose, smiling at the sight that greeted her as she came around the corner.

Thane was leaning against the counter in a lightweight robe, facing away from her with a cup of steaming coffee in one hand and his tablet in the other. He had the staff info from her company's website pulled up, reading the couple of paragraphs under her picture. She wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her head into his shoulder.

“Snooping?” she teased.

“Mmm-Hmm.”

“Find anything good?”

Kylie spotted open takeout containers arranged over the kitchen bar and slipped onto the stool next to him, helping herself to a variety of ribs, pulled pork, and something on a stick that was an unnatural shade of red.

“You won a scholarship,” he looked up at her, his expression demanding a more thorough explanation. Kylie shrugged, chewing and swallowing a delectable bite of whatever the red stuff was.

“I know it's kind of a diversity thing, but I wanted to get out of where I was. When I looked up her TED Talk, I thought Barbara Myst seemed like she'd be an interesting boss.” She glanced around the kitchen for something to drink, and as if sensing her need, he handed her his open Gatorade. She took several gulps, then stopped, feeling guilty.

“You can have it, I'll get another.” He went to the fridge and brought back two more bottles, one of plain water that he set in front of her. “Trust me, you need it. What exactly did you find so interesting about Barbara?”

He picked up another section of Korean ribs and gestured for her to continue while he tore into his own food.

“Well, she's funny, for one thing. There aren't a lot of girls in this business, and it seems like most of them are either really antisocial or try to blend into the background. Barbara has a lot of personality, and she doesn't care what anyone thinks.”

She hesitated. Now wasn't a great time to get into politics. She didn't want to find out he was one of those alpha privilege assholes after they'd spent all night fucking.

“I'm sure it's not a complete shock to you that I support supernatural rights and don't intend to spend my life raising kids just because biology programmed it into my body. Honestly, I think there are enough of us on this planet at the moment anyway. If I was, like, on the endangered list, then maybe I'd be more inclined, but… I'm sorry, I'm rambling.”

Kylie had noticed him put down his food and his tablet, giving her his undivided attention while she babbled on. She felt self-conscious even though he was the only person in the world she'd ever been remotely intimate with.

“I like the way your voice sounds. And I agree about the endangered species. Wolves aren't exactly going extinct anymore.” He sighed, and a look of vulnerability came into his eyes. She dropped her food and laid her hand on his arm without a second thought. Thane’s dark eyes were solemn, and she frowned worriedly. “Kylie, you should know… Barbara Myst is my mother. We're not on good terms. It's kind of… complicated.”

“What? You didn't think to tell me this before?” She was irritated but kept her hand on him, meeting his gaze. “I mean, I guess we really didn't have time to talk, but… Thane, I don't care if you don't get along with your mom. Just because she's a good businesswoman doesn't mean she's a saint. I'm sure you have reasons.”

“I wanted a chance to explain…” he started hesitantly. She nodded at him to go on, and he swallowed. “We don't agree on things politically. Nothing unusual there, I guess, but… There was an incident with my uncle, my mom's twin. They're very close, and she's always been sort of protective of him because he's an omega. But their father, my grandfather, was really awful and got involved in some cloning, gene-altering stuff - really bad, illegal stuff - and well… He tried to use advanced stem cell treatments on my grandmother, and she died. It worked, it's how my mom and Uncle Derrick were conceived, but my grandmother was fae-blooded and they're quite fragile. She died in childbirth, and he had to flee the country.”

“Oh fuck. I knew your mom was involved in some political cloning scam, but I figured she's not running a biotech lab, and the media these days is so unreliable… I didn't know about your grandfather. What happened to him?”

Thane ran a hand through his hair, turning to look at her directly while he spoke. Kylie waited patiently for him to continue, sipping her water.

“Uncle Derrick tracked him down later where he was working for some labs in Russia, and… I don't know exactly what happened. Derrick got captured, and he says my grandfather rigged his own lab to explode so Derrick could escape, but I'm not sure my mom really believed him.” He glanced away, tapping his fingers on the countertop nervously. “Derrick started a company, trying to use my grandfather's research for good, but it's so easy to slip up with that kind of thing, and there were always donors offering a lot of money for a custom-ordered embryo or the right kind of stem cells. Uncle Derrick told me that Dr. Shaw was on the hunt.”

“You’re working for Shaw?”

Of course, she knew the name. Everybody had. For a while, he was on the news every day, it seemed, talking about the advanced human genome, how there was really no reason for "basic" humans to exist at all when a little bit of tinkering could give any embryo the right genes. How all of the endangered species could be saved with a little gene modification. Then somebody at his labs had leaked pages and pages of unethical, illegal experiments TransDNA had done with Shaw’s backing. Kylie looked up, and suddenly it all clicked: his mother being Barbara Myst, the degree in organic chemistry, the internship with Shaw…

"You're Thom McCoy. The one who leaked all the documents." Kylie forced herself to breathe, to think. There was no reason to run now. She knew he was wealthy, he had to be, and well-connected, but this history was… "You put yourself in so much danger, doing that. No wonder you changed your name."

"It was all I could think of to redeem myself. I don't want you to think I'm a hero, Kylie. I did some awful stuff working for that company-" She silenced him with a kiss, plunging her tongue into his mouth to get him to shut up.

"Talk more later," she moved her mouth down to suck on his jaw and neck. He groaned into her ear as she grabbed his hand and dragged it to her insistently throbbing sex. "Fuck me, now."

He shoved the food and his tablet away to make room, then lifted her easily onto the kitchen counter. Kylie moaned with unabashed delight as his fingers rubbed into her, and he muffled her sounds of pleasure with another deep kiss.

"Wet for me again, I see."

"Don't be smug, I'm in heat. You could be a suggestively-shaped cucumber and I'd probably be wet and begging." She loved the way his laughter bubbled deep in his chest, his low voice soft and intimate.

"But, I have something special that I know you want," he murmured in her ear.

She wound her fingers through his hair as he traced his lips and tongue down the edge of her jaw, ghosting over the node of her scent gland before nipping a hard, painful bite on her earlobe. Kylie cried out, surprised at the pain, and felt him soothing over it with his tongue.

"Sorry, I just… you just do something to me. I've never had an omega before."

"No? What's different? What is it about me that makes you lose control?" She wiggled closer, pulling open the belt of his robe to find his bare cock at attention beneath. Greedily, she put both hands on it, drawing him to her while she spread her thighs wide around him.

"God, Kylie… you're so fucking responsive. And I know you don't have the experience, but you're so eager," he growled into her neck as he pushed into her slick entrance, tugging her hips forward until she wrapped her legs around his waist. It hurt, but not as much as the first time, and she whined, scrabbling her nails against the countertop for purchase. She wanted him, all of him, inside of her right now. "God, look at you. Taking my cock like a good girl. My perfect little omega. I could do whatever I wanted and you'd let me."

"Probably, yeah. You promised to take me in every way," she closed her eyes as he gave another hard push, widening her around the soft swell of his knot until he was sheathed completely. The pure, loud moan of delight that spilled from her surprised them both. "Will you do it again? Knot in me?"

"Oh, you liked that, did you?"

She nodded, catching a glint of heat in his eye at her enthusiastic assent. He moved inside her at a gentle, even pace, drawing out soft sighs with each inward thrust. Carefully, Thane's hands gripped under her thighs, squeezing gently.

"Put your arms around my neck and hold on. This is a bad place for it."

She did as he instructed, a surprised yelp escaping her as he lifted her up with his cock still inside her, and she clung to him tightly while he moved them to the couch. Carefully, he lowered himself with her in his lap, and she pushed herself to her knees, wiggling her body to acclimate to the different angle. Her eyes closed, and she leaned her forehead against his shoulder. He was so far in, she felt split open, wide and filled with every inch of his gloriously thick cock.

"You're so deep…"

Kylie closed her eyes, and he was still for a moment, letting her adjust herself, until she felt the need to move again. He let her experiment, rolling her hips, sliding up and down. She decided she liked it best when he stayed in deep, and she could roll her hips to get him to hit that sweet spot inside her that heated her blood all the way to her toes.

"Oh, oh, Thane," she whimpered, rocking over him, needing him to move.

He did, finally, his hands on her hips holding her down as he fucked into her from beneath, and Kylie sobbed as her body spasmed and trembled through a mind-numbing climax. He was louder than she'd ever heard him, his deep grunts and groans resonating within her. He lifted one hand to cup her face, slipping his thumb between her lips. She sucked on it almost absently, rewarded by his wide eyes and pure, lust-heavy groan.

"You're going to suck my cock, Kylie, just like that." He caught her eye again, and she nodded, remembering again his words. "I’m going to take you…" He pulled his thumb from her mouth and dropped it down between them, rubbing her slick, hard nub with a firm touch. "Say yes, Kylie."

"Yes, Thane," she breathed. She tried to ride him, harder, feeling another release building, but his hands on her hips tightened and stilled her.

"Yes, what? What are you going to do for me?"

"I’m going to suck your cock," she promised softly. His grip eased, and he let her take control again, her hips rolling hard and desperate while he worked his thumb on her and nipped and sucked at her neck.

"Yes, you are. Now come for me like a good girl."

His voice was deep and commanding, and she couldn't resist it, her body stiffening suddenly and then trembling while he continued to thrust, fucking her so hard she came again, right after. Her slick moisture coated his cock, so it pumped in and out with no resistance, and she threw her head back and screamed his name as exquisite, pure pleasure flowed over and through her. He finished inside her with her name on his lips, his knot swelling and locking her wide around it, binding them together.

Thane leaned his forehead against hers, his eyes closed and relaxed. Kylie studied his face, the large, angular nose, the smattering of dark freckles and slightly too-large ears. She ran her fingers through his hair lightly and found herself wondering again what his wolf form looked like, if he was as massive and solid as he was as a human.

"Thane?"