The room was suffocating.
Noah's scent had shifted again—no longer just thick with heat, but saturated with pure omega dominance. Pheromones spilled from his skin like wildfire, and it hit the others hard.
Max was the first to stumble, jaw tightening as he gritted out, "Shit. I can't… think straight."
Silas backed against the wall, biting into his own knuckles as the scent swirled inside his head. "It's his heat," he growled. "It's—pulling at the bond. It's not normal."
Lucien was deathly still, his throat visibly working as he tried to suppress the primal instinct to claim.
Even Sam, standing close to Noah, looked pale—his body reacting against his will. His hands trembled at his sides. The heat was in his lungs, in his blood.
And Noah?Noah was on the floor now, curled over himself, body trembling, lips parted as soft whimpers escaped.
"I need—" he breathed. "Please. I—can't… I can't hold it anymore."
James stepped forward from the doorway, Oliver lingering worriedly behind him.
"I've seen this before," James said slowly, his voice tight but calm. "With supreme omegas—it's rare, but when it happens, it's dangerous."
"Dangerous?" Lucien rasped, holding onto the back of a chair to steady himself. "We know it's dangerous—look at him!"
"No." James shook his head. "Not just for him. For you. His bond is strong enough to trigger ruts in his alphas—especially if you've already accepted the mate claim emotionally, which you have."
Max's breathing had gone rougher. "Then tell us what to do."
"There's only one solution," James said. "You have to mate. Fully. All of you. Let the bond complete itself."Silas stared at him. "You mean—right now? Tonight?"
James nodded. "The longer you wait, the worse it'll get. If you try to suppress it, you'll all suffer. He'll suffer most."
Sam looked down at Noah, who was now shivering uncontrollably, biting into the pillow to muffle his cries. He looked up again, eyes shining gold, and reached out a trembling hand.
"Sam…" he breathed. "Please. I need you."
Sam felt the crack in his heart split open.
He nodded once.
"All of us," Max said softly. "We do this together."
James gave a grim nod and turned to leave. "I'll inform the parents. End the party. You handle this."
Oliver lingered in the doorway, catching Sam's gaze. His voice was quiet. Worried"Sam… are you okay?"
Sam swallowed hard, gave him a small, fragile smile.
"I will be."
But deep inside, fear twisted.
Because Sam wasn't just afraid of what would happen when he finally let go.
He was afraid of what they'd find out when they touched him—all of him.