Page 144 of Traded

Yes. Good.

My skin is burning, and a low whimper breaks through the haze threatening to overwhelm me. The haze that will turn me into a mindless, needy mess with nobody here to help.

Yanking Carter’s comforter off the bed, I drag it into his ensuite and bundle it into his shower, followed by his pillows. His white sheets, so bright against the dark green tiles. Anything that delivers a hit of pepper, of smoke and bonfires, of nights curled up watching flames flicker into the sky.

Crawling into my makeshift nest, I tug his jersey to my nose and curl up, muffling my cries with the thick material.

It’s not him. It’s not enough, not nearly enough. Panting, I bury myself as deeply as I can and form silent words between sobs of pain as my heat drags me under.

Help me.

Please help me.

Chapter forty

Carter

The person who slides into the seat beside mine is the last person I want to spend this flight with. The only exception are the two alphas a few seats down. Jonas and Liam have their heads bent close together, a muttered conversation flying between them that I lean forward to try and hear without success.

“Cart.” Benji stops next to us, offering Lauren a nod before focusing on me. “Where’s Rosie?”

“Sick.” I check my phone screen again, my stomach twisting at the dark screen. “She had a medical yesterday. Her numbers were way off, so she’s on rest. Doctor’s orders.”

“Shit.” He frowns deeply as Ryker shimmies past him with a wink and a hip thrust. Benji ignores him. “You need me to do anything?”

“Can you do anything from here?” I snap, and immediately regret it. My hand lifts to scratch at my neck. “Fuck. Sorry. I’m all over the place. Appreciate the offer.”

“No need. I get it.” Benji taps the back of Lauren’s chair. “You sure this is where you want to be?”

“Do I have a choice?” Fuck me, but I’m winning in the charm stakes today.

It’s so fucking hot in here. I wrestle with the top button of the crisp white shirt Dick insists we wear for game days. We’re going straight from the plane to the arena. Hard and fast, in and out. Vancouver tomorrow, Calgary Thursday, and with the time difference we’ll be back in Blackwater Thursday night.

I’m not going to have time to fucking breathe.

“My ass isn’t that small, Laine. Quit holding’ up the queue.”

Lauren turns to me as Ethan shoves Benji down the plane, the two of them too broad to fit across the aisle. My hand jiggles on the armrest.

The wrong omega is sitting beside me. “No offense, but I’d rather you didn’t sit by me. Rosie’s not here. Feels a little disrespectful.”

“This isn’t my seat.” She points down to where Ness is engrossed in a heated call, her headphones in. “I came to ask if you’re alright. Not with any nefarious intentions.”

I need a fucking dose, but everyone seems to be watching me like I’m the damn Everly Cup final with ten seconds left on the clock. “Fucking fantastic.”

I lean my head back and check my phone again, tossing it down on the table when there’s no message. “She’s not responding to me.”

“Maybe she’s asleep? You did tell her to rest.”

I turn my head to her and raise my eyebrows. “Have youmetRosie?”

Her lips twitch. “You do make a reasonable point.”

Since she’s here... “How are… things?”

Lauren stares, and I gesture in their general direction. “You know.”

“Oh.” She smiles, but it’s a straight line. A polite smile. “Great.”