“Emma?”

“Drake.” Relief poured into her voice. She hadn’t realized just how much she was counting on him to help her. Once she understood, she should be able to manage the intensity of the need burning through her. If this was the way Jake felt all the time, she could understand his need for continual relief.

“Emma, are you all right?” Drake entered the kitchen, took several steps in when the scent hit him hard. He halted abruptly, his fingers curling into tight fists. Deep inside, his leopard leapt and roared, raking at him, clawing deeply in an effort to get out.

“Drake, you have to tell me about what happens to a woman when she goes into heat. Jake started to tell me about it, but I was so certain I didn’t have a leopard. You have to help me.”

He studied her body from across the room, gripping the back of a chair, nearly crushing the wood, clearing his throat before replying, “You need Jake.”

“I know I need Jake. He isn’t here, obviously, so you have to help me. Tell me what to do. I can’t stand this.”

He grit his teeth, fighting down the urge to leap over the table and take her. “None of the men can come in here, Emma, including me. It’s too dangerous. Get the kids down for the night and lock yourself in your room. Don’t let Susan near you. Everyone of the men, leopard or human, is going to be affected by you right now. You have to stay away from them.”

“You’re not helping me.”

“Damn it, Emma. I’m a male whether I can shift or not. I can’t be here.” His nails dug into the kitchen chair.

When she peered around the table at him, her breath caught in her throat. His eyes had gone molten, fixed and staring like that of a predator. His head moved from side to side, but his stare never wavered. His body changed, muscular, compact, so strong. She felt the emptiness pulsing between her thighs as she stared at each breath he took.

Drake backed away from her, almost to the door, as she crawled forward. “I have to get out of here, Emma. Your leopard wants out. She’s in heat and you’re going to feel everything that she feels. It’s intense and difficult, and you’ll need Jake.”

She didn’t want to hear that again. She laid her head on the floor and wept, terrified of being selfish enough to call Jake back in the midst of one of the worst storms of the season. She had to control herself. That was all there was to it. She heard the kitchen door close and she stayed there, right on the floor, as the tide of feeling ebbed, leaving her drained. She slept and dreamt of Jake, of a forest, hot and humid, and the two of them rolling together on the ground, consumed with the need to be as close as possible.

“Emma.” Susan’s voice called to her. A hand touched her shoulder, gently shook her. “Are you sick? Should I call Drake?”

Emma reluctantly opened her eyes, blinking rapidly. The room was dark. Outside, the wind was howling. She could hear the occasional scrape of a tree branch against the house. Her mouth tasted like cotton. Experimentally, she ran her tongue along her teeth.

“Emma.” Susan’s hands were gentle as she tried to help Emma sit up. “You’re burning up. You’re running a temperature.”

The touch on her sensitive skin burned, and Emma forced herself not to pull away. “The flu, maybe, nothing serious.” It felt serious. Her body ached, every joint, every muscle. She took a deep breath and pushed herself to her feet, using the table to help drag herself up.

Susan rushed to the refrigerator to get her a glass of ice-cold water. “The children are ready for bed. I could try to put them down for you, but they’re sort of scared of the storm.”

Emma took a long, cool drink. The water felt good on her throat. The symptoms in her body had eased, leaving her with a sore and achy feeling, but at least she could manage it. “I’ll tuck them in and read them a story. Thanks, Susan.”

As she went up the stairs, she glanced at the windows, wishing she was outside where raw nature was elemental and alive. She felt trapped, caged in. Her skin so tight over her bones she was afraid she’d burst.

Kyle ran to her, throwing his arms around her legs, and Andraya, as usual, followed his lead. Both looked up at her with fear in their eyes.

“It’s just a little storm,” she soothed. “Come on. I’m going to tell you one of my stories of the two magical children. Let’s get in Kyle’s bed.”

She took their hands and led them into his room. They climbed up onto the bed with her. The storm hit full force just as she began the story. Lightning zigzagged across the sky, sizzling and cracking like great whips, lighting up the roiling black clouds. The force of the wind drove the rain against the windows. The children burst into tears, frightened as thunder boomed loudly just overhead, rattling the windows.

Emma pulled Andraya and Kyle into her arms and looked up as Susan came running into Kyle’s room, looking a little shaken as well.

“I want Daddy,” Andraya sobbed.

“He’s at the office, baby,” Emma said, kissing the top of the little girl’s head. “He’ll be home soon.” She hoped he wouldn’t, that he’d have the good sense to ride the storm out safe in his office rather than trying to drive a car in the downpour. She patted Kyle’s bed. “I was just going to tell the kids a story, Susan. Come join us.”

Susan quickly sank on top of the bed, dragging Andraya into her lap and rocking her gently back and forth while Emma rocked Kyle.

“Emma?” Drake’s voice called out. “You okay in there?” She knew he didn’t want to come up the stairs and be close to her. Her leopard was too close, and the heat in her had spread, nearly consuming her. It was all she could do to sit with the children and settle them into bed.