The mash of chest against chest was suffocating—two sets of boobs didn't fit well together when slick with sweat. Thea came out of her heat with the sudden clarity of a drunk the morning after, when facing the fact that they were about to do the "walk of shame". Not that a heat took her mind so far away as being drunk would, but that this chain that weighed her down ever since she was old enough to find her mate screamed that her choice of partner through the hell week was against the very nature that put her in the predicament in the first place. A heat ensured the survival of werekind, and same-sex relief didn't wholly soothe the itch. Even worse, it came with the hormonal grief that a heat spent in the arms of a female lover couldn't produce a child. Not that Thea wanted children right at the moment, but babymaking hormones don't care one whit about her intentions. It would take time to set that grief aside.

        Thea's mind was always a swirl of turmoil at moments like this. The thought she tried to keep firmly in focus on was her gratefulness for Pandora's help in her time of need. She was grateful—she even loved this woman more than anyone, save her father. No, never with enough desire to ever be more than friends with desperately needed benefits, but still. This woman saved her from a seasonal hell—all the doubts about orientation and desire could go screw themselves into oblivion, for the moment. She kissed her friend's forehead, making peace with herself, not wanting to get up for the day.

        "We need to get dressed, love." Pandora's voice was hoarse—not surprising, given what they had been doing. "That Alpha from Killridge is supposed to be in, some time today."

        Thea groaned in frustration, "We really had a full 5 days at it, this time?"

        "Your heats are growing stronger—fully expected of a self-ranking female." Pandora smiled, sadly before speaking again. "Who knows, maybe this Alpha will be the one to put you out of your misery."

         Thea chuckled as she pulled them both out the bed. "I highly doubt that I will be that lucky."
With that, they took a shower together. It was not sexual, although plenty of care was given in this more functional moment. They both knew the damage they did to each other over their time together—knotted muscles from strain, joints that were slightly out of place for much the same reasons. Neither one of them intended to limp to the meeting. That would give away too much of what went on between them. And given that Pandora's dumbass mate would be there, and the rules against Thea fighting for a higher title prevented her from killing the pack's Beta over his stupidity, it was best to keep what went on between them as quiet as possible. Not that the young woman thought he had a chance against her, but more that even after all this time, her friend was ready to settle down and have children. This wasn't the way to free Pandora from James' control.

         Child, you have less than half an hour to get to the front door. Alpha Jaekel is at the border, and your Luna is giving birth at the moment. We need those of rank and the personal Omegas at the door, to compensate for the Alpha couple not being able to attend to him.

         Her father's mindlink was abrupt—as usual—but Thea was grateful for it. Not that she wasted time in responding. The old man didn't like useless conversation that could be answered best with direct obedience. All Omegas not attending to the Luna are to go to the foyer, and be presentable. You have fifteen minutes. Father—and etiquette—demanded that female leaders command the low-ranking housestaff. Just like she would be in trouble for mindlinking a warrior not directly tasked with her safety instead of running her request through either her father, the Beta or the Alpha, especially as an unmated female. All the barriers that were kept in place to keep a female of rank from being randomly claimed by males that weren't worthy of them made Thea laugh. Not that she didn't agree with them, in part, but the idea that any of them really stood a chance of forcing a claim on her was entertaining. She never let her guard down to be claimed in such a manner—not since she became grown enough to be at risk of such a claim.
Both women dressed rapidly—Thea managed to get a window open before they rushed out the room. It wouldn't do for the whole thing to stink that severely of the past 5 days. Pandora gave a spurt of deodorizer to the room as they walked out.

         As was befitting a Personal Omega, Pandora dressed as Thea dictated—and Thea hated the maid's outfits with a passion, finding them to be too kink-sensitive, inviting males to chase around these women like pieces of flesh. The Luna wasn't fond of it, either, so hers were dressed in normal clothing, as well, but many of the Omegas that were already backing the Beta and her father were not so lucky—although at least the skirts had an extra foot of length added to them once the Luna took over. That and the Alpha's favorite was beheaded in front of him by his mate. Complicated drama that had no business happening in the first place, but Thea had concluded to herself years ago that many Alphas weren't all that bright. At least their own was pretty decent, in spite of him being frustrating to serve.

         It was under these musings that the entrance slammed open, interrupting Thea's train of thought. Her eyes were captured in the flurry of movement in front of her, as this new Alpha stormed in. Vaguely, she could hear Beta Tollsund mumbling the formalities such a meeting required, but it was all lost in eye contact with a veritable God. Mate.

         Of course, what happened next was too predictable for words. Alpha Jaekel ignored the mate bond, took offense at not being met by their own Alpha or his mate's existence, and chose a random Omega to take him to his rooms—clearly choosing the servant for the most annoyance to everyone gathered. Pandora couldn't turn him down—no rank. Thea couldn't object—not high enough rank to force the Alpha to treat her as an equal. Even Beta James couldn't object—he hadn't claimed his mate and was outranked as well. Apparently, choosing the birth of your firstborn over a guest's greetings and the Gamma's daughter merely existing was too much for his delicate nature.

         Thea managed to keep a bland expression until her mate was out of her presence, before giving into the most cynical bark of self-derisive laughter to ever cleave itself from her very core.