This time when he flushed, it was more from shame than heat or desire. There was nothing more humiliating for a wolf to be chained up like a wild animal, even an Omega in heat. But Michael was an Alpha, and he and his brothers tended to avoid other Omegas so they’d never understood the drive of rut, or an Omega’s need to mate. It was an alien and frankly, embarrassing concept to his brother. So it was best shoved in a room and contained until his brother could behave rationally again.

“Every cycle,” Gabriel confirmed quietly, pressing back against his mate. “The first three days at least. Sometimes longer.”

“If I didn’t have the shop I probably would have run years ago. Taken off and tried to find another pack, find some way to escape.”

But now he had Sam. He had a bonded mate. He didn't have to go back.