Chapter 14: Heat

AsaLynn

Waking up wrapped in Levi’s arms is amazing. I think I slept better last night than I ever have before. Last night was empowering, and I feel like a new woman.

Ready to take on the world.

“Do we have to get up? Can’t we just stay in bed all day?” I say, batting my lashes at Levi.

“It’s already noon, and as much as I wish we could, you know we both have busy schedules today, my goddess,” he replies.

Today I get to train the pack warriors on my techniques. Now that Levi understands I know more, he wants me to teach his men too.

Unfortunately, he will be busy with some sort of meeting. As luna, I should be there, but I am not officially Queen Luna until the ceremony next week.

Levi places a kiss on top of my forehead, and we both get up and ready ourselves for our respective duties.

I make my way down to the training field, where everyone has gathered. Much to my surprise, I see Flora in all of her glory already there.

“You didn’t think you were gonna have all the fun today, did you?” She winks.

I guess she tagged along with Zade since he was supposed to be the only one helping me today. This is going to be so much better now, though.

“Okay, ladies, the queen and I are gonna show y’all a few things from the TipToe Pack,” Flora bellows.

I look at Zade and shake my head. He just gives a grin and chuckles. “Good luck, Queen.”

Within an hour of Flora and I sparring, the men have now taken to two separate groups. Team Queen and Team Flora. The sight is hilarious.

Each group is chanting and gossiping to one another. I’m pretty sure I saw a few bets too.

We go through rolling around, or as one of the pack men states, “Doing our ninja thing.”

Of course I end up pinning Flora but not until we drag out the battle.

We agreed beforehand we would make more of a show of it so the warriors could see different types of skills and also so it was just fun.

Zade announces that the men are to pair up to practice some techniques Flora and I just demonstrated, and they obey.

I still see a few keeping their eyes on me, and it’s a little creepy the way they are looking. I shove it off and walk over to my friends.

“Oh my goddess, that was so much fun!” Flora says while hopping around.

I wipe the sweat from my face and chest with a towel and grab some water. ~Why is it so damn hot today? Is it normally this warm in November in Australia?~

Zade gives me a funny look, and I see him shake his head like he is trying to forget something.

Flora seems completely oblivious to his motion and is going on about this and that. Typical Flora.

~Man, this heat is really bad.~

“Hey, I’m gonna sit down for a few, okay, guys? Can you take over for a little bit?” I ask Zade and Flora.

They both look at me with worry and ask if I’m feeling okay. I assure them I’m okay, just a little tired, and go lean against a tree so I can still watch.

I take the towel and start fanning myself. How is literally nobody else sweating? I feel like I’m burning from the inside out! Fuck.

Training goes on, and I watch Flora and Zade fixing stances and demonstrating again and again.

I close my eyes for a moment, hoping it will help me relax a little more and ease this burning, which is now engulfing my body.

All of a sudden I feel a warm uncomfortable breathing against my neck.

Before I can open my eyes, I hear Flora take wolf form and attack something, knocking me over in the process.

I jump up, startled, and see Flora pinning a man, snarling with her teeth around his neck. Zade runs over and grabs the guy and tells Flora to shift. She does.

“What the fuck was that, dude?!

“You don’t just go up to chicks and start drooling on them, you perv! You know she is the fucking queen, right?!” Flora screams, kicking the random guy in the shin.

The man starts slobbering like a rabid animal and trying to pull from Zade’s grip. It’s like he didn’t even hear Flora talking. He is staring straight at me.

I hear grunting coming from the direction of the trainees and see every last one of the men staring at me as if they are in a trance.

They are slowly heading to me as if I’m their prey.

Zade sniffs again, and his eyes glaze over. His eyes now shift back and forth like he is battling for control.

“Flora, get the queen out of here ~now~!” he says, struggle lacing his words.

At that moment he releases the man in his hold and starts to approach me, looking at me like the rest of the men.

“Shit, run!” Flora screams as she grabs my hand and drags me to the pack house.

Zade tackles me, and I hear Flora chant something and raise her hand, sending Zade flying.

I get up and run faster, glancing back and seeing a horde of wild-looking men advancing.

We get to the pack house, and she slams the door shut behind us and her hands wave through the air like she is writing something.

“Enchantment. I’m a witch, remember? It’s just a spell to keep anyone from entering the house. Get upstairs now,” Flora decrees.

Oh yeah, I forgot she was a witch. She pushes me toward the stairs and continues on.

Once I get to my room, I collapse to the floor. I can barely breathe. My chest is burning. I lie on the floor panting and start to pull off my training gear.

I pull myself up and head for the tub, hoping I can wash away the fear and disgust I feel.

Once I enter the water, my emotions take over and I begin crying. It turns into wild sobs.

~What happened? Why were they trying to attack me? Why did Zade try? Nothing makes sense.~

I hear the door open and shut and look at the entrance in fear, but Flora walks into the bathroom. She looks scared too.

She walks over and throws her arms around me. Rubbing my hair and trying to comfort me.

“I’m so sorry. I don’t get why Zade did that or what’s going…” Her words cut off.

Her face contorts, and she begins to sniff the air frantically. Her eyes practically bulge from her head in realization.

She gasps. “Shit, babe, you’re in heat!”

“What? No. There is no way. That only happens on a blood moon,” I protest, and with those words, I feel a new blaze of fire burst inside me, causing me to scream in pain.

Flora grabs a sponge and starts to put cooling water on my skin to ease the pain, but it does nothing.

“It’s not supposed to be possible, babe, but you are in heat. I smell it, and your body is burning up. That must be why the guys went nuts.”

“But why did Zade? He is mated. Most of the warriors are mated. They aren’t supposed to be affected by another female’s heat anymore,” I say, pained, struggling to get my thoughts out.

“Asa, I don’t know why, but you’re an unmated wolf and you ~are~ in heat. None of this makes sense, but it’s happening. They can’t get through the barrier though.

“I put another on your room, which only Levi will be able to get through.”

The mention of his name makes me double over in pain. My flesh now feels like it is melting. I scream, my body shaking, and Flora falls to the ground, holding her ears.

“What the fuck was that?!” Flora says, backing up, looking like I hurt her. I didn’t do anything though.

I rock back and forth in the water. “Where is Levi!”

Flora keeps her distance this time and speaks slowly and carefully. Her eyes haze, and I can tell she is mind-linking someone.

“He is coming in now. He can help you. I…I need to go.” She has fear in her eyes as she walks out of the bathroom.

I hear the bedroom door open. She begins to talk to Levi.

I get out of the tub, crawling on my hands and knees and move to the shower. Turning the cold water on full blast, I move into the fetal position, letting it rain over me.

I begin to cry again, feeling the intensity burn bright.

Another more intense wave washes over me, and I open my mouth to scream, but before I do, I feel Levi grab me and wrap his arms around me. Cradling me.

“I’m here, my goddess. I’m here. It’s okay. I will help you. I’m here. Just relax,” he recites over and over again.

His touch seems to dull the pain to a bearable level. I begin to cry again, and I feel his lips on the back of my head.

A carnal need hits me this time with the next wave of heat. I turn around and attack Levi, pinning him to the shower floor.

This isn’t me but my wolf. She has taken most of my control.

Levi looks up at me, worry in his face. He tries to move, but I don’t let him. I pull back control and look at myself in the reflection of the glass.

~How am I able to hold him down?~

“You’re in heat, but you don’t have to do this if you’re not ready. I can hold you and ease the pain until it passes. I won’t leave your side, Asa, I promise. I’m right here.”

Levi looks like he is struggling against his own urges to take me. All it does is make me want him more. I can’t control myself.

Next thing I know my mouth is crashing down on his with incredible need and ferocity. My hands rip his shirt open, causing the buttons to spray the shower floor.

~I need this. I want this. Not just to contain the heat burning me alive but for myself. I have needed it since the first night when he practically denied me.~

~I have fallen in love with this man, and I must have all of him.~

“I want this, Levi. I ~really~ want this. Right here. Right now,” I say breathlessly.

I pull up from him, still straddling his legs, and tear his shirt off. I fumble trying to undo his belt. Levi grabs my hands and stops me.

“I’m trying really hard to control myself, Asa. You’re not making this easy on me. You need to take this slow.” His tone is dark and full of lust.

I slap him across the face without thinking. “Stop controlling yourself, and fuck me!”