Chapter Ten.

The moment passes like a storm breaking, leaving me dazed and trembling in its wake. The heat coursing through my body recedes, but the scent in the air—my scent, black raspberry and vanilla—lingers, weaving around us like a whisper of something undeniable.

Jesus, I thought it was Morgan's bloody diffuser.

Micah’s hands remain on my cheeks, his lavender and fresh-baked bread scent wrapping around me like a comforting blanket. There’s a hint of citrus, light and crisp, cutting through the haze of my own embarrassment.

“Breathe, Ivy,” he murmurs softly, his thumbs brushing gently over my skin. His voice is calm and steady, a grounding presence amidst the chaos.

I nod weakly, inhaling shakily. The raspberries, the vanilla—it’s me. That’s my scent, and they’ve all felt it, noticed it. A fresh wave of self-consciousness crashes over me, but Micah’s steady gaze keeps me anchored.

“It’s okay,” he reassures me, his voice barely above a whisper. “You’re okay.”

I want to say something—anything—but my words are stuck in my throat.

Behind him, I catch a glimpse of Theo and Elias. Both Alphas are tense, their sharp scents of salted caramel and smoke, whiskey and cedar, clinging to the air. Elias’s eyes are dark, his fists clenched at his sides as if he’s holding himself back. Theo, restrained only by Callum’s firm hand on his shoulder, looks like he’s barely hanging on, his chest rising and falling rapidly.

Morgan steps between them, her presence unyielding as she crosses her arms. “Alright, everyone needs to calm down. Ivy doesn’t need this right now.” Her sharp tone brooks no argument.

“She’s right,” Callum says firmly, his Beta nature keeping him steady. “We all need to take a step back and let Ivy breathe.”

Theo growls low, but after a moment, he exhales sharply and runs a hand through his hair. “Fine. But someone needs to explain what the hell just happened.”

Elias finally speaks, his voice low but steady. “Her scent. She’s perfumed. It’s new. So strong.” His gaze flicks to me, softening just slightly. “It’s her first real heat.”

Morgan lets out a long sigh, muttering something under her breath. “Ivy, you’ve been pushing yourself too hard.”

“I didn’t mean for this to happen,” I whisper, my voice cracking. “I—I thought I could handle it.”

Micah’s hands slide down to my shoulders, his touch light and comforting. “You don’t have to handle it alone,” he says gently. “We’re here for you.”

The sincerity in his words brings tears to my eyes, and I blink them away quickly, unwilling to let myself break completely. “I’m sorry,” I say, looking at each of them in turn. “I didn’t mean to make this harder for anyone.”

“You’ve got nothing to apologize for,” Theo says gruffly, his voice softer than I expected.

Elias nods in agreement. “Perfuming isn’t something you can control. It’s instinct. Natural.”

Morgan steps closer, placing a hand on my arm. “Ivy, you’ve been fighting this for weeks. No wonder it hit you so hard.”

I swallow hard, unsure of how to respond. The tension in the room is still palpable, but it’s softened by the concern in their expressions.

Micah leans in slightly, his lavender scent washing over me. “Why don’t we get you some tea and settle down for a bit? You need to rest.”

I nod silently, letting him guide me to the couch. Callum disappears into the kitchen, returning a few minutes later with a steaming mug of chamomile tea.

As I sip it slowly, Micah sits beside me, his presence warm and comforting. Theo and Elias linger nearby, their watchful eyes never straying far.

The rest of the evening passes quietly. Morgan and Callum manage to diffuse the remaining tension, and I slowly begin to relax under Micah’s watchful care.

The evening settles into a fragile calm, but the tension in the air is still palpable. Micah’s lavender-and-bread scent soothes me, his steady presence keeping me grounded as I grapple with what just happened. My body is still trembling from the aftermath of the heat wave that washed over me, and my scent—black raspberry and vanilla—lingers in the room like a stubborn reminder of everything I can’t control.

Morgan hands me my phone, her expression unreadable. “You need to call your mum.”

I groan, leaning back into the couch. “Morgan, no. She’s just going to make a big deal out of this.”

“She should,” Morgan snaps, her Beta steadiness breaking for just a moment. “You’ve been ignoring your heat for weeks, Ivy. This isn’t something you can just power through.”

Micah, ever the calm one, squeezes my hand. “Morgan’s right. Your mum loves you. She’ll want to help.”

I hesitate, but the weight of Micah’s hand in mine tips the balance. With a resigned sigh, I unlock my phone and press the call button. The dial tone rings once, twice, before her voice comes through, warm and familiar.

“Sweetheart? Is everything okay?”

“Mum,” I start, but my voice cracks, and suddenly all the emotion I’ve been holding back rushes forward.

“Oh, Ivy,” she says softly. “Morgan told me you’re going through your first heat. Why didn’t you call me sooner?”

“I thought I could handle it,” I admit, wiping at my eyes. “But I—”

“You’re going back to the Omega Academy,” she interrupts, her voice firm and unwavering.

The words hit me like a slap, and I sit up straighter. “No, I’m not.”

“Yes, you are,” she says, her tone leaving no room for argument. “You need proper training, Ivy. You can’t keep fighting your nature like this.”

“I’m not fighting it!” I snap, anger flaring in my chest. “I have two Alphas now. Theo and Elias. They can help me through this.”

There’s a long pause on the other end of the line, and I can almost picture her pinching the bridge of her nose. “Ivy, this isn’t just about managing your heat. The Academy teaches you how to navigate your instincts, your bonds, and your future as an Omega. Theo and Elias can’t do that for you.”

“They don’t need to!” I argue, my voice rising. “I don’t need the Academy to tell me how to live my life. I have people here who care about me, who can help me.”

Morgan crosses her arms, clearly not thrilled with the way the conversation is going, but she doesn’t intervene. Micah, however, squeezes my hand again, his presence grounding me as I fight to hold my ground.

“Ivy,” my mum says, her voice softening just slightly, “I know you think you can handle this, but it’s more than just the heat. It’s about understanding who you are and what you need. The Academy can give you that foundation.”

“I don’t need their foundation,” I say firmly. “I have a foundation right here. I have Micah, Theo, Elias, and even Callum and Morgan. They’re my family now.”

There’s a long silence on the line before she finally sighs. “Alright. If you’re so certain, then prove it. Let them help you through this heat, and if you come out the other side in control, I’ll back off. But if you spiral again, you’re going back to the Academy. No arguments.”

I blink, caught off guard by her compromise. “Really?”

“Yes,” she says, though there’s a warning in her tone. “But I expect updates, Ivy. Daily.”

“Fine,” I agree quickly, relief washing over me. “Thank you, Mum.”

“Don’t thank me yet,” she says. “I love you, sweetheart. Don’t forget that.”

When the call ends, I let out a long breath, my body sagging against the couch.

“You okay?” Micah asks softly.

“Not really,” I admit, running a hand through my hair. “But I’m not going back to the Academy. That’s a win, right?”

Morgan huffs but doesn’t argue. Theo and Elias, who’ve been lingering nearby, step closer, their gazes heavy with concern.

“You’re really letting us help you?” Theo asks, his voice gruff but surprisingly soft.

I glance between him, Elias, and Micah before nodding. “Yeah. I am.”

Elias’s lips twitch into the faintest of smiles. “Good. Because we’re not letting you go through this alone.”

Micah leans closer, his lavender scent wrapping around me like a promise. “We’ve got you, Ivy. No matter what.”

For the first time in weeks, I feel a sliver of hope. Maybe I don’t need the Academy after all. Maybe, just maybe, I’ve already found everything I need.