Chapter 16 The Heat
The morning air was sharp and cool when I stepped out of the small, creaking door of our quarters. Dew still clung to the blades of grass, the mountain mist rolling lazily down the slopes like smoke. Everything looked deceptively peaceful, the ranch spread out in quiet hues of grey and blue, a handful of wolves already working, some stacking crates, others sharpening knives or dragging sacks into the large barn.
But peace was an illusion. I could feel the tension in the air, the way eyes followed me as I crossed the yard to join the others. The way conversations dimmed when I passed. I kept my head down, forcing myself to look occupied, to look small. The less attention I drew, the better.
Fred had gone to fetch something from Big Joe, and the old she-wolf, Ruth, led me toward the section of the barn where I’d been assigned. The air inside was thick with the scent of oil, smoke, and something metallic. It didn’t take long for me to realize what they were doing, illegal moonshine distillation, mixed with wolfsbane for trade with rogue vampires. A business that thrived on the shadows between worlds.
I worked quickly, keeping to myself, sealing bottles, wiping surfaces, and stacking boxes. Every now and then, I could feel the weight of stares on my back. I didn’t have to look up to know they were there. The pack of rough wolves that worked the line beside me made no effort to hide their interest, snickers, low whistles, and whispers that crawled under my skin.
Fred noticed too. He always did.
He appeared beside me just as one of them, a scarred brute, leaned in a little too close to hand me an empty crate. “Careful, sweetheart,” he murmured, voice dripping with mock concern.
Fred was there in an instant, his hand grabbing the crate and shoving it aside. “She doesn’t need your help,” he said, jaw tight.
The other man grinned, showing yellowed teeth. “Relax, kid. Just being polite.”
“Try that again,” Fred said, stepping closer, “and I’ll break your jaw.”
That earned him a round of laughter from the others. Wolves always laughed before a fight.
I tugged at Fred’s arm, whispering, “Please, don’t. Not here.”
He hesitated but nodded. His hand brushed mine briefly, a silent promise. “I’ll always protect you.”
But I did worry. Because deep down, I could feel something else stirring, something that wasn’t fear. It was heat, slow and creeping, building deep within me like embers waiting for a breath to ignite.
By midday, it was unbearable.
At first, I thought it was exhaustion. My body ached, my skin felt too tight, and every sound, every breath, every scrape, every heartbeat, was too loud. My pulse thundered, and I had to grip the edge of the worktable just to stay upright.
Fred noticed immediately. “Lyra?”
I tried to smile, to tell him I was fine, but when I opened my mouth, a soft gasp escaped instead. My heart was pounding so hard I thought it might crack my ribs. I stumbled back, clutching my stomach.
“I—I need a minute,” I managed to whisper, pushing past him and heading for the back of the barn. The air outside was cooler, but it didn’t help. The scent of wolves was everywhere, heavy, musky, and intoxicating in a way that terrified me.
Ruth was hanging laundry nearby. She turned when she saw me, her old eyes narrowing. “Child,” she said quietly, walking closer, “you don’t look well.”
“I’m fine,” I lied. But the tremor in my voice betrayed me.
Her nose twitched once. Then again. And suddenly, her expression changed, eyes widening, voice lowering to a whisper. “Oh, moon above… You’re in heat.”
I froze. “No… no, that can’t be.”
She gave a small, pitying nod.
A gust of wind swept through the yard, and I could feel it, the shift in the atmosphere. Heads turned. Snouts lifted. The wolves caught the scent, and in an instant, their laughter and conversation fell into silence.
Then the growls began.
Fred came running, his face pale. “Lyra, what’s wrong?”
Before I could answer, one of the men from earlier approached, eyes glowing faintly amber. “Well, well,” he sneered. “Guess the little hybrid’s got her time.”
“Stay away from her,” Fred said, stepping in front of me
“So your little mate is in heat”, one of them said and smiled sinisterly.” Weren't you told to mate as soon as possible? Or you lied and you two are not mates”,
“Stay away from her!” Fred shouted, trying to shield me with his body. But there were too many of them.
They lunged at Fred first, three of them at once. He swung the nearest tool he could grab, a metal bar, and caught one across the jaw. But they were stronger, older, more vicious. I screamed his name, tried to pull one off, but claws slashed across my arm, and I stumbled back.
They didn’t want to kill him. They wanted to humiliate him. To show me he couldn’t protect me.
One pinned him to the ground, another kicked him hard in the ribs, and I could smell his blood. My body trembled, not just from fear, but from the unbearable confusion of the heat pulsing through my veins. The primal part of me, the wolf, was terrified and aroused all at once. It was torture.
“Stop!” I shouted, voice cracking. “Please!”
The air split with a roar.
Big Joe.
He towered above them all, one eye glinting with fury, his massive hand grabbing one wolf and throwing him aside like a rag doll. “What in the hell’s goin’ on here?” he demanded, voice booming.
The others froze. For a moment, I thought he’d come to stop it. But when his gaze landed on me, something dark flashed in that single eye. He inhaled once, deeply, and then smiled.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” he said slowly. “No wonder these pups lost their heads. A hybrid in heat.”
I backed away instinctively. “Stay away from me.”
His gaze settled on me, and he sniffed the air again. A sinister smile spread across his face. “Nothing more enticing than a woman in heat,” he said, his voice dripping with malice.
One of the men turned to him, grinning. “We were thinking we could all have a turn, once you’re done with her, boss.”
About ten men were surrounding us, their eyes glinting with predatory anticipation. Fear coursed through me, but I refused to give in. I wouldn’t let them break me.
“Let go of me or else you'll regret it!”, I shouted and one of the men holding me down slapped me across the face.
“Shut up you little mutt!”,he spat. And proceeded to ripped my t shirt open from the neck to the hem exposing my breasts. Big Joe walked towards me placing his hand on my nipple that hardened from the cold.
“Dont touch her i’ll kill you!”, Fred screamed and one of the men holding him down went ahead and stomped him on the head with his old crust boot.
He chuckled, deep and low. “You think you can give orders here? Girl like you… you could fetch a high price. Or,” he added, stepping closer, “I could just keep you.”
“My father trusted you”, Fred said to Big Joe. And I saw his face harden.
“That’s enough!” he barked, his voice echoing through the barn. “Get back to work, all of you. Now.” he said to the men none of them moved.
“I’m sure none of you want people knowing you're here. Remember, all it takes is them not hearing from me in the next five minutes and the police will be here in seconds”, Big Joes threatened.
Reluctantly, the men backed off, leaving Fred and me alone with Big Joe. Fred was bruised and battered, but he managed to get to his feet, moving to stand protectively in front of me giving me his jacket to wear so I'm not sure longer exposed.
“She’s in heat,” Big Joe said, a predatory gleam in his eye. “That changes things.”
“We’ll leave,” Fred said, his voice firm despite his injuries. “We’ll go right now.”
Big Joe shook his head. “Oh, I don’t think so. You see, a woman in heat… she’s a valuable commodity. You leave and she stays, its the least I could do. I need a woman to warm my bed”
Fred’s eyes blazed with anger. “She’s not a commodity. She’s my mate.”
Big Joe laughed, a cruel sound that sent shivers down my spine. “Is she now? That makes things interesting. Because if she was the two of you would have mated by now.”
Desperation clawed at me. I could feel the heat intensifying, making it hard to think clearly. “Please,” I begged, “just let us go.”
Big Joe’s expression softened for a moment, but it was a false kindness. “I can’t do that, sweetheart. But I can offer you a deal. Stay here, with me, and I’ll make sure no one else touches you and my cock will be the only thing that you please”
“Joe, no!” Ruth’s voice cut through the air. She moved fast for her age, placing herself between us. Her frail frame trembled, but her voice didn’t. “You will not touch her.”
Joe snarled. “Move, old woman.”
“I said no.”
Something in her tone,a command layered with authority and grief,made even him pause. Ruth turned to Fred quickly, eyes urgent. “Run, child. Take the girl and run, Go!” Ruth screamed, shoving a barrel over to block the nearest path.
We ran.
Out of the barn, across the yard, past the sleeping dogs and the rusted trucks. My vision blurred from tears, from the haze of heat and fear and exhaustion. Fred leaned heavily against me, limping but refusing to slow down.
Behind us, I could hear Joe’s furious roar echo through the valley. “FIND THEM!”
We didn’t stop.
Not until the mountains swallowed us whole,dark trees rising like giants around us, the scent of pine thick in the cold air. Only then did I dare to look back. The ranch was gone, swallowed by distance and shadow.
Fred collapsed onto a rock, breathing hard, blood dripping from his split lip. I crouched beside him, pressing a trembling hand against his cheek. “Are you okay?”
He gave a weak laugh. “I’ve… been better.” Then his eyes met mine, soft and unguarded. “You’re burning up.”
I turned away, ashamed. “It’s the heat. I can’t stop it.”
He didn’t touch me. Didn’t move closer. Just sat there beside me, silent, letting me breathe through the pain. Letting me exist without judgment.
The moon rose high above us, pale and indifferent. But as I sat there, trembling, beside the boy who’d risked everything for me, I realized something else,something that made my chest ache in a new way. From now own I was never alone.