Esma laid in bed that night, reviewing the next day’s plan. She wished her head felt better. The talisman had taken a toll on her health. The witches and their magic didn’t suit the werewolves.
She had already taken aspirin, but the throbbing was worse. She was perspiring, and the room seemed unbearably hot. Her heart felt heavy. Sleep had somehow left her eyelids.
She turned sidewards to look at the reason for her sleepless nights. The most tyrant, ruthless, merciless, self-proclaimed wolf prince who thought he had no heart. The cursed alpha. Her mate. As if in cue, the man snored lightly.
She set the alarm for the next day and continued admiring the beautiful features of her mate until sleep finally claimed her.
The bell rang, and she was in the same forest, standing in front of a ten-year-old boy with ocean blue eyes and copper-colored hair. He looked at her innocently, but both of them didn’t utter any words. ‘You are the curse in the name of a blessing.’ And the whole forest echoed with the clanging of the Moona’s words.
Esma awakened. Her chest felt heavy, and the light hurt her eyes. She looked at the other side only to find it empty. Reed had gone, and the thought made her sad for some reason. She had grown feelings for this complicated man. She had grown a liking for him. She found herself attracted to him like a moth to a flame.
She forced herself into the bathroom. Her face looked blotchy and flushed in the mirror. “I can’t get sick now,” Esma thought. Not today; there’s too much to do.
She dressed slowly, trying to ignore the throbbing of her head. She felt more exhausted and tired than usual. Her heart seemed to beat erratically. Her throat felt sore and scratchy. She was dizzy and weak.
She climbed down the stairs slowly. It was a very quiet morning since no one was home nor no one was awake, or at least that was what Esma thought since there wasn’t any noise coming from the room. It eased her mind. She liked to have some alone time and the whole house to herself.
Nobody was there. Obviously, she had woken up early. Everyone was still sleeping in the house. Then, where was he? The thought made her more anxious from the inside. She somehow needed to be near him. Her body craved his touch.
She took the basket from the kitchen and walked outside in the direction of the temple of the moon goddess. She visited the temple every month. It was like a ritual for Esma.
Somehow, she reached the temple and prayed, but this time not for herself but her mate. “Please forgive him this time. Everyone deserves a chance.” A single tear escaped her eye and fell on the feet of the statue of the moon goddess. She quickly wiped her face and started walking back toward her home. Somehow, she doubted she could reach the house.
She hardly had walked a mile when suddenly there was a stab of pain in her abdomen, and she hunched over. Her body started feeling feverish as a wave of nausea ran over her.
“Shit,” she gasped out, gripping her basket hard as she felt a sudden urge to hurl. The cramps were starting to get stronger. She was going into heat.
‘But the blood moon had already passed. How could I be in heat?’ she thought. Alpha females were more subtle to heat. The only reason heat cycles existed was so that mated couples would have children faster.
Esma let out a shaky breath and stood up, flinching over the pain that took over her senses. Her wolf beneath her started howling and shaking her fur out. She was starting to feel the desire to mate. She started to make her way out through the trees. She regretted getting out of bed.
Just when she finally walked back to her home and opened the door, a shooting pain passed her stomach and knocked out her senses. She closed her eyes, letting gravity do her work, but instead of falling on her face, she was lifted from the ground and within seconds started floating in the air. Her eyes were closed, but she could remember those delicious sparks from anywhere.
Reed’s POV
After running my routine run on the borders, I quickly returned to the pack house. I left Esma sleeping. She looked so innocent, so pure when she was sleeping. I couldn’t make myself leave her for a second.
I quickly closed the door behind me silently. The house looked the same as I left it. Nobody’s awake. The thought of again sleeping with her crossed my head, and soon I found myself climbing the stairs to my room.
I could not make myself leave her. I wanted her. I needed her. I had never said anything about my past to anyone except her. Diana knew because she could. Somehow, I was attached to her with an invisible thread.
I opened the door silently, daring not to make any noise. She wasn’t here. The bed was empty, and for some reason, my face fell. I checked the bathroom, still no sign of her. Her scent was fading.
I quickly climbed down to look into the kitchen. She wasn’t anywhere. I wore my shoes, and as soon as I was about to open the door, I smelled the most intoxicating scent, the smell of fresh roses and vanilla, a deadly combination. It completely knocked me out of my senses.
The scent got stronger and stronger, and as if my heart somehow remembered that its work was to beat inside my ribcage.
The door opened, and there she was, standing in her all glory, like a goddess begging to be worshipped. Her body was flushed and crimson. She was glowing. She didn’t notice me and took a step forward. Her eyes rolled over to the back of her head, and soon she was about to fall.
I quickly ran and took her in my arms. Her body relaxed immediately, and she leaned into my touch; her breath was hot and rugged. Hell, my heart was beating like a thunderstorm. I quickly took her into my arms and carried her bridal style.
She was in heat. The blood moon was slowly doing its work. All the unmated she-wolves will be in heat until the blood moon, and being the alpha only worsened it. But she had already passed the blood moon. How could she be in heat?
Just before I could carry her to her room, the ear-piercing sound of multiple howls filled the room.
Fuck. Now every unmated wolf got her scent. I sprinted to her room and rested her on her bed. She was sweating profusely. “Asher, nobody can enter the pack house. Including you,” I ordered in the mind link.
She cried in pain, and my heart tugged at her voice. I quickly walked toward the bathroom and put on the water. She is going to need to get a bath of cold water. It will calm her senses, I talked to myself.
She cried again with much force this time, and without waiting for a second longer, I carried her to the bathtub. “Just lay against my chest; you will be fine,” I whispered into her ear.
I submerged her into the water, and she visibly relaxed. The cold water was helping to calm down her nerves.
“Emmy?” August shouted from the other side of the door. I quickly opened it and returned to her. He followed me to the bathroom. “Where is Miss Rockwood?” I asked after a minute.
“She has gone to the hospital to look after our father; don’t worry, she is on her way back,” he said, his eyes still trained on her. “Take care of her. I will make sure no male wolf can enter the house.” I nodded, and within seconds he vanished, leaving me with her.
After almost half an hour later, she finally opened her eyes. I released my breath in relief. She looked puzzled, but her eyes were still fogged in pain. “Don’t worry, little wolf, I am here,” I said reassuringly.
“This is unbearable.” She sobbed after a second. Fuck, how can I help her? There is only one way to make her pain go away. To mate with her. I shook my head. I can’t mate to her, not now. Nor can I mark her.
As if another heat passed her, she cried in pain again. I don’t have my wolf; how can I mark her? I closed my eyes. There has to be another way. Suddenly an idea crossed my mind. I kissed her forehead. “Wait for me, mate.”
I sprinted downward in the direction of the kitchen.