CHAPTER 39: HEAT

Emira struggled against the bonds, pulling at the chain until her wrists ached. The metal bit into her skin, but it didn’t give. Her body was damp with sweat, the thin blanket tangled around her offering no real warmth or comfort. Nothing else covered her.

Panic crawled up her chest like a living thing. Where was she?

The blindfold pressed against her eyes, blocking out everything. Darkness closed in on all sides. She couldn’t tell if it was day or night, if there was anyone else in the room, or if she was completely alone.

Was she still at the Moonville Pack? The thought slammed into her, hard and cold. Had she failed?

Her breath came in short, uneven bursts at the thought. For a moment, she went still, the fight draining out of her as the fear twisted in deeper. Maybe she had failed. Maybe the Shadow Wolves hadn’t marked her after all.

But no- she remembered. The vow had been spoken. She had felt it. She could still feel it now, the marks like fire pressing into her skin. Her neck burned where the marks lay seared into her flesh.

That meant she hadn’t failed.

She clung to that thought, forcing her breath to slow, holding on to it like it was the only thing keeping her sane. She just needed to find out where she was. And why she was chained.

Then it happened. A hand. On her stomach.

Emira froze. And then in the next second, she thrashed as the hand pressed against her stomach. She jerked against the chains, twisting hard enough to make the metal rattle against the wall. Her breath came fast, ragged.

"Let me go!" she hissed, kicking out blindly.

But the hand didn’t move away. Instead, it began to slide upward. Slowly. Deliberately.

She fought harder, but the blanket slipped from her shoulders, leaving her skin bare to the air, and to him. Her heart pounded loud in her ears as the hand stopped just below her breast. The pause made her blood run cold.

And then came the voice. Low. Smooth. Almost soothing.

"Stop fighting, Emira... your body needs this. This is your first heat. Feel it. And remember your promise. I am only touching what is Mine.

She stilled, though not completely. Her fingers still curled tight around the chain, her chest still rose and fell in sharp, uneven breaths- but her frantic struggling stopped. This was the shadow Alpha.

It wasn’t just the words that he spoke. It was the voice itself, the tone of it. Calm. Certain. As though he knew something she didn’t.

And then she felt it. Wherever his hand touched, the fever that burned through her body eased. The fire under her skin cooled, the unbearable heat lessening with every inch of contact.

Her muscles trembled as she realized it wasn’t pain she felt now, but relief. And her body was reacting to it... She bit down hard on her lip, refusing to make a sound.

He chuckled softly, the sound close to her ear, his breath warm against her skin.

"So obedient," he whispered. The words were filled with quiet amusement, as if he knew exactly why she had stopped moving... and knew she hated herself for it and would fight against it.

His hand stayed where it was for a moment longer. Then he spoke, the voice low and calm near her ear. "Do you want it, Emira? Do you want me to soothe you, Emira?"

She clenched her jaw and said nothing. Like hell she was going to beg someone for it! She would rather die!

She knew he was waiting. She felt his breath on her neck, leaving goosebumps in it wake.

Still, she stayed quiet. Her fingers gripped the chain tighter. She needed more. Her body and mind was screaming at her. She wanted him to touch her. She needed this alpha.

A soft chuckle came from him, deep and quiet, before his hand slipped away from her body.

At once, the heat returned. It slammed back into her, fierce and overwhelming, like her skin was on fire from the inside out. She gasped, jerking against the bonds, twisting as if she could fight the sensation off. The voices in her head clamored even more, wanting to call out to him.

The coolness he had given her was gone, and with it, the tiny bit of relief she had been clinging to. She heard him shift, the faint sound of footsteps. He was moving away.

Panic rushed through her before she could stop it. "Please... please," she gasped, her voice breaking as she struggled against the bonds.

The steps stopped. Silence stretched out before his voice came again asking evenly, "Please what?"

Emira bit her lip hard enough to taste blood. She didn’t want to say it. Didn’t want to give him that power. But the heat was too much. Every second felt like her body was tearing itself apart.

"Help me," she whispered.

He was quiet for a moment. Then she heard the footsteps again, coming closer. The sound of him kneeling beside her reached her ears, and she felt his presence fill the space.

"Do you agree to let me soothe you now?" His voice was close, the words brushing against her like a warning.

She swallowed hard. "Yes."

This time, his hand came back. Cool against her burning skin. He started at her arm, fingers sliding slowly down until they rested on her hip. The relief spread through her like water on parched ground. Her body sagged against the chains, the tension draining out even though her heart was still racing.

She felt him touch the side of her waist. She felt every callous on his hand.. His hand paused at her waist and she felt him pinch her slightly. Her breath escaped at the slightly painful sensation even as her mouth went dry. And then, his hand continued its exploration, gliding upward as it slowly reached one exposed breast.