Mates Conquer Everything, Right?

Am I feeling better? Yes, instead of a burning fire inside my body, I just feel sizzling hot strokes heating my body from time to time. It is becoming more bearable.

“Eat,” Theresa hands me a plate filled with meat, chocolate and fruit. Without me asking what is up with the combination of food on my plate she answers: “Calorie-filled nutrition, since you literally burn through them. Eat while I explain everything.” She also sets down a large glass filled with iced water.

Theresa doesn’t need to tell me twice because I start digging in, needing food to focus on her story. I am bone tired, and if I wasn’t so curious and hungry, I would take a nap before the torture begins again.

“First, I want to apologize. We weren’t prepared. Normally, if we think a she-wolf can go into heat, we plan ahead.”

“What is there to plan?” I dare to ask.

She sighs: “It isn’t very common to go into heat. If a she-wolf has met her mate and she isn’t marked, the heat forces the male to claim her. Werewolves are very possessive, and usually the first time they meet each other’s eyes and recognize the mate bond, they act on it. But there are times when the mating isn’t complete, due to pack duties, for example. If a warrior needs to leave for a couple of days, it isn’t wise to mate before leaving, because the two mates need to be close to each other after the whole mating process.”

Theresa looks at me to see if I am following her. I eat and nod for her to continue. The heat I’m feeling right now is about a five on my pain scale.

“Heat is a way to force the mate bond, but the male mate isn’t the only one affected by the heat. All the unmarked males of the pack feel the pull to mate. The males know this, of course, and due to their possessiveness they will mark and mate with her. The wolf takes over and sometimes the she-wolf gets hurt. That’s why Igétas is not with you. Since you are not a wolf, he can lose control and hurt you really badly.”

I sigh and she stops, “But what is heat? I know it’s painful, but I have no clue what it is.” I take a gulp of the cold liquid.

“Oh Violet, I am so sorry. It is still new for me that you haven’t been raised in a pack. Heat is your body telling your mate that you need a mark on you. It is your wolf communicating that she is more than ready for a mating to take place. Your scent increased and became a more alluring smell to unmated males. One sniff of your aroma and they will know you are fertile. Heat is created by the goddess Selene to make sure the werewolf bloodline will go on.”

I freeze. “Wait a second, I am only twenty-four, I am not old enough for a baby.”

My eyes are wide and it makes Theresa laugh.

“Oh, you are a lot older than the age most mothers in the pack have their first pup.”

“Pup?” I ask, and I think about bearing a wolf into the world.

“That’s what we call our children. Don’t worry, you will not give birth to a pup.”

I sink a little more into the water. I am way too tired to be worried about the possibility of me getting pregnant.

“I still don’t understand how this is happening. I am not a werewolf. I don’t have a wolf in my head talking to me.”

“Yes,” Theresa sighs, “You are a unique case. Another mystery we haven’t solved is why you are reacting strongly to the heat. It can be because you are human and that factor is not documented, or…” Theresa stops.

“Or?” I prod her to carry on, not having the energy to tell her to hurry up.

“Or you reacted so strongly because your mate bond is a very high tier.”

Ah, of course. The higher the tier is, the stronger the heat will be.

“That can be an option.” I say vaguely, not wanting any rumors to spread. As long as Tharros thinks we are a “normal” mated couple, he will not feel more threatened by his brother.

The day I spent with Ela in the library comes back to my mind. We did find out a lot of important information about Luna-courage. We’re still keeping it to ourselves to try to make sense of it all.

“I am so tired,” I tell her, and she nods.

“Of course you are. Just let me tell you about the second phase and you can get some rest. You need it.”

The pain is still there, but lessens every minute.

“In the second phase the heat comes back, and it can be stronger than what you have already experienced.”

“You are not sugarcoating anything, are you?” I ask with one eye lazily open.

A chuckle escapes her mouth: “It might be harder, but it can be a blessing. You were in and out of consciousness the whole time. If it gets a little higher, you can sleep through the pain while we guard you. No male will enter the hospital.”

“Can you not just give me a medicine to let me sleep it off?”

“No, you will burn it off right away.”

“Just great,” I mutter. She strokes my hair in a calm manner. “Why can’t things go my way? Why is everything so damn difficult?”

“Those questions, only the Goddess can answer.”

“Ha, if only she answered…”

She lovingly shushes me. “Everything happens for a reason. That is why you are here, in our pack. Why you came to America to find your mate, even without knowing you had one. You came here guided by the Goddess.”

“Well, maybe if I just pray to her she will let situations fall my way.”

I stretch my sore arms, and place them comfortably on the edge of the tub.

“Praying is never a bad idea. You need sleep, my child. You’ll wake up soon enough.”

Great, waking up from the pain. What a lovely way to wake up. I roll my eyes, letting sleep take me.

I need my strength now more than ever.