Hailey’s heart raced as she slammed her door shut, her back pressed against the solid wood as though it could shield her from the inevitable. Her chest heaved with uneven breaths, her whole body trembling as the overwhelming heat consumed her. It was raw, unrelenting, and so foreign she felt like her skin was aflame. Her fingers dug into the edge of the door, her knuckles turning white, as she fought to hold herself together.

She stumbled across the room, legs weak, knees nearly buckling under the weight of the surge inside her. Panic clawed at her, fierce and biting, as the heat grew stronger, twisting her insides with a relentless pressure that made her gasp aloud. She’d heard stories, whispers really, but no one had warned her it would be like *this*. Not her cold, detached mother who regarded her as a mistake, and certainly not anyone else. She was alone, utterly alone, battling this war raging within her.

**“Stop it…please…just stop,”** she murmured, her voice a hoarse whisper as she pressed her hands to her head, trying to will the feeling away. She paced the room like a caged animal, praying for the heat to subside, praying for relief that refused to come. Every nerve in her body screamed with the need she tried so desperately to suppress, her hands trembling as she clutched at herself, desperate to maintain control. The weight of it crushed her, like the walls were closing in, suffocating her in the overwhelming desire to just *give in*.

But she couldn’t. She wouldn’t.

She threw herself onto the bed, curling up into a tight ball, forcing herself to breathe through the pain, through the haze that clouded her thoughts. **Varian.** His name clawed at her mind like a sweet torment, the very thought of him making her heat spike dangerously. Her whole body ached for him, every inch of her calling out to the one person she couldn’t face right now. The ache was almost unbearable, but she grit her teeth and held on, tears burning at the edges of her eyes.

Downstairs, Varian had just entered the house, his brow furrowed in mild confusion. He scanned the room, sensing something was off but not quite able to place it. His intense, dark eyes landed on Lina, the maid, who was busily pretending to tidy up something that didn’t need tidying.

**“Where’s Hailey?”** Varian’s deep voice filled the room, sending a shiver down Lina’s spine. She hesitated, fingers trembling slightly as she held onto the edge of the table for support. Lying to the Alpha was dangerous—reckless even—and she could feel the pressure of his gaze heavy on her.

**“She’s… she’s in her room,”** Lina stammered, her eyes darting nervously toward the stairs. Varian raised an eyebrow, sensing her hesitation, but he didn’t press her. Lina wasn’t a good liar, and from the way she was biting her lip and fidgeting with the edge of her apron, he knew something was wrong. Something more than what she was letting on.

**“Is everything alright?”** he asked, his voice low and calm, though there was an edge of concern creeping into his tone. Lina shifted uncomfortably, avoiding his gaze.

**“It’s… she’s going through something, Alpha,”** Lina finally confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. **“She… she’s in heat.”**

The words hit Varian like a punch to the gut. His body went rigid, a flicker of something dark passing through his eyes as the realization sunk in. **Hailey was in heat.** He clenched his jaw, forcing himself to remain calm even as the primal part of him stirred, reacting instinctively to the news. His mind raced, conflicted, as his hand twitched at his side, aching to go to her.

He turned toward the stairs, his steps slow and measured, each one heavy with the weight of his internal struggle. He wanted to see her, to comfort her, but he also knew how dangerous it could be—for both of them. His instincts screamed at him to claim her, to be with her, but he couldn’t just storm in. No, Hailey deserved more than that. She deserved control, respect, something that he wasn’t sure he could give if he allowed himself to get too close.

He stopped just outside her door, his hand hovering over the handle. His breath hitched slightly as he listened, hearing nothing but the distant, strained sound of her breathing. His heart ached for her—he could feel her suffering, her battle with the heat, and it tore at him. But he knew going in there now wouldn’t help. It would only make things harder.

For a long moment, he stood there, battling his own craves, his desire for her threatening to overwhelm his better judgment. His fingers curled into a fist, knuckles tight against the wood of her door as he fought against the primal urge surging through him.

Finally, with a heavy sigh, he stepped back, forcing himself to turn away. His heart was pounding as he walked down the hallway, tension building in his muscles with every step. He made his way to his study, locking himself in as he wrestled with his own demons, fighting against the very thing that called him so strongly to her.

---

Upstairs, Hailey was still curled on her bed, tears slipping down her cheeks as the night dragged on. The heat came in waves, sometimes manageable, sometimes excruciating, but it never stopped. She’d never felt so helpless in her life, every moment of agony reminding her of how unprepared she was, how no one had ever taught her what to do. She thought of her mother’s cold, distant face and felt an icy bitterness creep into her heart.

But she wouldn’t break. She couldn’t. Not even now.

Through the night, Hailey fought, her body aching, her soul crying out for release, for some kind of relief. But she held on. Alone, battling the relentless heat in the darkness of her room, she fought to keep control, to not lose herself to the primal urge that threatened to devour her.

It wasn’t until the first light of dawn crept through her window that she finally let out a breath, her body still trembling, but the worst of the heat had passed. She was exhausted, mentally and physically drained, but she had made it through. Barely.

Downstairs, Varian sat in his study, his fingers clenched into fists as he leaned forward in his chair, still fighting against his own cravings, his need for her. He knew this wasn’t over—not by a long shot. But for now, he could only wait…and hope that when the time came, they could face this together.

---

**"Wow… that was intense, right?** 
You’ve made it through Hailey’s heat (barely), but let’s be honest—things are just starting to heat up! 🥵 Hailey’s battle isn’t over yet, and neither is Varian’s. You can feel it, can’t you? The tension, the chemistry, the *inevitable* that’s lurking just around the corner. But what happens next? Does Hailey finally confront her feelings, or will Varian be the one to break? Will they find strength in each other or be torn apart by the forces around them?

Trust me, you *do not* want to miss what’s coming. There's more drama, more twists, and maybe even a few shocking revelations that’ll leave you begging for more. So if you're as ready as I am to dive into the next chapter, let’s make it happen!

**Here’s how you can help:**

**Hit that 'like' button**—it’s the little boost that keeps me typing away!

**Drop a comment** and tell me how you’re feeling after *that* chapter (don’t worry, I love the screaming and the ‘OMG WHY?!’).

**Share the story** with your fellow readers—because the more, the merrier, right?

Your support means everything, and it’s what fuels these wild plot twists and emotional rollercoasters. So, what do you think? Ready for more? Let’s dive deeper into this world together!"

---