Luke's P.O.V.

My locker door slammed shut earning myself a couple of looks as I stood there, glowering. I stood to my full height, trying to calm my wolf as he paced agitatedly. I rest my arm against the locker followed by my head.

It was the most volatile times of the year. The heat was upon us and everyone felt the effects highly. Most of the girls were absent and couples had already gone missing leaving most unmated males and a few brave girls in school. Everyone was on edge as our wolf nature was heightened; the tension was thick around the school. I had to break up countless near fights today.

Jason and Bryan grunted as they stood next to me. The school was quiet, everyone fearing that a single word would trigger a bomb.

"Seth's so damn lucky their family went out of town for a couple of days," Bryan said.

"You and I both know he's on babysitting duty while his parents get lucky," Jason retorted. 

I growled annoyed and their laughter died down. My wolf growled and pawed at my conscious more now, urging me to find Ana. That was something I could do in a heartbeat as my body was so aware of hers, her scent was sweeter and more potent now.

"Let's head to lunch," Bryan said snapping me out of my daze. I nodded and pushed off from my locker but at that moment, my shoulder knocked into someone.

"Watch it," they hissed and my wolf instantly got aggressive. I looked up and saw the person who I had bumped into was no other that Xaden.

My mood instantly changed. Everyone in the corridor stepped back, anticipating the fight that was going to happen. My wolf controlled the larger part of my logic. He brought up all the times Xaden was in contact with our mate, taking her away from us, the only obstacle between us and her. 

"Get out of my way," I spat out. My wolf was howling for blood.

"And if I don't?" Xaden stepped towards me and I held my ground, standing up to my full height and squaring my shoulders. "You're not my alpha."

"I am of Alpha blood," I said lowly. "And you will show some respect."

Xaden snorted, "Respect? You aren't worth mine. You're no alpha. You're a pathetic excuse for an alpha, even for a wolf. You fail to get anything right."

"Mind your own business Ford," I snarled. "You have no idea who I am and what I'm going through."

Xaden growled and stepped closer challenging me face-to-face. "And you think you're the only one? You have no idea what you have and what you're doing and have done. Your mate is right in front of you, literally, everyday. Yet you play with her emotions and her heart as if she's a toy. You have no idea how much people would kill for their mate to be with them instead of halfway across the country or the world."

I had a light bulb moment at his words but my anger outweighed my sympathy. "Then step aside and let me get what I want."

Xaden squared his shoulders, his wolf ready to burst to the surface. "Never."

I raised my paw to swat him aside but the blow never landed. I focused my eyes through the blurry haze of rage and saw that my hand had stopped mere centimetres away from Anastasia. I watched as Cael restrained a furious Xaden with silver cuffs. I tensed to lunge again but Anastasia's hand pressed to my chest, stopping me.

"Cael, please take Xaden home," Ana commanded coolly. I felt a slight burning on my chest and I looked down. Ana's hands were covered with think silver rings that made my wolf recede slightly. Xaden fought Cael as he led him down the corridor, his canines extending and ready for my blood.

All my senses focused on the girl in front of me. I growled loudly, grabbing her hand from my chest and pulling her closer to me. I was aware of the lingering crowd around us. "Don't you all have other things to do?" I muttered lowly. Ana shivered and the crowd dispersed.

Everything about her was overwhelming. It was taking a whole lot of my willpower and the underlying scent of silver to keep my wolf at bay. My sight flickered between mine and the sharper eyes of my wolf as I looked down at Ana.

Her hair was dark and luscious as my eyes followed its path. Drifting slowly over her glowing smooth skin, past her plump pink lips down to where it ended, brushing her swollen breasts. My breathing became ragged as my hands traced the outline of her waist and came to a stop on her widen hips.

Ana trembled under my touch. Her eyes met mine and I saw the suppressed lust in them. I knew the effects the heat had on me, my shoulders were broader, muscles more toned and tight, my scent would be intoxicating to her; just as hers is to me. My nostrils flared as the scent of her arousal hit me. I instinctively pulled her closer, pressing our hips together causing my excitement to match her own.

Anastasia tried to step back but my grip tightened on her waist. "Luke," her voice was soft and gentle. "Please let me go."

My wolf recoiled and I stared down at her in shock. Her heart was racing and I could sense her wolf as close to the surface as the silver would allow. My heart panged with rejection but my hands stayed firmly where they were, pulling her flush against me. I pressed my nose to her hair, breathing in her scent deeply.

"Luke, please," Ana was sad causing me to whimper. I pressed a kiss to her forehead and felt her relax against me.

"Luke for both our sakes', please let me go," Ana tried again.

I growled loudly, making her jump but she, impressively, held her ground. "Why should I let you go? Isn't this what you want? Both you and I want this." I saw red, my instincts blinding my sense of logic, my wolf ready to mark and mate.

"Luke, you're not thinking clearly," Ana said plainly. "It's the heat, your wolf is clouding your judgement."

"Don't you want me?" I looked at her pleadingly, her shoulders dropped as her resolve crumbled. I shivered as she reached up and cupped my cheek. I growled lowly, closing my eyes and leaning into her touch.

"So much Luke, you have no idea," she breathed.

We stood there silently, enjoy each other's presence. My nose nuzzled her hair, drinking in her scent slowly. I felt her body mould into mine and my arousal flared.

"But we both know I can't have you."

My eyes snapped open at those whispered words. Ana took opportunity at my shock and broke out of my grip. I snarled loudly as her warmth disappeared and she walked away. My wolf rose to the surface and my body trembled, threatening to shift. I roared in anger as my fist came into contact with my locker, leaving a considerable dent in the door.

~

My rage only grew as the night progressed.

I snarled and tackled a young wolf to the ground. I kept my jaw around his neck, pushing him down, giving no other choice but to submit. He whined as his ears flattened and his body relaxed. I let go of his neck and watched as he slunk away.

Dad, Harvey and I were keeping unruly males at bay. Boys going through their first heat after shifting for the first time were the usually hard to control, unaccustomed to rush of hormones and pheromones in the air. 

Another male lunged forward and I side stepped him and growled lowly. I took a step towards the small wolf, my lips pulled back exposing my teeth. My wolf growled again and I noticed that it was deeper, more ominous and threatening. The wolf lunged and I caught him, jumping up on my hind legs and tackling him to the ground. We were a mass of fur and teeth as I pinned him to the ground. I tasted blood as my teeth grazed his skin.

Let him up Luke, my father commanded as he sent another wolf retreating. I huffed and let the guy go, watching him slink away.

Calm down, Harvey said. You need to focus at the task at hand. We can't have them rebelling, even if it's due to the heat.

I huffed and sat on my haunches. The blue-grey eyes of my wolf searching for the next competitor. The fighting was both an outlet and a distraction for our anger. I snarled as an older guy sauntered around me and my hackles rose, ready for the fight.

An image of Ana in bed flashed before my eyes. 

I frowned and my wolf kept his aggressive show up while focusing on our mate. I whined as a searing heat pierced through my chest but as quickly as it appeared, it disappeared. Another image of Ana, back arched off the bed appeared in my mind and I struggled to grasp it. My skin suddenly burned, the pain was nearing unbearable. An eastern breeze blew through the clearing, bringing with it the heady, intoxicating scent of my mate mixed with a new scent.

It was happening. Our mate, was at the peak of her heat.

My wolf took full control immediately. He growled and took off at high speed in the direction of her scent. I was faintly aware of Dad and Harvey calling my name but they could not run after me. My muscles ached as my wolf pushed himself to the limit. There was only one goal in his mind; to get to our mate.

My nostrils flared as her scent and the mate bond got stronger. Images whirred through my head, all of Ana, heightening my need for her and spurring my wolf on. As I jumped over a fallen log I was tackled to the ground. I lashed out immediately, sinking my jaws and claws into the wolf. The wolf sprang back and growled.

I struggled to recognise the wolf as friend or foe. My eyes flickered to the white porch of the Ashworth house. I shuddered as another wave of desire and Ana's scent saturated the air. She was so close. My wolf growled and tensed for a lunge, deciding that anyone who stood between him and her was a foe.

"Luke," my eyes focused on Nyal. "I'm sorry. You cannot go any further. For Anastasia's safety and yours." His tone was sympathetic.

Suddenly a piercing scream punctured the night followed by a severe burning in my abdomen. I heaved and forced myself to shift back. I doubled over clutching my stomach, no doubt I was feeling Ana's pain. My skin was red hot against the icy chill of the night.

"I need to see her," I said lowly. "I am going to see her."

Nyal blocked me and my path and I growled, my wolf itching to get out. "I can't do that. Ana is in a bad state, I think your presence may make it worse."

Another scream pierced the air and my stomach wrenched and pain clawed at my insides. "I can ease her pain at least, please let me see her."

Nyal looked at me with pity. "We can take care of her Luke," he said softly.

The clawing in my gut hurt my insides. I could hear her more clearly now, fighting against some type of restraint, panting as she groaned.

"Luke, please," Nyal said firmly. "Ana is very volatile right now. She can hurt you."

"Let me see her!" I shouted.

Ana's heart raced as she heard my voice. I heard her whisper my name ever so quietly as she pulled against the restraints. I winced and clenched my fists as I heard her scream of agony as another wave of pain crashed over her. Her breathing was shallow and I heard her growl and snarl accompanied by the sound of leather tearing and someone cursing.

"It's in the grey box Axel," I heard Nyal murmur. I broke out of my haze and focused on him. "Not that grey box the other grey box." Nyal rolled his eyes at his younger brother.

"What are you doing?" I said lowly taking a cautious step towards him and the house.

There was a fleeting look of fear in Nyal's eyes before it was hidden behind his caring mask. "What we always do when Ana goes into heat. Her wolf is too strong, too unstable and unpredictable."

I snarled, letting it echo into the night. "And what does that involve?"

Nyal took a step back, "Restraints. Whenever it's bad like today we have to use silver."

I heard the restraints rattle against the bed. Axel cursed again loudly as her breathing hitched. My heart stopped for a couple second as hers did. I could feel her slipping away, her entire body was shaking and numb and she choked on her own breath.

Nyal closed his eyes, "Other times, we have to put her to sleep to ease her pain."

My mind processed his words two milliseconds too late.

"NO!" I roared as I smelt the bitter sedative before it plunged into Ana's skin. My wolf and I were shell shocked, unable to move or think. Everything bled away until Anastasia was the only thing in my world.

I heard her laboured breathing as it slowed. The heat slowly dissipated from my body and the pain receded. My wolf whined as Ana's heartbeat slowed and the reality of what happened set in.

Nyal jumped back as I shifted. I ran past him to the house. My claws dug into the wall as we tried to reach our mate. I was frantic and the only thing that could calm me was her.

My heart broke as the metallic smell of blood hit my nose. My wolf sank to the ground whining, his body limp with defeat and failure.

Ana's heat was over.

Thoughts whirled through my head. The chance to mate, the opportunity to start a family. The overwhelming feeling of Ana's pain, the fact that I let her go through this alone. I failed her. I couldn't bring her comfort, I couldn't provide anything for her. I choked on the lump on emotion in my throat. I was less of the wolf I am and I hated myself.

My wolf tipped his head back and a mournful howl echoed through the night.