Chapter 14 - Passing Heat

••• Seleste’s POV •••

Several weeks had passed since the semester started, and I had finally started to feel like I was getting used to Ravenwood Academy.

Then I woke up feeling like something was very wrong.

My skin felt strangely sensitive, and even the sheets against my arms made me uncomfortable. My body was warmer than usual, and an unfamiliar restlessness moved through me.

I frowned and sat up.

What was happening?

Freya stirred inside my mind.

“Seleste…”

Something about her voice made my stomach drop.

She sounded restless. Almost dazed.

Then another wave of heat rushed through my body.

My eyes widened.

No…

Please, no.

I knew this feeling.

My first heat cycle was starting.

“No, no, no,” I whispered.

Of all the times this could happen, why now?

I had hoped my first heat wouldn’t come until after I graduated from Ravenwood. 

Instead, it had decided to show up while I was surrounded by unmated male wolves who could easily notice a change in my scent.

If anyone discovered I was a woman, my entire plan would be ruined.

“Seleste…” Freya whimpered again.

“I know,” I snapped mentally. “I’m trying to think.”

I sat on the edge of my bed for a moment, trying to think through my options.

There weren’t many.

I could stay in the dorm and pretend I was sick, but missing training would attract questions. Tristan already watched me closely enough. If I suddenly disappeared from class, he would probably wonder why.

I couldn’t give him another reason to be suspicious.

That meant I had to go to training.

I hated the idea.

Every part of me wanted to stay hidden beneath the blankets until this passed, but I couldn’t afford to do that.

Ravenwood was already full of people looking for weakness.

I couldn’t show them mine.

I quickly threw off the blankets and hurried toward my trunk.

I needed to hide this.

I grabbed my reinforced undershirt and pulled it on beneath my uniform, making sure my chest was properly hidden. Then I prepared the scent-blocking herbs my mother had taught me to use.

I took a stronger dose than usual.

The bitter taste made me grimace, but I swallowed it anyway.

I needed it to work.

I couldn’t afford for anyone to notice that my scent had changed.

Unfortunately, the moment I stepped onto the training field, I realized this was going to be much harder than I expected.

The morning air was filled with the scents of dozens of wolves.

Normally, I could ignore them.

Today, every scent seemed stronger.

I tightened my grip on my weapon and forced myself to focus.

We started with close-quarters combat.

I tried to follow the instructor’s movements, but every time another student accidentally touched my arm or shoulder, a strange spark went through my body.

I immediately pulled away.

This was getting worse.

My breathing became heavier, and I struggled to keep my movements steady.

It wasn’t because I was tired.

My body simply wouldn’t cooperate with me.

I forced myself to keep moving.

One step.

Block.

Turn.

Strike.

I repeated the movements in my head like a routine, refusing to think about anything else.

It almost worked.

Then one of the students grabbed my wrist during the next defensive drill.

A sharp rush went through me.

I immediately pulled my arm away.

“Sorry,” he muttered.

“It’s fine.”

I hoped he couldn’t hear how strained my voice sounded.

Freya wasn’t nearly as good at pretending.

She stirred restlessly inside me, making it harder to keep my thoughts under control.

“The heat is getting stronger,” she whispered.

“I know.”

I took several slow breaths.

“Just stay calm.”

She went quiet, but I could still feel her pacing.

“Keep your guard up, Aiden!” the instructor shouted.

I quickly raised my weapon.

“Sorry, ma’am.”

Another wave of heat moved through me.

My vision blurred for a second.

I couldn’t stay here.

I lowered my weapon.

“Ma’am, may I take a short break?”

The instructor frowned.

“You’re already struggling today.”

“I know. I just need some water.”

She waved her hand.

“Five minutes.”

I didn’t waste another second.

I hurried toward the nearest bathroom and locked myself inside an empty stall.

The moment I was alone, I leaned against the wall and closed my eyes.

“Calm down,” I whispered.

Freya paced restlessly inside my mind.

I took several slow breaths and forced myself to focus.

I couldn’t lose control.

Not here.

Not at Ravenwood.

I had spent weeks hiding who I really was. I wasn’t going to let my first heat expose me now.

I stayed inside the stall, leaning against the cold wall as I waited for the worst of the heat to pass.

Eventually, my breathing became steadier.

Better.

Not completely, but better.

I washed my face and looked at myself in the mirror.

My cheeks were flushed, but at least I still looked like Aiden.

That was enough.

I left the bathroom and started back toward the training field.

I kept my eyes on the floor as I walked.

Every few steps, I had to remind myself to breathe normally.

I couldn’t run.

Running would make people notice.

I couldn’t move too slowly either.

That would make them notice too.

So I forced myself to walk at the same steady pace I always used.

Inside, I was barely holding myself together.

I hated how vulnerable I suddenly felt.

I had spent weeks making sure no one could see the real me.

And now my own body was threatening to expose everything.

Then I caught a familiar scent.

My body reacted immediately.

The Rhiel twins.

The mate bond between us suddenly felt stronger than before.

Freya whined inside my head, desperate to follow their scent. “Please go to our mates.”

“No.”

I grabbed the wall for a moment and forced myself to breathe.

I couldn’t go looking for them.

I couldn’t let anyone see how strongly I reacted to them.

I pushed myself away from the wall and continued down the corridor.

Then I saw Tristan.

He was standing near the weapon racks, watching the students.

His eyes immediately landed on me.

My stomach tightened.

I straightened my shoulders and kept walking.

Don’t react.

Don’t look suspicious.

Just keep moving.

Thankfully, I managed to pass him without stopping.

By the time I reached the dorm, I was exhausted.

I closed the door behind me and let out a slow breath.

I thought I was finally safe.

Then I heard Zeke’s voice.

“Aiden?”

I froze.

He was sitting at his desk.

I hadn’t even realized he was there.

His silver eyes immediately focused on me.

“You look terrible.”

“I’m fine.”

The answer came out much too quickly.

Zeke stood.

“You’re sweating.”

“I just finished training.”

“You’ve been training for weeks. I’ve never seen you look like this.”

I looked away.

He walked over and grabbed a bottle of water from his bag.

“Drink.”

I hesitated before taking it.

“Thanks.”

I took a few sips.

Zeke didn’t move away.

“Are you sick?” He asked.

I had to force myself to relax when answering. “No.”

“You’re sure?” This time his voice is full of concern.

This time I couldn’t help but gritted my teeth. “Yes.”

He frowned.

“I think you should go to the medical bay.”

My heart stopped.

“No!”

The answer came out far too quickly.

Zeke raised an eyebrow.

I forced myself to calm down.

“I mean… no, really. I’m fine. I just need to rest.”

“You’re clearly not fine.”

“I’ll feel better after I sleep.”

He continued watching me.

I could feel the guilt building inside my chest.

Only yesterday, I had finally apologized to him.

We had spent an hour talking like normal roommates again. He had even told me to call him Zeke.

And now I was lying to him again.

I hated it.

But what else could I do?

I couldn’t tell him the truth.

Not about this.

Not about being Seleste.

Not about why my body was suddenly reacting this way.

He would ask questions.

And if he asked too many, I wouldn’t know how to answer them without destroying everything I’d worked so hard to hide.

So I swallowed the guilt and forced a small smile.

“I’m really okay, Zeke.”

Even though I knew I wasn’t.

Zeke sighed.

“Fine. But if you’re still feeling this bad later, I’m taking you to the medical bay myself.”

I nodded.

“Fair enough.”

I climbed into bed and pulled the blankets over myself.

Freya was still restless, but I focused on controlling my breathing.

I couldn’t give in to the instincts rushing through me.

Slowly, I managed to calm her down.

The heat was still there, but I finally got it under control.

I closed my eyes.

I had survived weeks pretending to be a boy.

I could survive my first heat too.

I just needed to stay in control.