Chapter 5

PRISCA’S POV

After taking a long, much-needed shower, Sophie and I decided to wind down by watching the final season of *Game of Thrones*. Khaleesi had taken a dark turn, becoming more ruthless, and it was starting to annoy me. "Maybe her dragons should just burn her and turn to Snow," I commented, tossing a handful of popcorn into my mouth.

Sophie gasped, still glued to the screen. She was far more addicted to the show than I was. "Girl, don’t even start! Those are her babies. Like, why would they abandon her for that shorty?"

I rolled my eyes, "Oh, please. Don’t even dare insult Snow. He’s the real king—hot, too!"

Sophie laughed. "You know nothing, team Snow. Just watch—our Queen will burn down every wretched city!"

"I hope she fries herself in the process," I scoffed. I loved Khaleesi, but she was being a total bitch this season.

Sophie groaned, throwing popcorn at the screen. "Bitch, shut up! Stop hating and let the Queen rule."

"Fine, fine. Whatever you say, woman." I fidgeted in my seat, pulling off my light jersey. Suddenly, it felt unbearably hot and stuffy in the room.

She glanced at me sideways. "You know who I want to get fried? That red-headed brat."

"Oh, come on, Sansa isn’t that bad," I said, still fidgeting and tugging at the collar of my white, loose, see-through turtleneck blouse. The heat was getting worse. I regretted my choice of outfit—a turtleneck was clearly a bad idea. "Is the heater on or something?" I asked, feeling a wave of heat rising in me.

Sophie burst out laughing. "Girl, the heater isn’t on. Werewolves don’t usually use heaters—our body temperature is already high. Haven’t you noticed, cuddling with Jakey in bed?"

I blushed as she mentioned Jake and our nights together. She wasn’t wrong—there were moments I thought he was running a fever because his body was so warm. But this heat was different. It felt suffocating. I stood up and turned on the air conditioner, hoping for some relief. Sophie gave me a curious look but quickly went back to her show.

"Die, bitch! Die!" she yelled at the screen as Cersei fled from Khaleesi and her dragon.

I shook my head at her intensity. Her phone beeped twice, interrupting her tirade. "Ugh, text from stupid Beta Christopher. Another GOT hater!" she said, pausing the episode and typing back furiously.

I wiped my forehead, now damp with sweat. "What does that hater want from us? Maybe I should burn all the GOT haters for you."

Sophie laughed. "Great idea! You’re like the real-life Khaleesi, only cooler."

I smirked. "Obviously."

Sophie’s expression suddenly shifted. "Why do people always tell me things last minute? Bella is in town!" she exclaimed, throwing her hands up in frustration.

"Who’s Bella?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

Sophie groaned. "She’s my best friend! She’s related to King Zaviarc, so she’s technically royal, too. And I just found out I’m supposed to pick her up from the airport in five minutes!"

I could tell she was genuinely upset. "So what time are you picking her up?"

"Like, right now! But I can’t leave you here, especially with your heat coming up. I can smell it all over you." Her tone was firm, but I could see her worry.

"I’m fine, honestly," I lied, trying to sound casual. I didn’t want to be a burden. "I doubt the heat will affect me like it does normal werewolves. I don’t even feel anything yet, and the full moon has been up for hours."

Sophie hesitated, her eyes scanning my face. "Are you sure?"

"Yes! Go get your friend. I’m a hybrid witch, Sophie. What’s the worst that could happen?"

She sighed but nodded reluctantly. "Fine. But if anything happens, call me. I’ll come right back!"

"Okay, okay. Go! I’ll be fine."

Sophie still looked conflicted, but she grabbed her keys. "Remember, don’t open the door for anyone. And don’t hesitate to call me!"

"Yes, mother!" I teased, waving her off as she hurried out of the room, the door banging shut behind her.

The moment she left, I yanked off my blouse and tossed it onto the floor. The heat was unbearable. My skin was sticky with sweat, and it felt like the room was closing in on me. 

Twelve minutes later, I was frantically filling the bathtub with ice packs from the freezer. The air conditioner was useless; it felt like it was spitting out heat instead of cold air. I stripped off my remaining clothes and plunged into the ice-filled tub, letting the coldness bite at my skin. But even the ice wasn’t enough. My temperature was so high that the ice was melting faster than it should.

My lower abdomen began to cramp painfully, and I groaned as my body ached with need. The heat was a nightmare, worse than any description I had read about it. I couldn’t think straight—my mind was filled with thoughts of Jake. His silver eyes, his intoxicating scent, his muscular arms. I moaned, biting my lip as my core throbbed with desire. 

I clawed at my skin in frustration, trying to distract myself from the overwhelming heat. Blood oozed from the scratches, mixing with the water that had once been ice but was now tepid. I barely cared about the pain—anything to take my mind off the fiery need consuming me.

Minutes felt like hours. Sweat drenched my body, and I was trembling. Another wave of heat hit me, even stronger than before. I screamed out loud, the pain and desire mixing into something unbearable. I was burning from the inside out. 

Then, suddenly, my body burst into flames. Not metaphorical flames, but actual fire. Blue flames danced across my skin, yet I wasn’t burning. I panicked at first, screaming in fear, but then I remembered: I was a witch. I had magic, even if it felt out of control in that moment. But what could I do? Running outside would burn the packhouse down, so I stayed in the tub, hoping the water would suppress the flames.

I swore loudly to myself. If Jake didn’t show up soon, I might lose my mind. The heat was driving me to the edge of sanity, and all I could think about was him. I tried calling him and Sophie again, but both their phones went straight to voicemail. 

As I struggled to keep myself under control, the bathroom door suddenly crashed open. Beta Christopher stood there, wide-eyed, staring at me in shock. I must have looked terrifying—naked, clawed up, and quite literally on fire.

"Lunar!" he gasped, his eyes black with lust as my scent hit him full force.

Oh no. Unmated werewolves should never be around a female in heat, especially an Alpha’s mate. "Chris," I growled through gritted teeth, trying to control my trembling body. "You need to leave. Now."

He didn’t listen. His eyes were wild with desire, and he stepped closer, a low growl escaping his lips. "I can make you feel real good," he said, his voice more beast than human. "Just let me help you."

I screamed as another wave of heat hit me. The flames around me flared, and with a burst of magic, I sent him flying across the room. He crashed into the sink, shattering it. 

When he got back up, his eyes were back to normal, and he seemed horrified. "Oh, shit. I’ll call the Alpha. I’m so sorry!" He bolted from the room, clearly terrified of what had just happened.

Moments later, Jake burst through the door, his eyes wide with fear and lust. He looked at me, his expression shifting from shock to raw desire. "Oh, shit, Prisca. You’re burning."

I whimpered, desperate for his touch. "Jake, it hurts so bad!"

Without hesitation, he knelt by the tub and reached for me. I screamed for him to stop, but he ignored me, his hand making contact with my burning skin. The moment he touched me, the flames vanished, replaced by a burst of sparks that sent shivers through my body. 

I moaned at the feel of his hands on me. His eyes turned obsidian black with desire, but instead of being afraid, I welcomed it. I needed him more than anything. Wrapping my legs around his waist, I pulled him closer, desperate to feel him. 

He growled low in his throat. "You smell so fucking good."

I moaned again, and he lifted me out of the blood-stained tub. The need between us was unbearable. His hands roamed over my body as he carried me to the bed. There was no denying what was going to happen next. My body and soul belonged to him, and there was nothing else in the world that mattered but him.