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~Valerie's POV~
I woke up gasping, my body drenched in sweat.
My sheets clung to my skin, and there was an unmistakable wetness between my thighs that made my cheeks burn even though I was alone.
"What the hell?" I muttered, sitting up and pushing my hair out of my face.
The dream had been so vivid and real. My brain and body had enjoyed all six of them touching , kissing , their hands everywhere, their voices whispering things that made my core clench even now in the waking world.
I squeezed my thighs together, trying to ignore the throbbing ache that wouldn't go away.
For a long ti now, I'd missed my mates' touch and tried suppressing that desire, but now… all I could think of was Xade's mouth on my clit, Kai's tongue in my core, Dristan's domineering kisses, Axel's…
"This is ridiculous," I said to myself, throwing off the covers and heading to the bathroom.
The cold tile felt good against my bare feet as I turned on the shower, waiting for the water to heat up. Maybe a shower would help clear my head and calm down whatever this was.
I stepped under the spray, letting the warm water cascade over my body. But the mont my hands touched my skin to wash, I froze.
Everything felt hypersensitive.
The simple act of running soap over my arms sent shivers down my spine. When I washed my breasts, I had to bite my lip to keep from making a sound.
And between my legs—I barely touched myself there before I had to stop, my body reacting so intensely I thought I might collapse.
"What is happening to ?" I whispered in a shaky voice.
"Valerie," Astra's voice purred in my mind, sounding far too knowing. "I think you should know sothing."
"What?" I asked, trying to focus on washing my hair instead of the way my body seed to be on fire.
"You're in heat."
I froze, my hands still in my hair. "What?"
"Heat. Your second one yet and your first major big one, actually."
"What? I had my heat before when…"
"Yes, but even that was amplified by magic. And since you did not consummate it, it's practically worse than before. I've been sensing it building for a few days now, but it's hitting you fully today."
"No, no, no," I groaned, leaning my forehead against the cool shower wall. "This cannot be happening right now. I have classes. I have volleyball practice. I have—"
"Six mates who will absolutely lose their minds when they sll you," Astra finished, and I could hear the amusent in her voice.
"This isn't funny!" I said, but my body betrayed with another wave of arousal just thinking about them.
"I never said it was. But you should probably figure out what you're going to do. Because trust , they will know."
I finished my shower as quickly as possible, my hands shaking as I dried off and got dressed. I chose a long-sleeved shirt and jeans, as if covering more skin would sohow help mask what was happening to .
It didn't.
Even fully dressed, I felt like I was burning up from the inside out. Every movent of fabric against my skin was almost too much. And the ache between my legs refused to go away no matter how hard I tried to ignore it.
"Maybe I should just skip class," I said to my reflection in the mirror.
"And do what? Hide in your room all day? Your heat will last for days, Valerie. You can't avoid them forever."
"I can try," I muttered, grabbing my bag and heading out.
The walk to class was torture. Every male student I passed seed to do a double-take, their nostrils flaring slightly. I kept my head down and walked faster, praying I'd make it to class without incident.
The classroom was already half full when I arrived. I quickly scanned the room and my heart sank.
Dristan was already there, sitting in the back. Since we started talking, they have beco regulars in class. His head lifted the mont I walked in, and his eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that made my breath catch.
I quickly looked away and found a seat near the front, as far from him as possible.
But I could feel his hot, penetrating gaze on the entire ti like he was trying to figure sothing out.
More students filtered in, including Kai and Xade. They both paused when they entered, their eyes finding imdiately. Kai's brow furrowed in confusion, and Xade's expression shifted to sothing more curious, almost predatory.
"Fuck," I whispered under my breath, slouching lower in my seat.
"Told you," Astra sang.
I tried to focus on the professor when class started, but it was impossible. My body felt like it was vibrating with need. Every ti I shifted in my seat, the friction was both relief and tornt. My hands gripped my pen so tightly I thought it might snap.
"Miss Valerie?" the professor's voice cut through my haze. "Can you answer the question?"
I blinked, realizing I hadn't heard a single word he'd said. "I... um..."
"The answer is the Treaty of Shadowre," Dristan's voice ca from behind , saving .
The professor nodded, moving on, but I could feel the weight of multiple stares on my back now.
The mont class ended, I bolted.
I didn't wait for anyone, didn't look back. I just grabbed my bag and rushed out the door, heading for my next class.
But they were everywhere.
I spotted Ace and Axel walking together across the quad, and I imdiately changed direction, taking the long way around the building. My heart was pounding, and not just from the exertion.
In my next class, Ash was already seated. His eyes found the second I walked in, and I watched his nostrils flare slightly. His knuckles went white where he gripped his desk.
I chose a seat on the opposite side of the room and spent the entire class staring determinedly at my notebook, not absorbing a single thing the professor said.
"This is getting ridiculous," Astra comnted. "You're acting like a scared rabbit."
"Because I feel like one," I shot back. "This is humiliating. I can barely think straight, and they can probably sll exactly what's happening to ."
"They're your mates. This is natural."
"Natural doesn't make it less mortifying."
By lunch, I was exhausted from avoiding them. I skipped the cafeteria entirely and found a quiet corner of the library to hide in, nibbling on a granola bar I'd stashed in my bag.
But I couldn't hide forever.
My last class of the day was Advanced Combat Theory, and all six of them were in that class.
I stood outside the door for a full minute, debating whether I should just fake being sick and go back to my dorm or enter and act like nothing as wrong.
"Go in," Astra urged. "You're stronger than this."
Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the door.
All six heads turned toward imdiately. The combined weight of their attention struck like a physical force, and I had to grab the doorfra to steady myself.
Dristan's eyes darkened. Kai's jaw clenched. Xade leaned back in his chair, and a slow smile spread across his face. Ace looked confused but interested. Axel's expression was soft but intense. And Ash... Ash looked like he was barely holding himself back from crossing the room.
I hurried to an empty seat near the middle, trying to put as much distance between myself and all of them as possible.
But the classroom suddenly felt way too small.
The professor droned on about defensive formations and tactical advantages, but I couldn't focus. My skin felt too tight. Every breath seed to draw their scents deeper into my lungs, making the ache inside worse.
I pressed my thighs together under the desk, trying to find so relief, but it only made it worse.
I made it my mission to avoid my friends too. The last thing i needed was more pepotalk from Isla even though she was right.
When class finally, rcifully ended, I tried to make another escape.
But this ti, they were ready.
I'd barely made it three steps out the door when Xade appeared in front of , blocking my path. Before I could turn around, Dristan was behind . Kai and Ace flanked my sides, while Axel and Ash closed off any other escape routes.
"Going sowhere?" Xade asked, his voice low and smooth.
"I... I have practice," I stamred, clutching my bag tighter.
"Practice isn't for another two hours," Kai said, his green eyes searching my face. "We checked."
"Val, what's going on?" Axel asked gently. "You've been avoiding us all day."
"I haven't—"
"Yes, you have," Dristan interrupted firmly. "We haven't seen or talked to you since last night. After we agreed to be open with each other, to not keep secrets."
"Did we do sothing wrong?" Ash asked, and the genuine concern in his voice made my chest ache.
"No," I said quickly, shaking my head. "You didn't do anything wrong. I just... I'm not feeling well."
"Not feeling well how?" Ace pressed, stepping closer. "You look flushed. Are you sick? Should we take you to the infirmary?"
"No!" I said too quickly, taking a step back and bumping into Dristan's chest.
His hands steadied , and the mont he touched , I felt him go completely still behind .
Then he leaned down, his nose nearly touching my hair, and inhaled deeply.
Every muscle in his body went rigid.
"I think I know why," Dristan stated. All of them tensed, their attention laser-focused on him. "She's in heat."
The words hung in the air like a bomb.
All six pairs of eyes locked onto with an intensity that made my knees weak. The hallway suddenly felt twenty degrees hotter, and I couldn't tell if it was from my heat or from the way they were all looking at now.
Like predators who'd just caught the scent of prey.
Like mates who'd just discovered their female needed them in the most primal way possible.
"Oh goddess," I whispered, my face burning as I stared at the floor, unable to et any of their eyes.
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