Chapter 7: The Forced Heat
1011 Words
That night, I was burning up.
Not your usual fever. *Mate fever.*
My body felt like it was on fire, but my sweat was cold. It dripped from my forehead, hitting the cave floor and turning to steam. *Nyx* in my head was groaning—not from pain—but from hunger.
Hunger to touch. Hunger for him.
*"This is Forced Heat,"* Nyx rasped. *"Eclipse Bond’s unstable. Kaelan was right. Three days till the eclipse, and the bond will force us... to mate. If not, we’ll go crazy. Or he will."*
I bit my arm until silver blood flowed. *"I won’t let the bond control me!"*
But my body betrayed me. My vision blurred. My ears buzzed. And my damn nose picked up his scent from outside the cave.
*Smoke. Thunder. Burning wood. And... longing.*
The scent of *Ryker.*
He’d been guarding outside since evening. He didn’t come in because I screamed, "Don’t come in!" when the fever hit. But now...
*"Ravena?"* His voice came from outside, worried. *"Are you... okay? Your scent... it’s different."*
*Different from your brain!* I wanted to scream, but all that came out was a pained groan. *So embarrassing!*
*CRACK.*
The cave door shattered. Ryker barged in, ignoring my command.
His eyes widened. *Red and silver* were dark. *Berserk Form* was ready to explode from my Forced Heat scent. It was like a drug for an Alpha. *Calling for a claim.*
But he bit his lip until it bled black to hold back. His obsidian-silver claws scratched the cave walls, leaving deep marks.
*"I... I won’t touch,"* he swore, knees trembling. *Orion* was rolling around in his head like he was boiling. *"But Nyx... Nyx said you could die if your temperature doesn’t drop. Moonlight Healing won’t work for Heat."*
I knew. *Nyx* had whispered it. The only cure for Forced Heat = *skin contact.* Skin to skin. To stabilize the Eclipse Bond. Just touch.
But I *stubborn.*
*"I’d rather die!"* I coughed, silver blood splattering. *"Than... than let you touch me!"*
*THUD!*
I passed out. My body crumpled, head about to hit the rock.
*But it didn’t.*
A strong arm caught me. Hot. *Burning*, but... *relieving.* My temperature dropped a degree instantly. The *Eclipse Bond* in our chests *SCREAMED* bright silver, like neon lights.
I cracked my eyes open a bit. Blurry. I saw his face, drenched in sweat, filled with fear, and... *love.*
He didn’t hug me. He *cradled* me. My head rested on his lap. His hands *didn’t touch my skin.* He covered me with his thick Alpha cloak. *But his body heat seeped through.* Just enough to calm the Eclipse Bond.
*"I’m sorry,"* he whispered. *"I broke the rules. But... I won’t let you die, Ravena. I’d go to hell for you."*
*Nyx* in my head... *fell silent.* Then he said softly: *"He’s not lying. Orion... Orion would die for us. He was foolish before. Now... he’s learned."*
I wanted to be mad. But my mouth said something else. *"It’s cold..."*
Ryker panicked. *"Cold? You were burning up!"*
*"Cold... because... your cloak is too thick,"* I babbled. Forced Heat made me crazy. *"Take it off..."*
He froze. *Orion* in his eyes *stopped howling.* It changed to... *hope.*
With trembling hands, he took off his Alpha cloak and tossed it aside. Now he wore only a thin shirt. His chest—covered in old scars and fresh ones from Eclipse Flame yesterday—was exposed.
He tried to place my head back on his lap.
*"No,"* I said, mortified, but the bond was insistent. *"Hands... give me your hands."*
He offered his trembling hand.
I... reached out. *Skin to skin.*
*ZAP!!!*
*Eclipse Bond* exploded with light. The entire cave lit up. *Moonlight Healing* and *Eclipse Flame* merged into a *silver eclipse fire* dancing around us, but it wasn’t hot. *Warm.* Like a hug from the moon.
My temperature normalized. *Forced Heat* faded. Just *warm longing* now. Manageable.
But another effect... *Nyx* and *Orion* in our heads... *met.*
In my mind, I saw: A moonlit field. Nyx, a huge Silver Wolf, standing. In front of him, Orion, a Black-Obsidian Wolf with silver veins, bowed.
*"I’m sorry,"* Orion bowed until his nose touched the ground. *"For her. For you. I’m a foolish Alpha."*
Nyx didn’t respond. He circled Orion, sniffing. Then... he *rubs* his head against Orion’s neck. Once. *Forgiveness, but not yet trust.*
Then they both vanished.
I woke up in the real world, still holding Ryker’s hand.
He looked at me, tears pooling in his eyes. *"Did you... see?"*
I nodded, too drained to speak.
He smiled. A soul-shattering smile. *"Orion says... Nyx forgives him a little. That’s... enough for me to live a thousand more years."*
I wanted to pull my hand away. He let go. A gentleman. *Not taking advantage.*
*"The heat’s gone,"* he whispered. *"You rest. I’ll guard outside. If anything happens... knock three times. I’ll come in."*
He started to rise.
*"Ryker,"* I called. His name felt strange on my tongue.
He stopped, not looking back. Afraid I’d be mad.
*"Your cloak... take it back. I’m cold."*
He picked up the cloak. Wrapped it around me. This time he *touched my fingertips* while covering me. On purpose. *Eclipse Bond* flickered to life. Warm.
He stepped out.
I closed my eyes. *Nyx* laughed. *"You like him touching you, don’t you? Admit it."*
*"Shut up. I want to sleep."*
But I slept with a smile. For the first time in 18 years.
*Outside the cave.*
Ryker sat against a rock. His hands looked at his palm. The hand that held Ravena’s... *glowed silver* a bit. Not fading.
*"Two days left,"* he whispered to Orion. *"Two days till the eclipse. Kaelan is coming. I need to be strong. For her."*
*Orion* howled. Not in anger. *A promise.* _Our lives for her. Until death._
*Far in the Celestial Prison.*
Something stirred in the dark. *I heard Nyx’s howl. Felt the Eclipse Bond activate.*
*"Time... is near..."* a voice, rusty from a thousand years. *"Blood of the Moonborn... open the door... Rogue God... rise..."*
- Writer
