_Alaric's POV_
The moment our lips met, it felt like a bolt of lightning shot through my body. My heart pounded wildly in my chest, every nerve ending sparking to life. Her kiss was soft but intense, filled with a longing that matched my own hidden desires. As we parted, breathless and flushed, I could see a raw vulnerability in Alina's eyes.
But then, Leo’s voice broke through my thoughts. "Alaric, Alina is in heat, but this isn't her natural cycle."
I frowned, confusion and worry swirling within me. "What do you mean?"
Leo growled softly. "Something is wrong. This is not the right time for her to be in heat."
I frowned, my gaze still locked on Alina. I wanted to pull away, to give her the space to think clearly, but the look in her eyes, the desperation, held me in place
