"Alexis Vandel! Did you just say Alexis Vandel?"
Sarah's voice shot higher than mine the moment I mentioned the name. We were seated on the open field overlooking the red lake that bordered the Moonbound Pack, not far from Crescent territory.
Alex and Aj were knee-deep in the water, trying to fish, while Sarah and I sat on the picnic mat, nibbling on slices of apple.
"Yep," I said, finally deciding to tell her about Alexis. Because if this heat kept building, I had to find a way to cool it down—and running to Elijah for his bite was not an option.
"Girl, how can you not know about Alexis?" she blinked, her big, doll-like green eyes fixed on me in disbelief.
"Okay, Sah Sah, we're not all book nerds like you," I teased.
"Right," she clapped her hands together with mock offense. "I forgot you hated history. But Di, this is Wolfie history—a widely known one. It's something you should definitely know."
I shrugged. "Well, I don't." So why wouldn't she just tell me about her already?
"But why do you want to know about Alexis anyway?" she asked, picking up another apple slice and popping it into her mouth, still watching me closely. Then her eyes widened, and she froze mid-bite. "Wait, did Elijah tell you about her?"
Yes, he did. But I wasn't about to admit that. No, thank you.
"No," I replied instead, forcing a casual tone. "I'm just… curious. About why she's the only different wolfie among the rest. And why her mate had to bite her thigh instead of her neck."
Sarah exhaled, dropping her half-eaten slice and lying back on the mat. "Come lie with me."
I joined her, sinking into the soft fabric. Above us, the cherry trees swayed gently, their blossomed petals whispering against the sunlight. The air carried the faint scent of grass and apple skin.
"Alexis Vandel was born different," she began, her voice calm and distant—like someone retelling an old myth. "She was the only female alpha. And that was a taboo… no male in her pack would accept it."
"How did she become a female Alpha?" I asked, blinking at Sarah.
"It happened naturally," she said. "In her presence, pack members couldn't help but bow to her. Back then, there was only one wolfie pack in the world."
"Did she… did she rule?"
"Of course," Sarah replied, shaking her head. "But not without the scrutinizing gazes of her members. I came across her story when I was researching our history, and I found her inspiring. I mean, a female Alpha? I'd fight a thousand bears just to see one in our time."
"And the heat?"
Sarah sighed, giving me a small glance before looking back at the sky. "I only know that she bore a heat so intense it almost consumed her. It reached a point where the members feared she'd unleash her flame and burn them all."
I gasped. Was it really that intense?
Sarah shook her head. "There wasn't much written about what truly happened—only that she found her mate, the one who calmed the flame."
My breath caught. So it's true. Only her mate could calm the flame.
"Is there nothing else written about her?" Surely there had to be something more—something about praying to the Moon Goddess to lift the curse. But why? Why must someone be born with such heat? Why am I the one feeling it now?
I shook my head. This won't do. "What else did you read about her, Sarah?"
I was so deep in thought that I didn't even notice Sarah had sat up. She was pointing over the lake, eyes wide.
"Look! They caught a big fish!"
I sat up too. Aj and Alex were walking toward us, each holding two fish by the tails. Their shirts were gone, their pants soaked and clinging to their legs. My gaze lingered on Aj's tanned, muscled chest before I quickly looked away, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. When his brown eyes met mine, I felt my heart skip.
"Sarah," I muttered, tugging her shoulder sharply, turning her away before she could keep drooling over her husband's half-naked glory. "Focus! Tell me the rest—before they get here."
"Tell me more about her."
Sarah blinked at me, tilting her head. "Oh, oh, you're curious about history now, huh?"
I nodded, too afraid to tell her the truth—to tell her that I was feeling the same unbearable heat Alexis once did.
"Well…" she smacked her lips, thinking. "Sadly, that's all I read. I tried to find more of her records back at the academy library, but there was nothing else."
I sighed. That couldn't be all. There had to be something more, something that explained the significance of her bite.
"However…"
My ears perked up, my gaze snapping to her in anticipation.
"There's an ancient book," she said slowly, "one that's been hidden for many years. It talked about everything—at least that's what I heard. But…" she shrugged, "they say it was destroyed in a fire. Or maybe it just went missing."
"Or perhaps someone's hiding it," I murmured.
Her brows lifted as she blinked at me. "Now why would you say that?"
Because there could be more, more about this flame. Something that would explain why this is happening to me.
"I don't know," I said softly. "Just a nudge."
She grinned, brushing her hair back. "Di, Alexis is a great myth. An impressive woman who ruled in ancient times. But I don't think there's anything more to the story—or any reason someone would hide that book."
She shrugged, her gaze already wandering back toward Alex and Aj. They were under a tree now, setting up a small fire to roast the fish. "We should go join them."
She was about to stand when I caught her hand. "Sarah."
She blinked and sat back down, studying my face. "What's up? You look… worked up."
I probably did. The faint heaviness under my eyes gave me away. Ever since I woke up from that dream, the worry hadn't left me.
"We have to find that book," I said.
Her brows drew together. "Why? What's going on?"
Because it's happening to me, Sarah. And I'm not even an Alpha. I need to know why this is happening to me. But instead, I only said, "I'm curious about her."
"If that book still exists, Di," Sarah whispered, leaning closer, "we'd have to search through every Wolfie territory and every secret library." Her voice dropped lower. "How in the world are we supposed to do that?"
"I don't know."
She closed her eyes briefly, then opened them and fixed me with a narrowed gaze. "Is there something you're not telling me?"
I laughed lightly. "What?"
Her arms crossed over her chest, her tone firm. "I know you, Diana. You wouldn't suddenly get this curious about Alexis unless there's something more."
I bit my lip. Should I tell her? Goddess, can I even say it out loud?
"Diana," she pressed, her voice softening. "What is it?"
I reached for her hand, squeezing it gently before glancing over her shoulder to make sure the boys were out of earshot. Then I took a deep breath.
"I have the heat, Sarah."
Her eyes widened. At first, she scoffed and rolled her eyes like I was joking, but when she saw how serious I looked, her breath caught.
"What?"
"Yeah." I sighed, shoulders slumping under the weight of it.
"No, it can't be. You're not—" she shook her head, stammering, "you're not an Alpha. And Alexis… Alexis was one."
"I know." Another long sigh escaped me. "Which is why it's important that I find out."
"No," she whispered, her voice trembling now. "You can't—oh, Diana. How long have you known? How long have you felt the heat?"
I lowered my gaze, fingers clasping together tightly. Way longer than I've known you, Sarah. But I didn't say it. I didn't need to.
She reached out and took my hand, her touch warm, reassuring.
"It's okay," she said softly, forcing a smile. "We'll find a way to cure it somehow."
"But isn't that way…the only one we both know?"
She shook her head. "No, it can't be. Yours might be different—maybe you don't need a mate to claim you. You're not Alexis, remember?"
I nodded, but deep down, I wasn't sure anymore who I even was.
"Listen," she said gently, still rubbing my hand. "We'll go to the mating ceremony as planned. We'll pray to the goddess to give you a different mate. And then, we'll find that book."
I almost laughed at how hopeful she sounded. But this was Sarah—always optimistic, even in the hardest times.
"You know if I go to the mating ceremony, I'll see Elijah and then…"
The thought alone made my pulse race.
The heat might intensify—every wolf reached their peak during the mating ceremony. And this time, it would be worse. The full moon was coming.
"Oh, Sarah," I whispered, "I don't think I can face him."
I didn't want to betray myself by clinging to his scent.
"You can," she said firmly, her eyes steady on mine. "And you will. Facing this is the only way out. We'll go to the ceremony and we'll perform a prayer for you."
"The mating ceremony?"
"Oh, for goddess' sake.." we both exclaimed in shock when AJ and Alex approached. But it was AJ who spoke first, his eyes wide and fixed on me.
"Diana, the mating ceremony? At the Crescent Pack?"
I looked down at my clasped hands. Right. I hadn't told AJ.
The mating ceremony was sacred for all packs—every allied pack held it at the same time each year. For the past five years, I'd always attended with the Moonbound Pack. And now… my breath hitched. I couldn't even look at him.
"Diana, you're not thinking of—"
"Aj," Sarah cut in gently. I turned to her, and she met my gaze with a knowing look.
"She has to return to the pack to pray to the goddess," she said quietly. "It's her mother's pack."
AJ nodded, but the look of hurt and betrayal in his eyes made me want to sink into the ground.
"You should've told me, Di."
I know I should have—but I was scared. I didn't even know how to begin.
He turned away, but I still caught his low murmur.
"If only you hadn't attended that wedding."
The air stilled. All three of us froze. We'd all heard it—and what made it worse was that the two people who got married were right here.
"Forgive him," Sarah said softly. "He's just being sensitive."
Alex, ever calm, waved it off with an easy smile. "We know he doesn't mean harm."
His eyes met mine, warm and understanding. "He cares about you, Diana. We all do. If the mating ceremony might trigger you… maybe you shouldn't go."
"Alex," Sarah scolded, frowning at him.
But Alex only knelt down and pulled Sarah into his arms. She hit him playfully, but he just laughed, stood, and twirled her around before heading toward the lake.
Over his shoulder, he called, "You should come taste the fish, Di!"
I laughed softly, shaking my head. Then my gaze drifted to Aj.
He was crouched over the fire, carefully tending to the roasting fish. He still hadn't looked up. I almost rose to go to him when...
I felt it again. That throbbing heat between my legs.