Chapter Fifteen
Leila
The telltale signs are already here. My skin feels warmer than usual, and a light sheen of sweat forms on my forehead even though the room is cool. I’ve been down this road enough times to recognize the signs—my heat is arriving, and it’s time to go.
I glance out the window at the clear blue sky, the sun hanging high and bright, mocking the storm brewing within me. The vacation home, nestled deep in the woods, is the only place I like to go when this happens.
That place has always been my little escape, a spot I've run to ever since I was a kid when my heat used to completely take over. I couldn’t control it back then, and being around anyone else was a total disaster.
When my heat kicked in, my pheromones would send everyone into chaos.
Any Alpha nearby would go into a wild rut, completely losing it, and every Omega would be thrown into their own heat like they couldn’t help it.
The whole house would turn into a mess because of me.
I can still remember how hard my mom was on me as I struggled to get a grip on my pheromones.
It felt like trying to catch the wind. The only solution was for me to hide away, go to the vacation house whenever I felt the heat coming on, and stay until I could control it.
Now, it’s just a habit. All those years of running there have made it a routine. I’ve got my pheromones under control now, but I still go. The calm and quiet just give me a break from everything. It’s like my own little monthly getaway and a peaceful pause from the craziness of everyday life.
As I finish packing my bag, I hear a soft knock on the door. “Come in,” I call out, already knowing who it is.
The door creaks open, and Luke steps inside. He’s quiet as he enters, his eyes flicking to the bag on the bed and then back to me.
“Are you ready to leave?” he asks, his voice low and steady.
“Yes,” I say, trying to keep my tone light. “It’s time.”
He nods, though his expression is hard to read. Luke has always been reserved, with his emotions carefully tucked away behind a stoic facade. But today, there’s something different in his eyes.
He lingers for a moment as if debating whether to say something more. Then, without another word, he turns on his heel and heads for the door. “I’ll get the car ready,” he says over his shoulder.
I watch him go, a knot forming in my stomach. There’s something off about him today, and I can’t quite put my finger on it. I decide to ignore it.
I close my bag, slinging it over my shoulder as I follow Luke out of the house. The driveway stretches before me, and there, parked in the middle, is the familiar black SUV. Luke stands beside it, holding the door open for me, his face an unreadable mask.
“Thank you,” I murmur as I slide into the rear seat.
He closes the door behind me and moves around to the driver’s side. The engine purrs to life, and we set off down the long, winding road that leads to the vacation home.
The ride is silent. The only sounds are the soft hum of the engine and the occasional rustle of leaves as we pass by.
I watch the scenery blur past the window, the city slowly giving way to the dense, towering trees of the forest. The further we go, the more my heart races. Anticipation and nerves war within me.
It’s always like this when my heat approaches—a mix of fear and excitement, knowing that I’ll soon be consumed by something so primal and uncontrollable.
My mind drifts back to the moment I shared with Henry. Although, it’s not like it has drifted from it much since that day on the balcony. Memories of my knees going weak after I showered him with my hot squirt fill my mind, and I feel moisture soak my panties from my intense arousal.
I glance at Luke out of the corner of my eye. His ear twitches, and I see his nostrils flare through the rearview mirror. His hands grip the steering wheel tightly, his gaze fixed on the road ahead. There’s a stiffness in his posture, a rigidity that hasn’t been there before.
I clear my throat, trying to break the silence. “I’m going to call Henry,” I say, my voice deliberately casual.
Luke’s hands tighten further on the wheel, and his knuckles turn white. He doesn’t respond immediately, and for a moment, I think he hasn’t heard me. But then he nods in a single, stiff movement.
I've never seen Luke like this, so tense, so closed off. He’s never been one for idle chatter, but today, his silence carries a weight that’s hard to ignore.
It’s like something is gnawing at him, pulling his thoughts inward, forcing him to concentrate fiercely on the road as though it’s the only thing holding him together.
Yet, I can’t think about what is troubling him for long before my thoughts inevitably wander back to Henry and the slow, insistent heat building inside me.
I take a deep breath, trying to shake off the unease that’s settled over me. Reaching for my phone, I dial Henry’s number, pressing the device to my ear as I wait for him to pick up.
He answers on the second ring. “Leila?”
“Hi, Henry,” I start. “My heat is starting. I promised to spend it with you. I was hoping you could join me.”
He makes a sound of deep satisfaction. “Of course,” he replies without hesitation. “Send me the address, and I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
I rattle off the address, the words tumbling out in a rush. There’s something comforting about hearing Henry’s voice, a steadiness that I desperately need right now.
“Got it,” Henry says. “I’ll see you soon.”
“Thanks, Henry,” I murmur, ending the call. I slip the phone back into my bag, glancing at Luke out of the corner of my eye. He hasn’t said a word through the entire drive.
“Luke,” I begin, my voice hesitant, “are you okay?”
His jaw tightens, and for a moment, I think he won’t answer. But then he lets out a slow breath, his grip on the steering wheel loosening slightly.
“I’m fine,” he says, though the words sound forced. “Just focused on the road.”
I don’t believe him. There’s something more, something he’s not telling me. But I can’t push him, not now. Not when I’m about to be consumed by my heat, and the last thing I need is to add more tension to an already fraught situation.
The rest of the drive passes in a tense silence. The trees grow denser as we approach the vacation home, their thick branches casting shadows across the road.
I can feel the change in the air, the way my body responds to the familiar surroundings. It’s like a switch being flipped, the heat inside me growing stronger with each passing moment.
Finally, the cabin comes into view, nestled among the trees like a hidden gem. Luke pulls the SUV to a stop in front of the cabin, cutting the engine as he sits back in his seat.
“We’re here,” he says as he steps out of the driver’s seat.
There’s a swiftness to his movements, yet they carry a solemnity that I can’t ignore.
He rounds the car to open the passenger door for me, and as I step out, I search his face.
The sadness etched in his expression makes my heart ache.
He closes the door and starts toward the house at a brisk pace, but something compels me to call after him.
“Luke.”
He halts at the sound of my voice, his back still turned. “Are you going to tell me what’s bothering you?”
I watch his shoulders rise and fall as he exhales a deep sigh. For a moment, he stands motionless as if wrestling with his thoughts. Then, he slowly turns to face me, and there’s an earnestness in his eyes.
“Leila… I… I know I’m just a bodyguard. I’m not a strong Alpha, and I’m certainly not worthy to be your husband. But…” His voice falters, and he looks away, his brow furrowed with the weight of unspoken words.
“But what, Luke?” I ask, my voice gentle but tinged with urgency, sensing there’s more he needs to say.
“But I love you, Leila,” he finally confesses, turning to meet my gaze once more. The words hang in the air between us, heavy and charged. I’m stunned, and I know it must show on my face.
He continues as if releasing that truth has given him the courage to say more.
“I’ve loved you for so long, Leila. I’ve cherished every moment I’ve spent by your side.
And now it feels like my worst fear might come true.
” His voice trembles with emotion, almost pleading.
“I’m terrified of being abandoned. I know I can’t be the husband you deserve, but please, don’t abandon me, Leila. ”
His words send my heart pounding. The way he says them, with such raw honesty, leaves me breathless. I can see the sincerity in his eyes, a vulnerability that stirs something deep within me. It moves me more than I could have ever imagined, shaking me to my core.
“Luke,” I start, but the words catch in my throat. For so long, I’ve kept my feelings for him buried and hidden away because I thought it was the right thing to do. But hearing him now, seeing the pain in his eyes, I can’t keep it inside any longer.
“I had a crush on you,” I confess, my voice trembling slightly. “I’ve liked you for a long time, Luke, since that day when you comforted me.”
He looks at me, surprise flickering across his face. “You did?”
I nod, feeling a warmth spread through my chest at the memory. “I did. But you never made a move, so I thought you weren’t interested. I tried to push those feelings away, but they never really went away.”
Luke’s expression softens, and he takes a step closer to me. “I… I had no idea,” he says quietly. “You never acted like it.”
“I was watching you from afar,” I admit, feeling a bit embarrassed by the truth.
“When I turned eighteen, I asked for a young bodyguard, and I chose you out of all the options. I wanted to be closer to you, but you were always so distant. I even asked you once if you liked someone, and you said you did.”
“That was you, Leila,” he says, stepping closer until he’s within arm’s reach. “That ‘someone’ was you.”
The realization rushes through me. All this time... In that instant, a wave of sympathy sweeps through me, understanding how heavy a burden it must have been for him to carry this for so long.
“I just couldn’t say it,” he continues, his voice tinged with a quiet desperation. “You’re so incredible, so beautiful. And I’m… I’m just a bodyguard.”
“You’re more than that,” I whisper, reaching out to take his hand in mine. “You’re so much more than that, Luke.”
His fingers curl around mine, holding on tightly as if I might slip away if he lets go. There’s a vulnerability in his touch that makes my heart ache, and I squeeze his hand in reassurance.
“Luke, I would never abandon you,” I say softly, looking into his eyes. “Not even when I marry. You’re too important to me.”
He looks at me for a long moment, and then, without warning, he pulls me into his arms. The sudden embrace takes me by surprise, but I quickly melt into his warmth, feeling the steady beat of his heart against my cheek.
“Thank you,” he murmurs, his voice filled with relief. “I needed to hear that.”
I close my eyes, savoring the moment, the feel of his arms around me, the steady rhythm of his breathing. There is a settling calm that settles over the storm brewing inside me.
But the calm doesn’t last long. A familiar heat begins to rise within me, spreading through my veins like wildfire. I pull back slightly, looking up at Luke with a pained expression.
“It’s starting,” I whisper, my voice strained.
Luke’s eyes darken with concern, but before he can say anything, the sound of an engine approaching pulls our attention away. I turn to see a car pulling up the driveway, and my heart skips a beat when I recognize it.
Henry.
The car comes to a stop, and Henry steps out, his gaze immediately finding mine. He takes in the scene—me standing close to Luke, my hand still in his—and his lips quirk into a knowing smile.
“Did you find your courage?” Henry asks Luke as he walks towards us, his tone teasing but kind.
Luke nods, his grip on my hand tightening slightly. “I did.”
I glance between them, confusion flickering in my chest. “What do you mean?” I ask, looking up at Henry.
Henry chuckles softly, his eyes warm. “I told Luke to cling to you, Leila. To not let you go. You can have us both, you know.”
His words send a shock through me, and before I can process what he’s said, a sudden wave of heat crashes over me, leaving me dizzy and breathless. The world tilts, and I feel my knees buckle as the heat intensifies, overwhelming my senses.
“Leila!” Luke’s voice is panicked as he catches me, holding me upright as my vision blurs.
I try to respond, but the heat is too much and too strong. My body feels like it’s on fire, and the last thing I hear before everything goes dark is the sound of Henry’s voice calling my name.