A rustle from a bush made me pull away.
"What?" Orion asked as my face contorted into worry.
"You need to go. My brother is coming." He nodded and slowly moved his hands up and across my arms before letting go of my hands. The sparks created a wave of euphoria until it all disappeared.
I watched as he walked into the hedgerows, transformed into his wolf, and ran off.
Turning, I saw Sebastian with Mei by his side.
"Hey, guys. Has it been an hour already?" I asked.
"No, but mum's home. I couldn't link you, so Mei tracked you." I nodded and calmly walked between them towards the house as my heart thumped practically out of my chest.
"Where did you get that dress?" Mei asked and I froze.
"W-well it's super old. I left it by the lake ages ago and I guess I forgot about it until today." I shrugged it off before walking a little faster.
"Ok." Mei gave me the side-eye, but I pretended not to see her as I marched into the house.
Mum was on the phone talking but I gave her a quick kiss as she mouthed 'two minutes'. I nodded, went upstairs, and changed before coming down for dinner.
I sat opposite Sebastian as Mei's family joined us for dinner.
Mum served us lasagne but made us toast before eating. She filled all our glasses before standing.
"To Sebastian and Mei. For finally finding each other." We all clinked our glasses with one another and began eating.
"So, Seb, when do you planning on moving in together?" I almost choked but played it off.
"Well, Mei and I have already picked out a house by the river in uptown. It's got a great view of the mountains and is only 20 minutes from here. We wanted your opinion before we put down a deposit."
They began chatting about houses, wall colours and different kitchen furniture. I soon drifted away from the conversation and began drawing things in the sauce on my plate.
"Esme, stop that." Mum spoke getting my attention.
"May I be excused?" I asked and she sighed nodding. I took everyone's plates and began washing them up in the kitchen. As I scrubbed a dish, a headache forming in my whole head, burning me. I ignored it and began drying the plates until a wave of what felt like nausea ran through me. Then again and again.
I screamed out as I doubled over before I dropped the plates onto the floor. They came crashing down, littering the floor into a million pieces.
I heard voices at the door of the kitchen but couldn't see anyone as my vision blurred.
Help. My wolf called out as if anyone would hear her. I tried to get up and someone pulled me up.
"Esme? It's me, mum. You're going through heat, okay? We can get it under control." I was pulled up the stairs and dumped into the bathtub full of water and ice. I sighed as it began to soothe my body.
It took a few minutes for my sight to return. Mum was stood pacing on the phone to someone, but I couldn't hear who.
"Okay. Well just do something."
"Mum?" She turned to me, hung up the phone and came to my side.
"Esme, this is important. You need to tell me who your mate is. Now I don't know why you lied to me before, but it doesn't matter. They need to be here for you now. It'll only get worse."
"I can't tell you." I spoke honestly and she sighed before moving strands of sweat covered hair away from my forehead.
"If they don't help you, this will happen for the next four days or until you die from the pain. Let me help you." I just shook my head and she sighed shaking her head and left the room.
As she left, Seb walked in.
"How are you feeling?"
"Terrible, but it's better than I was."
"Will you let me get your mate?" I shook my head. He sighed and turned his head. That's when I saw a mark on his neck.
"You and Mei marked each other?" I tried to limit my shock.
He nodded and smiled whilst tracing the mark. I watched as he admired it in the mirror.
"Okay, get out." I sternly spoke, spitting the words out.
He looked at me shocked at my tone.
"Get. The fuck. Out." I pulled myself out of the bath and shoved him out of the room before locking the door behind him.
He began banging on the door, but I ignored every plea. As the heat began creeping back in, I walked over to the bath and got in. I knew this was just the beginning.
I felt my body pulling me to find Orion knowing he was the only one who could soothe my aches. He hadn't claimed me or rejected me and now my wolf didn't know what to do. The heat only affected those with an unclaimed mate and a vagina.
I took a few deep breaths before pulling myself from the bath and began walking towards the door. I unlocked it and whilst clutching my stomach made my way to my car. There was no way I could shift. As I got into the lounge, mum stood up.
"Where the hell are you going?" She looked furious.
"Going to find my mate. Where else?" I spat back and continued to walk towards the door.
"Let someone drive you at least." I shook my head.
"No, he doesn't want anyone to know."
Then it clicked.
"Mei can drive me." She immediately got up and helped me to the car, even going as far to buckle me. I blasted the air conditioning as she got into the driver's seat.
"Where do I go?" I explained that my wolf was pulling me, and she would be our map.
We pulled out of the drive, and I told her to take a few rights, lefts, and straights until we ended up on the other side of town.
"Stop here. I'll walk from here." She pulled to the side of the road, and I pulled myself out of the car, biting my tongue to stop the screams.
"Wait, before I go. Why did you choose me?"
"You have no sense of direction. You won't be able to tell anyone where this is." She nodded and laughed a little as she showed me her phone with maps up to get home.
I watched as she pulled away and followed the path back. I began hobbling further down the road, falling a few times but always picking myself up.