When The Moon Hides Her Crown - Chapter 30: Chapter 30

SERAPHINA
Ever since I’d decided to flee the wedding and join Lupine Academy, my biggest fear hadn’t been being exposed or caught by my father, it was my heat cycle.
Going into heat surrounded by Alpha wolves was practically suicide. That’s why I’d been so desperate for the witch’s perfume. It wasn’t just meant to conceal my scent, it was designed to suppress my heat entirely while I was at the Academy. A powerful potion disguised as perfume, created by an old witch, who had sent it with a grim warning: delaying heat would double the pain later.
I’d accepted the risk. Whatever the cost, I would build my own throne and nothing, not even pain, would stop me.
But now…now everything seemed to be falling apart.
Despite the perfume, the symptoms had begun. My body felt hot and achy, my temper frayed at the edges, and even Phin—who normally healed everything—was silent, which was so unlike her.
I was running out of time. If I went into heat here, it would expose me. I couldn’t hide. I couldn’t leave. It would be the end of everything.
Panic swirled in my chest as I sprinted through the Academy halls, thoughts racing. I needed to reach Lily. She was the only one in direct contact with the witch, she had trained under her for years. But no cell phones or laptops were allowed at Lupine. I had no way of reaching her, unless…
I turned a corner and nearly ran into the dormitory assistant as he exited a room. He was quiet, always kept to himself. A plan clicked into place.
Slowing my steps and steadying my breath, I approached him with calm urgency.
“Alpha Seth Darven?” I said, stopping in front of him. He blinked.
“You shouldn’t be here,” he said quietly. “This area is off-limits to regular Alphas.”
Regular Alphas?
“I’m sorry,” I replied with a sheepish smile. “I didn’t know. I’ll remember next time.” I paused, then added, “Actually, I was looking for you.”
He straightened slightly. “How can I help you?”
“My mattress…got dirty,” I said, feigning embarrassment. “I was hoping I could get a new one?”
He hesitated. “I’m sorry, but that’s not possible. All Academy property is meant to be cared for. While replacements are available, damaged items are the student’s responsibility.”
I gave him a pitiful look. “So what should I do?”
He cleared his throat, softening. “You can ask your family or your pack to send a replacement. That’s allowed.”
Exactly what I needed.
“How can I contact them?”
He gestured to the room he’d just exited. “There’s a landline in my office. You can use that.”
I kept my expression stoic, though relief surged through me. “Thank you so much. I’ll make the call quickly.”
He nodded and stepped aside, saying he’d return in five minutes.
As soon as the door shut, I dialed Lily’s number with shaking hands. Thank the Goddess I still remembered it.
It rang four times before she picked up.
“Lily, it’s me,” I said, my real voice breaking through my panic.
“Sera?! Oh my Goddess, you finally called! Are you okay? Where are—”
“I think I’m going into heat,” I cut in, urgency tightening every word.
“What?!” she nearly shrieked. “Did you forget the perfume?!”
“I’ve been using it, Lily.”
“That’s impossible. That perfume was made for you. There’s no break in its effectiveness unless…”
I froze at her pause. “Unless what?”
“Unless you’re attracted to a male or got too close to one.”
My heart lurched. One name crashed through my mind, Ronan.
I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to breathe. His touch still lingered on my skin like a phantom.
“The perfume relies on your wolf’s emotional stability. If you’re attracted to someone or if you lose control emotionally.”
“I’m not,” I snapped, too quickly. “I’m not attracted to anyone. I won’t be.”
Lily was quiet for a beat. “Then...tell me your symptoms.”
I did, quickly. Her voice trembled on the other end.
“Sera, this might sound crazy, but... either your wolf is reacting to a male, or—”
“Or what?” My voice was thin now, fraying at the edges.
“Or someone’s doing this to you.”
My thoughts went blank.
Caused by someone else?
A different name rose now, Dante.
“If someone tampered with something like food, water, clothes, even a scent, it could trigger this.”
The memory of Ronan’s cologne flashed in my mind. It had smelled different lately. Berries?
My stomach twisted.
“What should I do?” I asked, trying to steady my shaking hands.
“First, stay away from male wolves. Second, if you’ve applied the perfume, your pheromones shouldn’t leak through unless you’re around a dominating Alpha. Third, I’ll walk you through a process to force your body to break the heat cycle.”
The method was brutal. But I didn’t care. I’d do anything.
I ended the call and left the office before the assistant returned. I didn’t go back to my room. I couldn’t risk running into anyone.
Instead, I threw myself into a brutal workout on the Academy grounds, pushing past every one of my limits, ignoring the pain. If my body was going to burn, I’d make it burn my way.
All the while, one name haunted my mind, Ronan.
Why had his touch affected me so deeply? Was it just timing…or something more?
Midnight crept past.
When I finally returned to the Academy, the halls were dark and empty. I grabbed a change of clothes and slipped into the showers. Cold water was the final step for a minimum of three hours.
As the icy stream hit my overheated skin, I didn’t realize…someone else hadn’t gone to bed.
A thin curl of smoke drifted in the hallway shadows. A cigarette ember flared orange, lighting the sharp edge of a jaw.
Ronan.
Silent. Still. Watching.
He took a slow drag, eyes glowing faintly in the dark. Hunger simmered behind that gaze as the corner of his lips curled into something dangerous.
I’d just wanted to escape the heat.
But it had already found me.