TPA | MW [✔]

01. Wonwoo

Everything aches. From my toenails to the ends of my hair. Nothing feels right. This can't be happening. Whatever this is.

A wave of heat washes over me when I turn over in bed. Not good. My stomach tumbles. I drop my hand to the nightstand and wave around for my cell phone. Eric will understand. He has to. I've never taken a day off in my life. Surely he'll let me have one. But it's the worst timing on the planet.

I dial his number and hold my breath as I wait for him to answer.

"What?" he barks out, literally. He's a wolf shifter.

"I'm sick. I really—"

"Be here in the next twenty minutes or I'll demote you back to corps de ballet."

My heart drops. "I—"

"No. If you're not taking this seriously—"

"You know I am!" I've wanted to be a part of Eric's ballet studio since I saw one of his ballets for the first time when I was five. Sitting in the audience, I decided then and there ballet would be my life and it has been. I've worked hard to become a soloist and this year I'm up to be a principal dancer.

"Then you know what you have to do."

"I'll be there," I mumble and end the call.

When I lift the blanket, cold air hits my skin and I shiver so hard I almost lose my balance. Not good. But if Eric thinks I can power through, then I'll power through.

Every muscle aches as I pull on tights and a pair of shorts. Every new layer makes me hotter until sweat drenches even my thinnest t-shirt but at least I'm dressed. I grab my water bottle and keys and head out the door.

Luckily, I live fairly close and I make the drive in Eric's timeframe. My breath comes heavy as I walk into the studio. The entire troupe waits for me as I shuffle up to the barre to warm up.

Eric, an alpha, whips his head towards me. "You did not tell me you were in heat. Get out."

"What?" I laugh at the accusation. "Impossible. I can't have a heat. You know that. I just caught a bug or something."

"Get. Out!" He bellows and points towards the door.

"But—"

"Out! Out!" Eric's cock strains in his tights as do the cocks of the other alphas in the group. "We're going to have to fumigate the damned studio. Out!"

My brain doesn't get the message and I stand there. Wide-eyed, watching everyone shift on their feet and keep their eyes to the floor.

"I can't have—"

"Get out! You have to deal with..." Eric waves his hand towards me. "Out!"

Heat scorches my insides and I know what Eric says has to be true, but it's taking my brain too long to catch up. "I don't have an alpha."

Yuri steps out of the crowd and ushers me back towards the door while everyone watches. She's taller than me by a few inches. Her blonde hair is done up in a tight bun, but there's a tendril out of place I want to smooth into the rest of the hair.

Once we're through the door, and in reception, Yuri turns me towards her. Her brown eyes are filled with concern. "Wonwoo, you've never had a heat?"

"Never."

She curses under her breath and walks over to the bulletin board by the front desk. She unpins a business card off the cork and comes back to me. "You don't have access to any alphas?"

"No," I whisper.

"Then use this heat service." She hands me the business card. "My sister uses it and says it's the best. No problems. Discreet. They'll come to you."

"I can't have a stranger—" I squeeze my eyes closed and shake my head. "No."

"Do you have a knot at home? Artificial cum? Real cum?"

"No," I whisper. "I can stop at a—"

"No, you can't. I'm a beta and I can sense your heat. You're out of options." Yuri's eyes drop to the floor. "This company is great. But call them as soon as you get home. Actually, no, call them as soon as you get to your car." She opens the front door and, as gently as possible, pushes me through it.

I stare back as it shuts.

Thrown out.

The business card is too thick in my hand, and my need too strong. I'm not sure I can even make it home. Staggering, I get to my car and yank the door open. I slide in and drop my head to the headrest to take a few deep breaths.

I was told I'd never have a heat. Never sense my mate. Never have kids. I've accepted all of it. Dance has been my entire life. But to have a heat now, at twenty-five, everything feels like a joke. I never wanted kids or a mate, or the bother of a heat.

Now my skin is blazing hot and my cock throbs in time with my heartbeat. I stare at the business card. My first heat and my first time will both be with a stranger. Not exactly how I planned it. Not that I had planned it.

I dial the number and wait, again holding my breath.

"Heat Helpers. How can I help you?" The chipper voice on the other end grinds on my nerves.

"Sorry. I... need an alpha."

"Sure thing, dear heart. What do you want?"

"An... alpha?" I speak slower. Perhaps they didn't hear me the first time.

"Of course. We have a variety of alphas to choose from. We'd like to send you someone that meets your desires. Do you have a description in mind?"

"Oh. I never thought about it. Someone..." I nibble my bottom lip. They probably need to know. "I'm a virgin, if it matters. So someone that can understand?"

"I have just the person for you if you like tall, dark, and handsome."

"Sounds fine." I don't think I'm picky.

"I just need your address and I'll send Mingyu right over."

"Mingyu?" I whisper. Surely it's not Kim Mingyu, my former best friend and crush, who broke my heart.

"Correct. His name is Mingyu. He's our best alpha for virgins. He won't steer you wrong."

"Okay." I rattle off my address and start my car.

"Mingyu will be there in thirty minutes. His password is chrysanthemum. If someone arrives claiming to be a part of Heat Helpers and doesn't say the password, they are not our alpha and please do not let them in."

"Got it. Thank you." I swallow as a wave of heat hits me, rushing from the top of my head down to my feet.

It takes everything in me to drag air into my lungs and head home instead of touching myself. If only I could find some relief.