* * *
His face turned crimson in an instant. He ducked his head to hide it.
‘No, that’s ridiculous. How could I dare…’
His trembling gaze shifted toward a small chest of drawers.
It should have contained only ordinary things—jewelry, paper, ink, pens.
But hidden inside was something no one else could see—something private, intimate.
A gift from Chester.
A finely crafted glass phallus, carved with such detail that even the veins were raised.
Every time Adam saw it, his cheeks burned.
He could easily guess Chester’s meaning—that in their absence, he should use this to take care of his needs.
The moment he had found it on his bed, he had quickly tucked it away, burying it deep inside the drawer.
‘Ah…’
A wave of heat coiled through him.
Memories of the nights they’d spent together flooded in—low voices, gentle caresses, the intoxicating scent of an alpha’s pheromones…
That longing mingled with a dangerous thrill.
Before he knew it, Adam had given in, using the hidden toy to comfort himself.
Sliding it inside, moving his hips—something the old Adam would never have even imagined.
“…?”
Lost in thought, staring at the drawer, his vision suddenly went white. He forgot how to breathe.
‘What’s happening…?’
A chill of foreboding ran down his spine.
Something strange was about to happen.
Adam gripped the table hard—only to feel heat surge between his legs, his toes tingling, his head spinning with a dizzying rush.
“Ah—”
He gasped, hunching over.
Alarmed, Lily and Dean hurried to his side.
“What’s wrong?!”
“A-Are you okay?! Your face is burning red!”
Adam touched his cheek—it was scorching.
A giant question mark filled his mind.
“…Leave. All of you.”
“What?”
“Hurry—now!”
His voice rose sharply.
Lily flinched; Adam had never raised his voice before.
He stood abruptly, waving them toward the door.
“It’ll only take a moment. Go.”
Goosebumps prickled his arms.
He bit down on his lip.
Overwhelmed by his intensity, Lily and Dean stepped out.
They tried to re-enter, but Adam locked the door first.
“Adam!”
“W-Why are you doing this? Should we call a doctor?”
Adam shook his head.
“No… no, I’m fine.”
He tried to sound calm, but failed—the tremor in his voice didn’t escape Lily’s notice.
“I’m calling someone—”
“What’s going on here?”
An older woman’s voice cut in.
“Why are you two out here? Go and fetch Lord Adam. The dukes’ carriage is arriving.”
“The dukes?!”
“Yes—hurry and prepare to greet them. Dress him in something fresh and—why are you looking like that?”
Leaning against the door, Adam furrowed his brow.
Taking a deep breath, he spoke slowly.
“I told them to leave. I’ll… somehow go greet the dukes, so don’t worry and—nnngh…”
“L-Lord Adam?”
“Please…!”
He couldn’t endure it any longer.
The moment the words left his mouth, Adam sank to the floor, clutching the carpet, his shoulders trembling.
‘It’s a heat cycle.’
The heat cycle—an estrus that sometimes struck omegas.
It filled their bodies with an irresistible scent to lure an alpha who could impregnate them, while making every nerve hypersensitive with pleasure.
That was why Adam was trembling so badly he couldn’t even stand.
“Nngh…”
Why now, of all times?!
He tried to steady his breathing, but something caught in his throat.
The air wouldn’t come easily.
His vision swam—until, at last, he collapsed completely.
‘This is bad.’
What should I do?
Before, this wouldn’t have been a big problem.
I always carried suppressants with me, and if even the slightest abnormal reaction hit, I’d just take the pills.
Then, even if I felt a bit nauseous for a moment, I’d soon regain my composure.
But now… I had no medication.
I’d come into this estate with the purpose of getting pregnant.
When the heat cycle comes, the chances of conception go up—good news for the lords of the castle.
That was why there were no suppressants nearby.
“…Hhh—”
Letting out a stifled groan, Adam rubbed his forehead against the carpet.
His once-tidy hair was a mess, his lips slick with saliva he couldn’t swallow.
He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to calm his arousal.
Thump, thump, thump, thump!
But the fevered body refused to return to normal.
His heart pounded faster and harder, as though ready to burst.
Adam could hear the sound of his own pulse ringing in his ears.
‘This feels… wrong.’
It was the first time he’d gone this long without medication.
His hand drifted down, brushing against his lower body.
Even the lightest touch made his nerves flare sharp as spearpoints.
He collapsed into a curl on the floor.
The dizziness persisted until nausea rose up.
“Ugh—”
He felt like an animal.
A beast unable to control even a single carnal urge.
The thought was pathetic, yet he couldn’t stop the rising tide of desire.
His eyes squeezed shut, and, inexplicably, tears welled up.
He didn’t know how much time had passed before his condition worsened rapidly.
Heat flushed down to his nape, his thighs clenching and parting in restless cycles.
His sex was already wet, staining his underwear long ago, and the slick gathering inside began to drip, soaking his rear, his perineum, and his sac.
Voices came from outside.
Adam mumbled like a drunk, telling them to leave him alone.
He’d come out when it was time.
Please, just stop bothering him.
“Adam.”
His eyes flew open.
Somehow, one man’s voice cut through the haze with clarity.
Chester.
The one who had driven him mad with longing for days.
“Open the door. Now.”
Another voice followed, tapping against his eardrum.
Adam didn’t need to see to know it was Isaac.
“If you don’t open it, I’ll break it down. You wouldn’t want everyone to see you like this, would you?”
The words carried a quiet threat.
His tone was cold, but Adam could sense the concern beneath it.
Clearly, Isaac had realized he was in heat.
“Mmhh—”
Even in humiliation, moans kept slipping out.
Through blurred vision, Adam moved.
He didn’t remember how he managed to open the door.
The next moment, he was on the bed, looking up at the two men staring down at him.
“Ah…”
A sigh escaped his lips.
Relief washed over him, but shame was stronger.
He pulled the blanket over himself—only for Chester to yank it away.
“Ah!”
Adam’s outstretched fingers in the air looked pitiful, but Chester only gave a slow-eyed smile.
The very smile Adam had missed so badly.
“It’s been a while, Adam.”
“Y-yeah…”
“I thought something was wrong. What’s going on? Suddenly going into heat like this?”
Adam’s face burned crimson.
He wanted to apologize, but his throat kept producing sounds that weren’t words.
He clapped a hand over his mouth.
“I think I know the reason.”
Isaac finally spoke.
“Why the heat cycle came.”
“Really? I have no idea. Care to enlighten me, brother?”
Adam had the odd feeling Chester was pretending not to know.
His face was far too calm for true ignorance.
“The doctor said it, didn’t he? If you have frequent intercourse, the heat cycle won’t come.”
“Oh, right, he did.”
“So why did it come, then?”
Isaac took Adam’s hand, long fingers stroking the back before pressing firmly over his pulse.
“Isn’t it obvious?”
The slow, quiet murmur tickled Adam’s ears.
“You’ve been burning with longing.”
Adam’s eyes trembled, his captured wrist twitching.
Isaac caught the reaction and smirked with only one corner of his mouth.
“Ah… so you were burning. Yeah, Adam. You were having sex almost every day, weren’t you? Then suddenly left alone… you got lonely.”
“Mhh—”
“Still… it was just a few days apart. You couldn’t endure even that, so you went into heat? The hallway reeks of you.”
Chester stroked Adam’s cheek.
* * *
