Heat delayed? Emma had never heard of such a thing.
“Is this even possible?” she asked.
“Yes, Harry told me about a researcher he knows who is working on a project related to the principles of heat cycles. I’m currently involved in the entire project, and the first phase of the experiment is not yet complete, so I’m still in the experimental period,” Patrick explained.
Emma circled Patrick, looking him up and down.
His behavior left Patrick somewhat puzzled. “What’s wrong?” he asked.
“I’m checking to see if this experiment has turned you into someone else,” Emma replied confidently.
Patrick chuckled, “It’s just an experiment on heat cycles. It won’t turn me into someone else.”
Emma looked somewhat disappointed. She had hoped to witness a scene similar to that of “Frankenstein,” but that might have been a bit too thrilling.
“But why did you suddenly want to do this experiment?” she asked.
Patrick thought for a moment. “I guess I don’t want to be a beast controlled only by instincts.”
The first time Patrick told Harry about his decision to participate in this experimental project, Harry’s surprise was evident.
“Are you out of your mind?” his friend scolded him.
Nicola also knew about this. Since Patrick found out that Harry liked Nicola, he would always ask Harry to bring her along whenever he had something to discuss. Nicola found it a bit puzzling, but she quickly accepted the situation.
Nicola also expressed strong disapproval of this matter.
“An alpha’s physiology is different from that of an ordinary werewolf. You can’t decide to do this experiment so hastily. This project hasn’t been formally approved yet. At the very least, we should wait for the safety report to come out before proceeding, shouldn’t we?”
Patrick shook his head. “I’m afraid I can’t wait that long. My heat is about to come, and my mother will definitely bring Shirley to me before my next heat. I can’t allow that to happen.”
Harry, feeling helpless, exchanged a glance with Nicola and could only make a compromise. “But you have to ensure that everything strictly follows the doctor’s requirements, and there can be no mistakes. I will supervise you.”
Patrick nodded. “Thank you.”
Nicola looked at Patrick. “Did you decide to do this for her?”
Patrick thought for a moment. “She was the trigger. Her appearance made me realize that I can’t be a puppet controlled by others anymore. I am the alpha here, and I should promptly stop anything that is not right, rather than letting mistakes develop.”
Nicola took a step forward and gave him a gentle hug.
“I hope you get everything you want.”
The experiment lasted for over a week, and the doctor informed Patrick that after taking the medication, his upcoming heat could be delayed by nearly a month. With a mix of anticipation and apprehension, Patrick found that his heat had indeed been delayed, just as the doctor had said.
He thought to himself, now he finally had a reason to refuse Shirley.
Excitedly, he shared this news with Harry during the day.
Harry was also pleased, but more concerned. “But this is not a long-term solution. Jennifer will definitely find ways to push Shirley onto you. You can’t delay your heat forever. And the doctor just told me to remind you that your heat can only be delayed for a maximum of three months.”
Patrick frowned. “Why?”
“The medication doesn’t disperse your pheromones. You still need to have a relationship with a partner to end your heat. The doctor requires you to find a suitable partner during these three months to get through your heat, otherwise, you will become even more uncontrollable after your heat.”
Three months? Patrick frowned. But that was about a year before Emma came of age. “It’s too short a time.”
Harry warned him, “Patrick, you are our alpha. I need you to prioritize your own well-being.”
Patrick remained quiet for a while. Three months were indeed not long, but the situation was still constantly changing. Perhaps they would develop a new product before three months passed. He could only agree, “I understand.”
He had intended to message Emma to tell her not to go home after work so he could pick her up at the bakery for dinner, thus avoiding her running into Jennifer alone after work. Luckily, he had a document at hand that required his confirmation and signature, causing him to forget about it.
It wasn’t until he was about to go home that he finally remembered. He was very annoyed, but there was nothing he could do since he didn’t know when Emma would finish work. He asked the driver to go to the bakery first, but when they arrived, it was already closed. He assumed Emma had finished work, so he turned back.
Just as he entered the house, he saw Jennifer with a well-dressed Shirley by her side. He frowned, concealing his disgust, “Why are you still waiting here solate at night, mother.”
Jennifer looked displeased as she gazed at him, “Today is your heat, did you forget? Luckily I remembered, so I specifically called Shirley over.”
Shirley wore a polite smile, “Patrick, did you miss me?”
Patrick tried to step back as much as possible. Although his heat had been postponed, his body’s sensitivity was even more heightened than usual, and he could smell the pheromones on Shirley and her newly sprayed Chanel No. 9. He was nearly overwhelmed by the intensity of those scents. He felt nauseated.
He had to get away from this environment. The dizziness and swelling made him forget to ask if Emma had come home.
“I’ve been busy all day and need to rest,” he declined Jennifer’s proposal. “I don’t need anyone’s help to get through my heat. I feel fine now. I won’t lose control, so Shirley, you can go back.”
Shirley wasn’t particularly surprised. Even if Jennifer promised her that their plan would definitely succeed, she knew they would hit some obstacles in the early stages, based on her understanding of Patrick. She didn’t think their plan would work the first time.
It would be best to take things slowly. Taking advantage of a rift between Patrick and Emma in the middle of the plan would be the best approach. However, Jennifer was stubborn, and she didn’t want to share her thoughts with Jennifer. She had her own ideas.
Jennifer was very angry, “You’re in heat! Do you remember how you turned the house upside down during your previous heat? You can’t let your temper run wild!”
Patrick calmly turned to face Jennifer, “I postponed my heat with medication. So today is not my heat, and I won’t be overwhelmed by stacked pheromones. There’s nothing else, I’m going to rest, I’m very tired.”
Shirley was somewhat shocked. She hadn’t expected Patrick to go to such lengths for that little girl Jennifer mentioned. Postponing the heat didn’t completely eliminate it, and the accumulation of pheromones at a certain point without relief could be life-threatening.
Jennifer was even angrier at this point.
She couldn’t understand Patrick’s self-destructive behavior.
“We need to talk about this properly.”
Patrick was somewhat helpless, “I’m very tired today, can’t we do this another day?”
Jennifer was firm, “No, we need to discuss this matter seriously right now.”
Shirley was left alone, forgotten in her place. She shrugged and poured herself a glass of water, drank it, and then left.