Mated to Two Bad Boy Alphas (Lia zane Blake) novel Chapter 216

Chapter 216 – Heat

–LIA’S POV–

I stabbed at my broccoli, scowling because it had already turned soggy in the gravy.

It was a normal evening. My parents and I were having dinner together.

But for some reason, the vibes were off.

Mom glanced at Dad and gave him a nod, while I kept my gaze down, acting like I didn’t see it.

“So, how’s finals prep going?” Dad asked, slicing into his roast chicken, like he didn’t know how I hadn’t opened a single textbook all week.

“They’re… okay,” I muttered, forcing a smile and stabbing the broccoli again.

“Okay? Lia, your Chemistry exam is next week,” Mom chimed in, eyebrows raised in that deadly mix of concern and judgment. “We haven’t seen you revise at all. Normally, you’d be stuck to your notes. You’d be forgetting about eating your meals.”

I held back a huff.

“I’m getting to it,” I said quickly, avoiding their eyes.

There was a pause. The kind that comes right before the storm.

“Is something wrong?” Dad asked. “You’ve been off lately, honey. Distracted. We’re just trying to understand what’s going on.”

I blinked down at my plate.

What was I supposed to tell them? What was there to explain?

They weren’t wrong. I hadn’t touched my books.

Because nothing mattered anymore. Not school. Not chemistry. Not the career I’d wanted to build a year ago.

Now, every other thought in my brain was just… Zane. And The Order. And Selene.

Mom sighed, lightly scratching her head. “It’s because of Zane, isn’t it?”

Here we go.

“Dad and I have been talking, and maybe it’s time you take a step back from this… relationship. You were doing so well before. Your grades were perfect, you were focused, and now–”

“Now I’m alive,” I snapped, the fork clattering onto my plate as hand dropped. “I’m here. I’m breathing. That’s because of

They both froze. Dad’s mouth opened like he was about to say something, but then thought better of it.

“You weren’t there,” I went on. My throat was tightening. “When Blake tried to assault me. When he took me on a date and then ran away when robbers showed up. But Zane was there. He showed up to protect me. And he didn’t give up on me. He’s the only reason I’m still here. I love him, and I could leave school, studies, and everything else I care about. But not him.”

Silence stretched out.

My mom lowered her gaze. My dad let out a quiet breath.

“I know you guys are worried,” I added, softer now. “And I don’t blame you. But I promise, I’m doing my best, Mom. I really am. A lot is going on in my head nowadays. I almost lost him. He’s the love of my life. You have to understand that.”

I picked my fork back up and forced down a bite.

Except I didn’t even get to chew.

A bolt of heat ripped through my spine. My lungs locked up. The fork dropped again and I grabbed the edge of the table.

“Lia?” Mom’s voice sounded far away. “Are you okay?”

“Yes,” I forced out. “I—I think I’m gonna be sick. I have to throw up,” I said, shooting to my feet. My whole body was shaking, like electricity was running through my veins.

I didn’t wait for their reply. I bolted up the stairs and slammed my bedroom door shut, locking it.

The moment I stepped in, I nearly collapsed. My knees buckled. My palms hit the floor.

It was everywhere.

Zane’s scent.

His hoodie on my chair. His neck chain on the nightstand. The shirt I hadn’t washed after he left last time.

It was overwhelming—like I was drowning in it. And my body responded to it like it was oxygen.

Every nerve burned. My skin felt too tight. I couldn’t sit still.

I yanked off my sweater, desperate to cool down, but the heat just rose. It pulsed through me like a heartbeat, pounding and unrelenting.

Sweat formed everywhere. In places it shouldn’t have.

I curled my toes and clenched my fists, but nothing helped.

“What is happening to me?” I whispered, curling in on myself.

The mark on my neck throbbed, pulsing like it needed Zane to bite again.

I tried to stand up—but my legs barely worked. Everything hurt, and not in the way sickness usually felt.

It was deeper than that.

And then bones shifted. Cracked and moved. Muscles stretched. I barely had time to gasp before my vision went white and the pain hit.

And the mark on my neck—it was still there, still pulsing, still mine.

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