Anger and confusion

Emily walked into the common room of the pack house, a quiet tension hanging in the air. Whispers and murmurs filled the room as pack members clustered in groups, eyes darting with suspicion and judgement. The Jessica incident had become the talk of the day.

"Chris," she began quietly, "what exactly is 'heat'?"

Chris looked down at her, his expression a mixture of surprise and amusement. He motioned for her to sit down next to him on one of the worn leather couches by the window, the morning sunlight casting a soft glow around them.

"Alright," Chris said, choosing his words carefully, "so, 'heat' is... complicated. It's something female wolves go through, usually triggered by their mating instincts. It's intense, like a wave of overwhelming attraction. Their scent changes, and it... well, it drives nearby male wolves almost crazy."

Emily's eyes widened as she took in this new information. "So, Jessica was in heat?"