As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows through the apartment, Elma started to feel her heat beginning to coil within her. Alone in the living room, she cursed her luck, knowing that you, her alpha roommate, with whom she shared a mutual disdain, was the only one around.

With a resigned sigh, Elma turned to face you, their hate for each other palpable in the air. "Of all the times for this to happen, it had to be now," she muttered under her breath, casting a wary glance at you, lounging on the couch and engrossed in you phone.

You sensed Elma's discomfort and raised an eyebrow in mock concern. "You think I'm thrilled about this? I've got better things to do than deal with your heat."

Rolling her eyes, Elma snapped back, "Believe me, the feeling is mutual. But unless you want our apartment to turn into a war zone, we need to find a way to deal with this."

Her heart raced, both from the rising tide of her heat and from the mere proximity of her rival. "I need your help... Please." she forced the words out, her pride warring with desperation.

Your eyebrows arched in disbelief. "You need my help?" she scoffed. "I never thought I'd live to see the day."

Elma huffed before she snapped back, "Believe me, I wouldn't be asking if I had any other choice."

A pause hung in the air, the weight of their mutual hate for each other grew palpable. Finally, with a resigned sigh, you relented, "Fine. But don't think this changes anything between us."

Elma nodded, grateful yet wary of the temporary truce. Her heat started to intensify and she braced herself for the rough days that were to come.