The drive to the Williams estate passed in a blur of headlights and restless thoughts, the low hum of the engine doing nothing to quiet the chaos in my mind.
A human mate.
The words still sounded wrong, heavy on my tongue. Every Alpha before me had been bonded to wolf-blooded women—mates who could withstand the pull of the bond, the heat of an Alpha's instincts, the violence of our world.
But her… Rachelle Monroe.
The way her scent hit me, like wild strawberries and rain-soaked earth, had nearly sent my wolf clawing through my skin. It clung to me still, haunting, intoxicating, impossible to forget.
And her eyes...they haunted me—Green, startled, pure and completely unaware of our bond.
The bond had ignited the instant they met mine, a violent surge if heat beneath my skin, like something ancient waking up and roaring its claim. I had never felt anything like it—never been undone so quickly.
Alex had asked me if she was hot. The thought almost made me scoff. Hell yeah, she was more than that.
Back in Dante's office, while I was fighting to leash my wolf, I'd caught myself staring—at the soft curve of her mouth, those soft, lush beautiful pink inviting lips. The faint flush on her cheeks, the way the sunlight had chased through her hair, turning it into molten gold.
My thoughts turned darker before I could stop them.
I imagined leaning in, tasting the tremble of her breath, brushing my thumb over those pink lips before claiming them. The thought alone sent a hot rush through me—her body pressed flush against mine, her pulse racing under my hands, the sound of her breath mingling with mine.
Just by thinking about it I feel myself getting aroused immediately and my wolf trying to resurface again. The steering wheel creaked under my grip as I forced a breath. My control was slipping fast, my wolf growling her name like a prayer.
Damn it...
All these emotions—and it hadn't even been a day since I met her.
There was no denying it. She was mine.
And I could only pray to the Moon Goddess to give me the strength to resist her when the Blood Moon rose.
By the time I pulled up to the gates of our estate, the sun had dipped behind the hills. The security lights flickered on, casting golden hues over the vast gardens and tall iron gates.
The Williams estate wasn't just big — it was grand. A sprawling mansion of stone and glass that stood at the edge of the forest, surrounded by pine trees and marble statues. The crest of our pack — a howling wolf beneath a crescent moon — was etched into the wrought-iron arch above the gate.
I drove in, nodding to the guards, and parked beside the fountain. The scent of roses and fresh earth drifted through the evening air.
As I stepped out, a few of the servants greeted me.
"Welcome home, Alpha Cole."
"Good evening, sir."
"Evening," I replied curtly. "Where's my mother?"
"In the garden, sir. With Miss Sophie."
Of course.
I made my way around the mansion, the familiar gravel crunching under my boots.
I followed the sound of laughter until I reached the garden. There, my sister sat cross-legged on the grass, scrolling through her phone, earbuds in.
She looked up when she sensed me — same blue eyes as mine, long dark hair tied up messily, wearing jeans and a Westvale University hoodie.
"Well, well, if it isn't the golden boy," Sophie teased, grinning. "What brings the Alpha home so early? Run out of people to boss around?"
"Nice to see you too, pest," I muttered.
She gasped dramatically. "Wow. Such affection. Truly heartwarming."
I arched a brow. "Shouldn't you be packing? I thought you were leaving for Westvale tomorrow."
"Shouldn't you be less cranky for once?" she shot back, smirking.
Despite myself, I chuckled. "Still mouthy, I see."
She smirked. "Runs in the family."
"The freshers came in today," I said. "I thought you'd already be there by now."
"And miss a chance to be fashionably late?" she shot back then shrugged. "Uncle Dante's the Vice Chancellor. Being a day late won't get me expelled. Though, technically, that would be kind of iconic."
I shook my head, amused despite myself.
She stood, brushing grass off her jeans. "So, what's the serious face for? You look like your favorite wolf ran off to another pack."
"Something like that," I muttered.
We walked together down the stone path where our mother, Luna Isabella Williams, was pruning her roses — elegant as ever, her white dress fluttering softly in the breeze.
Luna Isabella Williams didn't just look like an alpha's mate. She was one — regal, fierce, and frighteningly observant. the faint sound of classical music blending with the chirp of crickets. She looked up as we approached.
"Mom," I called softly.
"Cole, darling. You're home early."
Sophie folded her arms. "He probably came to confess his sins."
"Quiet, you," I muttered, earning a laugh from her.
My mother set down her shears and wiped her hands on her apron. "What brings you home, son?"
I hesitated, feeling the weight of it press down on me again.
She raised a brow. "Something happened?"
I nodded slowly. "Yeah," I said, voice low. "Something… big."
Sophie tilted her head, curious. "You're not dying, are you?"
"Do you ever stop talking?"
"Not really."
"Children," my mother interrupted gently, her tone firm enough to silence us both. "Cole darling?"
I took a deep breath. "I found my mate."
The pruning shears slipped from her fingers, landing softly in the grass. For once, Luna Isabella looked genuinely shocked.
Sophie blinked, then broke into a grin. "Wait—what? You? The guy who said he'd never get tied down? The mr. 'I-don't-believe-in-fate'?"
"your not helping me right now soph," I muttered.
"Woah, am very happy for you son" my mom said with a wild grin. She sounded very excited about it.
"Who is she?" she asked with a smile.
I swallowed hard. "Her name's Rachelle Monroe. And mom, She's… human."
"Human?..." She asked wide eyed. "But you're already an alpha Cole, no lycan alpha ever had a human mate".
"I know," I said, frustration bleeding through my voice. "That's what scares me." I sank into one of the patio chairs. Sophie sat cross-legged on the grass again, worry flickering across her face.
My mom sat across from me, her gaze steady. "We need to tell your father about this, in case this becomes an issue when the elders get to know about it". My mom said with a worried look on her face.
"They probably already do, since I met her in Dante's office, I think he would have informed them already".
"Oh my goddess" my mom exclaimed.
Sophie blinked. "Wait—Dante's office? She's a fresher?"
"Yeah," I said tiredly. "She is."
"And since she's human, pls tell me she's among the humans that knows of our existence." Sophie said worriedly.
"No she's not." I replied.
"Oh goddess....she doesn't know about us then....," Sophie said. "So… what are you going to do?"
I leaned back, rubbing my temples. "I honestly don't know."