"But you do know that you have to tell her, right?" Sophie's voice broke through the heavy silence of the garden.
Her words hung in the air like smoke—unwanted, but impossible to ignore.
"Yeah, I know, Soph," I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck. "But I don't think it's going to be now."
Sophie crossed her arms, exhaling sharply. "Cole… the Blood Moon is coming—literally next month—and you're an Alpha! Do you seriously think you'll be able to keep your wolf side from seeking her out?"
"I know," I said, trying to sound calm, though the truth twisted in my gut. "I know it'll be worse for me. But I'll handle it. I've survived plenty of Blood Moons before, I can survive this one too."
She gave me that look—half pity, half disbelief. "We both know it's different this time. Back then you weren't mated, you could at least be restrained, but it's different now and you know it. You're just too damn stubborn to admit it."
Her voice softened, her anger fading into quiet concern. "You've imprinted on her, Cole. There's no going back from that. And you know what happens to alphas who've imprinted....what it will do to your curse Cole!!" She tried to talk some sense into me.
I sighed and sat down on the stone bench, elbows on my knees, my head falling into my hands. My fingers tangled in my hair, pulling slightly as if the pain would silence the chaos inside me.
From the doorway, a softer voice joined in. "I understand where you both are coming from," my mother said gently. Luna Isabella stepped closer, her presence calm yet commanding. "Cole, you're frightened. This is new—for all of us. The first time a Lycan alpha has ever been fated to a human."
Sophie frowned. "What do you mean? Wolves have been mated to humans before."
My mother shook her head. "Not like this."
Sophie tilted her head. "How is it any different?"
"Well," Isabella began, her tone patient, like she was explaining something fragile. "The humans you're thinking of weren't fated mates. The Moon Goddess didn't choose them.
Those wolves chose for themselves—out of loneliness, out of practicality. Their mates didn't share our instincts or the animal half that balances us. They don't even have that special bond between true mates. They were chosen, not destined."
Sophie's eyes widened. "So they're chosen mates, not fated ones."
"Exactly," my mother said, nodding. "And your brother isn't just a wolf, Sophie. He's a Lycan—stronger, more volatile. And an Alpha on top of that. This kind of bond… it's unheard of." She sighed, her brows creasing with worry.
"It doesn't seem right. The Moon Goddess must have her reasons, but—plus the curse on top of it.....and her being human ....."
"Okay, that's… seriously messed up," Sophie said, letting out a low whistle.
"Has this ever happened before? Or is Cole the first case?" she asked.
"I don't know," Isabella admitted, straightening with resolve. "Which is why your father needs to know. He must return immediately." She turned and strode out, already pulling her phone from her pocket.
The silence that followed was thick, the kind that presses against your chest.
Sophie looked at me, her expression softer now—sympathy, maybe even fear. I didn't want her pity. My mind was too tangled for that.
"Cole," she said after a long pause, "let me ask you something."
I glanced up at her warily. "What?"
She hesitated, then spoke carefully. "While you're sitting here, trapped in your head, what if right now—some guy is asking her out and she's saying yes to someone else? What if some guy's asking her to be his girlfriend, and she's smiling, saying yes?"
The words hit harder than I expected. My chest tightened, a low growl rumbling in the back of my throat before I could stop it.
Sophie saw the flicker in my eyes and pressed on, her tone lower now, deliberately provoking. "What if right now she's in his arms, Cole? What if he's touching her—trailing his hands down her body, kissing her like she's his?"
My breathing quickened. I could feel my pulse in my neck, hot and wild.
"Stop," I warned, my voice rough.
But she didn't. "What if she's lying in his bed, both of them naked and he's—"
A roar tore out of me before she could finish.
It wasn't just a shout—it was primal, raw, the sound of my wolf breaking through. My vision blurred, red flooding my eyes. I surged to my feet and in one violent motion, the table in front of me shattered, wood splintering against the stone floor.
Sophie screamed, stumbling back, her body trembling. The sheer force of my Alpha energy pinned her to the ground. She curled up, gasping, trying to shield herself from the power radiating off me.
"Cole!"
My mother's voice cut through the haze. She ran back into the garden, eyes wide but not afraid. "Control yourself!" she snapped, rushing to Sophie's side. "You could have hurt her."
Her anger sliced through my fury, grounding me.
I blinked, breathing hard, my body still shaking. "I—" I swallowed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I just—"
Sophie's small form trembled in my mother's arms. Guilt crashed into me, heavy and suffocating.
I knelt down beside her. "Soph… I'm so sorry." My voice cracked. "I swear, I didn't mean to lose control like that."
She looked up at me, still pale, but her eyes—those stubborn eyes—met mine. "That," she whispered hoarsely, "is exactly what I'm talking about."
Her words hit me like another blow.
"Go tell her, Cole," Sophie said, sitting up slowly. "Explain everything. Make her understand."
"It's not that easy," I murmured, my hands balling into fists. "She's human. She might not accept me… she might not accept what I am." There it was, the real reason for my hesitation.
Sophie gave a small, tired laugh. "She's not a wolf, I get it. She won't understand the pull of the bond, or the chaos it brings. But that doesn't matter. You can't change the fact that she's your mate. You only get one imprint in this life, and once it's done—it's final."
Her voice wavered, but she pressed on. "Don't waste your time worrying about what she is, or what she might say. Go to her. Claim her before someone else does."
I looked away, my chest aching at the thought. "And if she rejects me?" This was the main thing I was afraid of.
Sophie's lips trembled. "Then at least you'll know you tried."
"Do you know what happens to alphas, who get rejected? It's not a pretty sight soph." I told her.
"I know.....But if you don't… if you let fear hold you back and she ends up falling for someone else…" She hesitated, her eyes glistening, looking at the chaos I made.
"You'll lose her—and yourself. And gods help whoever's in your way when that happens."
Her words lingered like a curse.
I closed my eyes, feeling the weight of her words, clawing at my chest like something alive. I could almost hear my wolf whispering her name in the dark corners of my mind.
The thought of another man's hands on her made my entire body tense again, but this time I forced myself to breathe—to stay in control.
Sophie's hand reached out, resting gently on mine. "You're my brother," she said softly. "And I love you. But this… this thing between you and her—it's dangerous if left unspoken. You know how delicate the issue of mates are. Please, Cole go to her… before it destroys you both."
Deep down, I knew Sophie was right.
The Blood Moon would rise soon.
And when it did… there would be no hiding from the truth. My wolf will surge out to look for our mate. And when it does it'll only want one thing.....to claim her.