Four

My heart is wounded, but not broken.

Whatever little dignity I had left had dissolved the moment a human stepped into my pack. The sight of her—a fragile, unwitting human—as my mate felt like a betrayal. A bitter twist of fate. I stare down at my half-shifted claws and the rough fur that’s started to sprout along my arms. The very air around me smells of her, and the scent pushes me to the edge of my control. My wolf claws from within, impatient and insatiable, desperate to claim her, but I bite down on the urge, fighting for control.

I step back, isolating myself from my pack, from everyone who could see the raw torment I feel. My mind is chaos, a violent surge of confusion and resentment. I want her—my mate—but she is human, soft and untested in the world of wolves. The thought of her sends my mind into overdrive, my wolf’s snarls echoing, and his desire to stake our claim takes over every rational thought. The mating bond is already scraping its claws against my willpower, urging me to mark her. Even now, I feel the mating venom seeping through my veins, thick and warm, pressing me to mark her so the whole pack would know who she belongs to. But the shame is all-consuming; it drags me down to my knees, claws digging into the dirt beneath me.

And then Bennett’s cruel words resurface, his vile taunt still fresh in my memory:

“I am not afraid of death, you greedy bitch. You don’t deserve to be an alpha, nor does our pack. My pack will crumble under your reign. A female alpha breeds a female mate. Let’s see if they’ll still let you lead when your infidelities are revealed for all to see.”

His laughter had followed me that day, hollow and haunting, as if he already knew what was in store for me. I grit my teeth, wiping away the tears that threaten to betray my resolve. No, I won’t let him be right. I won’t let the pack—let alone Bennett—see me falter. Yet his words cut deeper than I’d admit. The bond between a mate and their alpha is sacred, one that commands respect from all wolves. But will they ever respect me if they see my mate as weak?

A soft voice stirs me from my thoughts. “Alpha?”

It’s Bradley, my loyal assistant, standing cautiously by the doorway, as if he senses the storm within me.

I straighten up, struggling to calm the burning in my chest. “What is it, Bradley?”

His gaze is steady but sympathetic. “What would you have us do with her?”

My wolf’s answer is immediate: Mark her. Mate her. Claim her. She is ours. He rages against my restraint, but I know there’s no true control here. The moment I scent her, reason will disappear. The bond will lock us together, and she’ll become part of our world, whether she wants to or not. But how can I bind her to me knowing she may not even want this life?

“I… I thought about rejecting her,” I admit, barely able to voice the words.

Bradley raises an eyebrow. “And what stopped you?”

I look away, the shame too raw. “The bond. If I reject her, there will be nothing left of me. I’m not… I can’t live with that hole in my heart.”

He gives a small nod, understanding in his eyes. “The pack is already talking, Alpha. The secret won’t stay hidden for long. They’ll demand answers, and they’ll look to you to lead them.”

“What is right, Bradley?” I demand, barely containing the frustration simmering in my chest. “Tell me. Should I listen to the pack and break the bond? Should I mark and mate her despite the risk to the pack? I’m torn between her and my duty. You’ve seen how the pack responds to human mates. Tell me—if you were in my position, what would you do?”

He pauses, choosing his words carefully. “If it were me, I’d choose my mate over the pack. But… we’re different people. And there’s still her choice to consider.”

Bradley’s words, though wise, send a painful ripple through me. “The choice.” It’s always about choice, isn’t it? The pack chose me to lead them, and the Moon Goddess chose Sarai for me. But did she choose me? Has she any idea what it means to be bound to a creature like me? My own mother hadn’t wanted this life. She’d tried to end her pregnancy, nearly tearing herself apart in the process. The pack already whispers that her blood runs in me, that I’ll be cursed to end up like her—broken, and ultimately alone.

“Alpha,” Bradley interrupts gently, sensing my inner turmoil. “The pack can question you all they like. But at the end of the day, you are their alpha. Don’t forget that.”

---

The first whispers of dawn stretch across the horizon as I step outside. The pack murmurs quietly at my presence. Their eyes turn to me, judgment and skepticism lurking in every gaze. I push past them, searching for her—my mate, my burden. I find her standing by the edge of the clearing, laughing softly at something Leo has said. Leo looks uncomfortable, unsure how to handle her attention, and his unease only serves to stir the wolf within me.

"So, it is true then." Joe’s sneering voice reaches me, his disgust unmistakable. He doesn’t need to explain what he means; I know. They all know. My mate is human, and to them, that makes me weak. Unfit to lead.

“Say what you wish, Joe,” I snap, “but she is my mate. And I expect her to be treated with the same respect as any other.”

“Respect?” he hisses, a few others joining him, muttering amongst themselves. “You think we’ll just accept a human as our future alpha?”

“What I do with my mate is none of your concern,” I growl, meeting his defiant gaze head-on. “Mates are chosen by the Goddess herself. Would you question her wisdom?”

He scoffs. “The Goddess? Are you truly blind, or have you forgotten what happened to your mother?”

The words sliced through me, but I held my ground. “I know my duty as alpha, Joe. And Sarai is a part of that now. She’s under my protection, and if anyone dares to disrespect her, they’ll answer to me.”

Joe smirks, but he doesn’t push any further. He knows the truth—he knows he’s too weak to challenge me directly. Instead, he turns, muttering curses under his breath, and the other wolves scatter, their whispers filling the air like poison.

---

I find her inside the packhouse later that night, marveling at the high ceilings and intricate carvings that decorate the walls. Her gaze sweeps over the room, eyes wide with wonder.

“So,” she begins, catching sight of me, “you’re the one who owns all this?”

I nod, watching her with a guarded intensity. “I am.”

She smiles, oblivious to the storm raging within me. Her innocence only makes the bond stronger, makes it harder to resist the call to mark her, to make her mine forever.

"How did you end up here?" I ask, hoping that conversation might distract my wolf.

She rolls her eyes, a hint of irritation flashing in them. "A camping trip gone wrong. My friends abandoned me, and somehow, I ended up here.”

I clench my fists, my jealousy flaring at the thought of anyone else having a claim on her, even in memory. “Your friends abandoned you?”

She shrugs, clearly unimpressed by them. “Honestly, it’s better here. I don’t have anything left to go back to.”

Her words twist something inside me, both relief and sorrow warring within. She has no home to return to. I should be pleased—after all, it means I can keep her close. Yet the fact that she’s so alone, so isolated, tugs at me in a way I hadn’t expected.

“Well,” I say, forcing a calm I don’t feel, “you’re welcome to stay as long as you’d like.”

---

Days pass, and each one feels like an eternity. My control slips further with every smile she offers, every gentle brush of her hand against mine. The pack’s disapproval grows, yet I refuse to let their judgment sway me. I will not reject her. Not now. Not ever.

But with each passing day, the pressure mounts. Beckett makes a surprise visit one evening, lounging on my sofa as if he owns the place. He sips his tea, a smug smirk on his face.

“Congratulations, Alpha,” he says with mock cheer. “But I can’t extend my full blessings until I see an heir.”

“What do you want, Beckett?” I snap, tired of his meddling. “Why are you here?”

“Only to offer some friendly advice.” He leans forward, his expression darkening. “The pack will never accept a human mate. But perhaps there’s another way.”

I don’t like where he’s going. “What are you suggesting?”

“Find another wolf—a mateless male—to sire an heir. He doesn’t have to

be yours by blood, but it would keep the pack content.”

I stand, fists clenched, as I meet his gaze with a cold fury. “Get out of my sight, Beckett.”

---

Turning to Bradley, who has remained silent throughout the encounter, I make my decision. “I don’t care how you do it,” I command, my voice hard. “Get her drunk. Tonight. Bring her to me.”

Bradley nods, a hint of sadness in his eyes. He doesn’t question my order. He knows that the bond will drive us together in the end. But as he leaves, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m about to cross a line—one that I may never be able to come back from.