Alley of Fate

Alyssa

Alyssa stumbled deeper into the alley, the shadows swallowing her whole. She clutched her umbrella like a shield, darting frantic glances over her shoulder. The man was still there, his steps quickening, knife gleaming under the flickering streetlights.

Her heart hammered in her chest. Think, Alyssa. Think.

She had to find a door, a fire escape, a way out, anything.

But before she could make a move, a low growl rumbled through the darkness.

The stalker froze mid-step, glancing around nervously. Alyssa felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up as something primal echoed through the rain.

Another growl, this one closer. Louder. More threatening echoed through the night.

From the corner of her eye, she saw it, a huge shadow slipping between the puddles, too large, too fast to be a normal dog.

The stalker cursed under his breath and lunged at her, knife raised high. She threw her hands up in front of her face ready for the blow.

A blur of motion exploded between them.

The large beast slammed into the man, sending him flying into the alley wall with bone-snapping force.

The attacker crumpled with a strangled cry, the knife clattering to the ground, forgotten.

Alyssa stumbled backward, staring wide-eyed at the massive wolf standing between her and the man. Its fur bristled, muscles taut with barely contained violence. Rain dripped from its muzzle, and its golden eyes—those eyes—locked onto hers.

In one swift, brutal movement, the beast lunged and sank its massive teeth into the man’s neck.

A sickening snap echoed through the narrow alley, and Alyssa realized in horror, that the man was dead.

Just like that, the man coming for her, was gone.

The enormous wolf-like creature turned toward her, blood and rainwater dripping from its jaws, its golden eyes locking onto hers.

Alyssa’s body seized with terror, her mind screaming at her to move, to run, but she couldn’t.

She was frozen and helpless. While she was grateful for her protector, now she feared she had encountered another monster.

The creature took a slow step forward.

Alyssa let out a piercing scream, backing up until her legs gave out, and she collapsed against the slick brick wall, cowering, shielding herself with trembling hands.

For a moment, the creature hesitated.

She saw it briefly, the flicker of something human, something wounded, spread across its savage features.

It winced, recoiling as if her fear had struck it harder than any blow.

Then, with a choked, pained sound, it turned and fled, vanishing into the darkness of the alley and leaving Alyssa alone once more in the cold, pouring rain to put together what had just happened.

Cole

Zodiak ran hard and fast, disappearing into the cover of shadows. As soon as he was hidden from sight, his body shifted, the primal energy of the wolf receding until he stood once again as Cole.

Chest heaving, Cole staggered toward the nearest railing, bracing himself as he struggled to catch his breath, he wathced as blood dripped from her face. His mind spun wildly, a storm of confusion and anguish. The woman, his mate, hadn't just been startled. She had been utterly terrified of him.

How?

How had she not felt the pull, the bond that should have been undeniable between them?

The questions battered him harder than the physical strain. For the first time in over a century, Cole felt pain, real, unbearable pain. His heart felt like it was being ripped apart, leaving a hollow, gaping wound in its place.

Panic clawed at him. With shaking hands, he yanked his phone from his pocket and fumbled through his contacts, desperately dialing the only person he could think of. The one person who might have the answers he needed to survive this.

The line rang once, then twice.

Cole’s heart slammed against his ribs begging for the other end to pick up.

Finally, a rough voice answered, thick with sleep and suspicion.

"Cole? What's wrong?"

"Luna Willow," Cole gasped, clutching the phone tighter. "I have a problem. I think I found my mate, but... she didn’t recognize me.

"Wait, hold on, Cole," Willow said sharply. "What are you talking about?"In fact, I terrified her!"

Cole could hear the elder stirring, fully awake now, the weight of his words pulling her out of sleep.

"I smelled her," Cole rushed on, his voice cracking under the strain. I saw her, she was being followed down an alley by someone with a knife. I couldn’t just stand there and let her die!"

His breathing hitched, growing fast and shallow. The memory of her fear, the way she looked at him, cut deeper than any blade could ever.

"Calm down, Cole," Willow commanded, her voice firm, grounding."Listen to me carefully.

If she was scared, if she had no idea who, or what, you were, then it can only mean one thing."

She paused, her tone dropping into something heavier, something almost mournful.

"She’s human, Cole. Completely human. And she must not know about our existence."

Cole froze, the words slamming into him harder than any enemy ever had.

Human.

His mate was human.

A thousand questions tangled in his throat, but one blazed brighter than the rest.

"How is that even possible?" he choked out, his voice raw.

"Rare," Willow said softly. "But not impossible. Fate chooses without rules. Sometimes the wolf within us bonds to a soul, not a bloodline. You were chosen for her and her for you regardless of what she is."

Cole staggered back a step, the world spinning around him.

A human mate.

A woman who knew nothing of his kind.

A woman who had looked at him and seen only a monster.

"What do I do, Luna?" he whispered.

"You earn her trust," Willow said, her voice gentling. "You show her the man first, Cole. Not the wolf. You make her love you for you. And only when she’s ready..."

She hesitated, the gravity of what she was about to say anchoring her words.

"Only then do you show her the rest."

Cole closed his eyes, the echo of Alyssa's terrified gaze burning behind his lids.

"And if I fail?" he asked, almost too afraid to hear the answer.

Willow was silent for a long, breathless moment before she spoke.

"Then you lose her," she said simply. "And it will break more than just your heart, Cole. It will break your very soul."

The call ended, leaving Cole alone under the heavy weight of the stars, his destiny dangling by a thread more fragile than he had ever imagined.

He had found her.

Now he just had to find a way to make her choose him, before fear tore them apart forever.