0003: Mate!

JACKSON’S POV

I stood beside Liam and Laila, my muscles tense, my wolf restless beneath my surface. Sarah hovered near Laila, her usual quiet presence barely registering in my mind.

The car’s headlights cut through the dusk, tires crunching over gravel as it rolled to a stop in front of us. Liam let out a heavy sigh, rubbing his temples like he’d rather be anywhere else.

"Let’s get this over with so I can go back inside and rest," he muttered, voice rough with exhaustion.

Laila, on the other hand, practically vibrated with excitement, her fingers twisting together. "Oh, come on, Liam! This is exciting! A new healer—maybe she’ll finally get you to stop complaining about your headaches."

I barely heard them. My entire focus was locked onto the car door as it swung open. And then—her.

Not the elderly, seasoned healer I’d expected. No. A girl—no, a woman—stepped out, her wild red hair catching the fading light like fire. She was dressed in all black, her fitted jacket hugging her frame, her posture straight but weary.

Her eyes—gods, her eyes—scanned the pack grounds with sharp awareness before landing on me. And just like that, the world tilted.

My breath caught. My chest tightened. My wolf surged forward, claws raking against my ribs, howling one single, undeniable truth—

‘She’s the one’. The words slipped out before I could stop them, my voice barely above a whisper.

Laila elbowed me, grinning. "Uh, yeah, genius. She’s literally the one we’ve been waiting for."

I barely registered her teasing. My pulse roared in my ears as we moved forward, my body moving on autopilot. The closer I got, the stronger her scent hit me—wildflowers and something sweet, something hers. It wrapped around me, intoxicating, undeniable.

‘Mate!’.

She stood there, exhaustion lining her shoulders, but there was defiance in the set of her jaw, in the way she held herself. Like she’d faced storms and hadn’t bowed to a single one.

I swallowed hard, forcing my Alpha composure to the surface. "I’m Jackson. Alpha of the Shadow Moon Pack." My voice came out steadier than I felt. "You must be Karen?"

Her chin lifted slightly, those piercing grey eyes locking onto mine. "Karen Lukeman."

I extended my hand, my skin buzzing with the need to touch her, to confirm this wasn’t some cruel trick. But instead of taking it, she turned—turned—and grabbed Laila’s hand instead.

A sharp, irrational sting shot through me. What the hell? Did she not feel it? The pull? The electric current zapping between us? Or—worse—was she ignoring it?

Laila, oblivious to the storm raging inside me, pulled Karen into a tight hug. And then—then Karen laughed. The sound took me by surprise. It was Light, warm, and so alive. It curled around my ribs and settled there, a spark in the dark. I need to hear that again.

Laila chattered away, leading Karen toward her quarters, leaving me standing there like an idiot, my hand still half-extended.

Back in my office, I paced like a caged animal. My wolf was ecstatic, clawing at my insides, demanding I go to her, claim her. But my mind—gods, my mind was a fucking mess.

Why didn’t she react? Why didn’t she feel it?

I dragged a hand through my hair, gripping the strands hard enough to hurt. This is insane. It’s been thirty damn minutes, and I’m already losing my fucking mind.

Later that night, when Karen returned in the company of Laila and Sarah to meet our parents, it took everything in me not to stride over and pull her to my side when I saw Liam smiling at her. Never in my life had I felt possessive over anything—until now.

Back in the living room, our parents welcomed Karen warmly and thanked her for coming on such short notice. My mother asked if she was comfortable in her quarters.

Karen nodded. "It’s more than I could ask for. Thank you for giving me the chance to be here. I hope to start work immediately."

Both of our parents looked impressed, but my mother shook her head gently. "Rest first. Work can wait."

Karen hesitated as if she wanted to protest but eventually nodded. My mother then invited her to join us for dinner.

Dinner in itself was torture. Karen made sure to sit as far from me as possible, her gaze skittering away every time I looked at her. She answered my parents’ questions politely, thanked my mother for the meal—but me? Nothing. She acted like I was invincible.

And then there was Liam. Liam, who never smiled at anyone, was smiling at her and she was returning everyone of them. A low growl built in my chest before I could stop it. My fingers tightened around my fork, the metal groaning under the pressure.

‘She is mine’. My wolf’s snarl echoed in my skull. When dinner ended, I stood abruptly. "I’ll walk you back."

Karen’s spine stiffened. "I’ll be fine on my own." The rejection burned. My jaw clenched so hard my teeth ached. Before I could argue, my mother cut in, gentle but firm. "Nonsense, dear. Jackson, walk her back."

Karen exhaled, shoulders slumping in reluctant acceptance. The walk was silent, the tension between us thick enough to choke on. I led, she followed—always a step behind, always out of reach.

My mind raced. How long can I do this? How long before I snap? Because one thing was certain—I hadn’t waited my whole life for my mate just to let her pretend I didn’t exist. And if she kept ignoring this bond?

I’ll have no choice but to make her acknowledge it.