#Chapter 4: Fated Ones

Soren’s POV

I never would have imagined meeting my fated one in my own hospital, and restraining my inner want was a brutal and agonizing affair.

This woman was perfect, with soft hair and wide eyes. Her figure had me internally begging for a single touch. She was perfect, but she was human.

What a cruel twist of fate. Even crueler was the child nestled into my arms. The daughter of my beloved was displaying all signs of a pup nearing her first shift.

The little pup coughed. In an unconscious act, my hand fixed the hoodie falling down, and the child smiled widely at the attention.

If I had decided not to come in today, I would have missed this meeting of pure chance.

My employees would have gladly conducted the inspection of the hospital, looking for another opportunity to get into my good graces. Coming here was a passing whim, not a necessity.

I almost missed my fated one. She was perfect, but she was human. Hiding our werewolf birthrights was not only tradition, but compulsory. My feelings of elation wrestled with intense grief.

Living amongst humans was an unfortunate circumstance given the rapid growth of their society. Revealing our existence was the greatest taboo known to our kind.

This woman could never know, so we could never be together.

“Perhaps, I might know the name of the girl in my arms,” I remarked, shifting focus away from depressing realizations.

The child’s mother was uncomfortable with the question, but her daughter immediately responded.

“My name’s Abby!” She blurted out. “And my mommy’s name is Tara.”

“An adorable name for an adorable child.” I replied, looking once more at my fated one. “And what a fitting name for your beautiful mother.”

I struggled to keep my eyes off her for more than a few seconds. She had settled down from her earlier humiliation, the scent of nervousness leaving her body.

My brain was sliding these puzzle pieces into place, the relationship between child and woman painting a nasty picture.

The pleasant smile on my smile despite my boiling rage deserved an award for greatest actor. Abby was kin, but her mother was human. The father must be a werewolf.

My canines itched at the knowledge of a heartless beast committing such a taboo. Mating with humans was forbidden for good reasons. Tara bore no lingering scent of man or werewolf, so she had been abandoned.

The degenerate had indulged in intercourse with a human and abandoned her upon pregnancy. That man did not deserve to breath, let alone walk upon this world.

A half-breed pup and a mother unaware of her inheritance had one conclusion: a deadly one.

“I’m sorry, little one, but sadly I am not your father,” I explained with genuine remorse. “That irresponsible man does not deserve you or your mother.”

“Excuse me?” Tara exclaimed.

Her nervousness had vanished. The woman was filled with anger, the emotion directed at me leaving an ache within my wolf. My words had been insensitive to her situation.

Tara demanded, “Give me back my daughter.”

I returned the pup. The brush of our fingers sent pleasant sparks across my skin. Tara held her daughter and gave me a sharp glare.

Our first impression was going poorly. I needed to change my approach or the child would suffer. I ignored the traitorous whisper of my wolf that there was another reason.

The mere idea of Tara leaving my side nearly made me whine in displeasure.

“So, Tara?” I drawled in the way that had sent women blushing pink in the past.

“Winters.” She responded, completely immune to my flirting. “My name is Tara Winters.”

Perfect. Her name was perfect. Everything about her was excruciatingly perfect, but she was human.

I remarked, “You must be here for Abby, I’m sure her declining health has been a frightening experience. It’s good we met today. Now, you can get all the help you need little one.”

“What are you talking about?” Tara said.

Abby’s first shift was worryingly close. The little pup did not understand her birthright or any elders that might guide her. She was completely enslaved to the savagery of her own instincts.

The first shift was both a blessing and a curse. Severe fevers, agonizing pain, and shrill screaming was just the beginning.

It was only a matter of time before Abby would shift and kill her own mother. The little pup must be returned to her proper community.

Leaving behind her human mother would be painful, but time would mend that wound. I would pass through a similar state of mourning.

Tara might be my fated one, but a human could not be my Luna.

“Here.” I sighed, handing over my business card. “Show this to your daughter’s physician, he shall confirm my identity. Your daughter is in a precarious situation and traditional means of medicine will not solve her problem. If you care about Abby, meet me tomorrow night at the Keven Hotel.”

I walked away without looking at her face. The risk of giving into my urges was overwhelming.

My meeting would be a waste of time with my wandering mind, so I retreated into my office.

“You missed the meeting.”

The voice came from the open doorway of my office.

“You ever heard of knocking?” I asked, rubbing the bridge of my nose.

“I’ve been waiting a week to discuss our newest partnership, and the door was open.” My friend shamelessly responded.

“I met my fated one.” I whispered.

Wood creaked as he sat on my desk and remarked, “You make it sound like this is something to mourn rather than celebrate.”

“She has a child.”

I chuckled depressingly, “To make it all better, the child is the result of some werewolf bastard that had no plan on being a father. She’s been raising a pup alone for six years.”

Speaking it out loud made the situation more depressing. Sharing that my fated one was a human would be even worse. Tara being human was my problem and mine alone.

“Now, all I can think about is ripping that bastard apart.” I paused. “And, I plan on taking in the pup, she has no control over her gift.”

“Let me help.”

I swiveled my chair and faced my friend. He was looking through my files, messing up the carefully organization system.

My friend knew I hated that, but by the mischief in his gold eyes, he was trying to lift my mood.

“Of course, Kade.” I felt immense relief with his support. “But I’m going to need more than a little advice.”

Kade grinned, “What are best friends for?”