The Alpha Who Doesn't Want A Mate

The Alliance Summit is held at the Dark Moon territory.

Of course it is.

The Dark Moon pack house looks like a luxury villain lair carved into a mountain. All black stone, glass, and wolves in expensive suits who look like they could kill you and then go to a board meeting.

I feel every eye on me the second I walk in.

Human. I smell human. No wolf can miss it.

Jace has his hand on the small of my back, guiding me. He's in full future-Alpha mode now - shoulders back, face blank, looking six years older than he did this morning in my bed.

"Stay next to me," he mutters through his teeth. "Don't look at anyone too long. And for the love of God, don't punch anyone."

"I make no promises."

We enter the main hall. It's huge. A massive round table with at least fifteen Alphas, all older, all staring. And at the head of the table...

Him.

Alpha Kade of Dark Moon.

He doesn't look like the other Alphas. The other Alphas look like CEOs. Kade looks like a weapon.

Black hair, pushed back. A scar that cuts through his left eyebrow. Black shirt, sleeves rolled up, forearms covered in tattoos that disappear under the fabric. And eyes - God, his eyes are this impossible icy grey that doesn't look human at all.

He's 26, but he looks like he's seen war. Because he has. He took over Dark Moon at 19 when his father was killed by rogues. Turned a failing, aggressive pack into the strongest alliance in the region in seven years. Through fear. Through an iron fist.

And he is looking directly at me.

Not at Jace. At me.

The entire room goes quiet. Like someone hit mute.

My heart starts beating so loud I'm sure everyone can hear it. Thump. Thump. Thump.

And then it happens.

A scent hits me.

Not cologne. Something wild. Rain on pine, smoke, winter air. It slams into my lungs and my knees actually weaken.

What the hell is wrong with me? I'm human. I don't scent mates. Humans don't have that.

Kade stands up. Slowly.

He's tall. Over 6'3". And he moves like a predator who knows everything in the room is prey.

He doesn't break eye contact with me as he walks around the table. Every Alpha in the room watches him, confused.

Jace steps slightly in front of me. Protective. Stupidly protective.

Kade stops two feet away. He inhales. Just once. And his jaw clenches so hard I see a muscle tick.

His eyes flash. Gold. Wolf eyes.

"No," he says. It's not loud. It's barely a whisper. But it sounds furious. Like he's disgusted.

He looks at me like I'm a problem he wants to erase.

"You have got to be kidding me."

I find my voice. Barely. "Excuse me?"

He turns to Alpha James, ignoring me completely now. "James. You brought a human girl to my Summit as a joke?"

James stands. "Kade. With respect, the Council asked for Kira. She's part of Silver Ridge. She's our human integration representative."

Kade laughs. It's cold. No humor at all.

"Integration? She's a liability. She's human." He looks back at me, and his eyes drag down my body, not in a hot way - in a dismissive, cruel way. "Frail. Weak. Breakable."

Okay. Now I'm pissed. The fear evaporates.

I step around Jace, even though Jace tries to grab my arm.

"Frail?" I say, and my voice is louder than I intended. Every Alpha is now staring at me. "Sir, with all due respect, I train with Silver Ridge warriors four days a week. I sparred your Delta last year at the joint training and put him on his ass in under a minute. So you can take your 'frail' and shove it."

Silence.

Jace makes a choking sound next to me.

One of the Alphas at the table actually gasps.

No one talks to Kade like that. Ever.

Kade's eyes snap back to mine. And for a second, that gold flickers again, brighter. His nostrils flare.

He steps closer. Too close. I have to tilt my head up to look at him. I can feel heat coming off him. I can smell him again - that rain and smoke - and my traitor body leans in instead of pulling away.

"You have no idea what you are, do you?" he says, low enough only I can hear.

"What?"

He leans down, his mouth near my ear, and his voice is a growl.

"Mine."

The word hits my spine like lightning.

Jace yanks me back. Hard.

"Don't touch her!" Jace snarls, and his own wolf is flashing in his eyes now. Future Alpha or not, he's ready to fight Kade in the middle of his own pack house.

Kade straightens up, his face instantly blank again, cold. The gold is gone. The disgust is back.

"She's not mine," he says to the room, loud and clear. "She can't be. I don't want a mate. Especially not a human mate who thinks she's a warrior."

He looks at me one last time, and his words are deliberate. Designed to cut.

"I, Alpha Kade of Dark Moon, reject you."

My breath stops.

The entire hall erupts in whispers.

Reject. He just... rejected me. Before I even knew what was happening.

I don't feel heartbroken. I feel humiliated. Furious. My cheeks are burning. My fists are clenched so tight my nails dig into my palms.

I didn't want a mate either. I never wanted this stupid wolf fairytale. I wanted college. I wanted my mom's studio. I wanted a human life.

So why do his words feel like he just ripped something out of my chest?

I lift my chin. If he wants to play Alpha, fine. I'll play human girl who doesn't give a damn.

"Good," I say, my voice shaking but loud. "Because I reject you too, asshole."