2. A Human Mate

~NYRA~

“Mate?”

“Yes!” Nina exclaims. “He’s our mate, Nyra.”

“No. He’s a human. He can’t—”

My words cut short when the barrel of his gun slammed into my cheek. Pain exploded across my face, metallic tang of blood coating my tongue as I toppled sideways, dirt grinding into my skin.

I was still reeling—shock pounding harder than the hit itself—when I saw the rogues launch at him. All three at once.

Nina’s growl ripped out of me, raw and primal. My claws elongated, piercing the black wolf’s throat in one clean motion. His warm blood sprayed across my fur as Nina yanked, tearing him apart. Gunfire cracked through the woods, sharp and deafening.

“Nina, calm down!” I tried, my voice echoing through the bond. But the instinct was too strong—the need to protect our mate pulsed like wildfire through her veins.

Two rogues broke away, one staggering, riddled with bullets, before darkness swallowed them whole.

I turned back, chest heaving, only to find him again—my supposed mate—just a foot away. Aiming another bullet at me.

Nina growled, lips curling over my fangs. She lunged forward, jaws clamping around his weapon. Metal crunched, groaned, and snapped between her teeth before she flung the useless thing aside.

“Stay back, wolfy,” he warned, voice deep, rough… and utterly wrong in my ears.

Nina advanced, unbothered by his threats. He backed away, retreating until his spine hit a tree, trapped.

And that’s when I saw him, clearly. Dirty blonde hair, tousled and damp with sweat. A drop slid from his temple down the sharp line of his jaw, glistening under the moonlight. His chest rose and fell in ragged breaths, muscles straining against his uniform.

“He’s hot. And handsome,” Nina cooed, her voice annoyingly starry-eyed.

I couldn’t argue.

Damn it, she is right—he is totally fuckable.

Nina pressed her nose against him, inhaling. Smoke and damp earth filled our senses again, intoxicating and wild.

“He’s our mate,” she purred, and before I could stop her, she licked his face. Her tongue dragged over the rough stubble of his cheek. His salty sweat mixed with our taste, for a moment I felt intoxicated before I stilled.

He's my mate.

'Yes!'

‘You’re happy about this?’ I asked, horrified.

‘Of course. We found him.’ Her voice was smug. ‘Our mate, Nyra.’

‘He’s human. A hunter.’

‘Doesn’t matter. He’s ours.’

'Nina. Switch.' My voice was a whip crack.

With a reluctant huff, she slunk back, her protest echoing in the back of my head. My body shifted, bones snapping into place until I was on two legs again.

The man’s eyes widened, disbelief paling his face. His lips trembled as he stammered, “You… wolf… human… that animal—”

“Yes. That was me,” I cut him off, my voice sharp. I showed him my arm, the bullet wound still bleeding sluggishly. His eyes flicked to it, horror dawning in them.

He mumbled nonsense, shaking his head. I’d heard enough.

I placed a finger on his forehead. His skin was scorching under my touch, trembling. His breath hitched.

“Forget.” My Alpha command laced the word, wrapping around him like iron chains. His pupils dilated, resistance crumbling. “This night. This place. Me. Everything.”

His gaze glazed over. Satisfied, I turned away, shifting once more. Nina snarled, clawing at the edges of my mind as I forced her to retreat. We ran.

We ran until the forest swallowed him. Until his scent faded from my nose. Until I could pretend it hadn’t happened.

_________

The floor crunched under me as I stepped on a pile of leaves, cursing myself. I tried to move without making a sound, but every crackle echoed like a shout.

I already had too much shit on my plate. The last thing I needed was another lecture about being a proper lady.

I tiptoed into the pack house, ears straining for the voices of my uncle or aunt. Silence. I breathed out, relieved.

Then a hand clamped over my mouth. My body tensed, claws half-shifted—until the familiar scent calmed me.

“Nyra.”

“Knox,” I exhaled, turning in his hold.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, ignoring the fact that his hands were caressing my waist, slow and possessive.

“I missed you,” he murmured, burying his face in the crook of my neck. His breath was warm against my skin.

“You should leave. Uncle or Aunt will—ah—” My words dissolved into a moan as his mouth latched onto my throat, hot tongue sliding over my flesh, teeth grazing dangerously close.

“Knox…” I tried again, weakly. “This is not how a Beta behaves.”

“A Beta’s duty is to fulfill his Alpha’s needs.” His hot breath ghosted up my skin, making goosebumps rise. His tongue traced higher, deliberate.

“I’m not Alpha yet,” I hissed.

“I’m not Beta yet either,” he countered, pulling me closer. His hand slid under the thin shirt I’d grabbed from the woods.

“Someone… will see us,” I whispered, breathless, as his teeth tugged at my earlobe. “Ah—”

“Let them,” he growled against my lips. Then he kissed me—hot, demanding, relentless.

I gave in, matching his hunger, fingers tangling in his hair. He groaned, lifting me with ease, my legs wrapping around his waist. His mouth consumed mine, our tongues clashing.

Then I felt it—his hardness pressing against me.

Everything in me froze.

I tore myself away, landing on the floor with lightning speed. My heart thundered. My stomach twisted.

No. This..this is wrong.

“Nyra?” Knox’s voice cracked through the haze. His eyes—darker now—searched mine. His blonde hair caught the low light, reminding me of… him. Would it feel the same as Knox's—

I curled my fists, nails biting into my palm.

What the fuck is wrong with me? Why am I comparing Knox to that human?

“Nyra,” Knox pressed gently.

“Not tonight, Knox.” I snapped, forcing my voice steady.

“What happened?” he asked, cupping my face. His worried eyes softened me in ways I hated.

I leaned into his palm despite myself. “I’m tired. Just got back from a run.”

“Okay,” he said quietly.

“Don’t tell Uncle or Aunt,” I warned.

“They’re my Alpha and Luna. I can’t really lie to them,” he teased, lips quirking.

“Knox,” I warned again, brows raised.

“Alright, little Alpha. You’re safe with me,” he said, brushing his fingers down my cheek.

“I know,” I whispered.

“Can I at least walk you to your room?”

“Of course.”

We walked in silence for a while, but the question burned on my tongue.

“Knox, have you heard of human mates?”

“Human mates?” he repeated. I nodded.

“Very rare,” he said slowly.

As a Beta heir, he learns about history and those things better than us.

“What happens… when a wolf is mated to a human?”

“Nothing special. They marry. Live their lives.”

That didn’t sound bad.

“Any Alpha… ever mated to a human?” My voice was tighter than I wanted.

“No,” he said flatly. My fragile hope shattered.

“Why?” My voice sounded small now, almost a whisper.

“Wolves mated to humans can’t have pups, Nyra.”

“What?!” I stopped dead.

Knox frowned, then continued. “The human body can’t handle a wolf pup. So that Alpha is either dethroned… or forced away from his pack.”

Cold fear gripped my chest. “What if… a she-wolf is mated to a human?”

“There are no such cases,” he admitted. “But I doubt a human can even impregnate a wolf.”

“Oh.” The word slipped out small and broken.

Dethroned.

We reached my door. My mind was still spinning when his voice cut through.

“Did you find your mate?”

My breath caught, heart lurching. My mind scrambled to find the right words to explain this situation when I saw his smirk.

Wait. He's just teasing me.

Relief—then annoyance.

“Knox!” I lunged. He caught me easily, locking my wrists behind my back.

“Just joking,” he grinned.

“You’d better be.” I freed myself, opening the door. “Goodnight.”

“I don’t want you to find your mate,” he blurted suddenly, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “Goodnight, little Alpha.”

I leaned against the doorframe, watching him walk away until the shadows swallowed him.

Why? Just why?

Why couldn’t he be my mate?

Why, Moon Goddess?

I closed the door softly, slumping against it.

My mate is a human. A fucking human.

If the council ever finds out, they’ll force me to accept him. And that means… I’ll lose everything. I can't be an Alpha.

Not only will I lose my title, I’ll also lose my father’s last wish.

No. Never.

I won’t accept him.

Nina howled in the back of my mind, wounded and broken.

‘This is for the best, Nina.’

This is the best.

For me. For Nina. For the pack.

I will never accept him.