Werewolves

Chapter 5

Liam’s POV

In another realm far from human lands…

“You’re so dumb,” I snapped, slamming my fist on the table. “You weren’t supposed to talk to her!”

The omega flinched. The night before was the full moon. I had to warn her.

“I told you to watch her silently—silently!” I barked. “You showed yourself to her? At a restaurant?! Around humans?!”

He stuttered something about it not being crowded and that she didn’t recognize him.

I rolled my eyes so hard I swear the ancestors felt it. “Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. You’ve just risked exposing our world because you couldn’t keep your furry little mouth shut. “Get out of my sight!”

He bolted like a kicked pup. Honestly, the omegas are supposed to be the quietest and most obedient. And yet, this is what I get assigned?

I paced the floor of my war room—barefoot, because boots are overrated when you’re full of rage—and cursed the universe under my breath. Again.

“Why? Why is my mate half human?” I growled, dragging my hands through my hair.

A half-human. I’m the future Alpha King, destined to rule the Midnight Howl Pack—the largest and oldest bloodline in the realm. I’ve trained for this since I was six years old. I’ve fought alphas twice my size. I’ve survived winters that would freeze a dragon’s fire.

And they pair me with someone who’s half human. Half! That means diluted blood, fragile bones, a slower shift, weaker senses—everything my mate is supposed to not be.

“She’ll be weaker than the omegas,” I muttered to myself, kicking over a stool. “How’s she supposed to stand beside me, lead by my side, when she can’t even sense danger before it hits her in the face?”

I stormed down the corridor, heading straight to my father’s chamber.

“Father,” I barked, pushing open the heavy door without knocking. “Isn’t there a way to change her? To make her more… wolf? There has to be something!”

He didn’t even look up from his ancient scrolls. Just raised an eyebrow and muttered, “Do you even deserve a mate?”

His words hit like claws to the chest.

“She’d probably reject you if she knew the kind of self-obsessed brat you are,” he continued coldly. “Now get out of my room. I have important things to do.”

Important. Right. Like practicing his kingly glare in the mirror.

I clenched my jaw, fists tight at my sides. But I said nothing. I knew better. Arguing with my father was like challenging a blizzard to warm up—it wasn’t going to happen, and you’d only get frostbite for trying.

I turned and walked away. Fast. Before I showed him the one thing he’d never let me live down—tears.

Why does he hate me so much?

Maybe it’s because I remind him of my mother. Maybe it’s because I ask too many questions. Or maybe he just can’t stand the idea of someone else ruling after him. I don’t know. I only know that whatever he broke in me when he banished my mother from this kingdom… it never really healed.

I slammed the door to my own quarters, chest heaving.

I’m trained. I’m a born leader. But I’m also tired of pretending that none of this hurts.

And I’m terrified.

Because even with everything I’ve trained for—every victory, every command shouted into war—I don’t know how to lead a heart I don’t understand.

Especially when that heart belongs to someone who may never accept me… or this world.

And worse—what if she’s already falling for someone else?

Wait. What?

Did I just think about her… liking someone else?

Why would I even care? I don’t care. I don’t like her. I don’t even think I’d settle with her.

Settle with a half-human, probably-weak mate? Absolutely not.

I scowled at the thought and stormed back into my chambers, ready to punch a wall or a pillow—whichever one annoyed me first. But to my surprise, my younger brother, Lucious, was already inside, casually leaning against my bedpost like he owned the place.

“You’re brooding again,” he said with that smug grin he always wore. “Still angry about the mate thing?”

I groaned. “You really need to stop reading my moods like a romance scroll.”

Lucious chuckled. “You need to stop stressing about it. The ancestors paired you two for a reason. Maybe she’s stronger than you think.”

“Or maybe the ancestors were half-asleep,” I muttered.

He laughed and clapped my shoulder. “Come on, let’s train. You need to let off steam before you burn the whole castle down with that glare.”

I rolled my eyes but followed him. “Fine. But I’m not holding back this time. Last session, I let you win so you wouldn’t sulk in front of your precious Bella.”

Lucious raised a brow. “Oh really? You let me win?”

“I’m being generous with my pride,” I said, smirking.

We were halfway down the corridor,Lucious turned to me, already guilty.

“Uh… slight change of plans. Bella just mind-linked me. She misses me.”

I stared at him in disbelief. “We were literally going to train! You begged me for this yesterday!”

“She’s my mate, Liam,” he said with a grin. “You’ll understand when yours starts talking to your soul instead of your ego.”

I snorted. “Urgh. Everyone with their mates. So dramatic. So clingy. It’s like watching wolves in a soap opera.”

Lucious just laughed and gave me a mock bow before disappearing down the hallway toward his beloved Bella.

I stood there for a moment, completely abandoned.

“Fine,” I muttered to myself. “Guess I’ll go train with the weaklings. Maybe I’ll finally get a challenge if I spar them all at once.”

I adjusted my cuffs, straightened my shoulders, and headed to the training grounds. Let the record show: I didn’t need a mate to be a legend.

…But maybe… just maybe… I wondered what it would feel like to have someone miss me like that.

Just a thought.

A very quiet one.