004 - MATE

★★CREED★★

I pulled away from Hylara's trembling frame before instinct dragged me back to her.

My mate. A human?

The words tasted like poison.

The moon Goddess had either lost her mind or had cursed me. There was no other explanation.

Out of every she-wolf born beneath her moon, she decided to bind me —the Alpha of Silverpine— to the weakest creature with no wolf, no rank, and no place in my world, and somehow expected me to accept her?

Hell no.

This wasn't fate but a sick joke that was slowly starting to make sense. The magnetic pull I felt whenever she was close, the murderous rage that consumed me when Declan Bishop —soon to be Alpha of a rival pack— claimed her as his girlfriend, the animal clawing beneath my skin demanding I protect her on the rink.

Nothing was a coincidence. Every damned instinct had been screaming the truth. My wolf had recognized his mate long ago.

"Is everything ok?"

My ears almost bled from the panic dripping from her voice, her legs still clasp against my hips as she held the same proximity.

"Your eyes. They're doing that thing again."

How the fuck do I explain this? How do I explain a world she doesn't even know exists?

I pulled away completely, but it was pointless, her jasmine scent still lingered in my lungs like smoke. My wolf scratched beneath my skin, demanding I close the distance again.

My wolf wanted her, but I didn't.

But rejecting her wouldn't change anything. She'd think I'd lost my mind because humans knew nothing about werewolves' existence. She didn't know severing a bond blessed by the Moon Goddess could leave a scar that never heals.

After years of waiting and hoping for a high-ranking she-wolf, fate decided to deliver my college headache wrapped in human skin for a mate.

How convenient. 

"Did I do something wrong?" Of course, she'd think this was about the kiss. My wolf whines at her self-doubt. "Umm...I'm sorry if I was terrible. Uuh, let's try again I promise thi..."

"Leave." I locked my jaw before the growl clawing its way up could escape. "We're done for tonight."

My wolf slammed hard against the walls of my mind, snarling, scratching, and demanding I take back my words.

Mine.

His possessive instincts made my stomach twist.

But she wasn't mine. She'd never be. The beast could scratch all it wanted, she was still human, still the woman I'd spent months wanting nowhere near me.

Hylara's eyes widened momentarily.

"Creed, it's almost midnight, you don't expect me to leave on my own!" Her exasperation was annoying because even the Omegas in my Pack could watch over themselves.

Hylara was too weak to stand beside me as Luna. Silverpine deserved strength, respect, and fear not this. Not some delicate human who'd turn me into a joke in every Alpha gathering.

"You're not my problem, Miss Hart." The words landed as hard as I intended. "We've done what we came here to do, now get out."

Her face hardened, her twitching fingers curled into fists like she wanted to hit me.

A humorless breath slipped through me. At least the kitten had claws... too bad claws alone couldn't make her worthy of an Alpha.

"You're even more disgusting than I thought!" Hylara's eyes glazed over, her voice cracking as she straightened her disheveled skirt with sharp, angry movements before storming to the door.

"I'll have my chauffeur drop you off." I downed the rest of my whiskey in one go, the liquor burned but not strong enough to dull my irritation.

"You and your chauffeur can go fuck each other." She shot me her middle finger before disappearing in the crowd, the gesture would've earned anyone else a broken arm.

I shouldn't be bothered by her. A human wasn't my responsibility but watching her leave felt like something had slipped through my fingers.

What if she got too mad and decided to bail on the arrangement? Too much depended on this relationship so whether or not I liked it, I had to suck up to her if I wanted to protect my Pack.

Declan's stunt and my lapse in control had created one hell of a mess and now, humans were curiously dissecting the footage for answers.

Many dismissed the incredible speed in the footage as smart editing, and others believed it was an adrenaline rush. But, we couldn't let their curiosity keep building.

Right now, protecting my Pack came first, even if keeping Hylara close was the cost. Not because I wanted her but because she was the perfect distraction.

"I can take care of myself. I don't need you babysitting me." Hylara huffed in frustration after no cab stopped for her.

"Hylara, get in the car now."

"No."

"I said get in the damn car it's not safe out there." I couldn't help the Alpha tone slipping in.

"I don't need your fake concern." She scowled then turned and disappeared down the sidewalk, muttering incoherently to herself.

She was mad and that was more reason I needed to make sure she got to her dorm room alive.

The excuse sounded weak even to me.

My grip on the steering wheel tightened the second I turned into the street she'd disappeared into.

Something was off.

The sidewalks stretched beneath the glowing streetlights but there was no trace of her blonde curls and ugly skirt.

Where the hell was she?

"This woman will be the death of me," I muttered stepping out of the car.

My stomach twisted as the air leading to the alley was thick with a mix of jasmine, fear, and wolves.

"Let go of me!"

Struggling hard against the three men who surrounded her, Hylara screamed as one ripped off her jacket, her knee weakly colliding with his stomach.

"You bitch!" That bastard snarled smacking her hard on the face, the force sending her to the ground.

My wolf pushed against me as another man grabbed her by the hair, slamming her against the wall. Wailing in agony, Hylara clawed desperately at the man's hands.

"These feisty skanks are more fun to tame, Joe." The third man laughed.

"Stop fighting already. You'll enjoy it eventually."

"Let her go!" I growled lowly. All heads turned towards me but my attention was on the disheveled girl who looked almost ready to pass out from relief.

"And if we don't?"

Stepping out of the shadows, I shoved the bastard who dared hit her into a dumpster.

"Al...Alpha...?" As his grip on her loosened, Hylara broke free, stumbling slightly as she rushed to my side.

"You boys picked the wrong woman this time." My voice was deadly as I pulled her into me.

But it wasn't all about her, I told myself. These men broke a major Pack law that was enacted to protect both humans and our kind.

No attacks on humans.

"Alpha, we only wanted to rattle her a bit. Please show us mercy." They fell on their knees begging.

"I'm sure the cops would love the details." Color drained from their faces as I tucked my phone away after ending the call. "And don't even think about running, you'll only make it worse, Joe."

The drive back was suffocating. Hylara hugged herself like she was trying to hold the pieces together.

Good!

Maybe next time she'd think before storming off alone.

"Thank you." She mumbled.

"If you're to throw a tantrum, learn to protect yourself." My voice hardened. "You may not be too lucky next time."

"I know."

With slouching shoulders, she thanked me one last time before slipping out of the car.

Tonight's outcome was far from my expectations.