1: Mate?

Natasha's POV

The sound of the ambulance filled the once silent night—

I was forced to wake up when tite once distant sound became stagnant in the Alpha’s compound.

"What? Who?"

I jumped up from the bed, heart in my mouth.

Something felt wrong. The air was heavy.

I rushed to the window and pulled the curtain aside. My fingers trembled.

Flashing red and blue lights danced across the walls, slicing the darkness in half. I saw movement—people, warriors, guards. Everyone was running toward the main building.

I threw on my hoodie. Didn’t bother to check if I had put it on rightly. I just stormed out.

"Mum!" I yelled, running out of the room we shared in the maids’ quarters. "Mum, what’s going on?"

She was already outside, in her night wear, her eyes wide and lips trembling.

"It’s the Alpha," she said, voice low, scared. "He was attacked in his office."

"What?" My head snapped toward the main building.

"And—Jace?" She muttered

Jace?

My eyes widened. "What happened to Jace?"

Her face fell.

"Mum—where is he?!"

"He got hurt trying to protect his father." Her voice cracked. "He’s being rushed to the clinic too."

I didn’t wait.

My feet moved before I could think. I ran barefoot across the compound, ignoring the sharp rocks beneath. I didn’t care.

Jace.

He was supposed to take me to prom next week. He promised. Swore he wouldn’t miss it for the world.

He even smiled—said I’d be the prettiest girl there. Even bought me a dress behind his mum’s back.

And now…

Even if we don't get to go to prom, I just want to see you well, Jace. You can't die on me.

By the time I got to the clinic, they had already wheeled him in.

I hurried to the reception area where I found his mom and younger sister, Alice.

"Luna—" I called in a panic-filled voice. "Luna, how’s Jace?"

She turned sharply, her eyes spitting words that her mouth withheld.

"Who asked you to come here?" she spat.

My mouth opened but nothing came out. I blinked, stunned.

"What right do you think you have to ask about Jace?"

I swallowed hard as tears gently fell from my eyes.

"Get out of here before I throw you out myself!" She snarled, pointing towards the door.

I stepped back, her voice echoed in my head. The guards glanced at me, then looked away, pretending they didn’t hear anything.

I turned slowly and walked out, legs shaking.

But I didn’t go far.

I sat right outside the hospital doors, back against the wall. My fingers went numb from the cold. I pulled my hoodie tighter around me and stared at the building like I could see through the walls. Like I could see Jace.

Hours passed.

Guards went in and out. Nurses too. None of them told me anything. I asked. I begged. One of them just said, “He’s stable,” but I don’t even know if he meant it or if he just wanted me to stop asking.

The ground was cold. My eyes burned from crying. I curled up on the concrete and watched the stars fade.

I must’ve fallen asleep.

Because the next thing I felt was morning dew falling softly on my face. Light mist brushed against my skin. My lips were dry and my back hurt really bad. But I didn’t care.

I sat up and looked around.

Still no word.

Still no Jace.

I stood and wiped my eyes with my sleeve. Another guard passed by and I asked again. He didn’t say anything. Just gave me a look—like I wasn’t worth the answer—and kept walking.

I went back to the quarters, with chaos in mind.

Mum was waiting.

She saw my face and sighed. "Come, my child," she whispered, pulling me into a hug. "Come rest."

I cried into her shoulder. "They didn’t let me see him… they didn’t say anything…"

"Shhh," she said, hugging me tight. "He’s strong. He’s going to be okay."

I didn’t believe her.

The truth was— Jace wasn’t just my best friend.

He was the only boy who saw me.

The maid’s daughter. The girl who didn’t belong anywhere except in the shadows. The one who swept the floors while other girls painted their nails and giggled in the pack.

He saw me.

And now he's out there struggling for his life and I can't do anything about it.

—

**Two days Later —**

Jace got discharged.

But the Alpha… he didn’t make it.

They said he died hours after being attacked. Didn’t even make it to sunrise. The pack was mourning. Black ribbons everywhere.

But thankfully, Jace survived.

He barely did.

He hadn’t come outside since. Not even once. No one saw him. No one spoke to him. They said he was grieving, but I didn’t know for sure. He didn’t ask for me. Didn’t send for me.

And also, he requested to be left alone.

I stayed out of the way.

Even when it broke me.

Just when I started sweeping the front of our quarters, a familiar voice called my name.

"Natasha!"

I turned.

It was Lani, my best friend from the neighbouring pack, where our college was situated. She walked up to me, with a small cheering smile. Of course she must have heard what happened. The news of Alpha Fernando's death had spread across neighbouring packs.

"How have you been?" she said, hugging me.

I shook my head, "I don't know— I don't know how I feel." I sobbed on her shoulder.

"And Jace—?" She asked.

Once again, I shook my head. "Haven't heard from him, but I'm sure he's hurting like crazy. He's been indoors the whole time."

I quickly wrapped up my work and then we went on a walk. It was very relieving to finally get some thoughts off my chest.

"Still can't believe I'd be attending prom without you."

I blinked at her.

"I know right. No one actually saw this coming. I—I just want to be here for Jace. Just in case he needs anything, I can't leave him in this condition."

She stared at me for a while, and then she said. "When are you finally going to let him know how much you love him?"

I shrugged.

"It's not that easy you know… we've been best friends for the longest and I'm scared it would ruin things between us."

"What if he loves you too?" Her question seemed to have caught me off guard.

I blinked, thought of what to say, "I— Um"

Her phone beeped, perfect timing.

She stared at the screen for a while, and then her eyes returned to mine. "Gotta go, we'll see at Graduation Prep or maybe Graduation."

—

**Prom Night —**

The house was quiet.

I just finished taking the Luna’s laundry to her room when I saw one of the kitchen maids carrying a tray.

"Where are you going?" I asked.

"To take dinner to Jace. He hasn’t eaten all day again."

My hand shot out. "I’ll do it."

She looked at me like she wanted to ask questions, but I didn’t wait. I collected the tray and started heading up to his room.

My hands were sweating.

I stood in front of his door, staring at it.

Maybe he was asleep?

I pushed it open quietly. I didn’t knock. Stupid me. I should’ve knocked. But my head was too full of thoughts.

I stepped inside.

He wasn’t asleep.

He was standing right there—in front of the mirror.

In nothing but his boxers.

My mouth parted. My heart stopped.

His back was broad, strong. But there was something more.

Something that slammed into my chest like a wave.

He turned.

His eyes locked with mine.

And they weren’t warm. They weren’t soft. They were… angry.

 Cold. What other word could I use?

I felt the whole room shift.

My lips moved on their own.

"Mate?"

The word fell out of me. Soft. Barely audible. But he heard it.

But then I noticed someone stepping out, from his bathroom. In nothing but a bikini.

My world came to a pause, and my hands — they dropped.

The tray crashed to the floor. The plates shattered, and the food— wasted.

"Jace?" My voice cracked.

He didn’t say anything.

He just stood there.

Watching me fall apart.

Finally, his lips parted like he was going to explain, but the words that left his mouth— "Pack your mess and Leave!"

My heartbeat picked up.

A part of me that was once non-existent cried out again, "Mate?" Her voice in soft heartbroken whispers.

There were bottles of drinks on the floor, not one— not two

I felt suffocated, tears building up in my eyes. "Jace you're my—"

"—I said get out!"

I bent slowly, trying to pick the broken pieces.

My hands were shaking. My chest was caving in.

One sharp edge slipped right through my skin.

 I flinched, pulling my hand back. Blood slowly began to spill from the cut. I simply wiped it on my hoodie and tried to keep picking, but it stung badly. My vision blurred as I carried the broken plates out of the room.

As I approached the kitchen, a soft gasp came from the door.

It was Mira, one of the kitchen maids. She rushed in. "Natasha—! You’re bleeding!"

"I’m fine," I whispered, even though my voice was barely holding up.

"No, you’re not!" she said, running over. "Come on, let me help."

I shook my head. "Please… Just help me clean up the mess I caused in the young master's room. He's so mad and he doesn't want to see my face."

She hesitated, eyes wide with worry. Then nodded and hurried upstairs.

I stood slowly, hand still bleeding, heart still in pieces. I walked over to the shelf beside the room’s mini bar. Arranged there were bottles of wine, alcohol and the likes.

I didn’t think twice.

My fingers grabbed one. A bottle of Whiskey.

An older maid saw me and raised a brow.

I gave a little shrug. "The young master asked me to bring it."

She blinked. "He did?"

"Yeah." I forced a smile. "He said he needed it."

She didn’t question me again.

I left.

Walked fast. Past the halls. Past the stairs. Past anyone who could see the cracks in my face.

Then I ran out the back, past the gardens, through the servant gate and finally Into the street.

I found an half broken wooden bench. Same one the guards used to sit on during breaks.

I sat there quietly, then proceeded to open the bottle.

I stared at it for a while.

Then I drank from it.

It burned really Bad.

But it burned less than the ache in my chest.

I coughed. My eyes watered. I drank again.

And again.

And again.

Till my head started to feel light.

Till the world started spinning sideways.

I laughed. Why was I laughing?

"Mate?" I whispered to the air.

No one answered.

I got up. My legs were no longer mine. They moved weird, but somehow, I managed to walk.

I walked down the road on barefoot, my hands still bloody. I wasn’t capable of that fast healing stuff yet, maybe because it wasn’t developed yet, or because I never had a wolf

My voice kept humming something. I didn’t even know what it was.

Jace.

Mate.

The name kept hitting my tongue like broken glass.

"Why did you do that to me…" I whispered, laughing again. Or crying. I didn’t even know anymore.

The street lights blurred.

I blinked as if it would have focus my vision..

Then I saw it— A Blinding light. And it was coming straight at me with a speed I couldn't explain.

I squinted, tried to move, but my legs didn’t move.

My brain said run, but my body stood still.

Like a statue.

No thoughts.

No pain.

Just light.

It swallowed me whole.

And then— Before I could even react, I was enveloped by darkness.