Chapter 3 Corbin

“Corbin, dear, we need to talk.”

Mothers home. Great. I wonder what she has in store this time. Every time Luna leaves the house, she returns with a new agenda.

Go I walk through the large pack house to see what I’m being summoned for. Typically, it’s just the Beta’s family and ours—the Alpha's—who live within these walls. But as I reach the top of the stairs, an unfamiliar scent hits me.

It’s intoxicating.

It pulls at me, lures me toward the guest bedroom like a magnetic force.

“Ezra, settle down. We can’t just barge in there.”

My wolf growls, not at all pleased with my restraint. He’s trying to take control, pushing at my skin, desperate to shift. But I’m stronger—for now.

“Corbin, whoever’s in there... she’s our mate. I need to be closer.”

“I know, Ezra. I feel it too. But we can’t scare her, and we definitely can’t make a scene. Luna wants to talk. We keep this under wraps for now.”

Ezra growls in frustration but eventually concedes, settling down with a quiet whimper.

I head downstairs to the den where my parents—the Alpha and Luna—are waiting for me.

“You called, Luna?” I say, keeping my tone neutral.

“My love, I missed you,” my mother says, her voice warm. “How is everything?”

“Busy,” I reply. “I’ve been holding things down while father handled… whatever the hell he was off doing.”

“I heard you caused quite the ruckus.”

“Wasn’t me. That was Beta Banks. He’s a solid second-in-command, but ever since he found his mate, the guy’s been on edge. One look at Helena from another pack member, and his wolf goes ballistic.”

“He’s a young wolf in love. Mated and marked—possessiveness comes with the territory. It’ll get worse before it gets better, especially once mating season hits. You’ll need to keep him in check, just like he will for you.”

She pauses, her expression softening.

“On another subject… we have a guest.”

Of course we do.

“I had a premonition about her arrival. It didn’t come exactly as I’d seen, but she’s here—and she’s in rough shape. Wherever she’s been for the last seventeen years... it’s been torture.”

“What’s her name?”

“Anika. And before you say anything, yes—she’s a rogue. But she will be one of us.”

I tense. A rogue? My mate is a rogue?

“Luna, is it wise to keep her in the pack house? Shouldn’t she be with the other wolves? You’re putting us all at risk.”

Inside, my thoughts spiral. My mate is a rogue. I’ll have to reject her. The pack would never accept their future Alpha mated to a rogue. What would they think?

“Corbin, don’t you dare,” Ezra snarls. “If you reject our mate, I’ll take over and make your life hell.”

“I’d like to see you try,” I growl back internally.

“Son?” My mother’s voice draws me back. “Are you okay? You look... worried.”

“I’m fine. Just tired. Between Banks, the patrols, and now a rogue under our roof, I need some rest.”

She nods, not pushing further. I leave the room, climbing the stairs slowly. As I near Anika’s room, I rest my head against the door. Even through the wood, her presence calms Ezra. His rage settles. My own breathing slows.

What the hell am I supposed to do when she finds out I’m her mate? She can’t be far from her eighteenth birthday if I can already feel the bond this strongly.

I turn to go to my room—and nearly collide with her.

Anika.

Wrapped in nothing but a towel, little black gloves on her hands, she stares up at me with wide emerald eyes. Her long, curly brown hair falls damp around her shoulders, and her lips—Moon Goddess, those lips—are a soft pink.

Moon Goddess, what are you doing to me?!

“Hi… I’m Corbin,” I manage to say. “I was just, uh, making sure you were okay. Luna asked me to check on you.”

I sound like an idiot. She doesn’t seem to mind.

“Hi, Corbin. I’m Anika.” Her voice is like warm honey. “Weird question, but… do you have a spare top I could borrow? I don’t have any clothes, and I just showered. I really don’t want to put the old stuff back on.”

She bites her lower lip. My heart nearly explodes.

“Please, Moon Goddess, give me the strength not to devour her right here and now,” I mutter under my breath.

“Yeah—yeah, sure. I’ll make sure Luna gets you something proper tomorrow, but I’ve got something you can wear for now. Want to come with me?”

She nods, following me to my room.

I grab a long black shirt and a pair of clean cotton boxers, handing them to her. She pecks my cheek—a soft, fleeting touch—and walks back to her room.

Ezra practically howls inside me.

But I can already feel the pain coming. Rejecting her will break us both. And Ezra… he won’t let it go.

That night, I toss and turn. Her face, her scent, her voice—they haunt my every thought.

“Screw it,” I mutter, throwing the blanket off and heading to the pack’s gym.

I lay into the punching bag. Right, left, right, right, left. The repetitive motion is grounding. Sweat drips down my forehead. Ezra stirs again, urging me to release him.

Before I can stop it, bones crack and muscles shift. I drop to all fours.

Ezra has taken over.

He needs to run.

And I let him.