All Chapters of Mate : Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

~Jane~The gym smelled faintly of sweat and rubber mats, a sharp reminder that this wasn't just a school subject- this was where people pushed themselves, where they learned how to fight. My heartbeat picked up as my sneakers hit the polished floor.Students were already scattered across the space, some girls laughing as they stretched together, a few boys sparring lightly in the corner, their movements quick and sharp. The thud of fists against pads echoed through the room. They all looked confident, and I felt like a child stepping into a room full of warriors. Jay trailed a few steps behind me, hands in his pockets, but his eyes were sharp. His presence calmed me more than I wanted to admit. Even standing across the gym, he was watching everything- watching me. "Alright, Jane." The girl who had helped me earlier clapped her hands once, pulling my attention. "We'll start simple. Stretching first, then I'll run you through the basics." "Okay," I said, trying to sound braver than I

~Jane~I shifted in my seat, heat thundering. The question wouldn't leave me alone. My fingers tightened around my pen until I finally lifted my hand, startling even myself. "Yes, Miss Foster?" Mr. Nelson's brows rose, his tone encouraging. I swallowed, nerves twisting in my chest, but forced the words out. "Mr. Nelson... is it possible for someone's wolf to awaken, even for just a moment, before they've reached their seventeenth year?" A few students glanced my way, curious, but Mr. Nelson only gave me a measured look, as though he'd been waiting for someone to ask. "That is... an unusual question, Miss Foster." He leaned against the desk, folding his arms. "In all of our history, there are no recorded cases of a wolf awakening before the age of maturity. The Moon Goddess set that boundary for a reason. The bond between human and wolf must be strong enough to bear the connection." My stomach sank. No recorded cases. Then what had happened to me? "But," Mr. Nelson added, more care

~Jane~ The drive home blurred past in a haze of heat and silence, every mile thick with unspoken words. Nathan's hands never strayed from the wheel, but the weight of his presence filled every inch of the car. I didn't trust my voice, didn't dare break the fragile thread holding me together, so I stared out the window, clutching the hem of my shirt to keep from reaching for him. When the packhouse finally came into view, my breath caught. The familiar stone and timber stood tall against the fading light, but tonight it didn't look like safety. Tonight it looked like temptation. Nathan eased the car up the long drive, slowing as he reached the circular front. Gravel crunching beneath the tires, steady, deliberate, like his heartbeat pulsing in sync with mine. Jay's car pulled in close behind us, his presence a reminder that we weren't completely alone- though my body screamed that none of it mattered. The engine cut off, and in a sudden quiet, my pulse roared louder than ever.

~Jane~The first thing I became aware of was warmth. The steady heat pressed against me, wrapping me in a cocoon that made it impossible to tell where I ended and Nathan began. I stirred slowly, my head shifting just slightly on the solid plane of his chest. When I lifted my gaze, I found him already awake. His striking blue eyes were locked on me, as if he'd been watching me sleep. A soft smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, but there was something deeper beneath it- an intensity that made my heart race before I could even think. For a moment, I just stared back, letting the silence between us say more than words could. The memories of last night came rushing back, flooring me with warmth that curled deep in my stomach and left my skin tinging. Everything was changing inside me. I still had questions. Doubts whispering in the back of my mind like ghosts I couldn't banish completely. The fear of losing him, of not being enough, of the danger of Zander's threat of taking me awa

~Jane~I set my fork down, the last bite of breakfast still settling warm in my stomach. Luna Lauren moved gracefully around the kitchen, her presence as calm and steady as always. When she reached for my empty plate and cup, I handed them over with a small smile. But as her hand brushed mine, I felt it- that familiar pull deep in my chest. My heart skipped. That feeling only ever meant one thing. Before I could second-guess it, he walked in. Nathan. The moment his boots touched the kitchen floor, my whole body knew. My soul knew. And when his eyes lifted to meet mine, I forgot how to breathe. It was always like this. The instant our gaze locked, the world seemed to shrink, leaving only the blue of his eyes. Eyes that made my soul feel whole. Eyes that made me want to believe- believe that what he'd told me so many times was true. That I was meant to be his. That fate really had tied us together. He didn't look away. Not once. Step by step, he moved closer, and though every fib