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Chapter 15
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2023-12-25 08:00:59Related chapters
Mated To A Human Chapter 16
"Do you think you and Harvey will get married? For us, the mate bond is enough on its own, but I know humans get married to make things super official — legal and all. I'm sure Harvey would if it's what you wanted.""Oh?" I glance at Liberty as we follow the others to the kitchen. "I can't say I've—""Stop trying to freak her out." Abby steps in."She's mated to an Alpha. If I was in her situation, I would want to be legally bound."We pass the dining room, and I nearly pull a muscle twisting my head to get a better look. There's no furniture, only stacks of hardwood flooring, grey patches covering the walls, and an entire section of the floor missing, revealing the basement; only once I double-take do I realize one wall is gutted entirely.The hall opens up into the kitchen, and Abby takes me the opposite way of Liberty, instead towards Jalen and Luke. We lean against the counter and watch Jalen make himself a drink while Luke b-lines for the fridge. The sounds of more beer cans open
Last Updated : 2023-12-25Mated To A Human Chapter 17
"Harvey! You know Mia is here, right? She's so sweet...and funny. Oh, here she is. Mia, look, he's home."Abby latches onto Liberty who's clearly had too many drinks and coaxes her away. Harvey can't make it past the foyer without being surrounded by his pack, but he sees me past them, and those in the way step to the side. My face burns; I didn't plan on talking to him with an audience.At first, Harvey looks at me like I'm not really here, but he quickly realizes what's going on — everyone has gathered in his absence, and I've been invited. He breathes out and eyes Abby."Surprise," she says. "Mia's met everyone.""And we love her," Liberty tacks on."All of you go home, and if you're supposed to be on duty, shift and get to it." Harvey turns to me, and my body goes stiff. "Mia, come on."Harvey nears me and places his hand on my back, guiding me the way Abby and I came. I peer back at her, and she mouths, "I'll wait for you."When we turn the corner, I say, "I'm sorry if I'm not su
Last Updated : 2023-12-25Mated To A Human Chapter 18
I'm home.I stare at the message for a minute before pressing send. It delivers, and I toss my phone to my bed while I wind down and get ready to sleep.Harper's bedroom door was shut when I got back with no light illuminating the cracks, and by the sight of their coats on the barstools and mom's purse on the counter, I know my parents are home from dinner. I'm not sure why no one decided to ask where I'd disappeared to all night, but with their rose-colored perception of Black Lake, it's easy to assume wherever I am, I'm perfectly fine.I return to my room from the bathroom and finally end my anticipation by checking my phone. There's a message from Harvey, and I sit on my bed to read it: I want to talk again, especially about your expectations and what you're comfortable with concerning our matehood. Let me know when you have the time, and I'll make it work.The butterflies in my stomach start fluttering again. I lie back and contemplate my reply, deciding to say: This sounds like a
Last Updated : 2023-12-25Mated To A Human Chapter 19
It's been two nights since Harvey came to my bedroom to see me, and they've been two nights of horrible sleep. I stare at the approaching road as I drive from the center of town back home, and I occasionally sip on a coffee I made and poured into a travel mug, but nothing seems to cure my grogginess.Halloween is around the corner and all the businesses around the lake have decorated their storefronts for the holiday. Webs line windows with giant spiders, skeletons stand at attention to usher customers inside, and the dentist's office has a window painting of three witches around a bubbling cauldron with a written offer to trade in candy at a dollar per pound.I stare at the sign, assuming no kid will give up their Halloween candy unless their parents make them. The dentist's office did the same deal when I was trick-or-treating, but I held onto my candy for as long as possible until the day it disappeared, and I didn't realize it.Only through having siblings did I discover my mom hi
Last Updated : 2023-12-25Mated To A Human Chapter 20
"We begin this evening's broadcast with breaking news: a local resident of Black Lake has been reported missing for over two days now. Town resident Philip McNamara was last seen Sunday morning walking his dog Scout in the lower lake park as he does every morning, but this time neighbors reported he never made it home. Scout, his gold retriever, was found lying on the doorstep of McNamara's residence still wearing his leash, waiting to be let inside. Philip McNamara has worked at Seymour Hardware store on Main Street for over nine years after retiring from the Air Force where he—"The TV screen goes black. I peer over my shoulder and see my mom with the remote in her hand. "Come on, time to sit down for dinner."Harper — who's stretched across the adjacent couch texting — gets up without looking from her phone screen."Texting Delsin?"She side-eyes me on her way to the dining room, warning, "Stop."Perry's footsteps thunder down the stairs, and he goes right into the dining room wher
Last Updated : 2023-12-25Mated To A Human Chapter 21
Harvey's visited me before bed three nights this week, and I can feel myself growing more comfortable around him. It helps that he's patient — he never asks me for more than I give him and always makes me feel safe, beautiful, and cared for. He's easy to want and yearn for when he isn't here, and when he is, I don't want him to ever leave.Becoming so attached to someone so quickly would typically turn me away, but I know we're soulmates. Every man is his family leading back to Dr. Norwood and his wife has stayed with their human mate, lived in Norwood House, and had at least one child together. Harvey is only becoming more perfect the more I see and talk to him, so if anything were to drive us apart suddenly, it would have to be because of him — if he were to change his mind about me.Yet everything he tells me sounds like a promise that he won't.As I lean against the counter in the kitchen drinking tea, I watch the trees move in the wind, growing more naked by the day. It's Saturda
Last Updated : 2023-12-28Mated To A Human Chapter 22
I head down the stairs as Mom is waving goodbye to a group of kids at the door. She holds the candy bowl against her stomach, and once the door latches closed, she picks out a small chocolate for herself."Oh, Mia," she says, placing the bowl on the small table next to the door, one she carried in from the living room. "Want a candy? I've already lost count of how many I've had. Oh well."She rips open the wrapping and eats the chocolate whole.I ask, "Where's Dad?""He just left to take Perry to Erin's house. They're coming back here after trick-or-treating to dump out their candy and watch movies. He said you and Harper showed him Halloween, and now he wants Erin to watch it, but Erin might be a little delicate for that, so I'm thinking I'll put on something else." She pauses. "Something up? You need a painkiller?""No, I just... Harvey is coming over.""Harvey? When? Now?"I nod."Oh. Well, okay. Does this mean something or...?"I hang onto the railing post. "We're hanging out.""A
Last Updated : 2024-01-05Mated To A Human Chapter 23
Blue Moon doesn't look too busy as I park on the street and walk inside — a short detour on my way to the lab. Brooks is behind the counter alone. When he sees me, I ask, "Isn't Kiki working today?""Uh, yeah. She hasn't shown up to her last two shifts. Taryn's been trying to get a hold of her," he says while manning the espresso machine."Well, my sister Harper is really good friends with her sister," I say as I grab my scarf from the back room; I forgot it after my shift last night. I resurface and lean against the doorframe. "I'll ask Harper to ask her sister what's up.""If you find out, tell her to call Taryn before she loses her job.""Sure thing." I hold up my scarf. "I just came for this, but we're both on the schedule for tomorrow, so I'll see you then.""Sounds good. See you later."I leave the café hoping everything is alright with Kiki. The last few times we've worked together, she kept ranting about her ex-boyfriend, seeming unsure of what to do next with her life. I thin
Last Updated : 2024-01-09
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Mated To A Human Chapter 37
Harvey jerks my driver's door open. I never liked crying in front of other people — I always try to avoid such an uncomfortable situation — but I didn't really expect him to let me run off unchased. Wiping my tears away with my fingers, I watch as he crouches next to me.He places a hand on my leg. "Thank you for not driving away."I wipe my eyes one last time and then let my head rest against my seat. "I can't handle this. Not after last night.""I want to help you," he says, speaking carefully."There's no way for me to know what happened in Maine, so I'm going to ask you — and I want the God-honest truth — did anything happen?""No."I turn to him. "You promise?"He takes my hand and squeezes it. "I promise. Nothing happened. Jane is just trying to get to you.""It's her fault her sister's dead; they chose to go near the wolves in Maine," I rant. "Now what? She just gonna...kill me?""Hey, nothing's going to happen to you.""You think she's going to give up once she finds out that
Mated To A Human Chapter 36
A hand rubs my upper arm as I lie in the plush, warm bed of one of Norwood House's many guest rooms. My body which ached and cramped and cried so tumultuously last night is in no hurry to wake up and get going, but my brain leaps ahead. I turn onto my back and see Harvey bent over me, standing on the side of the bed; his stroking hand pauses. My head just as quickly snaps to the opposite side where Harper is supposed to be sleeping, but she's no longer there."Where—""She's alright," Harvey says, stepping back as I push to sit up.Sunlight comes scarcely through the curtains which haven't been closed all the way. The room is bare of any personal belongings or decorations; all that fills it is the same vintage, heavy-looking furniture that seems to frequent every other room of the house.I rest against the thick wood headboard. "Where is she?""Downstairs."I comb my hair back with my fingers and look around myself, knowing something else is missing. "I-I need my phone."Harvey reache
Mated To A Human Chapter 35
Harvey and I sit together on the staircase as we wait for Marianne, Liam, Kieran, and Alo. I sit on Harvey's lap and write everything I need to say on a pad of paper, starting with Jane's vengeful ambush, leading to my encounter with the shapeshifter, and finally concluding with our run-in.I then explain in more detail how I know the vampire, Jane — who's also the Society's newest member. Harvey promptly recalls Dianne mentioning Jane earlier when we went out for dinner."Gladstone's pack assumed there was only one vampire," he mutters, sounding disappointed in himself. He's been a bundle of sighs, curses, and headaches since I began recounting the night's events. "I should have investigated it myself instead of blindly trusting them. Damn it."You can't blame yourself for—Harvey grabs my right hand, causing my pen to streak off the line and halt. After a tense moment, he lets go. "I'm sorry."Both Marianne and the boys take longer to arrive than I hoped, so I ask questions to distr
Mated To A Human Chapter 34
The door clamors shut, and Jane grabs me by the throat, her nails cutting into my skin before I can realize my lack of breath. My hands spring to hers, instantly clawing to pry her off, but her grip is like stone. I sputter, panic compounding and crushing my chest."Mia!"Harper's voice sounds from upstairs. "Can you put fries in the oven?" She calls.The sound of the shower is loud — the bathroom door open — but she isn't visible, she can't see Jane choking me. Tears well in my eyes.Jane brings her emotionless face an inch from mine. The whites of her eyes start to bruise, the blacks like endless tunnels. "Say okay," she commands quietly."Okay!" I call in the short reprieve of her strangle, feeling no control over the matter.She clips off any cry for help by squeezing my throat again. Harper does not respond, but I hear the bathroom door close and the beating water of her shower lessen. I push against Jane as my adrenaline spikes higher and higher — reaching a peak I've never expe
Mated To A Human Chapter 33
It takes all my effort to hold still as we roll along the stretch of gravel road leading to Norwood House. Both excitement and anxiety surge in my chest, dinging against my heart and throttling into my stomach, more powerful when combined. I know there's no need to feel this way — I want to be alone with Harvey and to take the next step in our relationship like any typical couple — but my body thinks otherwise.Sometimes I understand my sense of unease; anxiety is something I've dealt with for as long as I can remember. But tonight I do not understand. Really, it's making me quite frustrated.I wish I could feel excited without the added panic.We park in front of the house next to my car. Harvey kills the engine, smiles at me, and proceeds to get out of his truck. The second his door shuts, I use my brief seclusion to breathe in deeply, desperate to calm myself. Harvey peers at me through the windshield from the front of the truck once he notices I haven't moved. He comes to my side
Mated To A Human Chapter 32
I spend the majority of my day at work training a new barista to replace Kiki who is presumably staying in Rochester. Mom and Dad have gone to the lodge for the night to spend their anniversary alone, dropping Perry off at Erin's and giving me free rein to stay at Norwood House without admitting where I am. Harper — who has the house to herself — says she'll be leaving soon to meet Delsin.I remind her to lock up before she leaves, and then I'm off to see Harvey.I park out front, grab my night bag from the passenger seat, and trek up to the front door. Curious, I try the door handle, and it gives way, welcoming me inside."Harvey?" I call."In the study with Kieran," he shouts.Not wanting to interrupt whatever pack-related issue they're discussing — there seems to be plenty to choose from these days — I head upstairs and place my bag in the master bedroom. I set my tote on the end of the bed and dawdle a bit, placing my hand on the duvet and thinking up all kinds of positions Harvey
Mated To A Human Chapter 31
I let myself in the house with Harvey's goodbye kiss lingering on my lips. Before I shut the front door, I wave to him as he waits in his truck against the curb. He lifts a hand, and I hear him drive off once the door shuts.We just spent more time together than we ever have in one sitting, yet I still can't wait to see him later tonight when he climbs through my window as he promised he would. And although we can't be as intimate as we could be at Norwood House, I am perfectly fulfilled lying in his arms and having a quiet conversation in my bed, at least, that's enough for now. I can imagine what might happen the next time I spend the night at Harvey's — the mere idea of it makes me feel like a giddy thirteen-year-old."Mia, is that you?" My mom's voice calls from the kitchen.I secure my overnight bag on my shoulder and walk towards her. "Yeah."I enter the main room and find her and Harper at the kitchen counter. Mom stands against the side of the counter island while Harper sits
Mated To A Human Chapter 30
I wake up gradually to the movement of the duvet and the sound of footsteps, not yet disposed to opening my eyes. I pull the blanket higher, further pressing my face into my pillow. The room is wonderfully dark, and the bed is warm but not too hot; I could easily slip back into sleep. However, the realization that I'm still at Norwood House in Harvey's bed stops me from indulging. I start listening to the sink running in the bathroom instead.Harvey's footsteps eventually carry into the bedroom, and the bed moves again as he gets back under the covers. I keep my eyes closed and my body still even though I swear I can feel him looking at me.A deep breath floods my lungs, so I stretch a little and advantageously turn away from Harvey. This is the first time we're waking up together — usually he leaves after I fall asleep — and I'm sure I look how I do every morning with messy hair and a puffy face. It takes me at least an hour to feel normal again."Good morning," Harvey says, his voic
Mated To A Human Chapter 29
I wake up in Harvey's bed, not remembering when I fell asleep. The movie is over, and the TV screen has gone idle. There's no clock in the bedroom, so I get up and pad to the bathroom where I left my overnight bag and my phone inside of it. I rummage around until I feel the sleek device at the bottom under my clothes and toiletries.1:02 am. The house is quiet — I wonder if Jalen is still here.As though triggered by my acknowledgment of it, the silence in the house interrupts with a distant clamor and then a flurry of voices that sounds like no more than grunts and mumbles from upstairs. Is Harvey back?I tuck my hair behind my ears and contemplate quickly if I should go down to see him because he definitely isn't alone. Would it be awkward if I showed up on the staircase in front of his pack, or would they think nothing of it because we're soulmates? I bite my lip and drop my phone back into my bag as I decide to see him. Since others are here, pajamas aren't my ideal outfit to gree
