CHAPTER 3: Not His Mate

KANE’S POV

The glow of my office was dim, the kind of soft lighting that gave the impression of calm, even though inside my head, a storm brewed. The paperwork in front of me might as well have been blank. I stared at it, willing my mind to focus on mergers and alliances instead of the lady who haunted my thoughts. Nevaeh. Even thinking her name made my jaw tighten and my chest ache.

“You’re a fool.” 

Kian’s voice sliced through my mind like a claw raking over glass. My wolf was restless, pacing, growling, relentless in his torment. He hadn’t stopped since the moment when we let her go. Since I let her go.

"I’m not discussing this" I muttered, low and harsh, my words echoing in the empty room.

“You don’t have to discuss it. You have to feel it. She’s our mate, Kane. And you let her walk away like she was nothing. Like we are nothing.” 

“I fucking said I'm not discussing this!” I snarled, slamming my hand against the desk. The sudden noise startled me, and I let out a slow breath, attempting to regain control. I couldn’t afford to lose myself, not here, not now.

“This desk won’t fight back. This pack won’t heal the emptiness you’re creating” Kian’s voice was sharper now, his anger matching mine. You know I’m right. Every night you lay awake, and all you see is her face. You long for her scent, her touch. You’re hurting us both.

“She’s a rogue” I growled through gritted teeth, standing up. My boots clicked against the floor, the sound drowning out his voice momentarily. “I don’t care what the bond says. I will not accept a rogue as my mate. My pack deserves better. I deserve better too!”

Kian laughed bitterly. “Your pride will destroy us, Kane. Not her. You saw her strength, her fire, and you’re terrified. You’d rather pretend she’s unworthy than face what she truly is.” 

I gripped the edge of the desk, my nails digging into the wood. “She’ll ruin us. That’s what rogues do.”

“What’s worse? A rogue who fights for your life to be saved or an Alpha who is cursed and lets himself rot from the inside out?” Kian's voice softened then, his frustration laced with sorrow. We need her. “You know it as much as I do. Your stubbornness won’t erase the bond, Kane. It only makes it hurt more.” 

I didn’t respond. I couldn’t. Kian’s words hit too close to truths I wasn’t ready to admit. Instead, I sank back into my chair, exhausted, trying to bury the image of her fierce eyes and the way she looked at me before passing out in the forest.

NEVAEH’S POV

The air in the house was stale, tinged with the sourness of spilled alcohol and years of resentment. My mother’s voice was soft, hesitant, as she wrung her hands in front of her.

“Nevaeh” she began, her words trembling. “What happened? You’ve been gone for days without a word. After the festival, I... I thought something terrible might have happened.”

I sighed, leaning against the counter, my arms crossed over my chest. The truth was too heavy to explain. How could I tell her about the fire in his eyes? The bond I felt? How could I explain that my mate brought me back here, to the very place I hated most?

“I needed space” I said, my voice clipped. “I’m fine now.”

Her face fell slightly, but she didn’t push. My mother never pushed. She always tiptoed around, trying to avoid adding fuel to the already blazing fire that was our family.

“I’m just glad you’re safe” she murmured, reaching out to brush a strand of hair from my face. The tenderness in her gesture almost made me crumble. Almost.

Before I could respond, my father stumbled in, a half-empty bottle of liquor in his hand, his eyes bloodshot and wild.

“Safe?” he barked, his laugh bitter and hollow. “She’s never been safe. Never brought anything but trouble to this house.”

“Jacob, not now” my mother pleaded, stepping between us like she always did. But he was already pointing the bottle at me, the liquid sloshing dangerously close to the edge.

“Why don’t you just leave for good?” he spat, his voice rising. “All you do is keep existing, and for what? You’re wolf-less, Nevaeh. Useless. You’ll never amount to anything.”

The words were like shards of glass, but they were familiar. He’d hurled them at me so many times, they’d lost their sting.

“Don’t say such words” my mother whispered, her voice breaking. “She’s still our daughter.”

“Our daughter?” he sneered, shoving past her and getting closer to me. I didn’t flinch. I refused to give him the satisfaction. 

“She’s a curse. A rogue who’s too weak to even have a wolf. She’s not worth the breath it takes to argue over her.”

“Stop it…” I said quietly, my voice steady despite the chaos in my chest.

“What was that?” he mocked, leaning in. The stench of alcohol was overwhelming.

“I said stop it!” I shouted, shoving him back with a strength I didn’t know I still had. He stumbled but caught himself, his face darkening.

“You think you can talk back to me, girl?”

“That’s enough!” My mother’s voice was sharp, desperate. She grabbed his arm, pulling him away. He shook her off but didn’t come closer to me again.

For a moment, everywhere was silent except for his heavy breathing. Then he turned and stormed out.

My mother sagged against the counter, tears streaming down her face.

“I’m sorry” she whispered. “I’m so sorry, Nevaeh. It’s my fault you have to live in this misery.”

I wanted to comfort her, to tell her it wasn’t her fault, but the words stuck in my throat. Instead, I straightened, my hands trembling.

“I’ll be fine” I said quietly. “I always am.”

As I turned to walk toward my room, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of the lie. I wasn’t fine. And I didn’t know if I ever would be.

Hours past, I lay on my bed, absently stroking the quilt beneath me. The soft fabric did little to comfort the storm raging in my mind. Memories and thoughts from the past few days collided, refusing to give me peace. I sighed sharply, my brow furrowing as a whisper slipped out.

“Quit thinking about him. He got rid of us, which means he wants nothing to do with us” I reminded myself, clutching the blanket tightly, the fabric twisting under my fingers.

Cuddles, my cat, meowed softly from the corner of the bed and padded closer, his wide green eyes full of curiosity. He tilted his head at me like he could sense my turmoil.

I couldn’t help but smile faintly. “I’m acting weird, aren’t I, Cuddles?” I asked. He meowed again, curling up next to me with a flick of his tail.

The sudden creak of my door startled me, and I turned my head sharply. Ian stood there, leaning casually against the doorframe, that signature smirk plastered on his face. I sighed inwardly, realizing I’d completely forgotten he had a spare key. Locking myself in was pointless with him around.

“Hey, Nevy” he greeted, using the nickname he loved so much.

I sat up, unable to stop the smile that tugged at my lips. I rushed and threw my arms around him in a tight hug. 

“I’ve missed you” I murmured, my voice betraying just how much.

Ian chuckled, wrapping his arms around me. “Missed you too. But you had me worried, Nevy. You disappeared for days, came back looking like you’ve been through hell, and now you’re hiding away?”

I sat up, unable to suppress the smile tugging at my lips. Without hesitation, I rushed forward and wrapped my arms around him in a tight hug.

“I’m fine, Ian. It’s just been...a rough patch. I was abducted” I lied smoothly, avoiding his gaze. “But they realized I wasn’t useful and let me go. Lucky, right?”

His eyes widened, and before I could stop him, he started checking my arms and face for injuries. 

“Are you hurt? Did they—” His voice cracked, fear thick in his tone.

I shook my head quickly, laughing lightly to calm him down. “No, Ian, it wasn’t like that. Nothing happened. I’m fine.”

He let out a shaky breath, his shoulders relaxing. “Good. I would’ve lost my mind if—”

“I’m okay. I promise” I cut in, my tone soft.

We talked for a while after that, steering clear of the darker details I didn’t want to share. Eventually, Ian stood up, his expression turning hopeful.

“Come have dinner with us. I helped cook tonight, and I’ll be heartbroken if you don’t at least try my masterpiece.”

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help smiling. “I’m not hungry.”

“Nevy…” he pout, putting a hand over his chest like I’d wounded him. “Do you want to crush my soul? Because that’s what you’re doing right now.”

I laughed despite myself, shaking my head. “Fine. Only because you helped.”

When we got to the dining table, I reached out to pinch Cherrel’s cheek. She yelped in protest, swatting at my hand, but her giggle gave her away. I sat down, finally feeling a shred of normalcy.

Then it all shattered.

A deafening crash echoed through the house, and I whipped my head toward the front door. It had been blown clean off its hinges, the wood splintering as it slammed against the wall.

My heart dropped as a huge, terrifying man stepped into the room. His presence seemed to suck the air out of the space, his dark eyes locking on me like a predator to prey.

“I’ve come for my promised mate” he said, his voice a mocking growl that sent shivers down my spine. His lips twisted into a devious grin, sharp teeth glinting under the dim light.

The room went still, everyone frozen in place. My heart thundered in my chest as I stared at him, every ounce of normalcy ripped away in an instant.