Chapter 2

Chapter 2

“Mine...” A deep, baritone voice spoke against my ear, making me shiver in both delight and fear. I was afraid of the reality that I had just practically met my mate and of the fact that he wasn't a rogue like me, or at least a normal werewolf being. But a damn alpha!

I couldn't find my voice as I froze against him. His nose nuzzled in the crook of my neck and shoulder. His hands held my waist firmly as if not wanting to let me go. I could feel my body betraying me, reacting sensuously to his mere touch. My wolf was purring and wanting me to rub myself against this stranger, whom she recognized as our mate. Unfortunately.

“L-Let me go...” I struggled to say and tried to pull myself away from him. He didn't let me go, but instead, he tightened his grip on my waist and pulled me impossibly close to him.

“You're mine.” A low growl rumbled against his chest. His breathing tickled my skin and gave me goosebumps. His body was hard as steel and his skin was hot as lava, burning me with its pleasure. I no longer felt my body resisting, and instead, I found myself getting comfortable with his touch.

“Alpha Reui,” Fernando interrupted all of a sudden, holding my arm and pulling me away from my mate. I looked at him in shock as his grip on my arm tightened. His expression was stern and protective as he pushed me behind his back.

Alpha Reui once again growled, but this time, it was an angry growl. His silver eyes flickered to gold, which meant his wolf was on the surface. My heart thundered with anxiousness.

“Get your hands off of her. She's mine,” he said through gritted teeth. The old man pushed me more behind his back.

“Calm down, she's not going anywhere.”

“F-Fernando...” I whispered nervously as I tried to pull my arm. I wanted nothing but to feel my mate's touch once again. It was addictive. Intoxicating, mesmerizing, even.

Fernando glanced at me, sending me a warning glare. “Behave, Katia. It's best for you.”

I frowned in confusion, but then I quickly realized why he did that. My nervousness only grew. I felt my forehead damp with sweat. 

The old man shifted his eyes to the retreating alpha. My eyes followed his. I saw Alpha Reui take back as he inhaled sharply. His eyes were solely fixed on mine, as if afraid that if he looked away, I'd vanish.

I looked at his features that had become unnoticed by me earlier due to the shock. He was quite handsome. No, scratch that. He was like a Greek God from Olympus. a lean body and a handsome face. I wonder what those muscles looked like behind the suit he was wearing.

Alpha Reui blinked his eyes twice and looked at his surroundings. A hint of confusion and surprise flashed through his handsome face. 

I gasped audibly when his eyes landed on mine.

Both of our lips parted.

He seemed to be awoken by his reverie. His eyes returned to their true color and his tense body lightly relaxed. He shut his mouth and his brows furrowed. He closed his eyes momentarily and took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes once again, a flash of lustful hunger appeared on those silver orbs. I flinched and backed away, startled.

“Katia, go inside my office now.” Fernando's voice was laced with panic. It confused me even more. I wanted to stay. It was my first time feeling this way towards a man. I'd never thought that mates really exist. I'm an uneducated wolf. A rogue. An outcast from my own kin. I'd never learned about werewolves and their history, nor even the basics of it. I absolutely know nothing. And to feel this way—to feel the bond I had with this stranger. The warmth of his touch sends butterflies to my stomach and sends delightful sensations all over my body. I don't want to miss this chance to get to know and feel him more. 

But something in Fernando's tone made me do what he instructed me to do. It was as if my body moved on its own without me knowing. I just found myself entering his office behind the counter of his library shop–all the while being followed by an intense look from the alpha. When the door closed, I leaned against it and clutched my chest before I let out the breath I didn't know I'd been holding. 

The alpha's presence suffocates me, but in a pleasant way. I like his presence, even if it intimidates me. 

I shook my head and closed my eyes.

Just, what the hell? What the hell just happened? 

I placed my ear against the door, trying to hear their conversation. My hearing is always sharp compared to a normal person due to being a werewolf, but for some odd reason, I couldn't hear them. Not at all. My curiosity grew, but I didn't dare do anything to feed it. They say curiosity kills a cat. I am not that stupid to follow my silly instincts.

So I just leaned my back against the door and thought of the things that had happened earlier. I didn't expect that mate truly existed, let alone to expect having one. I am a rogue. No one wants me. I bet even the moon goddess despises a werewolf like me.

With that thought in mind, a fear suddenly crept up to my chest. I felt my stomach churn in anxiousness at the depressing thoughts that crossed my mind.

What if he rejects me? 

What if he'd realized that I was a rogue and decided to dump me? He's an alpha, while I don't even belong to any packs.

I didn't know how long I had been overthinking, I just knew that whatever they were talking about was done when I heard a soft knock from the door behind me. I opened the door and Fernando's face welcomed me. He pushed the door open and let himself in. He then closed the door gently behind his back.

“W-Where is he...?” I hesitantly asked, looking away.

“He's already gone,” he replied shortly.

I turned my eyes to him almost immediately. Panic rises up at me. “What?”

“He's already gone.”

My mouth parted as my heart dropped into the spit of my stomach. I turned around, ready to leave and chase Alpha Reui when Fernando suddenly spoke.

“Stop. Don't go after him. You will only put yourself in danger.”

I instantly stiffened. “W-What do you mean?”

“You probably know he's an alpha, right?” he asked. I turned my heel to Fernando and nodded my head reluctantly. 

My heart was tightening. Did he just leave me? 

“You c-called him Alpha,” I stated. “B-but... he's my m-mate,” I stuttered badly, confused and hurt. “I felt it. The spark. The bond. Our connection. When he touched me, I felt the electricity all over my body. And his scent. I've never smelt a scent like that before. It was intoxicating. I know he's a mate of mine.”

Fernando flashed a small smile, shocking me. He had never smiled before. 

“I know,” he said softly. 

My brows creased. “Then why did you send him away?”

He only shook his head and walked towards his swivel chair behind the table. He gestured for me to sit across the table, which I reluctantly did.

“You don't understand it, dear Katia.”

“Then explain it to me,” I eagerly demanded. 

He sighed. “As you know, werewolves, specifically men, lose control whenever they see their mates for the first time. They wouldn't want to let you go unless you get marked by them, Whether you agreed to it or not. You will be forced to be with your mate because you're already marked. "And you probably know the next thing that will happen after that,” he trailed off, sending me a knowing look.

“What do you mean?” I nervously asked.

“You're barely an adult, Katia. You just turned eighteen. Can you imagine yourself bearing the alpha's pup?”

His words shocked me. I gasped as my eyes widened. I think my heart just took a leap.

Fernando continued, “And being a rogue doesn't make everything easy. You will face discrimination, questions about your honesty, and so more. Are you ready to face them all?”

For a moment, I was lost for words. What Fernando said made me realize a few things. He made all the sense. I'm a rogue. Werewolves in packs see rogues like a threat to their families. They hate my kind. They won't accept me. But if they did, it would surely take time. I have to gain their trust and their respect. 

But do I really have to do that?

I was raised with humans around me. I don't follow the rules. Heck, I don't even know what the werewolves' rules are. I know nothing.

The old man suddenly spoke, “Prepare yourself, Katia, because you're going to attend Ythuel University, the school for werewolves.” 

Shocked, I looked at him. “What?”

He sighed. "It's either you will go or you will be forced to mate with the alpha. Now that they have found you, you can't just leave and run away. I'd never planned on telling you about the annual coming of age because I thought no one would come to find you, or so I thought.” He sighed. “Worry not, you will not pay anything. It's actually mandatory for all teen wolves to attend school, rogue or not. If they didn't find you between the ages of 18 and 19, then you are safe not to attend school. But because you are eighteen and they have seen you, you have no other choice but to go.”

I clenched my jaw, not liking what this freaking rule they have built. It's certainly unfair!

“Why would I have to follow it? I'm a rogue! I follow no one!” I hissed, irritated all of a sudden. The audacity of those well-sheltered coward wolves to drag someone silently living outside any packs with their freaking mandatory law! Huh! 

As if they could force me with it!

“You have to... otherwise you will be slaughtered.”

All the thoughts in my head vanished and I stared blankly at Fernando as if he had grown a second head. It almost deafened me how much silence filled the whole room. The deadly atmosphere around us nearly suffocates me. The continued silence was starting to shatter me. 

Fernando never breaks eye contact, showing me the exact answer I needed. He was unfortunately telling the truth.

With a trembling voice, I asked, “W-What? How? W-Why?”

He shrugged off his shoulders and he replied nonchalantly, “It is to decrease the population of rogues and their potential danger in every pack. The reason why they mandate every teen to attend school is because they want to turn them into one of their members." In short, they want to give them a chance to start anew. Schooling and learning things about werewolf history, abilities, and rules are some of the things you will learn in the lectures you will attend. ”

Again, for the ninth time on this day, I was speechless. Shocked beyond belief. What the hell is going on? One minute I was living my life with its usual flow, plain and simple, but in a blink of an eye, I was suddenly put in a situation where I could hardly even understand. I haven't heard of any of these before. Things happened like a blur in just a day. 

I just wanted to live a peaceful life...