Chapter 3

James

I jogged down the stairs, my mind carefree, as I remembered the fiery redhead from last night. She had been a wild ride, and man, that mouth of hers was something else. I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself. Sweet memories.

Suddenly, an incredible scent caught my attention, and my wolf stirred restlessly in my mind. I froze in my tracks, instinctively closing my eyes and taking a deep breath of the most intoxicating smell I’d ever encountered. It was fresh, like... grass? No, it was more like grass warmed by the sun, quickly turning into hay. I could almost see, feel, and taste that perfect summer day in the outdoors.

I opened my eyes, and they locked onto a magical creature standing at the entrance. My wolf whispered that one magical word that I had been dreaming, hoping, and waiting - and waiting - and waiting to hear for days, weeks, months, and years.

“Mate”.

My mind went on a high drive. No way!! My mate was right in front of me! MY MATE was in my house! I had a mate! After twelve - no, scratch that - fifteen long, agonizing years, my mate was finally here! I’d been dreaming of this moment since I was fifteen. I remember the excitement in my eyes the day I turned eighteen. My heart pounded, my palms sweated as I ran through the pack house and around our territory, convinced she was somewhere close. I had no idea who she was—whether an omega or a lead warrior she-wolf—but I was certain she was from my pack.

But I never found her. I thought maybe she hadn’t turned eighteen yet, or perhaps she was from another pack. So I waited, still holding onto the hope that one day, I would meet her.

Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into long months, and long months stretched into torturous years. A stabbing pain pierced my heart every time I witnessed mates meeting in my pack. Jealousy gnawed at me whenever someone proudly announced that they had found their fated one. Grief settled deep in my chest after each day that ended without me finding my love. I spent endless days without the one whose neck I longed to bury my face in, and endured cold, lonely nights, aching to hold my mate as I drifted off to sleep.

And how unbelievable it is that I actually do have a mate? At one point, I started to believe she was dead, maybe killed by rogues or something equally tragic. Sometimes, I thought the Moon Goddess hadn’t blessed me with a mate at all. I gave up on hope five years ago.

Okay, if I’m being honest—with myself—I still hoped. But I buried that hope deep, deep inside my heart, because it only brought me pain. And after so many tormenting years, the pain was something I just couldn’t bear anymore. So, I filled my time with endless training, missions, and duties. I filled my nights with exhaustion or with cheap girls to sleep with. I was trying to distract myself, numb myself, in any way I could.

But today, my world has turned upside down because here she is—my stunning mate. She studied me for a moment, then our eyes locked. Will she run to me and leap into my arms? Or should I run to her, spinning her around in joy? I was that happy!

Then, I caught another scent. Oh. Is she... human?

That complicates things. My highly excited mood dropped a little. It means she doesn’t feel the bond the way I do. But... whatever. It doesn’t matter, right? A mate is a mate. And I have one! I almost wanted to fist-bump the air. I felt like I’d just won the jackpot. Oh, happy days! Inside my head, I was having a little happy dance with my wolf, who was joyfully jogging, spinning, and howling in pure delight.

I took in every inch of her, unable to look away. Her straight blonde hair cascaded down to her elbows, the ends kissed by a darker shade as her roots began to show. Her cheekbones were sharp, her nose small and pointed, and her lips—plump and a soft shade of pink—glossed with a shiny balm that made them look even more tempting. Those lips... oh, how I longed to taste them, to nibble, to feel their softness against mine.

She appeared to be tall, maybe around five feet six inches, though I couldn’t be sure with the brown ankle boots she wore, their three-inch heels making it harder to judge her true height. The dress she wore was light brown, clinging to her body like a second skin, hugging every curve in a way that made my heart race. A black belt cinched at her waist, accentuating her figure even further. She looked poised, elegant—professional.

But for me? She was more than that. My wolf stirred within me, and all I could think was that I wanted her in ways that had me on fire. I could already feel the tension building. I was sporting a semi in my pants already. Her body was flawless. She was slender and fit, with just the right curves. Her hips were beautifully shaped, and I couldn’t help but imagine the rest of her naked. The thought of her... it had my mind running wild with desire.

And then, the most unexpected thing happened. She narrowed her light blue eyes, her long lashes fluttering slightly, before my mate frowned. After a moment, she even scrunched her nose. My heart sank in an instant.

Do I smell bad? Is my appearance off-putting in this simple home attire? Does she not like me? No, that can’t be right! All the girls adored me—whether human or wolf. They were always drawn to me, rubbing up against me, handing me their numbers, flashing me flirtatious smiles. They would do anything to get closer, to touch me, to kiss me, or even to get into my bed.

My heavenly mate’s expression went blank for a moment, before she offered a polite smile, greeting me as if she were an aristocrat from Queen Elizabeth’s court and I, some humble duke. What the hell? She then turned and made her way toward the living room, moving with the ease of someone who had lived in this house for years.

I was left thunderstruck, unable to respond, frozen in place. A flood of confusion raced through my mind, a dozen questions spinning. Had she been here before? Where was I? How had I not caught her scent until now? Why hadn’t anyone mentioned a human visitor? Who was she meeting here?

Thank Goddess I didn’t have a brother, or I’d be kicking his a.ss out of pure jealousy. Well, of course, only if he was doing anything with her. I was losing my mind. I didn’t have a brother, but I was already imagining kicking his a.ss for something I wasn’t even sure he was guilty of. Was this the mate bond kicking in? This was next-level jealousy—overboard, level one thousand! I could acknowledge it with my mind, but it didn’t make the jealousy any less intense.

Damn! I growled, frustration boiling inside me. The most incredible thing just happened—I met my mate—but she…

Wait! Did she leave? What happened to the mate bond? What about the ‘love at first sight’ thing? Okay, she’s human, I get it. Things are different for them. But she just walked away from me. Wah! I felt a deep frustration gnawing at me. I ran my hands over my face, rubbing my temples, which were now throbbing from the whirlwind of emotions and questions flooding my mind.

For f.uck’s sake! I saw her for less than five minutes, and already, I was a psychotic mess…

Oh man, what was I going to do? Okay, time to strategize! I let my rational brain take control of the chaotic beating of my heart. First things first—follow her. Then, I’d make a proper introduction. I’d take it slow. I needed to get to know her, and she needed to get to know me. Maybe I could ask her out on a date tonight or sometime this week. That’s how humans do it, right?

I would take the time to win her over. Her heart already belonged to me—she just didn’t know it yet.

And I was more than willing to show her everything about myself. I wiggled my eyebrows inwardly, feeling a confident smirk forming. This body of mine would have her salivating soon enough.

Her scent still lingered in the hallway, and I couldn’t help but inhale it again, savoring the sweet memory. Who would have thought that today would be the day I finally met my mate? I sighed, feeling a warm sense of relief. I wasn’t doomed, like I’d once feared. I did have a happy ending.