The Scarred Mate

Heart on Trial

The moment the stranger’s words cut through the air, Alina’s voice whispered inside me, firm and certain.

“That’s him. That’s our mate.”

I froze, my pulse hammering in my chest. My… what?

As if to confirm it, the man’s gaze locked on mine. His lips parted, and a single word left him like a vow.

“Mate.”

The sound of it sent a shiver down my spine. I didn’t know if it was fear or something else.

Nelson scrambled to his feet, moving to shield me. “Get off her!” he barked, shoving the stranger back.

The man didn’t budge. His eyes burned with fury as he snarled, “Do not touch what is mine.”

“We were training!” I cried, stepping forward, but my words fell flat between their growls.

Nelson squared his shoulders. “Who the hell even are you?”

The stranger’s jaw tightened. “Ansel,” he said. His voice was rough, commanding, like the ground itself listened. “And this woman is my mate.”

Nelson lunged at him, and the fight erupted. Fists, claws, snarls echoing through the trees. I could barely keep up, my heart racing as panic swallowed me whole. This wasn’t supposed to happen.

“Stop it!” I shouted, but neither listened.

In a rush of fear, I did the only thing I could, I ran.

Nelson’s voice chased after me, calling my name, but I didn’t stop. Branches whipped against my arms as I fled through the woods, my legs carrying me straight to the one place I knew I’d be safe. My best friend’s house.

By the time I burst through her door, I was breathless. She stared at me, wide-eyed. “Lupa? What happened?”

The words tumbled out as I explained everything to her.

Her eyes went wide, but instead of fear, her face lit up. “You found your mate?” she squealed. “Oh my God! What’s he like?”

I sank onto her couch, my hands trembling. “He’s… strong. Powerful. Beautiful. I could feel him, Clara. Inside me, like he was already part of me.”

She clasped her hands together, almost bouncing. “That’s amazing! I’m so happy for you.”

Her happiness stung. She didn’t know I was dying. The secret weighed heavy, dragging my chest down with every beat of my heart.

But before the sadness could settle, Clara leaned closer, grinning. “Guess what? I found my mate too.”

My eyes widened. “What? When? You just turned eighteen, and you’ve already found your mate!”

“Isn’t that the best gift ever?” She giggled, her cheeks flushing. “We even had our first kiss.”

I smiled for her, even though a piece of me ached. “I’m happy for you, Clara. Really.”

She hesitated, lowering her voice. “But… I’m keeping him a secret for now. He wants the reveal on a special day.”

My smile faltered. “You’re my best friend. You won’t even tell me?”

“I’m sorry,” she said quickly. “I promise you’ll know soon. But he wants it this way.”

I sighed, but nodded. “Fine.”

Clara nudged me gently. “Don’t look so down. You should open your heart to this Ansel. Who knows, maybe you’ll get your first kiss soon too.”

Her words made my stomach flutter. I tried to push it away, but when I finally left her house and walked home, my thoughts betrayed me.

Ansel’s face lingered in my mind. His voice. The way he had looked at me, like I was the only thing that existed.

And no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop thinking about him.

The house was quiet when I stepped inside, but not empty. Voices drifted from my father’s office, low and urgent. I slowed my steps, curiosity pulling me toward the sound.

“…poisoned,” one of the voices said. The word sent a chill down my spine.

I crept closer and found the door cracked open just enough to peek inside. My father stood near his desk, his brows drawn tight. Beside him was Alpha Ronald, his closest friend and advisor.

But what made my breath catch was the third man in the room.

Ansel. Was fate mocking me?

He sat across from them, calm and commanding, like he belonged there. His confidence filled the room. The way he spoke drew me in. He looked so different from the furious stranger I had seen in the woods.

I couldn’t tear my eyes away.

Then, as if he sensed me, Ansel’s head turned. His gaze cut straight to the crack in the door. My heart jumped.

He rose smoothly from his chair, moving toward me.

Panic sparked in my chest. I turned and bolted, nearly colliding with my mother halfway down the hall.

“Lupa!” she caught my arms, steadying me. “What’s wrong?”

I shook my head quickly. “I’m fine.”

Her eyes searched mine, but she let it go. “Dinner will be ready in fifteen minutes. Go and get dressed.”

“Okay,” I whispered, trying to calm my racing heart.

Upstairs, I threw open my wardrobe and stood there for a long moment, chewing my lip. I didn’t know why, but I wanted to look my best. Maybe it was because of Ansel. Maybe it was because of the way he had looked at me, like he had already claimed me.

By the time I was done, I’d chosen a dress that clung just right, one I knew would turn heads. I smoothed my hair in the mirror and tried not to think about how much I wanted him to notice me.

The dining room was loud with cutlery and small talk. Plates steamed. I scanned every face for Ansel but found Otto first. He stepped in front of me like he always did, grin wide, hands on his hips.

“You look like you’re planning something,” he teased. “Trying to charm the whole table again?”

“Shut up,” I muttered, shoving past him. He stuck his tongue out, still smiling. Our back-and-forth was a habit.

My mother cut in before Otto could say anything worse. She tucked me by her side and, like she’d planned, ushered Ansel to the seat next to me.

My breath hitched the second he sat down. He smelled faintly of cedar and smoke. Close enough, I felt that tight, hot spark in my throat.

My mother reached out, introducing us like I didn’t already know him. “Lupa, this is Ansel. His father is Alpha Ronald.” She smiled, proud and a little puzzled. “He’s Alpha Ronald’s son.”

Ansel met my eyes and nodded. “Yes. I’m… honored to be here.”

I mouthed, Alpha Ronald? under my breath, more to myself than him. He was clean-cut, calm, and there was something like steel under the surface. He didn’t look like a man who needed anything fragile or temporary. My mind snapped a cruel thought; he definitely didn’t need a dying mate.

When I asked him why he was here, his answer stopped the casual chatter. He leaned forward, voice low enough that only the table caught the edge of it. “I spent most of my day looking for Lupa. After seeing her in the woods I couldn’t stop thinking about her. I had to find her again.”

My mother blinked. My father’s jaw tightened. Otto froze with a fork in hand. The room tilted toward a different kind of quiet.

“Why were you looking for her?” Mom asked, wary now.

“Because she is my mate,” he said plainly.

The word landed and everybody reacted like it was a slap. My mother scrambled for composure. “That’s not possible…” she started, voice fraying.

Everything in me screamed to reject him and before I could stop them. I heard myself make it formal, the ritual tone I had practiced once in jest and now used like a shield. “I, Lupa, daughter of Alpha Barack of Lochmere Pack, reject you, Ansel, as my mate and partner.”

Ansel didn’t flinch. He c****d his head and asked, quietly, “Why?”

My mouth opened. I was going to tell him everything, but I saw my mother’s face at the other end of the table. She mouthed a single, frantic no and reached under the table to squeeze my hand.

“I already have a mate.”