Alpha's Atonement

Capture of the Mate-2

Natalie’s POV

The moment his hand closed around mine, the anger I should have felt was incinerated. I froze, caught in the gravity of him. I looked up, and for a minute, the world stopped.

His eyes. They weren't just blue; they were a brilliant, electric sapphire, swirling with a depth that stopped me dead in my tracks. I had never seen a man this gorgeous, and it was terrifying. I swallowed hard, my heart hammering against my chest, I was sure he could feel the vibration. With every breath he drew, I forgot how to draw my own.

"Wait here," he commanded.

His voice didn't just hit my ears; it hit my bones. My knees turned to water, and for a heartbeat, I wanted nothing more than to obey.

It was only when the heavy glass doors swallowed him whole that the trance snapped. Oh, s**t. My survival instincts came roaring back. Did he know? Could he smell the North on me, even after all these years?

I turned to Marcus, forcing my face into a mask of nonchalant human confusion. "Your Alpha is... funny," I managed, giving a shaky laugh. "I’ll go get your ketchup packets from the car. Be right back."

Marcus narrowed his eyes, but he nodded. "I've got my eye on you, young lady. Be quick."

I didn't wait. I scrambled into my car, the interior smelling like stale fries and my own mounting panic. Please work with me, car. Just this once. I twisted the key, the engine groaned, and then it ignited.

I didn't look back. I slammed it into drive and floored it. I took a sharp turn, tires screaming, and that’s when I saw them in the rearview—the sleek, black SUVs, moving with a predatory synchronization that made my stomach drop.

I dove into a maze of narrow side streets, desperate to lose them. I can make it. I can—

THUD.

The entire car shuddered as something heavy hit the roof. Before I could even scream, a dark blur swung through my open passenger window with the grace of a jungle cat.

I slammed on the brakes, my heart leaping into my throat as I skidded to a halt.

Nicholas sat in my passenger seat, perfectly composed in his expensive suit. Not a single hair was out of place. The scent of winter pine and power filled the tiny cabin, making the walls feel like they were closing in.

He turned to me, a slow, dangerous smirk spreading across his face. "Did you really think you could outrun me, Natalie?"

I stared at him, my breath coming in short, jagged gasps. I had to play dumb.

"I... I don't know what you're talking about, sir," I stammered, gripping the steering wheel until my knuckles turned white. "I have a lot of orders to deliver. You're interfering with my job. Who even are you?"

"Who am I?" He asks, I regret my statement immediately.

"I am the man you just tried to flee from,And in my world, little wolf, we don't deliver burgers. Now, are you going to tell me why a girl who smells like Northern Royalty is hiding in a human slum, or do I have to find out for myself?"

The weight of my secret finally broke me. Looking into those piercing sapphire eyes, I realized I couldn’t bullshit my way out of this anymore.

“I’m sorry, Alpha!” I blurted out, “My family escaped the pack years ago for good reasons. Please... don’t hurt them. If someone has to be punished for leaving, punish me. Just let them go.”

I opened my eyes, expecting to see a judge. Instead, Nicholas let out a long, slow sigh. The predatory edge in his posture vanished.

"No one is going to hurt you or your family, Natalie. You have my word," he said, his voice dropping to a low, soothing vibration. "Now, tell me the truth. Why did you really run?"

How could someone be so intimidating and so gentle at the same time? My throat tightened, and tears finally blurred my vision. I whispered the secret that had kept me running since the day I turned eighteen.

“I am... I am not a shifter,” I choked out, my voice trembling. “I’m nineteen, Alpha. My birthday came and went a year ago, and I never phased. I’m just... human.”

The silence that followed was deafening. I waited for the disappointment. In the Northern Realm, a non-shifter was a ghost. I braced for him to realize he had wasted his time on a girl who was broken.

Nicholas’s POV

I stared into those sea-green eyes, A wolf-less mate. It was a rarity, a biological anomaly that would have sent the pack councils into a frenzy—but to me, it changed nothing.

To me, she wasn’t broken. I didn't care about a phase; I just wanted to drag her into my arms and never let go.

"Now, here is what’s going to happen," I said, my voice dropping into the authoritative tone , she flinched slightly, but I didn't let up, "You will drive me to your house and speak to your parents. You have exactly two hours to get your ducks in a row. After that, you and your family are coming with me back to the North. Do not try to escape again; it will be futile. Have I made myself clear?"

She looked at me sheepishly, her lower lip trembling for a second before she gave a slow, reluctant nod. She shifted the car into gear and began to drive, her movements mechanical, her eyes distant as she tried to process the fact that her life in this city had just ended.

I didn't take my eyes off her for a second. I reached out mentally, hitting Marcus with a mind-link, ‘Marcus. Follow us. Get the private jet fueled and ready for a midnight departure. We fly out tonight.’

‘Understood, Alpha” he replied . ‘And the girl?’

I watched the way the sunlight hit the reddish-brown waves of her hair.

‘She’s not just a girl, Marcus. I’ve found my mate. And I’m taking her home.’ I smiled.

She pulled into a cramped garage a few minutes later and stepped out, looking smaller than ever.

“Will you wait here?” she asked, her voice trembling. She was terrified to introduce me to her parents. I didn't argue. I simply nodded and tapped my watch, gesturing for her to move fast. The clock was running.

As she disappeared inside, . Marcus and the fleet of SUV’s lined down the street. Marcus stepped out, unable to hide a massive smirk.

“So,” he said, leaning against his SUV. “She’s the mate?”

I took a deep breath, the scent of lavender and vanilla still sharp in my lungs. “Yes.”

“And she still tried to outrun you?” Marcus chuckled, shaking his head. “That’s wifey material right there.”

I let out a short laugh and playfully cuffed his shoulder.

"She has spirit," I said, my face beaming as I looked at the house. "Let’s get her home".