Claimed by the Alpha on Christmas Eve

Mate Instinct

The drive felt unreal, like I had stepped into someone else’s life.

Snow blurred past the windows as Rowan drove with one hand on the wheel, the other relaxed, controlled. Nothing about him felt rushed—yet every nerve in my body was on edge while I tried to make any sense of the story he was telling me.

“So,” I said finally. “You’re saying you’re… what? A werewolf?”

“Yes.”

I snorted. “That’s it? No dramatic buildup?”

His lips twitched. “You already saw my eyes. Your mind is just catching up.”

I hated that he was right.

“And the mate thing?” I pressed. “Is that… fate? Biology? Or just a really weird pickup line?”

He glanced at me, amusement flickering briefly. “If it were a pickup line, I would’ve chosen a better moment.”

I swallowed.

“You feel it,” he continued. “The pull. The heat. The awareness.”

My cheeks burned.

“I don’t—”

“You do,” he said gently. “And you’re fighting it.”

The car slowed as we approached a secluded estate surrounded by towering trees. Lights glowed warmly from inside.

“My pack is nearby,” Rowan said. “But this house is neutral ground.”

I hesitated as he opened my door. “I’m not staying. I dont even know you.”

“You will—for tonight.”

“And if I refuse?”

His gaze softened. “Then I’ll make sure you get home safely.”

No force. No threat.

Just choice.

That scared me more. And somehow made me feel safe.

I stayed.

Inside, warmth enveloped me. Fire crackled in a massive stone fireplace. The place felt lived-in, powerful, and strangely comforting.

“You can sleep in the guest room,” he said. “I’ll keep my distance.”

I turned to face him. “Why are you being so… decent about this?”

Because you’re mine, his eyes seemed to say.

Instead, he answered, “Because claiming doesn’t mean owning.”

Something in my chest cracked open.

Outside, a howl echoed through the night.

Rowan stiffened.

“They know,” he said quietly.

“Know what?”

“That I’ve found my mate.”

My heart slammed against my ribs. He was for real.

“And if I don’t want this?” I whispered.

His gaze locked onto mine, raw and honest.

“Then I’ll spend the rest of my life protecting you anyway.”

The fire flared. My head hurt. My heart was broken.

And for the first time in years, Christmas didn’t feel so lonely. Somehow it felt right.