Forbidden Mate

Chapter 5

Alpha Nathan’s POV

I sat alone in my office, the familiar scent of the pack house enveloping me. It had been a while since I'd been back here, away from the chaos of the recent events. My desk was cluttered with reports and messages that demanded my attention, but my mind refused to cooperate, much to my frustration. Instead, it wandered back to the mystery that was Evelyn.

The moment I had eyes on her, it was as if the world had shifted. My wolf had stirred, recognising something in her that surpassed mere attraction. It was the powerful pull of a mate bond. It was a deep connection, a thread tying our fates together.

I ran my hand through my hair to dispel the distracting thoughts that swirled in my mind. I needed to focus on the pack, the ongoing conflicts with the hunters, and the delicate balance we maintained within our territory.

But no matter how hard I tried, my thoughts drifted back to Evelyn. Her presence in my life was like a puzzle piece that didn't quite fit, and I was determined to unravel the mystery it represented.

The pack's safety comes first, and I couldn't afford to let personal feelings cloud my judgment. But there was an undeniable pull, an inexplicable force that drew me to her.

I clenched my fists, frustration bubbling within me. I couldn't deny the unease that had settled in my chest. What did this connection mean? What role did Evelyn play in the larger scheme of things, especially in our ongoing conflict with the hunters? Was she sent as a spy?

“How dare you say that about our mate?” my wolf growled in my mind, making me roll my eyes.

“You're just too blind to notice the game she’s playing on you”. I replied.

I could sense his increasing frustration, but I wasn’t willing to back down until he saw things my way.

“She is ours, my wolf growled insistently”, his voice echoing with a possessive fervor that matched the intensity of our bond. “Our mate”.

“We need to wait and be sure that it isn’t a trick made by the hunters”, I persisted.

“Did you just say wait?” he snarled. “We have been waiting for a long time for her, and now she’s here. You are asking that we wait again.”

I clenched my fists, trying to maintain a semblance of control. The wolf was right, and I couldn't deny it any longer. I have been waiting for a mate for so long, and at some point, I began to think one wasn’t created for me.

“And even if she’s our mate like you claimed, she can’t be my Luna. She’s too weak for that. The pack won’t even let it”.

But my wolf, that relentless, primal force within me, disagreed vehemently. He growled in my mind, his golden eyes blazing with fury. “How dare you call our mate weak?” he snarled, his voice a rumble of displeasure.

I clenched my fists, struggling to contain the internal turmoil. “I didn't mean it that way.” I tried to explain, but my wolf was having none of it. His loyalty to our mate was unwavering, and he wouldn't stand for any disrespect, even from me.

But we can't let this consume us, I argued back, my human side clinging to reason like a lifeline. There are responsibilities and duties as the Alpha.

My wolf's response was a surge of impatience, a whirlwind of emotions that threatened to overwhelm me. “We can be a stronger Alpha with her by our side,” he insisted. “The pack will benefit from her presence.”

I struggled to find a middle ground, torn between my duty to the pack and the undeniable pull of our mate. “We can't let our emotions dictate our actions,” I countered. “We must tread carefully.”

My wolf's eyes blazed with determination, a silent promise that he would not be denied. “We will protect the pack,” he agreed, “but we will also claim what is rightfully ours.”

I was deep in thought, wrestling with the persistent arguments from my wolf about Evelyn when the door to my office swung open with a creak. Startled, I glanced up to see Alexander, my Beta, walking inside like he owned the place.

“What is it,” I asked, irritated.

He stared at me for a while. “you should consider calming down. The pack can feel your rage via the mind link, making them all riled up,” he said.

I calmed down, pushed my wolf back, and created a mental barrier.

Alexander, always perceptive, studied me for a moment before speaking again. "Is there something else bothering you, Nathan? You seem distracted, more than just by the pack's business. Is it because of the girl Evelyn?”.

At the mention of her name, my wolf growled in my mind, struggling to tear down the barrier to come out, but I pushed him back again.

I hesitated, unsure whether to share the internal struggle I was experiencing. But I trusted Alexander, and his insight often proved valuable.

"It's my wolf," I admitted, my voice low. "He's been... restless, especially since Evelyn arrived. He recognises her as our mate, but I've been denying it, given the circumstances."

Alexander's brow furrowed in concern. "Your wolf knows her as your mate?"

I nodded. "Yes, but I've resisted that connection, believing it's impossible. She's human, after all."

Alexander considered my words, his expression thoughtful. "Alpha, our instincts and bonds are powerful. There must be a reason if your wolf recognises her as your mate. Perhaps it's time to explore this connection instead of denying it."

“Exactly what I have been telling the dumb human”, my wolf said to Alexander via the mind link as he glowed from my mind.

I rolled my eyes and blocked him again, making Alexander chuckle.

“If that's all, I would be going to bed now”, he said, standing up. “You should try to sleep too.”

I nodded as I watched him leave.

After Alexander's departure, I again found myself alone in my office. The weight of the decisions I needed to make bore down on me, and I took a moment to gather my thoughts.

My wolf's recognition of Evelyn as our mate was impossible to ignore any longer, and I couldn't deny the pull that drew me toward her.

Yet, questions swirled in my mind. How could I reconcile this newfound connection with the history of pain and loss inflicted upon my pack by hunters? Could I trust Evelyn despite her human origins? These were the questions that plagued my mind.

I leaned back in my chair, closing my eyes momentarily, seeking clarity in the darkness of my thoughts. My conflicting emotions are filled with doubt and desire.

My wolf growled softly in my mind, his frustration visible. He yearned for the bond with our mate, urging me to acknowledge it. But my human side, scarred by past betrayals and loss, hesitated.

I thought about Evelyn, her presence like a wildfire that had unexpectedly swept my life. She had entered our world under unusual circumstances, and soon, the pack would demand answers, and I needed to provide them.

Opening my eyes, I reached for the small, ornate box on the corner of my desk. It contained a collection of old, weathered photographs — images of my family before the tragedy that befell them. I ran a finger over their faces, frozen in time, a pang of longing tugging at my heart.

It reminded me of the pain and loss that had driven me to lead the pack with unwavering strength, to protect them at all costs. But now, faced with the possibility of a mate, a new chapter in my life loomed uncertainty.

With a sigh, I placed the photographs back in the box and closed it, a sense of determination settling over me. It was time to address the pack and give them the truth they sought. And then, I would have to have a conversation with Evelyn that would shape our future together, for better or worse.