THE ALPHA’S FORBIDDEN MATE

Chapter 3: MATING SEASON

The air in the city changed.

It got hot. Heavy. People were snappy. Touchy.

Drake started coming every day.

He looked different. Tired. Jaw clenched. Like he was holding something back.

"Are you okay?" I asked one night, handing him tea. We were sitting on the floor of my hut.

"I’m in my season," he said quietly. He wouldn’t look at me. "It’s bad. I shouldn’t be here."

"Then why are you?" I asked, pulling my knees up.

"Because you’re the only place that feels... quiet," he said. "The only place I can breathe."

We sat in silence for a while.

"You talk too much," he said suddenly, but there was a small smile on his lips.

"And you eat too much," I shot back. "Who eats 3 bowls of ramen?"

"I was hungry," he shrugged. "You make it good."

"Liars make good food taste better."

He laughed at that. A real laugh. And for a second the tension in his shoulders dropped.

We kept talking. About stupid things. About music. About if rain was better than sun.

The room got smaller. Quieter.

I reached for the cup at the same time he did.

Our hands brushed.

Neither of us pulled away.

For a second we just... stayed like that. Fingers touching.

The air felt thick. Hot. My heart was loud in my chest.

He looked at me. I looked at him.

It was intense. Like the whole hut was holding its breath.

Then he exhaled, and pulled his hand back first.

"Don’t," he said, voice rough. "Ravendon, you don’t want this."

"Who said I don’t?" I whispered.

He didn’t answer. He just leaned forward.

The next thing I knew, morning light was coming through the window.

I sat up slowly. My back hurt. His jacket was all over me.

And that’s when I saw it.

His shirt had ridden up.

The scars from that first night were gone. Completely gone. Smooth skin.

Then he turned.

And opened his eyes.

They were bright red.

Like fire.

That was the only thing.

And his nails... they looked sharper. Sharper than before.

My chest got tight.

"Drake," I whispered. My voice shook.

He sat up fast, like he realized what I saw.

"Ravendon, I—"

His voice was rough. Pained.

"Don’t," I said, scooting back. "Just... don’t."

A sound from outside. A growl. Low.

Then the door kicked open.