His Hidden Mate

Chapter3

Yara’ POV

The car falls silent once more, and I can’t help but wonder how much longer it is until we reach our destination. It feels like we’ve been driving for hours.

“I need to ask,” his voice is unnervingly calm. I glanced at him, sensing the seriousness of his question. “How did you manage when your wolf was in heat?”

I stared at him, surprised. My mouth opens, but no words come out. I was explicitly warned never to discuss this. Will I get in trouble if I tell him? Is this a test to gauge my loyalty and obedience?

“Your response is necessary. Any hesitation will not be tolerated,” he asserts.

I nodded quickly, my heart pounding. “Since I have turned eighteen... I was prescribed medication to suppress that aspect of my wolf.”

His head whips towards me, and I flinch, fearing I misspoke.

“Why—” He stops himself, still processing. Then, with more intensity, he demands, “Mating ceremonies. The Calling Festival. How did you cope without your instincts?”

“I wasn’t invited,” I confess softly.

His eyes widened in disbelief, a flicker of shock crossing his features.

“A wolf’s strength lies in honoring its instincts. When those are suppressed, the wolf weakens,” his tone is stern, laced with anger. “Do you have those pills with you?”

I fumble through my bag, uncertain, until I locate the small container. Before I can react, he snatches it from my grasp, rolls down the window, and hurls it into the night.

“You will not take them again. If you do, there will be punishments. Do you understand?” His tone is vicious, leaving no room for argument.

All I can do is nod. It wasn’t like I ever had a choice. Those pills were forced on me. If I could’ve stopped, I would have.

He says nothing else. My heart hammers as the car slows before a massive gate. Without hesitation, it opens—as if they were expecting him. My stomach knots.

This isn’t right. Rogues aren’t supposed to have permanent homes. They don’t have gates, or guards, or security that screams power. But Helter … he does. His place isn’t a hideout. It’s a fortress.

The car moves slowly through the grounds, and I finally get my first look at where he lives. The road winds through a thick forest. The trees are tall and dense, forming a perfect barrier that hides everything from the outside world.

The farther we drive, the more uneasy I become. It’s too quiet. When the trees finally break, a massive stone estate rises before me. It’s nothing like I expected. Dark, almost menacing, yet strong, like a castle with high walls, towers, and arched windows. Dim light glows from within.

This doesn’t look like the home of a rogue. And Helter makes him feel wrong, like the way he’s dressed is just a disguise. There’s no chaos here, no desperation. Everything is orderly and calm. This isn’t just one man’s home. This is the home of an Alpha, with a full pack behind him.

The car comes to a stop in a wide driveway. Before I can fully comprehend the situation, the front doors swing open, and several men dressed in black step out. Their movements are sharp and disciplined, unlike rogues.

I swallowed hard, clutching my bag tightly. Helter emerges, his coat swirling around his legs.

“Get out,” he commands, his voice brooking no argument.

I hasten to comply, stepping onto the cold stone. The men at the entrance remained silent, their expressions unreadable as they watched me.

Helter strides past without a glance, ascending the stone steps. He doesn’t instruct me to follow, but I do so anyway, trailing after him into the estate.

Inside, the walls are made of stone, and the ceilings are high. Enormous chandeliers cast a golden glow across the hall, imbuing the space with an energy that sends shivers down my spine.

He maintains a steady pace, his every step purposeful. His presence fills the room, commanding not just the estate but everything and everyone within it.

“This is where you will live now,” he declares as we navigate the halls. His voice is firm and definitive. “You will abide by my rules. You will not leave unless I grant permission.”

I already know that, but hearing it again makes my chest tighten. He stops at a door and pushes it open, then steps aside so I can enter. “This is your bedroom. And your bathroom.”

I hover in the doorway, unsure if I should step in. The room is nothing like I imagined. The bed is huge, the fireplace glows low in the corner, and I can see a set of doors that must lead to the bathroom.

It’s… beautiful. Luxurious. Far too much for me. Did he know I’ve had nothing like this? That my father expected me to sleep in a cell?

“This may not be a cage,” Helter says, his eyes fixed on me. “But don’t mistake comfort for freedom.”

I turned toward him, my voice trembling. “What exactly do you expect from me?”

His golden eyes glinted in the dim light. “Loyalty. Obedience. And when I came to this door, you let me in. Do you understand?”

My throat tightens. I can only nod. He’s made the rules clear.

For a long time, he studied for me. Then he steps back. His presence stays heavy in the air even as he says, “You’ll meet others in the morning. For now, rest.”

Without another word, he leaves me standing in the doorway. I stare into the room, into this life I never chose. A part of me wants to believe the warmth of the fire and the softness of the bed mean I’ve found a home. But deep down, I know better.

Standing there, my fingers still grip the bag. I don’t know if I should touch anything. He said this is my room, but it doesn’t feel like it. It’s like I’ll owe him if I do, and even if I eat anything, I’ll owe him. I don’t even know what I’m supposed to feel.

He’s not a rogue. He’s an alpha. So why did he lie? Why pretend to be a rogue when visiting other packs? What does he gain from lying? Surely he could get better deals if people knew who he really was.

Is his name even Helter? I didn’t think of that. If he lied about being a rogue, maybe that’s a lie too. I thought I was marrying a man I didn’t know, but now I realize just how true that is. I don’t even know his real name.

I can’t stand here all night. Even if I feel anxious, I have to move. I’m not used to this. My life was spent sitting in my room or following orders, cleaning, cooking, endless chores. Free time was something I never had. So what do I do now?

It’s crazy. I don’t know how to exist in a space like this. For my entire life, I had a small, bare room with only a mattress. Now I have an entire room, furniture, and a bed that’s far too big but looks soft.

The door worries me most. I’m not used to privacy. I keep waiting for a guard to open it and watch me.

Still, I can’t avoid it forever. Slowly, I forced my feet to move. The dark wood of the furniture gleams faintly. A soft rug brushes my bare toes. The bed looks inviting, but I hesitate. My hand hovers over the covers, and I swallow, trying to push my fear down.

Turning, I moved toward the other doors, hesitating for a moment. I take a deep breath before pulling the handle and swinging them open. What I see takes my breath away.

The bathroom is extravagant—no, that’s too simple a word. Everything gleams: marble floors, silver fixtures, a tub bigger than any I’ve ever seen. A vanity stretches along one wall, lined with bottles of shampoo, body wash, and lotions. My eyes linger on the neatly folded towels.

These are things I was never allowed. I ran my fingers over the soft fabric, feeling the difference from the scraps I had in my father’s pack. My stomach twists at the memory. This place… It’s nothing like it.

I turned to the tub. I'd only ever taken one proper bath, that morning before the wedding. It was amazing, but I want to sink in now, to really relax. They always talk about it, how nice it is to soak and forget everything. I’ve never known that.

Slowly, I reach for the knobs and turn them. Water rushes out instantly. Steam rises, curling around the room, hiding it in a soft haze. I strip out of my dress, letting it pool on the floor, and step carefully into the tub. The hot water touches my skin, and I gasp, not from the heat, but from how wonderful it feels.

I close my eyes, letting the warmth surround me. Still, a tiny part of my mind wonders: Is he really gone? Will someone be watching? Even here, I can’t fully let go.

It's heaven, the warmth seeps into my sore muscles, and soothes the bruises along my ribs. I soak it up, letting the water wash away the sweat that clings to me from hours in the car.

Closing my eyes, I let myself sink lower, keeping my head resting against the edge of the tub.

For the first time in my life, no one is watching me. No one is waiting to punish me for reasons that don’t exist.

It feels… nice. My body and mind relax in a way I never thought possible.

I don’t know how long I will stay in the water. Eventually, I became exhausted. I don’t want to get out, but my limbs are tired. I don’t want to fall asleep in the tub. Forcing myself to stand, I grabbed a thick towel and wrapped it around me. I dry quickly, empty the tub, and walk back into the bedroom.

The fire still crackles softly. I grabbed the bag I came with, looking for anything suitable to wear to bed. There’s nothing. I settled for a summer dress as a nighty. No underwear, how am I supposed to cope with that?

I approached the bed and hesitated. It feels too big, like it could swallow me whole. My fingers brush along the thick blankets. Soft. Warm. I do not know what to do with comfort.

Slowly, I climbed onto the bed. The moment I lie back, I sink into warmth and softness. I remind myself: if you’ve never had something, you don’t miss it. I couldn’t miss luxuries I never knew. But now… now I know. And I hate that I never got to have this before.

All that time cleaning other people’s beds and rooms, I could have snuck into one, even for a moment, to feel the comfort of it.

I didn't, though. Instead, I followed the orders. Despite the unknown, the uneasiness and the mess surrounding me, sleep comes quickly.