BULLIED BY MY MATE

A Whisper in the Dark

Alera’s POV

I heard a voice calling my name, breaking through the night with a mix of desperate shouts and long, haunting howls. I glanced at the cheerleaders around me who were still fast asleep.

“Aleraaaa...”

The voice was unmistakably clear. Who was calling me at this hour? I grabbed my thick jacket and slipped it on for warmth before stepping out of the cabin. The camp was silent, every student seemed to have fallen into deep sleep.

“Aleraaaa...”

The call grew louder. I tried to follow the sound, my steps taking me toward the riverbank. It seemed to be coming from the other side of the stream. Could it be a Lycan in need of help?

I walked along the river, scanning my surroundings. The world was drenched in darkness, lit only by the faint silver glow of the moon. The howling grew nearer, until my breath caught. Three grown men stood in front of me, their eyes glinting with something feral.

“Finally, we found you, Rouge. Come with us. You don’t belong here. Alpha Damian is waiting for you.” The man with a thick neck and a tattoo creeping up his skin stared at me coldly. He mentioned Alpha Damian—a name I had never even heard before.

“Who are you? I don’t know you, and I certainly don’t know any Alpha Damian.” My gaze darted from one to the other. Fear crawled beneath my skin, but I forced myself to stand tall. I couldn’t let them see my weakness.

“Once you meet Alpha Damian, you’ll understand. You don’t belong in the human world. You were never meant to.” Another man, draped in a wool jacket with a heavy chain belt clinking at his waist, raised his voice at me.

“I’m not returning to any pack. I don’t have a pack. I’m free now.” I stepped back instinctively, a tremor of fear racing through me. They looked as though they could do anything they wanted to me. In my heart, I called out for Rayvan. Please, Rayvan… come and save me.

“You carry the pure bloodline of Alpha Tharion. This is not your place. Come with us.” The tattooed man extended his hand.

No. I couldn’t go with strangers. Alpha Damian, Alpha Tharion—who were they? And more frightening, who was I, really?

One of them grabbed my wrist and squeezed tight. “If you won’t come willingly, we’ll force you!” His voice thundered through the night. Panic rose in my chest. I wished one of my friends, or even Rayhan, would wake up and find me.

I struggled against their grip. “I don’t want to go with you. Let me go!” But their strength was overwhelming. No matter how I fought to pull away, their hold on me only tightened.

“Help! Rayvan, help me!” My voice cracked in desperation as the three of them dragged me toward the woods.

Then it came—a howl so fierce it tore apart the dreadful silence. A massive wolf emerged from the shadows, its sleek black coat gleaming under the moonlight, its silver eyes blazing like fire caught in metal.

Was that… Rayvan?

The three men shifted before my eyes, their bodies contorting into wolves, circling the black wolf with murderous growls.

The sound of their howls chilled my bones. This wasn’t the first time I had seen werewolves fight, but terror still gripped me, leaving me breathless. I should have been able to shift, especially under such danger, but nothing stirred within me. I was powerless, left only to watch as Rayvan prepared to fight alone.

One wolf lunged at him, knocking Rayvan to the ground. Just as its teeth closed in on his throat, Rayvan twisted upward, his claws slicing across its chest. The wolf shrieked in pain as blood spilled from the fresh wound. His strike carried an almost otherworldly force—the s***h wasn’t even deep, yet it tore flesh as though his claws shimmered with magic.

Another wolf launched at his back, snapping relentlessly, but Rayvan was faster. He spun, sinking his fangs into the wolf’s spine, forcing it to the ground. Fresh blood pooled into the dirt, mingling with the earth’s scent.

The last wolf hung back, cautious but watchful. It howled long and loud before hurling itself at Rayvan, slamming him into the soil.

“Rayvan!” My voice trembled as I saw blood at the corner of his lips.

He rose swiftly, silver eyes burning brighter than ever. With one feral leap, he sank his fangs into his rival’s neck. The wolf crumpled, bleeding heavily. One by one, all three enemies staggered back, wounded and defeated. Their bodies swayed before retreating into the trees, vanishing into the shadows of the pines.

My heart pounded as I turned to Rayvan. Relief washed over me, though worry still gnawed at my chest. Slowly, his claws retracted, the thick fur receding, until the black wolf was gone and the man stood before me again. Only his undergarments remained. Heat rushed to my cheeks—I quickly spun away.

“I’ll fetch your clothes. Where are they?” I asked without daring to look.

“In the bushes ahead,” Rayvan’s voice was hoarse, heavy from the fight.

I hurried to the spot, retrieved his clothes, and handed them over without turning my head.

“You don’t have to avoid me. Look at me, if you want to.”

His low voice made my face burn hotter. I stayed still, frozen in place until the sound of fabric shifting told me he was dressed again.

“I’m done,” he said a moment later.

I turned around and exhaled in relief. He was fully clothed now, though a trace of blood still lingered on his lip.

“You’re hurt, Rayvan. Should I get you medicine?”

Before I could move, his hand caught mine. “Stay here. You don’t need to worry about me. I should be the one worried about you.” His gaze softened, and a rare smile curved his lips.

“I’m fine, Rayvan,” I whispered, returning his smile. Gratitude swelled in me. He had come in time. Without him, I would have been taken.

“Thank you, Rayvan. You saved me.”

His smile deepened, a calm strength radiating from him. He was no longer the arrogant boy who used to tease me. In this moment, he looked every bit the Alpha—mature, protective, commanding.

“My instincts are sharper than anything else, Alera. I could feel you were in danger. Our matebond is strong.”

I caught my breath. “They said Alpha Damian was waiting for me. And they claimed I have the pure blood of Alpha Tharion. I don’t know either of them.”

Rayvan’s eyes widened. “Could they be part of your past? Alera, this is a vital clue.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “What do you mean, Ray?”

“I told my parents that you are my mate. In my family’s bloodline, a Luna must come from Alpha descent. Without it…” His words trailed, heavy with meaning.

A shiver coursed through me. I wasn’t qualified to be his Luna.

“But my father said there’s one exception. If you carry Alpha blood, then I can keep you as my mate. That means I can mark you, and you’ll stand by me in the moonblood ceremony.” His gaze was piercing.

Hope flickered in my chest. “Those Lycans said I have the pure blood of Alpha Tharion. Does that mean… I really am an Alpha’s descendant?”

Rayvan’s face lit with a rare brightness. His eyes shone like silver stars—it was a sign, perhaps, that fate was on our side.

“We need to find out who Alpha Damian and Alpha Tharion truly are. I’ll ask my parents.”

“Alera…” His voice softened.

“Yes, Ray?”

“About your father’s coffee shop… My father never ordered his men to shut down anyone’s business without compensation. That means someone used his name to act unjustly. In my pack, if a leader commits scandal or cruelty, his title is stripped away.”

Understanding hit me. Alpha Lucian Drayce had not been involved in my father’s misfortune. I had been wrong all this time.

“I’m sorry for misunderstanding, Rayvan. I didn’t know the truth...”

“It’s all right, Alera. If I were you, I might have thought the same.”

Our eyes locked, and the world seemed to still. Every time our gazes met, my heart raced wildly. The night no longer felt cold—it felt like a secret moment just for us. His smile unraveled me, yet he held himself back, not crossing the line, not taking advantage of the closeness. Still, I couldn’t stop wondering what it would be like if he kissed me. Why was I even thinking about that?

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps thundered closer. I turned quickly, catching sight of several of our classmates approaching—Professor Christian among them.

“What are you two doing here?” His voice was cold, sharp, carrying the weight of an interrogation.