Forbidden: Bite Of An Alpha

Chapter 4

***Zander***

Upon entering the house party, my wolf began to stir within me. I brushed aside whatever was bothering him, pushing through the crowd. Today had been long and stressful, especially after my father compared me to my younger brother. It always stung when he said my brother, Milo, acted more mature than I did. Don’t get me wrong; I loved Milo. But at times like this, my father only seemed to highlight how much harder Milo worked while insinuating that all I did was party and chase girls. He was right, but I was still young and wanted to enjoy my life before stepping into the role of Alpha.

The anger simmered beneath the surface—not towards my father, but directed at my brother. We had a classic sibling rivalry, always in competition with each other, but the bond we shared ran deeper than that. Despite our arguments and fights, we cared for one another. The tension solely stemmed from my future as Alpha while he was labeled the "spare." I knew he hated that title, and whenever he really pissed me off, I couldn’t resist calling him “the spare.”

A scent broke through my brooding thoughts as I wandered around the crowded room. My wolf stirred again, this time in response to a fresh scent of citrus wafting through the air. Instinctively, I pushed through the throngs of people, following the scent like I was under a spell. My feet seemed to guide me outside to the poolside area, where I had originally intended to meet up with my friends.

There, I spotted her—an enchanting girl lounging with her back toward me. I couldn't see much beyond her brown hair cascading over her shoulders, but I noticed she was seated beside Milo. A surge of anger bubbled up within me, and my wolf growled softly in agreement. I maintained my composure, but a young male wolf standing close by sensed my wrath and discreetly stepped back. He and the others in my pack didn’t want to be near me while I radiated hostility.

I kept my gaze locked on the girl next to my brother. I was brought back to reality when I heard a familiar voice cut through the moment.

“Curtis, stop looking at the girls like that! You’re making them uncomfortable!” It was Stephanie. “They’re too womanly for you!” she added, and Curtis raised his hands in mock surrender. I silently thanked Stephanie; her comment was enough to push me into action. I made my way over to have a word with Curtis.

"Thanks," I muttered to a voice that sounded almost angelic as I passed through the crowd.

“Look but don’t touch, right?” Curtis said with a grin. “Not to make you ladies uncomfortable, but you deserve to be stared at for your beauty.” He winked at the girl he was speaking to, and my wolf ignited with fury, desperate to teach him a lesson.

“That’s enough, Curtis!” I warned, my tone low and threatening. He understood my meaning and fell silent.

As I turned my attention back to the girl, our eyes locked—her golden-brown orbs pierced through my resolve. Mate! my wolf exclaimed, and I was stunned by the revelation. I had to use every ounce of willpower not to react to his declaration. The citrus scent enveloped me, stronger now that I was close enough to reach out and touch her. I noticed that she was, in turn, assessing me from head to toe.

“Yes…” Curtis faltered, his confidence evaporating as he seemed to realize he was no longer the center of attention.

“As a matter of fact, go away,” I said calmly. He complied without question. “Sorry about him,” I continued, addressing the girl. “He has an addiction to women.” It was true, but perhaps I shouldn’t have pointed that out, considering my own similar tendencies.

“Don’t all men?” she blurted out, clearly regretting the words as soon as they escaped her lips. Her wide eyes mirrored her shock. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to say that out loud.”

“I guess you’re quite right,” I replied, surprised at my own instinctive agreement.

“Gina, Yara,” Milo said, directing my attention to the girls beside him. “This is my big brother, Zander.” He introduced me, gesturing to each friend. “Tell everyone they’re my girls.” The way he said it sent an unspoken message that my wolf took offense to.

“Don’t even think about going for them,” Milo warned me through our mind-link.

“Relax, brother,” I responded mentally, keeping my focus on Yara.

Milo left me alone after our exchange, but my gaze remained locked on Yara. It was as if she held the power to render me completely entranced. Even though I had only known her for a short time, her presence felt addictive. The fresh citrus scent emanating from her had my wolf pacing restlessly in my mind, torn between admiration and annoyance. I groaned inwardly, realizing that she was human. My mate, my gift from the moon goddess, my future Luna, was a human.

I wasn’t sure how to feel about the reality of her being human, but one thought loomed large: How would my pack ever follow me as Alpha if my mate was not one of them? My wolf’s response was immediate. It doesn’t matter! She is ours! Anyone with a problem will have to deal with me! His growl reverberated in my thoughts, fierce and protective.

She was stunning—her brown hair, golden-brown eyes, and those pink lips that looked irresistible. I felt a primal urge to kiss her, but this wasn’t the right moment. Even if I saw her as perfect, a nagging thought lingered in the back of my mind.

Of course, my wolf and I were one, which meant he was aware of what I thought about her. I knew how vulnerable humans were, and I didn’t want to be concerned for my mate the moment I turned my back. Yet, looking at her was an impulse I couldn’t resist.

“Brother,” Milo interrupted, pulling me from my thoughts. I felt his glare even without glancing in his direction, too absorbed in Yara’s beauty to pay him the mind he demanded.

“Yes, brother,” I answered casually, keeping my focus on Yara.

“Do you mind?” Milo asked, slipping an arm around her shoulders and tugging her closer.

The moment he did, I ripped my gaze from Yara and shot a dangerous glare at Milo. The heat coursing through my body told me my wolf and I shared the same sentiment; we were prepared to attack my brother for touching what was ours.

“You do realize you’re eye-f*****g my friend?” Milo said harshly, his words igniting my annoyance.

It suddenly occurred to me that I hadn’t noticed how my intense stare was impacting her. I could feel Yara’s heart racing, could smell the anxiety seeping from her as it mingled with her citrus scent.

“I actually don’t mind,” I replied smoothly, asserting my right to admire my mate. I casually relaxed into my seat, noting how Yara tried to avoid my gaze while I continued my unabashed scrutiny.

“I’m sure she doesn’t either,” I added, and my last words startled Yara, her eyes widening in surprise when she registered my implication.

“Well, she does!” Milo shot back, standing up and addressing me. “You just told Curtis off for being obnoxious, and now you're doing the same!”

I mirrored his actions, rising to my feet. “I’m not a pervert like Curtis,” I smirked, partially out of satisfaction that he no longer had his arms around my mate.

“Like that explains why you’re eye-f*****g one of my best friends!” Milo hissed, only for my ears to catch, although the people nearby, including my mate, heard him.

“So what are you going to do about it?” I responded challengingly.

“Stop it!” Milo growled, warning me.

I held his gaze, refusing to back down. He let out another low growl, and in the corner of my eye, I noticed Yara searching for the source of the sound. No doubt she had no clue about werewolves, as there were certainly no dogs lurking around at this party.

It was too quick for me to anticipate, but my brother’s fist connected with my face. I may have seen it coming, but as Alphas, we were both fast, and he managed to get the upper hand before I could defend myself. The force of his punch knocked me off balance, but I quickly retaliated and landed a blow on Milo’s face.

I was so deeply entrenched in my anger that I barely registered the crowd around us, the faint shouts of friends urging us to stop. I was absorbed in beating my brother for touching my mate and for trying to dictate who I could look at. My wolf yearned to teach him a lesson about who was stronger and more worthy of being Alpha, but the fight obscured our attention—my anger towards him also rooted in my father’s belief that Milo was more mature.

In my focus on punishing my brother, I hadn’t realized Yara had stepped behind him. I threw a punch, intending to hit Milo, when suddenly my fist connected with her shoulder instead. The impact sent sparks of the mate bond coursing through me as I inadvertently injured her—if I hadn’t pulled back at the last second, I could have broken something.

Her scream pierced through the chaos, leaving me paralyzed with guilt. “Yara, I’m sorry!” I panicked, my heart racing. I wanted to reach out and comfort her, but before I could move, Milo shoved me away. A wave of embarrassment washed over me—I had harmed my mate. I should be protecting her, not causing her pain.

I fled into the shadows, ensuring no one saw me leave. I wasn’t abandoning Yara; I planned to watch her until she left the party. The moment she did, I would make sure she got home safely—even if she went with my brother.

As I observed Milo tending to her, I came to a harsh realization: I was right about one thing. Humans are weak. If I was to be Alpha and have her as my mate, I would need to turn her into a wolf. I was an Alpha; it was something I could do. I didn’t care if it was forbidden; I would turn my mate, and she would be my strong Luna. I would bite my human mate.