The Alpha’s Miracle

Chapter Seven:The Alpha’s Fear-Kai

I had never been afraid of anything.

Not war.

Not rival Alphas.

Not rogues.

Not enemies standing at my borders.

Not even death.

But that changed the moment I learned Sebastian was hurt.

It had been a small cut.

A simple accident.

The doctor had assured me it wasn’t serious.

There was no danger.

No reason for me to react the way I had.

And yet, the moment I saw the blood on his hand, something sharp had pierced my chest.

Pain.

Real pain.

It had felt like someone had reached inside me and squeezed my heart.

I had nearly lost my composure.

I didn’t understand it.

We barely knew each other.

I had spoken to him only a handful of times.

We hadn’t even had a proper conversation.

Yet his pain had become mine.

That terrified me.

I had heard stories about mate bonds.

I’d grown up hearing them.

I’d watched mated Alphas experience the connection.

I’d seen how fiercely they protected their mates.

I’d heard about wolves sensing when their mates were in danger.

But hearing about something and experiencing it were two completely different things.

This wasn’t a story.

This was happening to me.

And it was already this strong.

What would happen when Sebastian and I became closer?

What would happen if something truly serious happened to him?

I didn’t want to know.

My wolf didn’t help.

Mate hurt.

“I know.”

He was bleeding.

“I saw.”

Protect him.

“I will.”

He belongs with us.

I closed my eyes.

“Don’t start.”

My wolf growled.

He is ours.

I knew what he meant.

I felt the same pull.

But there was a difference between wanting Sebastian and forcing Sebastian.

I would never force him.

Even if every instinct inside me screamed otherwise.

⸻

It was the final day of the priests’ visit.

I stood outside the pack house watching the vehicles being prepared.

Sebastian was somewhere nearby.

I could sense him.

My wolf could sense him even more strongly.

Mate.

“I know.”

Go to him.

“Not yet.”

Tell him.

“I will.”

Now.

I sighed.

“Be patient.”

My wolf growled.

Patience had never been an Alpha wolf’s greatest virtue.

Especially not mine.

My wolf was born from one of the strongest Alpha bloodlines in existence.

He was powerful.

Aggressive.

Possessive.

And right now, he was becoming impossible.

Before I could lose my patience, Father Archie approached me.

“Alpha Kai.”

I turned.

“Father.”

He looked thoughtful.

“I spoke with Sebastian.”

My heart immediately jumped.

“What did he say?”

Father Archie sighed.

“He doesn’t understand most of it.”

I lowered my head.

“Of course he doesn’t.”

“He has never known anything about our world.”

“I know.”

“You have to give him time.”

“I am trying.”

My voice came out rougher than I intended.

“I really am trying.”

Father Archie studied me.

“My wolf is restless,” I admitted.

“I can see that.”

“He feels rejected.”

Father Archie remained silent.

“I don’t know what to do.”

I ran my hand through my hair.

“I’ve waited eleven years.”

“I know.”

“I finally find my mate, and I can’t even tell him.”

“You can.”

I looked at him.

“You mean…”

“Eventually, you must tell him.”

My heart tightened.

“And if he rejects me?”

Father Archie didn’t answer immediately.

That silence told me enough.

“That’s what I’m afraid of.”

I looked toward the direction Sebastian was standing.

He was speaking with one of the teachers.

He looked happy.

Peaceful.

Completely unaware of the war happening inside me.

“I don’t want to destroy his life,” I whispered.

“You won’t.”

“He loves what he’s doing.”

“I know.”

“He wants to become a priest.”

“Yes.”

I watched him laugh softly.

“I love him.”

Father Archie looked at me.

“I know.”

“I don’t want to make him choose between me and his dreams.”

“Then don’t.”

I looked at him.

“But I want him to choose me.”

Father Archie nodded slowly.

“That is your right to want.”

I swallowed.

“But the decision must be his.”

“I know.”

“You cannot make that decision for him.”

“I won’t.”

“You cannot use the bond.”

“I won’t.”

“You cannot use your position as Alpha.”

“I would never.”

Father Archie smiled.

“Then you’re already doing better than many powerful men would.”

I looked down.

“I just don’t know how to approach him.”

“Neither do I.”

That surprised me.

He continued.

“I’ve given him the beginning of the conversation. I’ve explained what mates are. I’ve explained the importance of the bond.”

I nodded.

“But you will eventually have to tell him yourself.”

I looked at Sebastian again.

“When?”

“That’s your decision.”

Father Archie placed a hand on my shoulder.

“But remember something.”

I looked at him.

“Sebastian deserves the truth.”

I nodded.

“He deserves to know that someone has been waiting for him.”

My chest tightened.

“I have.”

“I know.”

Father Archie stepped back.

“Be patient, Alpha Kai.”

Then he walked away.

⸻

I watched Sebastian for the rest of the afternoon.

I wanted to walk toward him.

I wanted to say his name.

I wanted to tell him everything.

Mate.

“I know.”

Tell him.

“I can’t.”

Why?

“Because I’m afraid.”

My wolf went silent.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then he growled.

He may leave.

“Yes.”

He may reject us.

“Yes.”

He cannot.

My jaw tightened.

“Don’t.”

He belongs to us.

“He belongs to himself.”

My wolf growled louder.

By the laws of our people, he is ours.

“That doesn’t mean we own him.”

We will take him.

I froze.

“No.”

If he refuses, we will take him.

“Absolutely not.”

My wolf became more agitated.

He cannot reject us.

“I will not allow you to hurt him.”

He is our mate.

“I know.”

He belongs with us.

“I know.”

Then take him.

I closed my eyes.

“No.”

My wolf growled.

“Listen to me.”

He continued pacing inside my mind.

“You’re frightening me.”

That finally made him stop.

I rarely admitted fear.

Not even to myself.

But this wasn’t about me.

It was about Sebastian.

“I waited eleven years,” I whispered. “I’m not going to lose him because we became impatient.”

He could leave.

“He could.”

He could reject us.

“He could.”

Then what will we do?

I swallowed.

“We will survive.”

My wolf snarled.

No.

“Yes.”

We cannot live without him.

“I know.”

The bond was already changing me.

I could feel it.

My wolf was becoming more protective.

More possessive.

More emotional.

Things I had never experienced before were suddenly becoming normal.

Headaches.

Restlessness.

An overwhelming need to know where Sebastian was.

And sometimes, a sharp ache in my chest whenever he was distant.

It was terrifying.

But I couldn’t blame him.

He didn’t even know.

He didn’t know that the man he had been avoiding was his mate.

He didn’t know that every time he looked away from me, something inside me broke.

He didn’t know that when he smiled, my entire wolf calmed.

He didn’t know.

And perhaps that was why I couldn’t be angry.

I had to give him the truth.

But I had to give him the choice too.

⸻

The vehicles eventually began leaving.

I stood outside.

Sebastian walked toward the vehicle with Father Archie and the others.

For one brief moment, he looked in my direction.

Our eyes met.

My heart stopped.

He looked away almost immediately.

My wolf whined.

Mate.

“I know.”

Sebastian climbed into the vehicle.

The door closed.

The vehicle began moving.

I watched it disappear through the gates.

My wolf paced.

I remained completely still.

He was leaving.

Not forever.

Just for the evening.

But my wolf didn’t understand the difference.

Go after him.

“No.”

Bring him back.

“No.”

He is ours.

I closed my eyes.

“He is our mate.”

My wolf quieted.

“Not our prisoner.”

Silence.

“Do you understand?”

Eventually, I felt him settle slightly.

“We will tell him.”

When?

“When the time is right.”

And if he rejects us?

I looked toward the empty road.

My answer came quietly.

“Then I’ll respect his choice.”

My wolf didn’t like it.

Neither did I.

But love wasn’t ownership.

If Sebastian was truly my other half, then I wanted him beside me because he chose to be there.

Not because the bond forced him.

Not because I was an Alpha.

Not because I was powerful.

I wanted Sebastian to look at me one day and say,

“I choose you.”

That was what I wanted.

That was what I had waited eleven years for.

And until that day came, I would wait.

Even if it hurt.

Even if my wolf protested.

Even if every instinct inside me demanded that I claim him.

Because the one thing I would never do…

Was turn the man I loved into someone who was afraid of me.