The Alpha’s Miracle

Chapter Seventeen :Kai

One month.

It had been exactly one month since Sebastian had stood before the entire Shadow Pack and accepted his place as their Luna.

One month since the bond between us had been formally acknowledged.

One month since my pack had accepted him.

And somehow, despite everything that had happened before that moment, I still found myself wondering if I had truly been given my mate.

Because Sebastian was here.

That was the important thing.

He was here.

He had chosen me.

He had chosen the pack.

He had stood beside me beneath the full moon and accepted the title of Luna.

And yet…

We had barely touched.

Not romantically.

Not intimately.

Not even casually.

I hadn’t held his hand since the ceremony.

Sometimes I wondered if I was going insane.

My wolf certainly thought I was.

Mate.

I sighed.

Mate is right there.

“I know.”

Then go to him.

“He’s working.”

We don’t care.

“I care.”

My wolf growled.

Why does he smile at Liam?

I closed my eyes.

There it was again.

That ridiculous possessiveness.

I couldn’t even blame my wolf completely because, if I was being honest with myself, I felt it too.

I had watched Sebastian spend hours at the hospital with Liam.

I had watched him sit with children in the community.

I had watched him attend meetings with charity organizations.

He had become involved in the pack’s finances, especially the community assistance programs.

He visited families who had lost loved ones.

He spoke with elderly pack members.

He helped organize food distributions.

He had even started spending time with some of the younger wolves, who absolutely adored him.

Sebastian was everywhere.

Except with me.

That was the part that bothered me.

Not because I wanted to control him.

I didn’t.

I wanted him to have his freedom.

I wanted him to learn.

I wanted him to become comfortable in this world.

But I wanted something selfish too.

I wanted him to want me.

Was that really too much to ask?

I wanted him to come looking for me.

I wanted him to knock on my office door because he missed me.

I wanted him to sit beside me at dinner because he wanted to be close.

I wanted him to smile when he saw me.

I wanted him to reach for my hand.

I wanted him to ask me how my day had been.

I wanted to know what he thought about things.

I wanted to know what made him laugh.

What made him angry.

What made him afraid.

What made him happy.

I wanted all the little things.

And maybe that was selfish.

But Sebastian was my mate.

I had waited eleven years for him.

Eleven.

I had imagined finding my mate so many times that I had practically created an entire fantasy in my head.

Never once had I imagined that my mate would be a human preparing for priesthood.

Never once had I imagined that he would wear white robes every day.

And definitely never once had I imagined that after finally finding him, I would have to wait patiently while he learned how to simply exist beside me.

But I was learning.

I had to.

Sebastian had told me from the beginning that he needed time.

And I had promised him that I would give him exactly that.

So I would.

Even if my wolf complained every five minutes.

Especially because Sebastian was still learning what being my mate meant.

His first serious relationship.

His first real connection with another person.

His first experience with the supernatural world.

Everything was new to him.

I couldn’t expect him to suddenly become comfortable with physical affection just because the bond existed.

And I wasn’t going to force him.

Ever.

Still…

I wanted him.

Not just physically.

I wanted his time.

His attention.

His trust.

His friendship.

His affection.

His love.

I wanted to build something with him.

Slowly.

Properly.

I wanted Sebastian to look at me one day and realize that I wasn’t simply the alpha he had been bonded to.

I wanted to become the person he chose every day.

The person he trusted.

The person he loved.

The person he came home to.

My wolf suddenly interrupted my thoughts.

Why does mate always go to his room after dinner?

I rubbed my forehead.

“Because he’s tired.”

He could be tired beside us.

“You are impossible.”

I want mate.

“So do I.”

Then take him.

“No.”

The growl inside my mind became louder.

Why?

“Because he deserves a choice.”

Silence.

Then, reluctantly:

Fine.

I smiled slightly.

“Thank you.”

My wolf wasn’t pleased, but at least he had stopped arguing.

For now.

I looked through the documents on my desk, but I wasn’t reading anymore.

My thoughts kept drifting back to Sebastian.

Maybe I should ask him out.

That thought had been circling my mind for days.

Something simple.

A walk.

Dinner somewhere outside the pack house.

Maybe I could take him somewhere quiet.

Somewhere he wouldn’t feel overwhelmed.

Maybe the waterfall.

He had liked it the first time I took him there.

Perhaps I could take him again.

But then another thought entered my mind.

What if he says no?

I frowned.

I was an alpha.

One of the most powerful alphas in our region.

I had faced rogue attacks.

I had negotiated with hostile packs.

I had fought wolves twice my size.

But asking my own mate to dinner suddenly seemed terrifying.

Pathetic.

Absolutely pathetic.

A knock sounded on my office door.

“Come in.”

Aiden entered.

He had several folders underneath his arm.

“We need to go over the upcoming meeting with the elders.”

“Put them there.”

He placed the folders on my desk.

We began discussing the upcoming meetings, the recent rogue activity, border security, and several issues involving neighboring packs.

For several minutes, I managed to focus.

Then an idea struck me.

“Aiden.”

“Hmm?”

I looked at him.

“Do you think Sebastian is scared of me?”

There was silence.

Then Aiden burst out laughing.

I stared at him.

He laughed harder.

“What’s so funny?”

“You.”

“Answer the question.”

“I don’t think Sebastian is scared of you.”

“Then why does he barely talk to me?”

“Because he’s busy.”

“Busy doing what?”

Aiden gave me a look.

“Being Luna.”

I leaned back.

“I know he’s Luna.”

“Do you?”

“Yes.”

“Because you seem to forget that he has an entire position to learn.”

I frowned.

“I know that.”

“He’s learning the pack’s finances. He’s attending community meetings. He’s helping families. He’s visiting the hospital. He’s working with Liam. He’s learning the traditions. He’s learning our laws. He’s meeting elders.”

Aiden paused.

“And he’s doing all of that while still trying to understand that he has a wolf mate.”

I sighed.

“I know.”

Aiden grinned.

“Then stop acting like a jealous husband.”

“I’m not jealous.”

Aiden raised an eyebrow.

I stared at him.

He stared back.

“…Fine.”

He laughed again.

“I just thought maybe he should be looking for me too.”

“Why?”

“Because I know he feels the bond.”

Aiden shook his head.

“You two have completely different instincts.”

“Explain.”

“You have a wolf.”

“I noticed.”

“And Sebastian doesn’t.”

I frowned.

“He’s human.”

“Exactly.”

Aiden leaned against the chair.

“Your instincts are screaming at you that your mate should be beside you every second. His instincts aren’t doing that. He’s learning everything intellectually and emotionally at a completely different pace.”

I thought about that.

It made sense.

Unfortunately, it didn’t make my wolf any happier.

Aiden continued, “You have a wolf telling you, Mate. Mate. Mate.”

I groaned.

“Don’t remind me.”

“And Sebastian probably has a hundred thoughts running through his head.”

“Probably.”

“He’s not avoiding you.”

“I know.”

“He isn’t rejecting you.”

“I know.”

“He’s simply adjusting.”

I nodded slowly.

That was what I needed to remember.

He had chosen me.

He had chosen us.

He had chosen the pack.

He had even begun embracing his position as Luna.

Maybe I needed to stop expecting everything to happen immediately.

Maybe love wasn’t about getting everything I wanted.

Maybe it was about creating a place where Sebastian felt safe enough to eventually give it willingly.

I smiled.

“You know what?”

“What?”

“I’m going to ask him out.”

Aiden blinked.

“Finally.”

I frowned.

“Was that necessary?”

“Very.”

I laughed.

Aiden gathered the documents.

“Just don’t make it some giant alpha ceremony.”

“I wasn’t planning to.”

“Good.”

He walked toward the door before turning around.

“And Kai?”

“Yes?”

“Try smiling when you ask him.”

I stared at him.

“I know how to smile.”

Aiden laughed.

“That’s debatable.”

He left before I could throw anything at him.

I sat back in my chair.

For the first time in days, I felt lighter.

My wolf was quiet.

Almost suspiciously quiet.

Then he spoke.

Take mate somewhere nice.

I smiled.

“That’s the plan.”

Hold his hand.

I hesitated.

“Eventually.”

Soon.

“We’ll see.”

Soon.

I laughed softly.

“Fine. Soon.”

Because maybe that was all I needed to do.

Take one step.

Then another.

Not rush him.

Not pressure him.

Just give Sebastian a reason to want to take those steps with me.

He had already chosen to stay.

Now I needed to show him why staying with me could become something beautiful.