The Alpha’s Miracle

Chapter Twenty-Five:Kai

My rut was getting worse.

There was no other way to describe it.

Every day, the need for Sebastian seemed to grow stronger.

At first, a few moments with his scent had been enough.

Two sniffs.

Four.

Maybe seven.

Now?

Seven wasn’t even close.

My wolf wanted more.

Constantly.

Mate.

“I know.”

Go to mate.

“No.”

Why?

“Because he’s not ready.”

How do you know?

I sighed.

“Because I know him.”

He is ours.

“He’s our mate, not our property.”

My wolf growled.

Our mate.

“Yes. Our mate.”

Then kiss him.

“No.”

Touch him.

“No.”

Hold him.

“I already hold him.”

More.

I rubbed my forehead.

“You are impossible.”

My wolf merely huffed.

The worst part was that Sebastian had started hugging me back.

That tiny change had completely ruined my ability to be satisfied.

Before, when I hugged him, he would simply stand there, unsure of what to do.

Now he sometimes wrapped his arms around me.

And every time he did, my wolf celebrated like we had won a war.

He wants us.

“He’s learning.”

He wants us.

“I know.”

Then go to him.

“No.”

My wolf growled again.

I knew exactly what he wanted.

And honestly?

So did I.

But wanting something didn’t mean I had the right to rush Sebastian into it.

He was still learning everything about our world.

He was still learning me.

I wouldn’t turn something beautiful into something frightening simply because my instincts were impatient.

Still…

It was becoming difficult.

⸻

That day, I had sniffed Sebastian more times than I could count.

The poor man probably thought I had lost my mind.

Every time he appeared, my senses immediately locked onto him.

His scent.

His warmth.

His presence.

I couldn’t help myself.

At one point, I had spent so much time breathing against the side of his neck that he eventually touched the spot afterward.

I noticed the faint imprint my repeated nuzzling had left.

I immediately felt guilty.

“I’m sorry.”

He looked at me.

“It’s okay.”

His voice was gentle.

That somehow made it worse.

Because he wasn’t angry.

He wasn’t pushing me away.

He was simply trying to understand.

And I wanted to tell him everything.

I’m in rut.

My wolf is restless.

I need you.

But I couldn’t.

Not yet.

⸻

That evening, dinner had been unusually serious.

Aiden, Mom, Jack, and I had spent most of the meal discussing pack security and the recent rogue activity.

Sebastian listened quietly.

He occasionally asked questions.

I watched him from across the table.

He looked tired.

I wondered whether he was beginning to notice how badly I was struggling.

After dinner, everyone went their separate ways.

I went to my office.

And waited.

I knew Sebastian would come.

He always brought me tea.

I found myself looking toward the door every few minutes.

Finally, it opened.

Sebastian stepped inside carrying the familiar cup.

My wolf immediately stood.

Mate.

I got up before I could stop myself.

I took the tea from his hands and placed it on the desk.

Then I looked at him.

“Can I sniff you again?”

Sebastian blinked.

“You’ve sniffed me more than forty times today.”

I stared at him.

Forty?

That sounded excessive when he said it like that.

He smiled faintly.

“I’m not complaining.”

Then his expression changed.

Concern entered his eyes.

“Are you okay?”

That question hit me harder than I expected.

Because he cared.

He didn’t understand everything about wolves.

He didn’t understand ruts.

He didn’t understand what my instincts were demanding.

But he cared enough to ask.

“I’m okay.”

“Are you sure?”

I nodded.

Then, quietly, I asked again.

“Can I?”

He hesitated.

Then he nodded.

“Okay.”

I stepped closer.

I rested my hands carefully against his shoulders and leaned toward his neck.

His scent immediately surrounded me.

Strawberries.

Rain.

Home.

My wolf practically melted.

I closed my eyes for a moment.

Then I stepped back.

Sebastian looked at me.

There was something else in his expression.

He hesitated.

Then he spoke.

“How can I help?”

My heart stopped.

My wolf exploded.

Tell him.

Tell him everything.

Bring him closer.

Mate.

I silenced it.

Sebastian was asking because he cared.

He wasn’t necessarily asking because he was ready for everything my wolf wanted.

So I smiled gently.

“You already are.”

He looked confused.

“I am?”

“Yes.”

I nodded toward him.

“Your scent helps. Being around you helps.”

His cheeks turned pink.

“So… sniffing is enough?”

“For now.”

He nodded.

“Oh.”

There was a tiny note of disappointment in his voice.

Or maybe I imagined it.

Either way, I wasn’t going to assume.

I wouldn’t push him.

“Thank you,” I said.

He smiled.

“You’re welcome.”

Then he picked up the empty cup and left.

I watched the door close behind him.

My wolf immediately began pacing.

Why didn’t you tell him?

“Because he’s not ready.”

He asked.

“He asked how he could help.”

Same thing.

“No.”

You are frustrating.

“So are you.”

⸻

That night, I lay in bed staring at the ceiling.

My wolf paced relentlessly.

Can we go to mate?

“No.”

Can we sleep beside mate?

“No.”

Can we touch mate?

“No.”

Can we smell mate?

I sighed.

“We already did.”

More.

“No.”

My wolf growled.

I want mate.

“I know.”

I need mate.

“I know.”

Then why are we here?

“Because Sebastian deserves time.”

My wolf became quiet.

I closed my eyes.

“He has already changed so much for us. He’s learning our world. He’s learning our traditions. He’s trying.”

I took a slow breath.

“So we’re going to try too.”

My wolf didn’t answer.

“We can wait.”

Silence.

“It won’t kill us.”

A long pause.

Finally:

Fine.

I smiled faintly.

“Thank you.”

But when the rut ends, we are asking for more hugs.

I laughed quietly.

“Deal.”

And for the first time that night, my wolf settled.

Sebastian was here.

He was safe.

He was learning.

And most importantly…

He was choosing us, one small step at a time.