The Alpha’s Human Mate

I shouldn’t be here. The words echoed in my head as the iron gates of Blackthorn Academy groaned open before me. On the outside, it looked like a prestigious, Gothic private school hidden deep in the Carpathian Mountains. But I’d done my research. Blackthorn wasn’t just elite. It was secret. Exclusive. And forbidden to humans. Yet… here I was. A human girl with no connections, no wealth, and no pack—stepping into a world that wasn’t mine. A letter had arrived two weeks ago, signed by the Headmaster himself: “You have been chosen for Blackthorn Academy’s Legacy Program. Full scholarship. Immediate acceptance. Arrival mandatory by the Blood Moon.” No return address. No contact number. Just those few words—and a crest stamped with black ink: a howling wolf encircled by thorns. The moment I stepped through the gate, the air changed. It was heavier. Wilder. The sky above seemed darker, even though the sun was high. Shadows stretched longer here. Magic? No. Power. The kind you could feel in your bones. I adjusted my black hoodie, fingers clenched around the strap of my old duffel bag. If they realized I didn’t belong, I’d be dead before the first bell rang. But I had no choice. This was my last chance to escape my old life—an orphaned nobody tossed from one foster home to another, never fitting in, always fighting to survive. If Blackthorn wanted to offer me something better, even as a cruel joke… I’d take it. A sleek black car waited near the front steps. A tall man in a gray coat approached me. “Layla Hart?” His voice was clipped, expression unreadable. “Yes.” “Follow me.” No welcome speech. No tour. Just silence and sharp eyes. As we walked the cobblestone path toward the main building, I noticed something strange: everyone was staring. Students lounging under trees. Girls in pleated skirts and tight jackets. Boys with broad shoulders and animal-like stillness. Their eyes were wrong—too sharp, too golden, too aware. They weren’t human. And I wasn’t supposed to see this. A blonde girl with glowing amber eyes leaned toward her friend. “She smells… normal.” Her friend sneered. “What is a human doing here?” A chill slid down my spine, but I held my head high. They wanted me to be afraid. I refused. The main hall was a cathedral of shadows—arched ceilings, stone pillars, a chandelier that looked like it was made of bone. A woman with slick black hair and red lips approached. Her heels clicked with deadly elegance. “This is the new arrival?” she asked the man beside me. He nodded. “The only human to ever set foot in Blackthorn Academy.” Her crimson lips twisted. “Let’s see how long she survives.” I was led to a dorm room on the top floor. Spartan. Cold. One bed. No roommate. Apparently, no one wanted to share a room with a human. Fine by me. I unpacked my few belongings—two shirts, a hoodie, one pair of boots, and a hidden pocketknife I’d stolen from a foster home a year ago. Just in case. I was halfway through tying my boots when I heard it: A low, throaty growl. Not outside the window. Inside my chest. I gasped and pressed a hand to my ribs. What the hell? But it faded before I could process it. Weird. Really weird. By the time I found the dining hall, it was packed. Long tables filled with wolves laughing, whispering, and eyeing me like I was a lamb among predators. I grabbed a tray and sat alone. Wrong move. Three girls approached. “You’re in our spot,” the tallest one said. Her name tag read “Savannah.” Her hair was platinum, her fangs barely hidden. “There’s no assigned seating,” I replied calmly. “There is now.” I smiled coolly. “Then sit somewhere else.” Her eyes glinted, and she bared her teeth. “You think you're special? Just because some i***t let you through the gate? You’ll be gone before the Blood Moon rises.” I didn’t flinch. But I didn’t see the juice until it was already flying toward my tray. It splashed across my food, tray, and shirt. Gasps echoed. Savannah smirked. “Oops.” I slowly stood, eyes locked on hers. My heart pounded, but I didn’t back down. “I don’t care who you are,” I said. “Touch me again and I’ll break your hand.” She looked stunned. Then her face twisted in a snarl. “Big talk for a human.” A deep, growling voice sliced through the air: “That’s enough.” Everyone froze. Every head turned. And that’s when I saw him. Alpha Kade Thorn. He stood near the entrance, dressed in black. Tall. Broad shoulders. Raven-dark hair and silver eyes that burned like winter fire. The room bent around his presence. Even Savannah backed away. His eyes locked on me—and everything stopped. My breath caught. For a split second, I felt something inside me jolt awake. My chest burned, my fingers tingled, my throat went dry. He stepped forward slowly, eyes never leaving mine. Students whispered, confused. “She’s human…” “Why is he looking at her like that?” Kade stopped in front of me. We stood face to face. His voice was low and lethal. “What’s your name?” “…Layla.” He studied me for a beat too long. Then he said: “You sit at my table now.” Gasps. I blinked. “Excuse me?” “I don’t repeat myself.” He turned and walked to the head table—empty except for one chair. I stood frozen. Every instinct screamed Don’t go. But something deeper said Follow him. So I did. I sat across from him in complete silence. Every student watched us like a live execution. He didn’t speak. Just watched me with eyes that missed nothing. Finally, I asked, “Why?” His voice was quiet. “Because you don’t smell like prey.” I frowned. “I’m human.” “Maybe.” My stomach flipped. “What does that mean?” He leaned forward, his gaze fierce and unreadable. “It means you’re not what you think you are.” When I returned to my dorm that night, my fingers still trembled. And somewhere deep inside me… the growl returned. Louder this time. Hungrier. As if something old—something wild—was waking up.