The Forbidden Mate

3.

Chapter 3

Caden’s POV

“Please, not today, Eliza,” I said, rubbing my temples. “I can’t deal with this right now.”

She raised an eyebrow but didn’t push further. “Okay, okay. But I can’t promise I won’t bring it up again later.”

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help the small smile tugging at my lips. “You’re impossible.”

As we left the classroom, I caught sight of Caden again, walking with his usual group of friends, his shoulders broad and his expression unreadable. My heart skipped another beat. He seemed so distant, so untouchable. How could someone like me—someone who was so defined by my magical legacy—ever fit into his world?

“Hey,” Eliza nudged me, her voice quieter this time. “You okay?”

I nodded, though I wasn’t sure. Not really. “I’m fine. Just… trying to figure everything out.”

“Well,” she said, “you don’t have to do it alone. We’ll figure it out together, okay?”

I smiled, grateful for her unwavering support. “Thanks, Eliza.”

But even as I said the words, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something bigger at play. Something that neither I nor Caden could control. The forces between us were undeniable, and the weight of fate pressed heavily on my chest.

The moment my alarm went off, I was out of bed. Senior year. The thought alone was enough to get my blood pumping, but what really had me grinning like an i***t was the fact that my eighteenth birthday was only a few days away. Friday couldn’t come fast enough.

Eighteen meant everything to a werewolf. It was the age when we phased for the first time, when we truly stepped into our power. For me, it was more than just a milestone—it was the beginning of my reign. I’d be taking over the Blackwood Pack, the strongest werewolf pack in Ambrosia. My father, the current Alpha King, had been preparing me for this my entire life. Soon, I’d not only be leading the pack but also protecting our town.

Ambrosia wasn’t just a town to me. She was home, family, and responsibility all rolled into one. I thought of her as a living, breathing thing—my Ambrosia.

I hopped into a cold shower, letting the icy water jolt me fully awake. My parents were waiting for me downstairs when I finally made it out of my room.

“Caden!” My mother’s voice carried through the hall before I even reached the stairs. She was standing by the kitchen island, a warm smile on her face. “Don’t forget your lunch.”

“Mom,” I groaned, rolling my eyes as I grabbed my backpack from the counter. “I don’t need you packing my lunch anymore.”

“Nonsense,” she said, brushing her long black hair over her shoulder. “You’ll always need me.”

“Your mother’s right,” my dad said, stepping into the kitchen. His towering figure filled the doorway, and I couldn’t help but marvel at how calm and composed he always seemed. “Even an Alpha needs his Luna.”

My dad was six foot six, a giant of a man with sharp blue eyes and hair as dark as midnight. I had his eyes and his hair, but I wasn’t quite as tall—yet. I stood at six foot two, but I knew phasing would change that. It wasn’t uncommon for an Alpha to gain a few inches and a stronger build after their first shift.

“Don’t worry, Dad,” I said, smirking as I grabbed an apple from the counter. “I’ll pass you in height by the end of the month.”

He let out a hearty laugh. “We’ll see, son. We’ll see.”

After a quick goodbye, I headed out the door and into my car. The rain was relentless, pelting the windshield as I pulled out of the driveway. My phone buzzed constantly in the passenger seat, but I ignored it. I knew exactly who it was.

Dalton and Zachary, my best friends and future Beta and Gamma of the Blackwood Pack, had been blowing up our group chat all morning. They were excited about the start of senior year, but mostly, they couldn’t stop talking about my upcoming birthday.

Both Dalton and Zachary had already turned eighteen and phased. They’d been holding off officially stepping into their roles until I joined them as Alpha. It made sense—our bond as Alpha, Beta, and Gamma was strongest when we transitioned together.

I couldn’t lie, though. Watching them phase and unlock their abilities while I waited for my turn had been… frustrating. They could already communicate telepathically, which left me feeling like an outsider sometimes. I wasn’t jealous—not exactly. But I was impatient.

When I finally pulled into the school parking lot, I grabbed my phone and glanced at the group chat.

Dalton: Can’t believe this is your last week as a normal human, man.

Zachary: Technically, he’s never been normal.

Dalton: Fair point. But still, Friday can’t come fast enough.

Me: You guys are acting like I’ve been stuck in diapers or something.

Dalton: You’re the baby of the group. It’s cute, really.

Zachary: Should we throw him a phasing party? Balloons, maybe?

Me: I’m blocking both of you.

I couldn’t help but chuckle as I slipped my phone into my pocket and stepped out of the car. The rain was still coming down hard, but I barely noticed it as I made my way toward the school.

The double doors opened just as I reached them, and for a second, I thought I was imagining things. She was there.

Mara Jaded.

Her uniform was soaked, her dark curls sticking to her face as she clutched her purple backpack. She looked startled to see me, her wide green eyes locking onto mine.

Time seemed to slow as she slipped on the wet floor, her arms flailing as she lost her balance. Without thinking, I lunged forward and caught her.

“Got you,” I said, my voice low.

She blinked up at me, her cheeks flushing as she scrambled to stand upright. “Thanks.”

“No problem,” I said, studying her. “You okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” she said quickly, her voice soft but steady.

There was something about her that pulled me in, something I couldn’t explain. I’d seen her around before, of course—everyone knew Mara Jaded, the Maiden of the Ambrosia Coven. But standing this close to her now, with her scent lingering in the air like lavender and rain, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to her than I realized.

“You’re Mara, right?” I asked, even though I already knew the answer.

“Yes,” she said, her eyes narrowing slightly. “And you’re… Caden Blackwood.”

“Guilty,” I said, flashing her a small smile. “Try to stay on your feet, Maiden.”

I walked away before she could respond, but the moment lingered in my mind long after I joined Dalton and Zachary near the lockers.

“What’s with the look?” Dalton asked, nudging me with his elbow.

“Ran into Mara Jaded,” I said casually.

Zachary raised an eyebrow. “The witch? What about her?”

“Nothing,” I said quickly, though I wasn’t sure if I was trying to convince them or myself.

Dalton grinned. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say the future Alpha has a thing for the Maiden.”

“Don’t start,” I said, rolling my eyes.

But even as we joked and laughed, my thoughts kept drifting back to her. There was something about Mara—something that felt… inevitable.

As the day went on, the feeling only grew stronger. By the time I headed home, I couldn’t shake the sense that Friday wasn’t just about my phasing or becoming Alpha. Something bigger was coming, something I wasn’t prepared for.

And Mara Jaded was at the center of it.

That night, as I stared out my bedroom window at the storm still raging outside, I felt it—a shift in the air, a crackle of energy that made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.

I turned, my wolf stirring restlessly inside me for the first time in weeks.

Something was coming.

And it was coming for me.