The Forbidden Mate

4.

Chapter 4

Caden’s POV

Friday couldn’t come fast enough. My parents, along with Dalton and Zachary, were planning my eighteenth birthday party, and they had a blast teasing me about the details they refused to share. I had no idea what they were cooking up, but I knew it would be extravagant. My parents didn’t know how to do subtle.

That Monday morning, the rain hammered down relentlessly as I pulled into my reserved parking spot in front of Ambrosia High. Yes, a reserved spot. It was one of the perks of being the future Alpha and protector of this town, though I still thought it was overkill. I was just a student like everyone else—most of the time, anyway.

Today, I was grateful for it. The downpour had turned the parking lot into a swamp, and being parked so close to the front doors spared me from getting drenched. I jogged into the building, shaking water from my hair as I stepped inside.

As if summoned, Dalton and Zachary appeared at the top of the winding staircase in the entrance hall, their presence as commanding as ever. Both of them had already phased, their post-phase builds making them taller and more muscular. I had to admit, I felt a pang of envy every time I saw them.

Dalton Drakes, my future Beta, had the kind of striking features that turned heads everywhere he went—pale skin, hooded gray eyes, and sharp cheekbones framed by ash-brown hair that fell to his shoulders. He looked like he belonged on the cover of a magazine, though he’d never admit it.

Zachary Stronghold, my future Gamma, was more like my mirror image. With his olive skin, black hair, and piercing blue eyes, people often mistook us for brothers. The only major difference was that Zachary kept his hair short, while mine fell to my shoulders in loose waves.

Both of them grinned wolfishly as they descended the stairs. Their eyes flickered briefly—Dalton’s gray and Zachary’s blue replaced momentarily by the pitch black of their wolves.

“Show-offs,” I muttered, unable to hide the jealousy in my voice.

Their laughter echoed through the hall, drawing the attention of a group of junior girls huddled nearby. The girls giggled and whispered, their eyes darting between the three of us. Dalton raised an eyebrow at them, smirking, and they squealed before running off in a fit of laughter.

Well-liked was an understatement. The Pack members at school, especially those with special positions, were basically royalty. And their mates? The envy of every girl on campus.

I scowled at the thought. Dalton and Zachary had both found their mates right after they phased. Meanwhile, I was stuck waiting for Friday to find mine.

“You’ll know when you phase,” my dad had said more times than I could count. “Your wolf will show you. It’ll be as clear as day.”

But what if she was already here? Right under my nose? I hated not knowing.

“You’re brooding again,” Dalton teased, clapping a hand on my shoulder. “Cheer up, Caden. This is your last week as the ‘baby Alpha.’”

“Baby Alpha,” I scoffed. “Keep talking, Drakes. I’ll remember that when I’m in charge.”

Zachary grinned. “Don’t worry, we’ll still respect you. Just… less.”

I rolled my eyes, but before I could fire back, the entrance doors burst open behind me. A rush of cold air and rain swept into the hall, and I turned instinctively.

I didn’t need to look to know who it was. I’d recognize her scent anywhere.

Mara Jaded.

She smelled like a meadow in full bloom—fresh, wild, and completely intoxicating. I wasn’t supposed to notice her like this. As the Maiden of the Ambrosia Coven, Mara was as far from my world as anyone could get. Witches and werewolves didn’t mix.

And yet, I couldn’t help myself.

Her dark curls were tousled from the storm, framing her golden skin. She looked flustered, clutching her purple backpack tightly as she stepped inside. My senses honed in on her—her soft footsteps, the way her amber eyes darted around the hall, her small frame barely five foot four.

I should’ve looked away. I should’ve walked off like I didn’t even see her. But I couldn’t.

She was a feast for my senses.

Then it happened. She slipped.

The wet floor sent her off balance, her arms flailing as she tried to steady herself. I didn’t think—I just moved.

In a flash, I was there, catching her before she hit the ground. My hands gripped her arms, and for the first time, I felt the softness of her skin against mine. Cool, smooth, and delicate.

Her amber eyes locked onto mine, wide with confusion. For a moment, neither of us said anything. The world seemed to narrow down to just the two of us.

“You okay?” I asked, my voice quieter than I intended.

She blinked, pulling away from me as if my touch burned her. “I’m fine,” she said softly, her tone polite but distant.

I let her go reluctantly, watching as she adjusted her bag and stepped back. She glanced at me one last time, her expression unreadable, before walking off toward the stairwell.

Behind me, Dalton and Zachary were smirking.

“Well,” Dalton drawled, “that was interesting.”

“Shut up,” I muttered, turning to glare at them.

“You’ve got it bad,” Zachary said, laughing.

“I don’t have anything,” I snapped. “She’s—she’s just…”

“Just the Maiden of the Coven,” Dalton finished for me, his smirk widening. “Totally normal for the future Alpha to be mooning over a witch.”

I groaned, rubbing a hand over my face. “You’re both impossible.”

But they weren’t wrong.

Something about Mara Jaded called to me in a way I couldn’t explain. And after today, I couldn’t shake the feeling that she was more than just the Maiden of the Coven.

She was something else entirely.

Cliffhanger:

That night, as I sat on the edge of my bed, staring out at the storm raging beyond my window, a sharp pain shot through my chest.

It wasn’t physical—at least, not entirely. It felt like my wolf stirring inside me, restless and agitated.

And then I heard it.

A voice, soft and melodic, echoing faintly in my mind.

“Help me.”

I shot to my feet, my heart racing. It couldn’t be.

Could it?