ALPHA'S FORBIDDEN MATE

The first

Chapter 003

The First Encounter

SEBASTIAN

I stood frozen in the doorway, my heart hammering so hard I thought it might burst out of my chest. Darius was right there, on his bed, naked, his hand moving over himself with slow, frustrated strokes.

His head was tilted back, his breathing heavy, and every now and then, a low curse slipped out of his mouth. I couldn’t move or even think. All I could do was stare, my mind screaming one word over and over: “Mate.”

Alisander, my wolf, howled in my head, confirming what I already knew. “Mate,” he said again, his voice shaking with excitement.

But I wasn’t excited. I was terrified. How could this be real? An omega like me, paired with Alpha Darius? It had to be a mistake.

The Moon Goddess was messing with me, dangling something I could never have right in front of my face. Omegas didn’t mate with Alphas. Never. And even if they did, the Alpha always rejected them. I’d heard the stories—omegas who thought they’d found their mate, only to be cast aside because they weren’t strong enough, weren’t good enough.

“No,” I whispered under my breath, my hands trembling at my sides. “This can’t be happening.”

My eyes were still locked on Darius, on the way his muscles flexed as he moved, the way his jaw clenched in frustration. I wanted to run, to get out of there before he noticed me, but my feet wouldn’t budge.

I’d spent years dreaming about him, sketching him, imagining what it would be like to be close to him. And now here I was, in his private chamber, watching him in a moment I had no right to see. But that word…”mate”....kept echoing in my head, and it changed everything.

Alisander whimpered softly, sensing my panic. “You feel it, Sebastian,” he said. “He’s ours.”

“No way,” I muttered, shaking my head. “I’m not telling him. I can’t.” If I told Darius we were mates, he’d laugh in my face.

Or worse, he’d reject me outright. I’d lose even the tiny chance I had to be near him. But if I kept my mouth shut, maybe I could stay close, even just for a little while. Maybe I could have this one moment before it all fell apart.

“You’re making a mistake,” Alisander said, his voice low and sad.

“I don’t care,” I snapped back in my head. “I’m not losing him before I even get a chance.” My decision was made. I wasn’t going to say a word about the mate bond. Not now, maybe not ever. I just hoped Darius didn’t feel it too. If he did, I was screwed.

I took a deep breath and stepped into the room, my boots scuffing against the floor. Darius’s head snapped up, and his eyes locked onto mine. The glare he gave me was like a punch to the gut, cold and sharp, like he could burn me to ash just by looking at me. I froze again, my stomach twisting into knots.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Darius growled, his voice low and dangerous. He didn’t bother covering himself, just sat there, staring me down like I was prey.

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out at first. My mind was racing, my heart pounding so loud I was sure he could hear it.

I had to say something, anything, to keep him from throwing me out—or worse. “I… I can help you,” I blurted out, my voice shaking. “I can… make you feel good.”

Darius’s eyes narrowed, and for a second, I thought he was going to lunge at me. Then, to my shock, he laughed—a short, harsh sound that made my face burn. “You’ve got some nerve, kid,” he said, leaning back on his hands. “Walking in here, interrupting me, and now you’re offering what? To get me off? Why the hell should I let you walk out of here with your head still attached?”

I swallowed hard, my knees trembling. I was scared out of my mind, but I couldn’t back down now. If I did, I’d never get this close to him again. “I can do it,” I said, forcing my voice to stay steady.

“I can satisfy you. Better than you’re doing it yourself.” My face was on fire, but I held his gaze, praying he couldn’t see how terrified I was.

Darius raised an eyebrow, his expression shifting from anger to something else, amusement, maybe, or curiosity. “Is that so?” he said, his voice dripping with skepticism.

“You think you can impress me, omega? Fine. Go ahead. But if you’re wasting my time, you’re gonna regret it. I don’t take kindly to disappointments.”

My heart was racing, but I nodded, my hands shaking as I stepped closer to the bed. “I won’t disappoint you,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Inside, I was screaming at myself. “What am I doing? This is insane!” But I couldn’t stop. Years of obsessing over Darius, of dreaming about him, of wanting him—it all came down to this moment. I wasn’t going to mess it up.

I knelt in front of him, my hands trembling as I reached for him. Darius watched me, his eyes sharp and unreadable, like he was waiting for me to screw up. I took a deep breath and leaned in, my lips brushing against him.

He was warm, hard, and the moment I started, I heard his breath hitch. I didn’t think—I just moved, my hands and mouth working together, years of pent-up desire pouring out of me. I wanted to make him feel good, to prove I wasn’t just some useless omega. I wanted him to see me.

“f**k,” Darius muttered, his voice low and rough. His hand found the back of my head, not pushing, just resting there, like he was anchoring himself. I kept going, my tongue and hands moving faster, more confident now.

Every sound he made, every low groan, every sharp intake of breath, sent a thrill through me. I was doing this. I was making him feel this way.

For the first time, I wasn’t just a nobody staring at him from afar. I was here, with him, and it was better than any dream I’d ever had.

I lost track of time, my focus narrowing to the feel of him, the taste of him, the way his body tensed under my touch. When he finally groaned, loud and deep, I knew I’d done it. I’d given him exactly what I promised.

I pulled back, my face burning, my heart pounding so hard I could barely breathe. I looked up at him, hoping, praying, he’d say something, anything, to show he was impressed.

But Darius was acting… weird. His jaw was tight, his eyes distant, like he was somewhere else. He shifted on the bed, running a hand through his hair, and for a moment, he didn’t say anything.

I wiped my mouth, suddenly unsure. “You okay?” I asked, my voice small. “Did I… did I do something wrong?”

He looked at me then, his eyes sharp again, but there was something else there, something I couldn’t read. “Are you mated?” he asked, his voice low and even.

My stomach dropped. “Did he feel it? Did he know?” I opened my mouth, but no words came out. I didn’t know what to say. If I told him the truth, that he was my mate, that I’d felt the bond the second I walked in here—I’d lose him.

He’d reject me, just like every Alpha rejected an omega mate. But if I lied, I’d be throwing away the one thing I’d been praying for my whole life. My mind was a mess, my chest tight with panic.

“I…” I started, but the words wouldn’t come. I just stared at him, my hands shaking in my lap.

Darius leaned forward, his eyes searching mine. “Go back to the celebration,” he said, his voice firm but not angry. “You’ve done enough here.”

I blinked, my heart sinking. “But,”

“Go,” he said again, cutting me off. “Now.”

I stood up, my legs shaky, and stumbled toward the door. My mind was racing, my emotions all over the place, relief that I hadn’t told him, fear that he knew anyway, and a weird, hollow ache that he’d sent me away so easily.

I’d just given him everything I had, and he was dismissing me like I was nothing.

As I reached the door, his voice stopped me. “Anyways, your mouth, tongue, and hand were very impressive. Too bad to not make acquaintance with such a lad who knows how to make use of them.”