Warrior's human mate

Chapter 9

James

Today, I took her to a burger place. I specifically checked whether they had vegetarian options. She ordered a vegetarian burger to try—at least her appetite was in good shape, even if she wasn’t eating meat. We sat at the table, waiting for our food.

"So, do you have other adult questions for me?" I asked with a small smile.

She looked thoughtfully in my eyes and then c.ocked her head to the side, a small smile playing on her lips. I could feel she was in a different mood today—more playful, ready to tease me.

"Okay, Mr. My-D.ick-Knows-All-The-Free-Girls-in-This-City, when did you lose your virginity?

She asked with a mischievous smile.

I smiled and shook my head. I had a feeling this would be a topic I’d never hear the end of—how many girls I’d been with.

“When I was 20,” I replied.

She looked surprised. “That’s kind of late,” she remarked with a questioning frown.

I nodded. “Yeah, I was waiting for someone special, remember? I didn’t want to waste time with anyone who wasn’t meaningful. But when I didn’t find her right away, I became frustrated. So, I figured I’d live a little while I waited.”

As I looked at her, I felt a pang of guilt. There was a time when I’d almost given up on meeting her, but... maybe I should’ve waited a little longer.

“Yeah, you didn’t save your virginity for me,” she said, teasing, her voice exaggerated.

I nodded, acknowledging the truth. “No, and I’m sorry for that.”

My apology wasn’t just for losing my virginity, but for all the flings I’d had. It didn’t sit right with me now, not with her sitting here across from me.

“Right?” she said with a smirk, shaking her head. “You’re such a jerk.”

There was no real sting in her words—just teasing. It made me smile a little, despite myself. I knew I deserved it.

“Who was she?” she asked, continuing the conversation as if we hadn’t just discussed it.

“She was my girlfriend at the time. But it didn’t last more than six months.”

“What happened?” she asked, clearly curious.

“She found someone special,” I said simply. “Her future husband.”

I almost said “mate,” but I stopped myself. She didn’t quite understand that yet.

“Ouch,” she said with a sympathetic wince. I could see that she felt the awkwardness of the situation.

I shrugged, trying to lighten the moment. “We both knew it was coming.”

It was true. We both knew we weren’t mates, and we’d agreed to enjoy the time we had, knowing it was temporary. But now, sitting here with her, I regretted not waiting for someone who was truly meant for me.

“What about you?” I asked, turning the conversation back to her.

She paused, a gentle smile appearing on her face. “I was eighteen. He was my boyfriend for two years. We were each other’s first. It was sweet.”

I nodded, taking it all in. “So, what happened? Did it last?”

She let out a soft, wistful sigh. “Nah. Life happened. We went to different cities for uni, and we just grew apart. Long-distance relationships are hard. It ended after a while.”

She looked down for a moment, her expression shifting slightly. I could tell there was a bit of sadness in her voice, and it made me feel uneasy.

I found myself lost in thought for a second. What if our relationship ended up long-distance? She’d want to go back to Europe to see her family, and I couldn’t even imagine being apart from her for more than a few days. The thought unsettled me.

But then my mind started racing with more questions—what if I couldn’t go with her? What if Alpha didn’t allow it? But I quickly realized I was thinking too far ahead. I hadn’t even convinced her to go on a proper date with me yet.

Laila

I was sipping on a strawberry milkshake after finishing my meal. It might seem childish, but the weather was warm, and I didn’t feel like anything heavier. I don’t drink alcohol, especially not in the middle of the day when I still had work ahead of me. We’d been chatting casually when suddenly, a tall, blonde woman in designer clothing approached our table. She placed a hand on James’ shoulder and shot me an icy look. Whoah, what was that about?

"Hi, baby! How have you been? It’s so nice to run into you in the middle of the day," she greeted him sweetly, calling him “baby” and touching him in a way that made my stomach twist.

Who was she? A wave of unexpected jealousy washed over me, though I quickly scolded myself. These feelings weren’t healthy. I needed to remind myself that I had no claim on him, no, no, no.

James seemed less than thrilled to see her. "What are you doing here?" he asked, his tone tinged with annoyance, his lips forming a tight line.

"Oh, baby, I haven’t seen you in so long. I’ve missed you so much," she purred.

James didn’t respond, simply looking up at her with an unreadable expression. The woman, however, completely ignored my presence as if I wasn’t even there. I refused to let it bother me. I wasn’t going to let jealousy take control. He wasn’t mine, and I had no right to feel this way.

"Hey, sweetie," I said, turning my attention to the woman, putting on a polite smile.

"Sorry, James is in a grumpy mood today. That’s what I’ve been telling him all morning," I added lightly, tilting my head. "I’m Laila, James'... distant cousin. What’s your name?"

I was pleased with my quick thinking, though I could see that my claim of being his relative caught her attention. She now seemed more focused on me, though James kicked me under the table as if to say I’d gone too far.

“Ouch, James! Watch your long legs, you kicked me. That hurt!” I feigned a dramatic reaction, glancing at him with a mischievous look. His eyes narrowed, but I wasn’t going to let it faze me.

I then turned my attention back to the woman, giving her a friendly smile.

“I’m Stacy,” she said after a brief pause, her tone a little more reluctant. "Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too," I responded warmly. "That dress looks fantastic on you!"

Her mood immediately brightened at the compliment, and I inwardly smirked at my small victory. It was easy to see that she appreciated a little flattery.

"Thanks!" she smiled, clearly pleased.

"So, I can tell there’s some history between you and James," I continued, keeping the conversation going despite my discomfort. "Who exactly are you to him?"

“I was… am his girlfriend,” she answered, reasserting her claim on James.

I raised an eyebrow at James, who immediately clenched his jaw. Well, well, this was getting interesting.

"Stop it, Stacy! We broke up many, many years ago," James cut in, his voice sharp.

"I know, baby, but it’s such a shame. We were perfect together. It was just a misunderstanding. We should never have broken up," she insisted, leaning closer to him.

James’ jaw tightened, clearly irritated. I couldn’t resist kicking him lightly under the table in return. His frown deepened, but I didn’t back down. It was my little bit of fun, especially after the awkwardness of his ex being here.

"Oh, sweetie," I said to her, "It sounds like you two should have a proper conversation. But James and I are catching up on old times, and I haven’t seen him in such a long time. I’m actually not from around here, so I’ll be leaving soon. I’m sorry, but would you mind letting us chat in private?"

When she heard I wasn’t local, her attitude seemed to shift slightly. I guess that meant I was no longer a threat to her. Internally, I smirked at my small victory.

"Where are you from?" she asked, clearly curious now.

"I’m from Europe," I replied with a smile.

"Oh, how interesting," she said, her smile widening further.

"Yes," I nodded. "And soon I’ll have to head back home to… my boyfriend."

I said the last part with a purposeful look at James, allowing a small smile to tug at the corner of my mouth. I didn’t actually have a boyfriend, but I wanted to make it clear to her that I wasn’t interested in James. It was almost comical how possessive I was being, and I chastised myself for it. Still, there was something satisfying about assuring her that I had no intention of ‘stealing’ him.

James seemed visibly annoyed at my statement. His jaw clenched once more, but I wasn’t going to apologize.

"Maybe we should meet up sometime," Stacy suggested after a moment.

I was surprised by her sudden shift in demeanor. My, oh my, was she inviting me to be her friend now?

"Oh, dear, you are such a sweetheart! We definitely should! You and me – we should go on a date! Forget about the boys!"

I winked at her, then glanced at James. He was glaring at me, his eyes shooting daggers in my direction. What was his deal now? I inwardly smirked, playing the innocent.

"You’re totally right!" I said. "Here’s my phone number. Call me when you're free!"

She handed me her business card. Wow, she had a business card with just her name and number on it. I guess she didn’t work.

"Thanks, I’ll do that."

Never, I thought to myself, but I flashed her a perfect smile. I was being a total double-faced b.itch, wasn’t I? She leaned in to kiss James on the cheek, and I clenched my teeth, forcing myself to stay calm. James didn’t even glance at her. He just stared at me, his gaze intense.

"See you later, baby. Call me today!"

Stacy addressed James, but he kept ignoring her.

"Thanks, Stacy, for letting me steal your boyfriend!" I called out after her, waving as she left. As soon as she was out of sight, I turned to James. His gaze was still fixed on me, his jaw clenched tight, his hands balled into fists.

"What was that about?" he demanded, his voice laced with anger.

"What?" I asked, feigning innocence, my face perfectly blank.

"Why did you say we’re relatives?" he spat.

"Well, James," I replied, shrugging, "I can’t be on the bad side of your girlfriend!"

"I don’t have any girlfriends," he gritted out.

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh, but I can’t let your exes come at me and try to scratch my eyes out just because you’re trying to… swoon me."

A teasing smile tugged at my lips. A flicker of amusement sparked in his eyes, but he still looked upset. What was going on with him?

"Is it true?" he asked, his voice tinged with something I couldn’t quite place—sadness?

"What’s true?" I responded, playing coy.

"Do you have a boyfriend?" he asked, his tone menacing now. Ah, so that’s what was bothering him. He hadn’t let that part slip by him, huh? Should I tell him?

"Did you just ask that in an angry tone?" I replied, my voice dripping with arrogance, trying to divert the conversation.

"Yes!" He nearly shouted. What was his problem? Was he… possessive? We weren’t even dating.

"Are you nuts?" I asked, my voice laced with annoyance.

"No!" He gritted through his teeth. "Answer the d.amn question—do you have a boyfriend?"

I didn’t have a boyfriend. I hadn’t been in a relationship for two years. But if I told him I did, would he back off and stop pursuing me? I grimaced. There was only one problem—I wasn’t a liar. Lying was physically difficult for me. I’d always been taught to be honest, even if it went against my best interests. But the way he suddenly turned angry made my blood boil. Maybe this would finally put him in his place and make him stop chasing me.

"Maybe?"

The words came out as more of a question than a statement. I should have put more force into my words. But again, I wasn’t a liar. The little stunt with Stacy was just a joke—one meant for James, because he knew the truth. I saw every shift in his body language. His eyes darkened, his jaw clenched. His hands turned into tight fists, his knuckles white as his upper arms flexed. Something dark radiated off him. What the hell?

"Break up with him!" he barked at me, his voice pure rage.

A shiver ran down my spine, and my neck and face heated up. My mouth fell open. I was in complete shock. Who… what…? stammered in my thoughts until they started to race like speeding trains. Who did he think he was, bossing me around like that? Telling me what to do, especially about something as big as this? What if I did have a boyfriend? Was I supposed to obey his orders? What if I were about to marry him? Who does that—tells someone to break up with another person? I felt my anger flare.

His right eye twitched. His jaw kept grinding.

James

The moment she said the word "boyfriend," something in me snapped. Immediately, my mind conjured images of some guy kissing her, touching her. Were they sleeping together? Probably. I need to beat the sh.it out of that prick. I could feel the anger bubbling up inside me. How could anyone touch something that was mine?

I could tolerate a lot of things from her, even her bratty remarks, but if she thought I was going to compete with a meek human for her heart, then she was seriously delusional.

And what did she mean by "maybe"? Was she not taking this seriously, like open relationships? Was she seeing someone else? If she was, then maybe that was a sign. He was probably a pathetic nobody, who didn’t deserve her. He probably didn’t treat her well. But I would. I would cherish her, provide for her, treat her like a queen she deserved to be. I had the means to do so, and I truly believed the Moon Goddess had brought me here for that. But there was no way I was going to let her have a boyfriend while I was trying to win her heart.

"Break up with him!" I demanded, my blood boiling. My fists clenched so tight, I could feel the pressure in my knuckles. Her eyes widened, her mouth falling open in shock.

"Excuse me?" she asked, clearly caught off guard.

"You heard me," I said, voice sharp. "Break. Up. With. Him."

She couldn’t be seeing another dude while I swoon her. Her eyes grew even wider, and then her shock grew into anger. She was pissed.

"Who do you think you are, telling me what to do? Just because you’re successful doesn’t mean you get to dictate my life and who I should be with," she raged, her voice rising with every word.

"I am your future. He’s your past," I said firmly, still feeling the anger simmering under my skin.

"Are you out of your mind? You’re nothing to me! I’ll be long gone before you ever become my future. Are you delusional? Are you a sociopath?"

She was shouting now, and I could feel eyes from surrounding tables on us. I could hear whispers, but I didn’t care. This was between us.

"Just break up with him!" I ordered, my voice growing more forceful.

She stood up, fists clenched, her anger palpable. It hit me like a wave.

"Back off!" she snapped, gritting her teeth, then stormed out of the place. Her words cut through me like a slap in the face. Her angry, scornful expression was like a bucket of cold water, dousing everything inside me.

I ran my hands over my face in frustration. This was not going how I had imagined. I dropped a $100 bill on the table and stormed out after her, but she was already gone. I figured she probably grabbed a cab. At least, I hoped so.

I jumped into my car, slamming the door behind me. The engine roared to life, and I sped off, tires screeching against the pavement.

This was not going well. Not at all.

I stopped at a red light, my hands gripping the wheel as frustration mounted. What the hell was I thinking? I slammed my fist against it over and over again. f***k!f***k! f***k! I'm so f.ucked!

I leaned back in my chair, gripping the steering wheel tightly.

Everything about her draws me in, but she doesn’t feel the same way about me. And now, I find out she has a boyfriend. She’s probably sitting there right now, chatting with him on the phone or sending those cutesy, lovey-dovey texts. I was so f.ucking jealous. It felt like someone was ripping my heart open with their claws. The pain was almost unbearable. The love and affection I craved from her, she was giving to someone else. And instead of falling for me, she now thinks I’m some kind of crazy psychopath. Just great.

I needed to clear my head. I needed to run. To spar. To kick. To punch something—or someone—hard in the face. So that’s exactly what I did. I got home, bolted into the forest, and shifted mid-air. I ran like a mad wolf, with no destination, just the raw need to keep moving. I ran for two hours before heading straight to the packhouse gym. There, I unleashed my frustration on the punching bag, imagining it was her f.ucking boyfriend I was hitting. After an hour of that, I realized it wasn’t enough. I needed someone who could punch back.

I’d scr.ewed tonight, big time.

I mind-linked the Alpha.

"Alpha, do you have some free time for a sparring session?" I asked, my voice tight.

"Sure, I’m always ready to take a break and kick you’re a.ss," he replied, his tone laced with a smirk that I could practically hear.

"You wish," I muttered back.

He was the Alpha, which by default meant he was stronger and bigger. But as one of the leading warriors, I could throw a few good punches too. Two hours later, we were both panting heavily. I had a split eyebrow and lip, both of which had started to heal, but there was still some dried blood on my skin. I’d managed to land a few good blows.

"So, what’s got you so worked up?" the Alpha asked, catching his breath as we walked over to the benches where my water bottles were. I sighed.

"I met my mate," I said, my voice quiet, tinged with sadness.

"James, that’s great news! So, you do have a mate! You’ve been waiting for her for so long! So, who is she? Do I need to initiate her into the pack?"

The Alpha said with sincere joy. If only he knew the full story.

"Well... she’s a human. She hates my guts. She thinks I’m an arrogant womanizer and keeps pushing me away. On top of that, she has a boyfriend. I told her to break up with him, but she just went wild on me. And that’s how I ended up here, in the gym," I said, all in one breath.

The Alpha processed it all.

"Well, it’s always complicated when your mate is human. They don’t understand our ways, don’t get our wolf’s possessiveness. But you messed up, big time. You need to fix this."

He said it seriously.

"Oh, thanks for the pep talk, Alpha," I replied sarcastically.

"Since when do you need encouragement or advice, James? You always know what the right thing to do is. You’ve always been the confident one," he said sternly.

I shook my head. He was right. And I did need to fix this.

"Besides, mates make us stronger and better. I need you to fix this as soon as possible because I need you focused on the mission. We’ve got some solid leads concerning the rogues."

"Got it, Alpha," I said, my tone serious.

The Alpha fell silent for a moment, lost in thought.

"So, was she that human at your parents' charity ball?" he asked, his eyebrows furrowed.

"Yes," I replied, not wanting to elaborate further.

"Ah, I bumped into her. She’s quite the catch, isn't she?" He grinned mischievously.

I had smelled his scent on her at the ball. My wolf growled fiercely at the thought.

"Whoa, whoa, hold your wolf! I’m not interested in your mate. I’m just saying, you’re lucky," he winked at me, clearly enjoying himself.

She was gorgeous, no doubt. But I didn’t feel lucky. Not at all.

Laila

I was sitting in my apartment, trying to work. But with every sentence I read, my brain refused to register the meaning. I was fuming. I couldn’t believe that this stranger—this arrogant guy—was ordering me to break up with my boyfriend. Fine, I didn’t have a boyfriend. But what kind of freak goes around telling girls to break up with their boyfriends? I’ve barely even known him for a few moments. If I was actually his girlfriend, would he boss me around about everything? "This dress is too tight! This skirt is too short! I don’t like your friend. That’s not a good job for you..." Would he do that? Wait, why am I even thinking about that? Dreaming about being his girlfriend? No. Stop. Just stop there.

But I was still mad. My mind was racing, spiraling into overdrive. Fear started creeping up my spine. Was he some kind of possessive psychopath, obsessed with me? Could he be stalking me? Maybe that’s why I always felt so on edge, so self-protective when he was around. Oh God, I hoped he wasn’t some kind of serial killer. I’ve seen those crazy documentaries. Shoo.

Yet, despite all that, my gut usually gave me good instincts about the people I should stay away from, and those I could trust. With him, though… I felt edgy, yes, but I didn’t sense anything truly dangerous about him. So why the hell was he acting like a madman?

I couldn’t concentrate on anything. Work was out of the question. I abandoned the laptop and headed to the kitchen, washing dishes and tidying up the house. It always helped clear my mind.

By the time night fell and I sat down to eat and relax, my phone began ringing. I glanced at the screen: James The i***t. Lovely. The nickname really suited him now. I set my phone on silent and ignored his call. A minute later, the phone vibrated again. I checked the caller ID—no surprise, it was him again. I ignored five more calls from him. I wasn’t ready to deal with him yet.

The phone vibrated once more, but this time it was a message.

"Please pick up. I need to talk to you. Please, please, please."

Do I want to talk to him? No. But should I? My mind went blank. I sighed. Yeah, I should. He was still my client. And that’s what adults do, right?

James

I went home, took a quick shower, and grabbed a snack. I sat down on the bed, staring at my phone. I dreaded making this call. I could already imagine the names she’d call me, the scolding and cursing that would follow. But I had to do it. I braced myself. Each beep of the phone felt like it dragged on forever. I’d never been this nervous in my life. I called several times, but she didn’t pick up. She probably didn’t want to talk to me at all. Sh.it.

I sent her a text and saw that she’d read it. Good. I gave her a minute before calling again.

“Yes?”

Her sweet voice filled my ear. She sounded so soft.

“Laila! Great! You picked up.”

I jumped up from the bed, pacing the room, trying to calm the storm inside me.

“Mhm.”

She replied, her tone still displeased.

“Listen, about what I said earlier... I’m sorry for how I reacted at the restaurant. I... I shouldn’t have been so possessive. I mean, I shouldn’t have told you what to do, especially when it concerns your... love life.”

I couldn’t bring myself to say the word boyfriend. It felt like a bitter pill on my tongue. Apologizing was never easy for me.

“Yeah, you shouldn’t have.”

She responded with a hint of frustration.

“And you know what the silliest thing in this situation is?”

She asked, clearly annoyed.

“What is?”

I asked, confused.

“I don’t even have a boyfriend!”

She exclaimed.

“What?!”

I was shocked. My heart skipped a beat.

“You heard me.”

She snapped back, her voice rising in anger.

“I don’t have a boyfriend.”

She repeated, quieter this time.

“But you said—”

I stammered in surprise.

“Yeah, I know what I said. But your attitude pissed me off! I wasn’t lying, though. That’s why I said maybe.”

She clarified, clearly still annoyed. The information sunk in slowly, and my whole body relaxed. A grin spread across my face. She doesn’t have a boyfriend!

I wanted to jump up and shout with joy. This was so much better than I’d thought. No competition. No other guy to deal with. I didn’t have to cross the ocean and punch some dude in the face. I was ecstatic. She was still mine—no question.

“Hello?”

Her voice pulled me back to the moment.

“Oh, sorry!”

I chuckled, realizing I’d gotten lost in my thoughts.

“Well, then, I’m even more sorry about my attitude. But this is great!”

I couldn’t contain the happiness bubbling inside me.

“I mean, I owe you a lunch. Will you let me treat you tomorrow?”

I asked, hopeful.

There was a brief silence. I could imagine her considering it, taking her time like she always did.

“Okay. So be it.”

She agreed, and I felt like luck was still on my side.

“But one more freakish scene like this and I’m cutting you off.”

She threatened.

“I’ll be on my best behavior.”

I promised, grinning ear to ear.

She chuckled lightly.

“Okay, whatever. Bye.”

She was about to end the call, but I wanted to say something more.

“Bye!”

I nearly said, “I love you,” but... there were so many buts since meeting her. Did I love her already? I did. It came so naturally. She was my mate. My soulmate. There was no doubt in my heart that she was the one.