Chapter Four :He’s not Human
1238 Words
“No.”
“That’s your response?”
“Yes. A full sentence. Use it.”
He watched me pace the room like a caged thing.
“You’re not leaving,” he said.
“I didn’t say I was leaving. I said no.”
“To what?”
“To all of this.” I waved my hands. “Pack. Alpha. Smelling me. Whatever ritualistic nonsense you people are on.”
“We’re not people.”
“Stop reminding me!”
He leaned against the wall, arms folded. Calm. Too calm.
“You’re reacting better than most.”
“I almost passed out ten minutes ago.”
“But you didn’t.”
“That doesn’t mean I’m okay!”
He tilted his head. “Your heart rate’s slowing.”
“I’m tired.”
“You’re adapting.”
“I don’t like that word.”
“You won’t like what comes next either.”
I froze. “What comes next?”
He didn’t answer immediately.
Outside, something howled.
Low. Long. Close.
I swallowed. “Was that…?”
“Yes.”
“And it sounded like that on purpose?”
“Yes.”
My voice dropped. “You said I was safe here.”
“You are.”
“That didn’t sound safe.”
“That was a warning.”
“To who?”
“Everyone else.”
My stomach twisted. “Because of me?”
He looked at me. “Because of you.”
I laughed, shaky. “I don’t have anything special.”
“You walked into pack land and didn’t flinch.”
“I did flinch.”
“You stayed.”
“I had nowhere else to go.”
“Exactly.”
I stared at him. “You’re not explaining anything.”
“I’m trying not to overwhelm you.”
“You already failed.”
A beat.
“Fair.”
I sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing my palms together. “You said they can smell me.”
“Yes.”
“Like… blood?”
“No.”
“Fear?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
He hesitated.
“Say it,” I pushed.
“…Bond.”
My laugh came out wrong. “Bond with what?”
“With me.”
I stood up so fast the chair scraped the floor. “Absolutely not.”
“It’s not a choice.”
“Everything is a choice!”
“Not this.”
I jabbed a finger at his chest. “I didn’t agree to anything.”
“You didn’t have to.”
“That’s not romantic, you know.”
“This isn’t romance.”
“Good. Because I’m not interested.”
His eyes darkened. “Your body disagrees.”
Heat flushed through me. “Don’t you dare.”
“You lean toward me when you’re scared.”
“That means nothing.”
“You breathe deeper when I’m close.”
“Stop.”
“You calm when I speak.”
“I said stop!”
He went quiet instantly.
I pressed my hands to my face. “I don’t want this.”
“I know.”
“Then let me go.”
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
“Because the moment you leave this house—” His voice lowered. “—others will come.”
“Others like who?”
“Ones who won’t ask permission.”
A chill slid down my spine. “You’re saying you’re the good option.”
“I’m saying I’m the only option.”
Silence stretched.
“…If I stay,” I said carefully, “what happens?”
He met my gaze. “You learn.”
“Learn what?”
“What you are to us.”
“And if I don’t like it?”
His jaw tightened. “Then I’ll still protect you.”
“That sounds like a threat.”
“It’s a promise.”
I shook my head. “You’re insane.”
“Probably.”
I laughed weakly. “That wasn’t the answer I expected.”
He stepped closer. Not crowding. Just… there.
“You should sleep,” he said.
“How am I supposed to sleep after this?”
“I’ll stay outside the door.”
I frowned. “Why outside?”
“Because if I stay in here—”
“—my body will ‘disagree’ again?”
A flicker of amusement crossed his face. “Something like that.”
I hesitated. “…Okay.”
He turned to leave.
“Wait.”
He stopped.
“You said Alpha like it meant something.”
“It does.”
“To them?”
“To everyone.”
“And to me?”
He glanced over his shoulder. “Most of all to you.”
The door closed softly.
I lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
My phone buzzed.
No signal.
Of course.
Another sound outside. Footsteps. Multiple.
Low voices.
“…she’s awake.”
“…strong scent.”
“…human?”
“…doesn’t matter.”
My heart raced.
The door creaked.
His voice snapped sharp. “Enough.”
The house went silent.
I whispered, “Are you there?”
“Yes.”
“Are they still outside?”
“Yes.”
“Can they hear me?”
“No.”
“…Why not?”
“Because I don’t let them.”
I swallowed. “You’re really serious about this.”
“I’ve never been more serious.”
“…Why me?”
A pause.
Then, quietly, “Because you looked at me like you already knew.”
Sleep came in pieces.
Dreams of running.
Of heat and teeth and hands that never hurt me.
I woke with a gasp.
The door opened instantly.
“I’m awake,” I said quickly. “I mean—I was asleep but now I’m awake.”
He stood there like he hadn’t moved all night.
“You dreamed,” he said.
“How do you—”
“You were calling my name.”
I blinked. “I don’t know your name.”
A beat.
“…You will.”
I sat up. “You didn’t answer me earlier.”
“About what?”
“Why me.”
He stepped inside, closing the door behind him.
“Because when the bond reached for you,” he said, “you didn’t reject it.”
“I didn’t even know it was happening.”
“Most humans panic.”
“I did panic.”
“You didn’t run.”
“…I wanted to.”
“But you didn’t.”
He crouched in front of me, eye level.
“That means something in you already understands,” he said. “Even if your mind doesn’t yet.”
My voice was barely steady. “What am I to you?”
His answer came without hesitation.
“Mine.”
I inhaled sharply. “You can’t just say that.”
“I just did.”
“And if I say no?”
His gaze softened. “Then I’ll spend the rest of my life proving you’re safe.”
My chest tightened. “You talk like forever is normal.”
“For us,” he said, “it is.”
“…What happens now?”
He stood. “Now?”
“Yes.”
He offered his hand. Didn’t touch me.
“Now,” he said, “I introduce you to the truth.”
Outside, the house stirred.
And something inside me answered back.
- Writer
