Mated with a human

chapter 20

June had knocked off work a little late that day. By the time she got home, it was already getting dark. She filled her bathtub with hot water and bubbles, sinking in with a tired sigh, finally allowing herself to relax.

Just then, her phone rang.

She opened her eyes and glanced at the screen. Her eyes widened instantly.

Am I seeing things?

Is Luke really calling me?

Without wasting another second, she answered.

“Hey, Luke… what a surprise,” she said with a soft laugh. “You decided to check up on me? Wow.”

Luke interrupted her, his voice tense.

“I’m sorry to call you this late, but I really need your help—with something urgent.”

June smiled.

“Oh, you don’t have to apologize. You can call me anytime—we’re friends. So… what do you need?”

Luke hesitated, then finally spoke.

“I need Sofia’s address.”

There was silence on the other end.

“Can you repeat that?” June asked, confused.

Luke sighed.

“I need Sofia’s home address. Please… and don’t ask questions.”

June wanted to question him badly, but something in his voice stopped her. After a brief pause, she gave him the address.

Luke thanked her quickly and ended the call.

June stared at her phone, her brows furrowed.

Why does Luke need Sofia’s address at this time of night?

She shook her head and sighed.

I’ll ask him on Monday.

---

Luke checked the address on Google Maps. It wasn’t far. Memorising the directions, he slipped his phone back into his pocket, gently lifted Sofia into his arms, and carried her away.

---

At the mansion in the woods, Cillian stood by the window. Darkness had completely taken over the sky, yet Gerald still hadn’t returned since noon.

Where could he be?

She tried reaching out to him through her thoughts, but there was nothing—silence. Anxiety crept into her chest. She grabbed her phone and called him, but it went straight to voicemail.

Next, she called his PA.

“He’s not at the office, ma’am,” the PA replied.

Cillian felt helpless. She tried calling Dyran, but he didn’t answer. Loneliness washed over her, so she called her daughter, Amara. Thankfully, Amara picked up.

They spoke for a while until Amara said she needed to handle something and had to go. After the call ended, Cillian stood alone again.

With nothing else to do, she went to bed.

---

Luke arrived home quietly. He first went to his grandmother’s room and found her already asleep. He kissed her forehead softly, then went to his own room.

After a quick shower, he lay on his bed.

His thoughts replayed the fight over and over again.

My voice changed… I broke someone’s bone… what really happened to me back there?

Questions flooded his mind, but no answers came. Exhaustion eventually pulled him into sleep.

Sunday Morning

Luke woke up early to prepare for church with his grandmother. They had breakfast together before heading out. The church wasn’t far, so they walked.

His grandmother loved church—she never missed a Sunday, and she always took Luke with her.

As they walked side by side, Luke couldn’t shake the feeling that something inside him had changed… something he didn’t yet understand.

______

At the Mansion in the Woods

The mansion was unusually quiet.

Cillian stood by the large window, staring into the darkness outside. Gerald still hadn’t returned since he left at noon.

Where could he be? she wondered anxiously.

She closed her eyes and tried to reach out to him through her thoughts, calling his name silently—but there was nothing. No response. No presence.

Her chest tightened.

She picked up her phone and dialed his number.

Straight to voicemail.

She tried again.

Voicemail.

Her fingers trembled slightly as she called his PA to check if Gerald was still at the office.

“No, ma’am,” the PA replied politely. “Mr. Gerald isn’t at the office.”

Cillian thanked him and ended the call, her worry growing heavier. She didn’t know who else to call.

She tried Dyran.

No answer.

Loneliness settled deep in her chest.

After a moment of hesitation, she called her daughter, Amara. Thankfully, Amara picked up. They spoke for a while, but soon Amara apologized and said she had something urgent to handle.

They said goodbye, and the call ended.

Cillian stood there for a long moment, staring at her phone.

With nothing else to do, she sighed softly and decided to go to sleep.

Luke’s Side

Luke arrived home quietly.

He went straight to his grandmother’s room and peeked inside. She was already asleep. He smiled softly, leaned down, and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.

Then he went to his bedroom, took a quick shower, and lay down on his bed.

But sleep didn’t come easily.

His thoughts drifted back to earlier—the fight.

His voice…

The strength he didn’t recognize…

The sound of bone cracking…

What really happened?

How did I do that?

Questions filled his mind, but no answers came.

Eventually, exhaustion pulled him into sleep.

Sunday Morning

Sofia’s POV

I woke up feeling exhausted.

My body felt heavy, but I forced myself out of bed and rushed to the bathroom. After brushing my teeth, I stared at my reflection in the mirror.

“Ugh… I look terrible,” I growled.

When I was done, I stepped out to check my phone before showering. I was starving.

As I walked into my room, I stopped abruptly.

My mom was standing by the window, staring outside.

“Mom?” I asked. “When did you come in? I didn’t hear you.”

She didn’t move.

I took a step closer.

“Mom… is everything okay?”

She turned toward me slowly, her expression unreadable—like she didn’t know where to begin.

“Mom—”

She raised her hand, stopping me.

“Sofia,” she said quietly, “is this really how I raised you?”

I frowned, confused.

“I left you with Brian at the restaurant,” she continued, “but you left him alone. What was that about?”

At the mention of Brian, I sighed and turned away, searching for my phone.

“Mom, you can’t expect me to agree to decisions you and Dad make without talking to me first. This is my life.”

She stared at me in disbelief.

“Oh? And when you say your life,” she said sharply, “do you mean getting drunk and coming home late with strangers?”

I froze.

Instead of answering, I asked,

“Have you seen my bag or my phone?”

She crossed her arms.

“You weren’t holding anything when we found you lying on the grass outside the gate.”

I turned to her slowly.

“What do you mean… lying on the grass? How did I get there?”

She looked at me steadily.

“Shouldn’t you be asking yourself how you got into this bed? Do you remember walking upstairs? Going to sleep?”

I looked down, my mind spinning.

She stepped closer.

“Your father and I are deeply disappointed in you, Sofia. Going to clubs, drinking, coming home with strangers… are you even still a virgin?”

My head snapped up. Tears filled my eyes.

“Mom… how can you say that?”

“What do you think people assume?” she continued coldly.

“Maybe you slept with them. Maybe they r***d you. How would you know?”

I raised my voice.

“I haven’t slept with anyone! I’m still a virgin—stop saying that!”

She didn’t stop.

“You don’t even remember what happened. So if something did happen… would you remember?”

Then she turned and walked out, slamming the door behind her.

I collapsed onto the bed, tears streaming down my face.

Flashback

I remembered leaving the mall… calling a cab… meeting my friends at the club.

Drinking. Dancing.

Zoe pulling us out, saying it was late.

Then Jayson appeared.

We argued.

He dropped me off on the side of the road.

I walked through the suburbs—it wasn’t far from home.

Then a car stopped beside me.

Two men stepped out, blocking my way.

I tried to avoid them.

Then a guy appeared—wearing a hoodie.

His voice was deep. Angry.

I couldn’t see his face, but I noticed the design on his hoodie.

The men warned him to leave.

He didn’t.

They pushed me toward the car.

I fought back.

Then—

A sharp pain at the back of my head.

Darkness.

Who was that guy?

Did he bring me home?

Where is my phone?

I wiped my tears, went to shower, then headed downstairs to borrow my aunt’s phone.

Back at the Mansion

Cillian woke early and immediately noticed Gerald’s side of the bed was cold.

She checked the bathroom—empty.

Wearing her gown and slippers, she walked to his study. As she raised her hand to knock, the door opened.

Gerald’s PA stepped out.

“Where is Gerald?” she asked.

“I’m not sure, ma’am,” he replied. “He only called and asked me to collect a file.”

“So he’s not coming to work?”

“I don’t think so.”

She nodded quietly and returned to her room.

She called Gerald again.

No answer.

She texted him.

No reply.

Then she called Dyran.

“Mom?” Dyran answered sleepily. “Why are you calling so early?”

“Dyran,” she said softly, “your father didn’t come home.”

He sighed.

“Mom, Dad is fine. He’ll come back.”

“But he left angry,” she whispered. “What if he doesn’t?”

“I’ll come by later,” he said before hanging up.

Cillian sat alone, feeling emptier than ever.

Luke’s Side

Luke woke early to get ready for church with his grandmother.

They ate breakfast together and walked to church.

She loved church—never missed a Sunday.

And Luke went with her, every time.