Mated with a human

chapter 2

Luke arrived in his grandmother’s town just as the sun began to dip lower in the sky. He stepped off the bus, stretched briefly, and scanned the quiet streets. Soon after, he hailed a taxi and gave the driver his grandmother’s address. The ride was short, and within minutes he reached the destination.

He stepped out of the taxi, dragging his suitcases behind him, and watched as the car drove off. In front of him stood his grandmother’s house. The yard was breathtaking—green grass stretched in every direction, dotted with colorful flowers, and the garden looked carefully tended, almost like a painting. The property was open, without fences, giving it a welcoming, airy feeling.

Luke paused for a moment, taking it all in. Then, the front door opened. Out came an elderly woman, though her posture, skin, and vitality made her appear much younger than her age. She had clearly taken care of herself over the years; her presence was graceful and strong. Though she was in her fifties, there was an elegance and beauty about her, almost as if time had slowed around her.

She saw him and her face lit up instantly. She hurried toward him, wrapping him in a warm hug. After a moment, she pressed a soft kiss onto his cheek.

“My boy… Luke,” she said, her voice filled with joy.

He smiled, feeling a weight lift off his chest at seeing her. Together, they turned toward the house and walked inside, leaving the day’s journey and loneliness behind them.

....

Sofia picked up Molly and Zoe on the way, the girls squealing the moment they climbed into her pink sports car. Music blasted through the speakers as they headed to the mall, excitement buzzing between them.

Inside the shopping center, they walked like they owned the place—laughing loudly, flipping their hair, and stopping every few steps to admire something sparkly.

Sofia led the way into a boutique filled with shimmering dresses and high heels.

“Oh my gosh, Sof, look at this one!” Molly gasped, holding up a glittery silver dress.

Zoe grabbed a deep red one. “This screams danger. You need danger.”

Sofia laughed, tossing her hair back. “Girls, I’m not trying to kill anyone at the party.”

“You kill people with your wardrobe every day,” Molly smirked.

They spent nearly an hour trying on clothes, posing in front of mirrors, taking pictures, and arguing over which dress made Sofia look more irresistible. Eventually, she settled on a stunning pink dress that fit her perfectly—tight at the waist, flowing at the bottom, simple yet breathtaking.

Next, they headed for shoes, then makeup, then jewelry. Shopping bags piled in their hands as they walked out of the mall, the three of them giggling like they were floating.

“Tonight is going to be legendary,” Zoe declared.

Sofia grinned. “Obviously.”

---

Meanwhile, at Luke’s grandmother’s house…

The sun was beginning to set when a gentle knock sounded on Luke’s bedroom door.

Luke looked up from the book he was reading. “Come in.”

The door opened, and his grandmother stepped inside, arms carrying neatly folded clothes. The soft smile on her face warmed the room.

“I thought you might want to try these on,” she said as she handed the clothes to him. “Your new school uniform.”

Luke stood and took them carefully, unfolding the fabric. A crisp white shirt, a navy blazer with the school’s crest, dark trousers, and a tie.

“Thank you,” he said quietly.

“I want you to check if they fit well,” she added. “If we need adjustments, we’ll sort it out before the school opens.”

Luke nodded. “I’ll do that.”

His grandmother gave his arm a gentle squeeze, smiling with pride. “You’re growing into such a handsome young man. Your mother would have loved to see it.”

Luke lowered his eyes for a moment, swallowing the ache in his chest. “I hope so.”

She touched his shoulder softly before walking toward the door. “I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me.”

Once she left, Luke stood in front of the mirror, holding the uniform against himself. It felt strange—new town, new school, new life. Everything was changing, even before he understood just how much.

.....

After a few hours, there was Sofia with her two best friends in her car, music blasting through the speakers as they headed toward the party location. The closer they got, the louder the noise became—shouting, bass, laughter, and the muffled thump of speakers shaking windows.

When they pulled up outside the huge house, Sofia gasped. The entire place was alive. Cars crowded the street, people danced on the lawn, and colorful lights flashed through the windows. Music boomed so loudly the ground almost vibrated.

Molly squealed first.

Zoe squealed second.

Sofia joined them with a grin.

“This is definitely going to be a real party!”

They climbed out of the car, fixing their dresses and hair before heading inside. The moment they stepped through the door, heat and noise hit them like a wave. Bodies packed the living room, more bodies dancing, jumping, grinding. The smell of alcohol, sweat, and perfume filled the entire house.

There wasn’t even space to walk. They had to squeeze between people, yelling “Sorry!” or “Move!” every few seconds.

Within seconds, the girls split up, each heading in different directions without needing to say a word—they always knew where they were going. Molly had her eyes on her boyfriend. Zoe was already texting hers. And Sofia? She was searching for Jayson—her current boyfriend and the host of the party.

She spotted him near the stereo, surrounded by guys and bouncing to the beat. His eyes lit up when he saw her, and he pulled her into a quick dance, their bodies moving to the music. After a minute, Jayson took her hand and pulled her through the crowd toward the lounging room.

Inside, several of their circle friends were already seated, cups of alcohol in hand. Molly and Zoe were there too, sitting on their boyfriends’ laps, laughing loudly at something someone said.

Sofia and Jayson found space on the couch and sat down. The room buzzed with excitement, teasing, flirting, and shouts over the music from the other side of the house.

Someone suddenly shouted, “Let’s play a game!”

Instantly, everyone agreed. And of course, they landed on the classic—Truth or Dare.

The game started wild.

Dares to kiss.

Dares to dance on tables.

Truths that exposed secrets and made everyone scream.

Laughter shook the walls, and alcohol kept flowing like water.

After several rounds, the group finally got tired and scattered.

Sofia and Jayson stood and headed back to the main dance floor. By now, Sofia was completely drunk. Her cheeks flushed, her hair a little messy, her smile huge.

The moment they reached the crowd, she screamed in excitement and began dancing wildly. Arms in the air, hair whipping around, movements uncoordinated but full of life. She shouted the lyrics of the song even though half the words weren’t correct.

People cheered around her, some joining her, others laughing at her chaotic energy.

Tonight, she didn’t care.

Tonight, she was the queen of the party—loud, wild, unstoppable.

....

Thousands of miles away from the small town, deep in the ancient woods, the world felt like another realm entirely. The trees were impossibly tall—so tall that their branches swallowed the moonlight whole. Darkness hung thick between them, so heavy and so absolute that anyone foolish enough to walk there would see nothing, not even their own hands.

The air was freezing, cutting through the night like sharpened ice. Every creature—rabbits, owls, deer—hid in burrows, hollows, anywhere safe from what prowled in the shadows. The forest was so silent it felt wrong, as if even the wind was too afraid to breathe.

And then—something moved.

Fast. Heavy. Powerful.

A massive shape darted between the trees, black as the night itself. Only the faint whisper of disturbed leaves hinted at its presence. It raced with unnatural speed, its huge paws silent on the forest floor. Thick black fur bristled along its massive frame, making it look even more monstrous in the darkness.

It was a wolf.

But not an ordinary one.

This creature was enormous—far larger than any natural beast. Its eyes glowed faintly, scanning the woods sharply. It was hunting.

It lunged, and within seconds, the short cry of a wild animal echoed through the trees—then died quickly. The wolf tore into its prey, eating until the hunger loosened its grip on him. When he finally finished, he lifted his head, crimson eyes gleaming through the shadows.

He turned and sprinted deeper into the woods, toward a hidden clearing—but unlike any ordinary clearing, this one held a mansion.

A massive one.

It rose like a dark palace between the trees, towers and balconies carved with intricate designs that shimmered faintly under what little moonlight escaped the canopy. It looked like royalty—elegant, ancient, intimidating.

Guards were everywhere, though none were visible at first. They watched from the shadows, from the rooftops, from behind pillars—silent, alert, deadly.

The big black wolf approached the iron gate, and the moment his paws crossed the entrance, his form began to shift. Bones cracked, fur receded, limbs reshaped. Within seconds, where the beast once stood, a tall man emerged from the darkness.

His long red hair brushed his shoulders, wild yet regal. His eyes—still holding a hint of that wolf-like glow—scanned the area with sharp confidence. He wore all black, from his boots to his coat, a colour that suited the aura he carried: dominance, danger, command.

He walked into the mansion like he owned it.

Like he ruled it.

Because he did.

He was the king of this hidden world—one that the small town miles away had no idea even existed.