Only Human

Noah

    I had slept restlessly all night, tossing and turning, not able to get the feeling that something was coming from my mind. It was like a dark fog, clouding my thoughts. As I opened my eyes and looked around the room I could feel it to. Something had changed, it was lingering in the air like the pressure you feel before a storm hits. That dull headache you feel as the atmosphere changes and the sky goes dark. It set me on edge. 

    I threw the covers off, jumping out of the bed and made my way over to the window. The sun was still rising but I could tell it was going to be another beautiful, hot day. Nothing had changed there. One of the great things about living in California was the weather. Grabbing some shorts and a shirt from the top of the pile in the wardrobe I quickly put them on and made my way out the door, down the stairs and towards the kitchen. 

    The place was crowded already. There was a hum of chatter coming from around the room while everyone was eating their breakfast. I walked over to the counter, grabbing a plate and filling it with pancakes. As I had entered the room the level of noise died down and I could feel several pairs of eyes on me. Nothing out of the ordinary. I didn't even bother to look up from what I was doing until I heard a voice next to me.

     "Good morning Alpha". I looked to my right to see the young girl peering at me with big blue eyes. Her tidy hands were grasping a fork as she shovelled a piece of pancake into her mouth. She was harmless, yet I couldn't bring myself to speak or even smile at her. I glanced around the room to see everyone was now watching me, waiting to see how I would respond with bated breath. I turn my attention back to the blonde haired infant and simply nodded my head, turning away with my plate and headed straight for my office. 

    It wasn't that I was against the pack speaking to me and wanted them to fear me, but it didn't bother me either. I was their leader, not their friend. I would always be polite and speak to everyone with respect, but I didn't want to be involved in the mindless chit-chat or everyday gossip. I had important work to do and for the most part I had to do it alone. I had my Beta and brother, Lucas and my Gamma, Caleb to assist me, but other than that I was on my own. I'd become the Blood Moon Pack's Alpha shortly after my eighteenth birthday and had expected to find my mate soon after. Over the last 6 years I'd searched, across the country and even the world with no luck. An Alpha needed a Luna. Not only to help him lead but to help to find himself. I had so desperately wanted to find the one to complete my life, but I'd now given up hope. It had made me cynical and bad tempered as the years went on. If I was destined to remain alone I would do everything I could to make sure the pack survived and was well taken care of. I would not let my biggest fear come true and fail as Alpha. 

    I settled into my office chair and began working, stopping every now and then to eat a mouthful of my breakfast. I didn't even hear when the office door opened and Lucas walked in. 

    "Morning Bro! What's the plan for today then" he said cheerily, throwing himself down onto the couch. It was still too early to deal with him, but I knew he wouldn't leave without an answer. 

    "I've got company work that needs to be finished today, so you can take pack training today" I said, my eyes going back to the paperwork on the desk in front of me. 

    "Awesome!" he stood from the couch and made his way over to the door before turning around. "Some of the guys were thinking of heading out later to a bar, did you wanna come?" 

    I looked up from the desk and my expression said it all. I had no interest in going out and bonding with the pack males. Most of the night would consist of them trying to score with other un-mated female wolves and I didn't need to be a part of that. I'd had enough of them throwing themselves at me, desperate for me to take them home. If she wasn't my mate, it wasn't going to happen. 

    "I'll take that as a no then" Lucas said, rolling his eyes as he walked out of the room and closed the door behind him. I continued looking over the data in front of me in an attempt to keep my mind busy. 

___

    The morning had flown by, and it wasn't until Caleb knocked on the door that I realised it was now the afternoon. 

    "Still up for that run?" he asked, poking his head around the door frame. 

    I stretched in my seat, my muscles had seized up from where I had been hunched over the desk for most of the day. Yes, I needed a run. I still felt that same energy from this morning and couldn't shift the feeling. Maybe a run would help. 

    "Yeah sure, let me go change and I'll meet you out front" I answered as I got up and walked towards the door. I quickly made it up the stairs and into my closet, changing into a t-shirt and grabbing my sneakers. 

    Caleb was waiting for me outside the front door halfway through stretching when I got to him. 

    "You ready?" he said, pulling his arm across his body and holding it in place with the other. 

    I nodded. "Let's go" 

    Usually I would train in the morning with the rest of the pack, but I'd been so focused on running both the company and the pack, organising all the events and schedules, making sure everyone was following orders and things were running smoothly. That's why I needed my Luna. She would help balance everything. 

    I shook my head, trying to rid the thought from my mind. I tried not to linger on the fact I still hadn't found her. We made our way down the same path we had been running for weeks. Caleb didn't talk much, which made him the perfect running partner. I could focus on my own thoughts. But today was different. 

    "Noah, you seem more tense that usual. Is there anything I can help with?" he asked. 

    "Do I?" I questioned. I guess I am feeling more stressed. I can't shift this feeling today, it's making me feel uneasy. "I don't think it's anything you can help with. I just have a strange feeling, something's coming"

    "I feel it too. Like something's changing" he said in between breaths. 

    I stopped running. "Huh" I thought I was the only one who felt it. I could feel the change too, and I didn't like not knowing what is was. Was it was good or bad. Caleb turned around to look at me, waiting for me to move. I picked up my feet and started jogging, slowly building up speed until we were running again. 

    We'd been running from about an hour when we made it to the beach. The sand was white and the bright blue water was glistening where the sun hit the waves. It was so peacefully here. Not like the tourist beaches and hot spots. This beach was still on pack territory so mostly used by fellow wolves. It was pretty empty today, just a few bodies sunbathing here and there. 

    I walked up to the ice-cream truck situated at the edge of the sand and asked for 2 bottles of water. Walking back towards Caleb I tossed him a bottle and began to chug mine down when it hit me. 

    That scent. It was like fresh strawberries and peppermint. I looked around, trying to figure out which direction it was coming from. Caleb watched me closely, could he smell it too?  

    I followed the scent trail up the beach towards a deserted area where there was nothing but white sand hills and turquoise waters as far as I could see. Then I saw her. Laying on a pink beach towel, her back facing towards the sky covered by her long brown hair and her head was buried in a book. The scent was coming from her. 

    I'd finally found her. My Mate. "MINE" the word escaped from my lips. 

    I started to walk towards her hastily when Caleb's arm shot out in front of me. I looked at him, my eyes black. What did he think he was doing? 

    "Noah, you need to calm down first. You don't want to scare her" 

    Scare her? I was her mate, I wouldn't scare her. I shoved his arm out of my way and continued walking towards her. She didn't lift her head from her book. Why hadn't she looked at me? Could she not sense I was here? Did she not catch my scent? 

    Then it hit me. I stopped and turned back to face Caleb. He looked straight at me, and I could see it in his eyes. He just nodded. I didn't even need to say anything, he knew what I was thinking. 

    She was human. 

    I turned back to look at her, trying to suppress my wolf who was running around impatiently in my head. How could this happen? She was still reading her book, turning over a page when her head moved to look at me. Her eyes met mine, and she smiled softly, watching me. 

    My eyes stayed glued to hers for what felt like an eternity. Eventually she broke her gaze to look over at Caleb who was hovering nearby. She raised her eyebrows, a slightly concerned look on her face. I was still a good few metres away from her but did she not feel it? The pain in my chest was unbearable, like someone sticking a knife into my heart. She hadn't rejected me, but she didn't acknowledged me as her mate. Did she even know what rejection was? What it would mean for me? 

    "Is he OK?" she called to Caleb. Her voice was light and beautiful, the most angelic sound I'd ever heard it my life. It was only made better by the thick British accent it carried. I watched her mouth as she spoke, her lips soft and pink, as she licked her bottom lip and gazed her teeth across it. 

    I had to have her. I didn't care that she was human. She was made for me, she had to understand that. 

    I watched as she started to sit up, folding the corner of her page over to save her place. She got to her feet and made her way over to me. As she walked I couldn't take my eyes off her. Her curly brown hair flowed down to her waist, she had long legs and thick thighs. She curved in all the right places. She was perfect. 

    She stood in front of me, close enough that I could see every detail on her face. Her pale skin was scattered with freckles and her dark brown eyes were covered with long, fluttery eyelashes. 

    "Anybody home?" she said, waving her hand in front of my face. 

    'Noah!" Caleb shouted next to me. I immediately broke my gaze and turned towards him. 

    "Noah?" she questioned. She said my name. I'd never heard a more perfect sound in my life. My head snapped back round to face her. 

    She held out her hand in front of me, "Nice to meet you Noah, I'm Holly" she said, waiting for me to shake her hand. 

    I took her hand it mine and I knew then I never wanted to let it go.