His Human Mate

The car rolled to a gentle stop, and Rayla stirred awake, her father's voice breaking through the haze of sleep. "Here we are," he said, his tone gruff but laced with an emotion she couldn’t quite place. She blinked against the sudden flood of sunlight, stretching lazily before her breath caught in her throat. The imposing stone gates loomed ahead, their ancient arches framing a scene straight out of a storybook. The campus unfolded before her like a living painting. Towering oak trees lined the pathways, their branches swaying gently in the breeze. The buildings, with their weathered stone facades and ivy-clad walls, seemed to whisper secrets of centuries past. It was a place frozen in time, a breathtaking blend of history and grandeur that no photograph could ever capture. Rayla’s heart swelled with awe. This wasn’t just a university—it was a kingdom, a world unto itself. For a girl who had never ventured beyond the borders of Maryland, it felt like stepping into another dimension. "It’s… it’s incredible," she breathed, her voice barely above a whisper. Her dad glanced at her, his eyes softening as he took in her wonder. "Want to see your dorm before we go?" he asked, though his voice carried a hint of reluctance. Rayla turned to him, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "Jack, we’ve been over this," she teased, rolling her eyes. "You can’t officially declare me a daddy’s girl on my first day. I let you drive me to the gate, didn’t I? That should be enough." He threw his hands up in mock surrender, but the smile on his face betrayed his pride. "Alright, alright. But how about a hug for this old man who’s going to miss his little girl terribly?" Her heart softened at his words, and she leaned over to wrap her arms around him. His embrace was firm, his grip conveying all the love and worry he couldn’t put into words. "I can’t believe my little girl is a college student now," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. He pulled back slightly, tucking a stray strand of her hair behind her ear—a gesture so familiar it made her chest ache. "Stop it," she said, her voice wavering as she fought back tears. "Or I swear I’m actually going to cry." He chuckled, the sound warm and reassuring. "You’ll call me whenever you get a chance, right?" "Of course," she promised, hugging him again. "I’m going to miss you so much, Dad." After a few more minutes of tearful goodbyes and a litany of "be carefuls," her dad helped her unload her suitcases from the car. With one last kiss on her cheek and a small wave, he drove off, leaving her standing alone in the vast expanse of the university grounds. The weight of the moment settled over her, a mix of excitement and trepidation. Rayla pulled out her key card, her fingers trembling slightly as she deciphered the hall and room number. Stepping into the elevator, she immediately reached for her phone, her heart racing as she pressed the FaceTime button. "Look who’s made it to the dorms!" she announced, her voice bright with excitement. Zack’s face appeared on the screen, his grin wide and infectious. "My pretty college girlfriend," he said, his tone teasing but affectionate. Rayla laughed, though a pang of longing tugged at her chest. "I wish you were here with me, Zack. It would’ve been so much better." "I know, baby," he said, his expression softening. "I’m so sorry I dropped out this year, but I promise I’ll catch up with you next year." She shook her head, a wistful smile playing on her lips. "Don’t be. I understand. I just miss my handsome boyfriend already." "Me too, baby. Me too." The elevator dinged, signaling her arrival. "Ready to see the dorm with me?" Rayla asked, her excitement bubbling over. She pushed open the door to her new room, and her jaw dropped. The space was a chaotic explosion of color and personality. One side was a shrine to rock and roll, plastered with posters of heavily tattooed and pierced musicians. Her eyes darted around, finally landing on the girl sprawled across the bed. Scarlet—her new roommate—was dressed in revealing clothes, her tattoos peeking out from beneath the fabric, making Rayla blush. "Hey girl, I’m Scarlet," the girl said, extending a hand. Rayla couldn’t help but glance at the intricate tattoos that snaked down the girl’s bare arms, shoulders, and stomach as she shook her hand. "Hi, I’m Rayla." "Welcome to Virginia, Rayla," Scarlet said, flipping her long, gray hair over her shoulder. Zack cleared his throat, regaining Rayla’s attention. Before she could react, Scarlet leaned closer to the phone, her eyes fixed on Zack. "Hey, handsome boy," she purred, her voice husky. Both Rayla and Zack were taken aback by her forwardness. A knock on the door interrupted the awkward silence, giving them a moment to exchange a bewildered look. "Come in," Scarlet called out, her voice nonchalant. Two young men entered the room, and Rayla’s jaw dropped again. She hadn’t realized that boys were allowed in the girls’ dorms. Thank goodness her dad wasn’t here; he would have whisked her away in a heartbeat. Rayla frantically tried to play it cool, hoping Zack wouldn’t notice her distress. But her attempt at composure was quickly shattered. Scarlet launched into a passionate make-out session with one of the boys by the door, while the other stood watching, his gaze fixed on Rayla with an unsettling intensity. It felt like he was glaring at her with the ferocity of a predator. Both boys were heavily tattooed, mirroring Scarlet’s appearance. The passionate kiss ended with a loud pop, and the blonde boy smirked at Rayla. "Hey, Scar’s roommate," he drawled. Rayla’s nerves were on edge. She barely registered Zack’s voice on the other end of the phone. Panicked, she muted the call and lowered the volume, the heated kiss making her heart race. "Come on, we’re late," the angry-looking boy snapped, pulling Scarlet and her boyfriend out of the room. He slammed the door shut with a force that made Rayla jump, a wave of relief washing over her. Finally, she could finish her call in peace. "What was that, Rayla?" Zack’s voice was tight, a frown etched on his face. Rayla swallowed hard. "It was Scarlet’s boyfriend, I assume." "In your dorm?" Zack’s question was laced with disapproval rather than mere curiosity. Rayla tried to justify it. "Maybe they didn’t know I’d arrived yet. I’m sure they won’t be coming around now that I’m here." "They?" Zack’s voice echoed, louder than she’d ever heard him speak to her. He ran a hand through his hair. "Can you just change dorms? I don’t like this girl. Even her side of the room… it’s not… approvable. They’re not like us, Ray." "Come on, baby," Rayla said, sitting up on the bed. "It’s not like we’re friends. It’s my first day tomorrow. I can’t get bogged down with changing dorms out of the blue. I won’t let her or her friends get to me, I promise." Zack sighed deeply. "Fine, but be careful. Your dad won’t be happy about that." "Okay, I will. Don’t worry. I gotta go unpack. Talk to you later." After exchanging I love yous, Rayla hung up, a heavy sigh escaping her lips. She lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. The events of the last ten minutes weighed heavily on her. She hated ending calls with Zack on a sour note. She missed him terribly, having not seen him since he left for training camp a month ago. Zack, the star baseball player, was perfect in every way. A knot of unease settled in her stomach. It always did when Zack mentioned her dad. They were incredibly close, a bond forged when Rayla and her dad moved into the neighborhood and formed a strong friendship with Zack and his father. Zack’s father was always busy with work, and like Rayla, Zack didn’t have a mother, so he spent a lot of time with her dad. He even inherited his passion for baseball from him. Whenever Zack discussed things with her father that she felt were private, a pang of resentment would pierce through her. It wasn’t that she didn’t appreciate their close bond, but she yearned for a sense of intimacy with Zack that felt uniquely theirs. She shook her head, determined to banish the intrusive thoughts. She needed to unpack. Two hours later, her side of the room was tidy, her bed made, and her belongings unpacked. She sent quick messages to her dad and Zack, then finally allowed the exhaustion of the day to wash over her. As soon as her head hit the pillow, she drifted off to sleep. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *