His Human Mate

Feels Like Home

Rayla’s head snapped toward the sound, her breath catching in her throat. Emerging from the shadows was a familiar figure—tall, broad-shouldered, and radiating an intensity that made the air around him crackle. *Asher.*

The men hesitated, glancing at each other uncertainly. Asher stepped forward, his movements deliberate and predatory, his eyes locked on the man who had been blocking Rayla’s path. “I said, back off,” he repeated, his voice low and dangerous.

The leader of the group held up his hands in a mock surrender, though his smirk didn’t falter. “Easy, man. We were just having a little fun.”

“Fun’s over,” Asher said, his tone leaving no room for argument. He stepped closer, his presence alone enough to make the men take a step back. “Now get lost before I make you.”

For a moment, it seemed like they might fight back, but one look at Asher’s expression was enough to change their minds. The leader muttered something under his breath before jerking his head at the others, and the three of them disappeared into the shadows as quickly as they’d appeared.

Rayla stood frozen, her heart still racing as she tried to process what had just happened. She turned to Asher, her voice barely above a whisper. “You… you didn’t have to do that.”

Asher raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. “Yeah, I did.” He stepped closer, his gaze scanning her face as if checking for any signs of harm. “What the f**k are you doing out here alone at this hour?”

Rayla flinched at his sudden harsh tone, her chest tightening as she fought back the sting of tears. She had just been in danger—terrified and alone—and now he was yelling at her like she was the one who’d done something wrong. Her voice trembled as she shot back, “Do you have to be a jerk all the time? I didn’t do anything to you.”

Asher’s eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening as he took a step closer to her. The streetlight above them flickered, casting shadows across his face that made him look even more intimidating. “Me? A jerk?” he repeated, his voice low and sharp. “I just saved your ass a minute ago, and now I’m the bad guy?”

Rayla crossed her arms over her chest, partly to shield herself from the cold and partly to steady her shaking hands. “I didn’t ask you to save me,” she snapped, though her voice wavered. “And you don’t have to be such an ass about it.”

Asher let out a bitter laugh, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “You’re unbelievable, you know that? You’re out here alone in the middle of the night, in a park you shouldn’t even be in, and when someone tries to help you, you act like I’m the problem.”

“I wasn’t looking for help!” Rayla shot back, her voice rising. “I was fine!”

“Fine?” Asher took another step closer, his presence overwhelming as he loomed over her. “You call almost getting jumped by three guys fine? What the hell were you thinking, Rayla?”

Rayla’s breath hitched, her heart pounding as she met his gaze. There was anger in his eyes, yes, but something else too—something that looked almost like concern. It threw her off, making her defenses waver for a moment. But she quickly steeled herself, refusing to let him see how much his words were getting to her.

“I wasn’t thinking, okay?” she said, her voice quieter now but no less defiant. “I just needed some air. I didn’t plan for any of this to happen.”

Asher exhaled sharply, his frustration palpable. “That’s the problem. You never think. You just run off and do whatever you want without considering the consequences. Do you have any idea what could’ve happened if I hadn’t shown up?”

Rayla looked away, her throat tightening as the weight of his words sank in. She didn’t want to admit it, but he was right. She hadn’t thought about the risks. She’d been so caught up in her own head that she hadn’t stopped to consider how dangerous it was to be out here alone at night.

But admitting that to him? That felt like losing, and she wasn’t ready to give him that satisfaction.

“I don’t need a lecture from you,” she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. “I already know I messed up.”

Asher stared at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, to her surprise, he stepped back, his shoulders relaxing slightly. “Yeah, you did,” he said, his tone softer now but still edged with frustration. “But that doesn’t mean you deserve what almost happened to you.”

Rayla blinked, caught off guard by the shift in his tone. She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could say anything, the sound of hurried footsteps reached her ears. She turned to see Scarlet and Nick rushing toward them, their faces etched with worry.

“Rayla!” Scarlet called, her voice a mix of relief and exasperation. “What the hell were you thinking?”

Rayla glanced back at Asher, but he was already walking away, his hands shoved into his pockets as he disappeared into the shadows without another word. She watched him go, a strange ache settling in her chest that she couldn’t quite explain.

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It was a quiet Saturday morning, the soft light of dawn filtering through the curtains of the dorm room. Rayla sat on the edge of her bed, her phone pressed to her ear as she tried to keep her voice steady. “No, Dad, you don’t have to come. I’m fine, really. I was just tired and trying to cope with my busy schedule. You know how college life is—it’s a lot to handle sometimes.”

Her father’s voice on the other end was laced with concern, his tone firm but gentle. “Rayla, if something’s wrong, you need to tell me. Zack called me, and he’s worried sick. You haven’t been yourself lately.”

Rayla winced, guilt twisting in her chest. She hadn’t meant to worry anyone, but the past week had been a whirlwind of emotions she couldn’t seem to escape. Ever since the incident in the park, she’d been avoiding everyone—Zack, Asher, Scarlet, even Nick. She’d thrown herself into her studies, using her busy schedule as an excuse to keep people at arm’s length. But it wasn’t working. If anything, it was only making things worse.

“I’m fine, Dad,” she repeated, her voice softer now. “I promise. I just… needed some time to myself. I’ll talk to Zack and let him know I’m okay.”

Her father sighed, the sound heavy with worry. “Alright, but if you need anything—anything at all—you call me, understand?”

“I will,” Rayla said, forcing a smile even though he couldn’t see it. “Thanks, Dad.”

As she hung up the phone, she let out a long breath, her shoulders slumping with exhaustion. She hadn’t slept well in days, her mind constantly racing with thoughts she couldn’t quiet. The incident in the park, the way Asher had looked at her, the guilt she felt every time she talked to Zack—it was all too much.

The sound of rustling sheets drew her attention, and she turned to see Scarlet sitting up in bed, her hair a messy halo around her face. Scarlet had been the only one who’d managed to break through Rayla’s shell over the past week, refusing to let her shut everyone out completely. Even when Rayla had tried to ignore her, Scarlet had persisted, barging into her room with snacks and bad movies until Rayla had no choice but to let her in.

“Who was that?” Scarlet asked, her voice groggy but alert. “Your dad?”

Rayla nodded, setting her phone down on the nightstand. “Yeah. Zack called him. He’s worried.”

Rayla let out a frustrated huff as she flopped back onto her pillow, her arms crossed over her chest. She hated when Zack worried her dad like that—it made her feel like a child who couldn’t handle her own problems. But as much as it annoyed her, she couldn’t blame him. She had been pushing everyone away lately, shutting them out without explanation. Still, the way Zack seemed to run to her dad every time things got a little rocky between them was starting to wear on her nerves.

Scarlet plopped down on the bed beside her, leaning back against the headboard with her legs stretched out. “Everything okay?” she asked, her tone casual but her eyes sharp with concern.

Rayla sighed, staring up at the ceiling. “I hate when they team up against me,” she muttered. “I get that Zack’s worried, but the way he runs to my dad every single time things are even a little weird between us… it’s driving me crazy lately.”

Scarlet raised an eyebrow, tilting her head to study Rayla. “Okay, but to be fair, you have been acting kind of weird. You’ve been avoiding everyone, including me, and you’ve been spacing out like you’re on another planet. What’s going on, Ray? You can’t just shut everyone out and expect them not to worry.”

Rayla groaned, covering her face with her hands. “I know, I know. It’s just… complicated.”

“Complicated how?” Scarlet pressed, nudging Rayla’s shoulder with her own. “Come on, spill. You know I’m not going to let this go.”

Rayla hesitated, her mind racing as she tried to figure out how much to say. She wanted to tell Scarlet everything—about the park, about Asher, about the dreams that kept haunting her—but the words felt stuck in her throat. How could she explain something she didn’t even understand herself?

“It’s just… everything feels like it’s too much right now,” she said finally, her voice soft and hesitant. “With classes, and Zack, and… other stuff. I don’t know how to deal with it all, so I just… shut down, I guess.”

Scarlet nodded slowly, her expression thoughtful. “Okay, that’s fair. But shutting down isn’t going to make it go away, you know. You’ve got to talk to someone. And before you say it, yes, I’m volunteering as tribute.”

Rayla couldn’t help but laugh at that, the sound a little shaky but genuine. “You’re relentless, you know that?”

“Damn right,” Scarlet said with a grin, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “It’s one of my best qualities. You know what? I’m visiting my grannies today. Do you want to join me? We can stuff our faces with the best homemade meal you’ve ever tasted. Trust me, you haven’t lived until you’ve tried my grandma’s lasagna.”

Rayla’s face lit up at the offer, a genuine smile breaking through the cloud of emotions that had been weighing her down. “Hell yeah,” she said, hopping out of bed with a giggle. The thought of a home-cooked meal and a change of scenery was exactly what she needed. Plus, she was grateful that Scarlet hadn’t pushed her harder—she wasn’t ready to dive deeper into her tangled feelings just yet.

Scarlet grinned, clearly pleased with Rayla’s enthusiasm. “That’s the spirit! But fair warning, my grannies are a handful. They’ll probably interrogate you about your life, your future plans, and whether or not you’re dating anyone. They’re nosy like that.”

Rayla laughed, the sound light and carefree for the first time in days. “I think I can handle it. Besides, old people adore me.” She flicked her hair back in a sassy gesture, earning an eye roll from Scarlet, who pushed her playfully.

“Yeah, yeah, don’t let it go to your head,” Scarlet said with a grin. “Now, hurry up. We’ve got a long drive ahead.”

They got dressed quickly, bundling up in cozy sweaters and scarves before heading out. Scarlet’s grannies lived surprisingly deep in the woods, but the view along the way was breathtaking. The trees were a mix of fiery reds and golden yellows, their leaves rustling in the crisp autumn breeze. The air smelled of earth and pine, and the occasional glimpse of sunlight breaking through the canopy made the whole scene feel magical.

When they finally arrived at the house, Rayla couldn’t help but stare. The cottage was quaint and charming, with ivy climbing up the stone walls and smoke curling from the chimney. It looked like something out of a storybook.

Scarlet hopped out of the car and immediately started shouting for her grannies. “Grandma! Nana! We’re here!” But there was no answer. The house was eerily quiet.

Scarlet frowned, glancing around. “Huh. They’re probably down by the bayou picking some plants. They’ve been obsessed with making their own teas lately. Hey, Ray,” she said, turning to Rayla, “you can head inside and make yourself at home. Take a tour of the house if you want. I’ll go find them real quick, okay?”

Rayla nodded, watching as Scarlet disappeared down a narrow path into the woods. She turned back to the house, pushing the front door open cautiously. The interior was warm and inviting, the air filled with the comforting scents of cinnamon and vanilla. It felt like stepping into a hug.

She wandered through the house, admiring the cozy decor and the little touches that made it feel so lived-in. But as she turned a corner, she found herself standing in front of a door that gave her an odd sense of déjà vu. She hesitated, her hand hovering over the doorknob, before curiosity got the better of her and she pushed it open.

The room was simple but beautiful, bathed in sunlight that streamed through the windows. The walls were a soft cream color, and the air smelled faintly of vanilla. It was clean and tidy, but there was something about it that felt… familiar. Rayla stepped inside, her eyes scanning the room until they landed on a framed photo on the dresser.

It was a picture of a baby, his chubby cheeks lit up with laughter, being held by a woman with a radiant smile. They looked so happy, so full of life, that Rayla couldn’t help but smile herself. She reached out, her fingers brushing against the glass of the frame as she studied the photo. There was something about the woman’s smile that felt comforting, like a memory she couldn’t quite place.

But before she could dwell on it, a voice broke the silence, deep and smooth and unmistakably familiar.

“You’re in my room, Kitten.”