His Human Mate

It's Burning

Rayla stood before the mirror, brushing her hair with slow, deliberate strokes. She’d barely slept since her call with Zack, her mind racing with thoughts she couldn’t quiet. The grannies had offered to let her stay the night, but she’d politely declined, not wanting to impose. That decision had led to an awkward car ride with Asher, the silence between them heavy and suffocating. They hadn’t exchanged a single word the entire time, and the only thing he’d heard from her was a faint “thanks” when she’d bolted out of the car and sprinted to her dorm.

Now, alone in her room, Rayla was grateful for the solitude. Scarlet had decided to stay the night at her grannies’ place, leaving Rayla with the space she desperately needed to think. She’d spent hours tossing and turning, replaying her conversation with Zack in her head, trying to make sense of the storm of emotions swirling inside her.

As the morning light filtered through the curtains, Rayla forced herself to focus. She had to look perfect for Zack—she owed him that much. She chose an outfit she knew he’d like, a soft sweater and jeans that hugged her figure just right. She applied light makeup, careful not to overdo it, and styled her hair in loose waves that framed her face. She wanted to look effortless, beautiful, like the girl he’d fallen in love with.

But as she stared at her reflection, she couldn’t shake the unease settling in her chest. She was determined to bury the weird feelings she’d been having—the dreams, the thoughts of Asher, the guilt that had been gnawing at her. She loved Zack. She *did*. And she was going to prove it to him, to herself, to everyone.

“Today is about us,” she whispered to her reflection, her voice firm but tinged with uncertainty. “Just us.”

She took a deep breath, smoothing her sweater and grabbing her bag. As she stepped out of her room and into the hallway, she felt a flicker of resolve. She could do this. She *would* do this. Zack was her past, her present, and her future. And nothing—not her doubts, not her dreams, not Asher—was going to change that.

Rayla stood outside her dorm, her heart pounding as she spotted Zack leaning against his car. It had been over three months since they’d last seen each other—three months of texts, calls, and video chats while he was away at a baseball training camp. But now, he was here, his familiar smile lighting up his face as he waved her over.

“Hey, Sunray,” Zack said, pulling her into a tight hug the moment she was within reach. His arms wrapped around her like he was afraid she might disappear. “God, I’ve missed you.”

Rayla hugged him back, her arms tightening around him as she fought the sudden burning sensation in her stomach. She didn’t understand it, but she pushed it aside, forcing herself to focus on the moment.

“Hey, Zack,” she said, pulling back with a smile. “It’s so good to see you.”

Zack studied her face, his hands resting on her shoulders. “You look amazing,” he said, his voice soft. “But something feels… different. Is everything okay?”

Rayla forced a laugh, brushing off his comment. “I’m fine. Just… adjusting to having you back, I guess. It’s been a while.”

Zack nodded, though his expression was still tinged with concern. “Yeah, three months is way too long. I don’t want to go that long without seeing you again.”

As they got into the car, Zack reached over and took her hand, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. The burning sensation flared again, and Rayla clenched her jaw, her smile never wavering as she stared out the window.

“So,” Zack said, glancing at her, “how’s school been? You’ve been pretty quiet about it lately. I feel like I don’t even know what’s going on in your life anymore.”

Rayla shrugged, keeping her tone light. “It’s been okay. Just a lot of work, you know? Nothing exciting.”

Zack chuckled, but there was a hint of sadness in his voice. “You? Not exciting? That’s hard to believe. You’ve always been the most exciting thing in my life.”

Rayla’s chest tightened, but she managed a small laugh. “Flattery will get you everywhere, huh?”

Zack grinned, squeezing her hand. “You know it. But seriously, Rayla, I’ve missed you. These past few months… they’ve been rough without you.”

Rayla nodded, her heart heavy. “I’ve missed you too, Zack.”

When they arrived at the restaurant, Zack held the door open for her, his hand resting on the small of her back as they walked to their table. The burning sensation flared again, and Rayla fought the urge to pull away, forcing herself to focus on the cozy atmosphere and the soft hum of conversation around them, and Zack’s sweet smile. Anything but his burning touch.

They sat across from each other at a corner table, and Zack leaned forward, his eyes locked on hers. “I’ve missed this,” he said, his voice soft. “Just being with you, talking like this. It feels like old times.”

Rayla nodded, her smile sweet but strained. “Yeah, it does.”

Zack reached across the table, taking her hand in his. The burning sensation flared again, and Rayla fought hardly the urge to hiss and pull away. it was starting to ware on her. “I’ve been thinking a lot about us,” he continued. “About how much I’ve missed you. I don’t want to go another three months without seeing you, Rayla. I want us to be like we used to be.”

Rayla’s stomach churned, but she kept her smile in place. “I want that too, Zack. I really do.”

they fell in a comfortable silence as they waitress came to take their orders, and fortunately bringing them right away.

Rayla sat across from Zack at the cozy corner table, picking at her food as he launched into a story about their high school days. “Remember that time we snuck out to the lake after curfew?” Zack said, his eyes lighting up with nostalgia. “You were so scared we’d get caught, but we ended up having the best night.”

Rayla forced a laugh, her stomach twisting as the burning sensation kept getting worse. “Yeah, I remember. You kept throwing rocks into the water to scare me, saying it was a lake monster.”

Zack grinned, leaning back in his chair. “And you believed me! You were clinging to my arm the whole time.”

Rayla smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. She remembered that night vividly—the way the moonlight had reflected off the water, the sound of Zack’s laughter, the feeling of being carefree and happy. But now, as she sat there, the memory felt distant, almost like it belonged to someone else. The burning sensation in her stomach was a constant reminder that something had changed, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t shake it.

“What about the time we got caught trying to decorate the principal’s office for April Fools’?” Zack continued, clearly enjoying the trip down memory lane. “You were so mad at me for convincing you to do it.”

Rayla laughed softly, though it felt forced. “I wasn’t mad. I was terrified. I thought we were going to get expelled.”

Zack reached across the table, taking her hand in his. The burning sensation was now like a punchto her guts, and Rayla almost gagged from it. “But we didn’t,” he said, his voice soft. “And it’s still one of my favorite memories.”

Rayla nodded, her smile strained. “Mine too.”

As the meal went on, Zack kept bringing up more memories—homecoming dances, late-night study sessions, their first kiss behind the bleachers. Rayla played along, laughing when she was supposed to and nodding when he paused, but inside, she felt like she was suffocating. The burning sensation in her stomach was relentless, and the more Zack talked about their past, the more she felt like she was pretending to be someone she wasn’t anymore.

Finally, Zack glanced at his watch and sighed. “I should probably get going. I’ve got an early practice tomorrow.”

Rayla felt a flicker of relief, though she quickly masked it with a smile. “Yeah, of course. I don’t want to keep you.”

They left the restaurant, and Zack drove her back to the dorm. The car ride was quiet, the hum of the engine filling the space between them. As they neared the dorm, Zack pulled into a quiet spot and turned to her, his expression soft.

“I’ve missed you, Rayla,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “Today was… really good. Let’s not wait another three months to see each other, okay?”

Rayla nodded, her heart heavy. “Yeah, okay.”

Zack reached over, his hand gently cupping her cheek. “I mean it, Sunray. I don’t want to lose you.”

Before she could respond, he leaned in, his lips brushing against hers in a gentle kiss. The burning sensation in her stomach flared violently, and Rayla froze, her mind racing. She wanted to pull away, to stop the kiss, but she couldn’t. Instead, she forced herself to kiss him back, her hands gripping the edge of her seat as she fought to ignore the discomfort and bitterness in her throat.

When Zack finally pulled back, he smiled, his thumb brushing over her cheek. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

Rayla forced a smile, her heart pounding. “I'll be waiting.”

As she got out of the car and watched him drive away, the burning sensation in her stomach finally began to fade. She took a deep breath, trying to shake off the lingering discomfort, and headed inside.

When she opened the door to her dorm, she found Scarlet standing in front of the mirror, applying a bold red lipstick. She turned when Rayla walked in, her eyes lighting up. “There you are! I was starting to think you’d bailed on me.”

Rayla blinked, confused. “Bailed on you?”

Scarlet grinned, grabbing a sparkly clutch from her bed. “The party, duh. You’re coming, right? It’s going to be epic.”

Rayla hesitated for a moment, she really neededa distraction, then nodded. “Yeah, I’m in.”

Scarlet’s grin widened. “Perfect. Go change into something fun. We’re leaving in ten.”

Rayla didn’t need to be told twice. She quickly changed into a dress Scarlet had picked out for her, the burning sensation in her stomach finally gone. For the first time all day, she felt like she could breathe. Tonight, she wasn’t going to think about Zack or Asher or the confusing mess of emotions she’d been carrying around. Tonight, she was going to let loose and forget everything—even if it was just for a little while.

_____________________

At Nick and Asher’s dorm, Asher was hunched over the bathroom sink, his body wracked with violent heaves as he vomited for what felt like the hundredth time. His stomach twisted in agony, his wolf howling in his mind, clawing at the edges of his control. The mate bond he shared with Rayla was a relentless force, and every time another male touched her in a romantic way, it hit him like a tidal wave of nausea and fury.

Nick stood in the doorway, his arms crossed and his expression a mix of concern and frustration. “Dude, you’ve got to get a grip. This is getting out of hand.”

Asher spat into the sink, his hands gripping the edges so tightly his knuckles turned white. “I can’t,” he growled, his voice rough and strained. “Every time he touches her, it’s like my wolf is tearing me apart from the inside. I can’t control it.”

Nick sighed, stepping closer and placing a hand on Asher’s shoulder. “I get it, man. The mate bond is intense, especially for an Alpha. But you can’t keep doing this to yourself. You’re going to make yourself sick—or worse.”

Asher straightened, his chest heaving as he glared at his reflection in the mirror. His eyes glowed a faint red, the wolf just beneath the surface. “You don’t understand, Nick. She’s *mine*. My mate. And he’s out there, touching her, kissing her—” His voice broke, and he slammed his fist against the counter, the sound echoing in the small bathroom.

Nick winced but didn’t back down. “I get it, okay? But you can’t just lose it every time Zack gets close to her. You’ll scare her off—or worse, you’ll expose us. You know the rules, Asher. Humans can’t know about us. Not yet.”

Asher’s shoulders slumped, the fight draining out of him as he leaned heavily against the sink. “I know,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “But it’s killing me, Nick. Every second she’s with him, it’s like a knife to my chest. I can’t just sit here and do nothing.”

Nick’s expression softened, and he squeezed Asher’s shoulder. “You’re not doing nothing. You’re giving her time. She’s human, Asher. She doesn’t understand the bond, and if you push her too hard, you’ll lose her for good.”

Asher closed his eyes, his breathing ragged as he tried to calm the storm inside him. “What if I’ve already lost her?” he asked, his voice raw with emotion.

Before Nick could respond, his phone dinged. He pulled it out of his pocket, glancing at the screen. “It’s Scarlet,” he said, his tone shifting. “She says she and Rayla are at the Sadie's party waiting for us.”

Asher’s head snapped up, his eyes narrowing. “Rayla’s at the party? With Scarlet?”

Nick nodded, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Looks like it. Guess she’s not spending the rest of the night moping over Zack.”

Asher’s jaw tightened, his wolf stirring at the news, but instead of the flicker of hope he expected, a wave of anger washed over him. If Rayla could move on so easily, so could he. He straightened, splashing cold water on his face and running a hand through his hair. “Let’s go,” he said, his voice firm.

Nick raised an eyebrow. “You sure you’re up for this? You look like hell.”

Asher shot him a glare, his eyes still faintly glowing. “I’m fine. Let’s go.”

Nick shrugged, grabbing his jacket from the couch. “Alright, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

As they headed out the door, Asher’s mind raced. He didn’t know what to expect, but one thing was certain—he wasn’t going to let Rayla or the mate bond control him anymore. If she could be with Zack, he could be with someone else too. He’d been fine before he met her, and he’d be fine now. f**k the mate bond. f**k the way it made him feel. He wasn’t going to let it ruin him.

By the time they reached the bar, Asher’s resolve was set. He wasn’t there for Rayla. He was there to forget her. And if that meant finding someone else to distract him, so be it.

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