As students gathered their things, the instructor's phone buzzed.
He pulled it out, glanced at the message, and sighed.
"Well," he muttered. "Looks like I'll be subbing for the next two classes as well."
Nene paused mid-step.
The room shifted slightly, students glancing at each other.
"So we're just continuing?" a Beta asked.
The instructor smirked, slipping his phone back into his pocket.
"That's right," he said smoothly. "We're covering courting and relationships now."
Nene groaned internally.
She had been mentally preparing to deal with this tomorrow.
Now?
It was happening immediately.
The instructor turned back to the board, writing out the topics again.
- Traditional Alpha courtship practices- Beta and Omega relationship structures- Fated Mates vs. Chosen Mates- Legal implications of mate bonds
Nene exhaled sharply, dropping back into her seat.
No escape now.
The instructor clapped his hands together, grinning.
"Alright, let's get started."
The instructor leaned against the desk, scanning the class.
"Alright," he said smoothly. "Let's start with the basics."
He turned to the board, writing out the first topic.
1. Traditional Alpha Courtship Practices
Alphas court by establishing dominance, providing security, and displaying strength.
Historically, courtship involved formal challenges, gift-giving, and territory invitations.
Modern Alpha relationships balance instinct with practicality—but dominance still plays a role.
Nene exhaled sharply, already unimpressed.
"Sounds more like business negotiations," she muttered.
The instructor chuckled.
"In a way, it is," he admitted. "Alphas don't just mate for love. They mate for power, stability, and compatibility."
A Beta girl in the front row raised her hand.
"But don't some Alphas still follow the old traditions?" she asked.
The instructor nodded.
"Yes," he said. "Some still insist on challenges for courting. Others use the classic gift-giving method—offering expensive or rare items to prove their value."
A Beta male snorted.
"So, what? They fight or throw money around?"
The instructor smirked.
"Pretty much."
Some of the Betas in the class laughed.
The few Omegas, however, looked more uncomfortable.
Nene stayed quiet, absorbing the information.
Then—finally—
The instructor moved to the next topic.
2. Beta & Omega Relationship Structures
Betas pair based on practicality, attraction, and emotional compatibility.
Omega relationships prioritize security, pack integration, and instinctual bonds.
Betas have the most relationship freedom since they aren't bound by mate bonds.
Nene tilted her head slightly.
"So Betas really do have it the easiest," she muttered.
The instructor nodded.
"Yes," he confirmed. "Betas don't have biological instincts forcing them into anything. They make choices based on what works for them."
A quiet Omega girl near the back raised her hand.
"But Omega pairings are more complicated, right?" she asked hesitantly.
The instructor nodded.
"Omegas prioritize stability," he explained. "They often seek out partners who provide security—whether that's emotional, financial, or territorial."
Nene exhaled sharply.
It made sense.
Omegas weren't weak, but they had different needs.
The instructor smirked slightly.
"Now," he mused, "let's move on to the part everyone's been waiting for."
He turned to the board.
And wrote—
3. Fated Mates vs. Chosen Mates
Fated Mates
A rare, biological bond determined by instinct.
The connection is immediate but develops over time if not recognized.
The bond cannot be broken without extreme consequences (emotional, psychological, or physical).
Signs: Increased possessiveness, heightened awareness of the mate, instinctual comfort or agitation.
Chosen Mates
A voluntary bond between two individuals.
Can be based on personal choice, power, alliance, or love.
The bond can be broken through legal separation or rejection.
No extreme consequences if the relationship ends.
Nene frowned slightly, reading through the list.
"So Fated Mates don't always know immediately?" she asked.
The instructor nodded.
"Correct. The connection develops naturally, but if one or both partners don't recognize it, the process is slower."
A Beta girl in the front row raised her hand.
"But what happens if a Fated Mate bond is rejected?"
The instructor paused, his expression darkening slightly.
"If one mate rejects the bond," he said smoothly, "the other suffers the consequences."
A few Omegas shifted uncomfortably.
The instructor continued.
"It's rare, but if a Fated Mate is ignored or denied, it can result in physical sickness, mental instability, or—in extreme cases—death."
Nene stiffened.
Wait.
Death?
She hadn't heard that part before.
She tilted her head slightly, keeping her voice casual.
"And what happens if someone doesn't know they have a Fated Mate?"
The instructor smirked slightly, like he already knew why she was asking.
"If one partner is unaware," he said, "they will still experience symptoms—restlessness, heightened emotions, possessive tendencies—but they won't understand why until the bond is confirmed."
Nene exhaled slowly.
Because suddenly?
Certain things about Alexander were making a lot more sense.
The instructor crossed his arms, watching the class carefully.
"The most important thing to remember," he said smoothly, "is that a Fated Mate bond is a double-edged sword."
A pause.
Then—pointed, deliberate—
"It can make an Alpha stronger than ever—or it can become their greatest weakness."
Nene narrowed her eyes.
"So, Chosen Mates don't have the same biological connection?"
The instructor nodded.
"Correct. They can have a strong emotional or political bond, but it's not the same as a Fated Mate bond."
A Beta male near the front raised his hand.
"But if a Chosen Mate bond can be broken, why do Alphas still use it?"
The instructor chuckled.
"Because it's useful," he said smoothly. "A Chosen Bond provides legal stability, political alliances, and control over bloodline inheritance."
Nene huffed.
So it was about power.
Not instinct.
Not connection.
Just strategy.
The instructor turned back to the class, watching them carefully.
"The key difference," he said smoothly, "is that a Fated Mate bond is a biological necessity—while a Chosen Mate bond is a convenience."
A pause.
Then—pointed, sharp—
"And if an Alpha is strong enough, they will always choose the one that makes them more powerful."
Nene felt her stomach twist.
Because she suddenly wasn't sure which one she belonged to.
Nene narrowed her eyes.
"So, Chosen Mates don't have the same biological connection?"
The instructor nodded.
"Correct. They can have a strong emotional or political bond, but it's not the same as a Fated Mate bond."
A Beta male near the front raised his hand.
"But if a Chosen Mate bond can be broken, why do Alphas still use it?"
The instructor chuckled.
"Because it's useful," he said smoothly. "A Chosen Bond provides legal stability, political alliances, and control over bloodline inheritance."
Nene huffed.
So it was about power.
Not instinct.
Not connection.
Just strategy.
The instructor turned back to the class, watching them carefully.
"The key difference," he said smoothly, "is that a Fated Mate bond is a biological necessity—while a Chosen Mate bond is a convenience."
The instructor exhaled sharply, setting the chalk down before turning back to the class.
"Before we move on," he said smoothly, "let me add a disclaimer about Fated Mates."
Nene raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
The instructor crossed his arms, his tone shifting slightly—more serious, more deliberate.
"While most mate bonds are based on instinct, power, or necessity," he said, "Fated Mates are as close to 'true love' as werewolf society gets."
A few students murmured among themselves.
The Betas looked curious.
The Omegas looked relieved.
And the Alphas?
They looked skeptical.
The instructor smirked slightly, as if expecting the reaction.
"Unlike Chosen Mates, Fated Mates have an immediate, unbreakable connection," he continued. "This makes the relationship stronger, more stable, and, in some cases… nearly unshakable."
Then—smooth, casual—
"And before you argue, let's look at the numbers."
He turned back to the board, writing down official statistics.
Fated Mate Success Rate
Beta & Fated Mate Pairings: 98% lifelong bond stability.
Omega & Fated Mate Pairings: 96% lifelong bond stability.
Alpha & Fated Mate Pairings: 73% lifelong bond stability (due to dominance conflicts).
Nene tilted her head slightly.
"So Betas have the best Fated Mate relationships?" she asked.
The instructor nodded.
"Yes. Since Betas don't have the same dominance issues, their Fated Bonds are the most stable," he explained. "Omegas are slightly lower due to external factors like pack pressure."
Then—**pointed, direct—**he tapped the last number.
"But Alphas," he mused, "are the ones who struggle the most."
A Beta girl in the front row frowned.
"Why?"
The instructor smirked.
"Because Alphas have egos."
A few students laughed, but Nene?
She was watching carefully.
"Fated Mates between Alphas can be powerful," the instructor continued. "But they can also be volatile. If both Alphas refuse to yield, the relationship can self-destruct before the bond fully settles."
A pause.
"Since I know Miss Nara prefers real cases," he said, "let's look at two famous Alpha romances."
Nene perked up slightly, curious.
The instructor turned back to the board, listing two names.
1. The Alpha Who Chose His Fated Mate Over Politics
→ Case: Lin Zhen (Alpha) & Li Xiu (Alpha), Bloodline: Lin & Li Packs
Lin Zhen was expected to marry a Beta or Omega for political stability.
Instead, he met Li Xiu—his Fated Mate—who was also an Alpha.
Despite pressure from both families, he refused all arranged pairings.
Their relationship remained stable, but they had to keep separate packs to prevent dominance struggles.
Nene stiffened.
Her mother and Lin Zhen.
She hadn't even considered that their bond was a Fated Mate bond.
The instructor glanced at her knowingly.
"This case is interesting," he mused. "Because even though Lin Zhen was the weaker Alpha in dominance ranking, he still refused to take another mate."
Nene exhaled sharply.
She had always assumed Lin Zhen stayed with her mother for political reasons.
But if he was her Fated Mate…
Then he had never even considered another option.
The instructor moved to the next case.
2. The Alpha Who Gave Up His Rank for His Mate
→ Case: Alexander Zhao's Uncle (Rank #12) & Fang Min (Omega), Bloodline: Zhao Clan
Zhao Wei was ranked #12 globally, known for his brutal leadership.
He met Fang Min—an Omega healer with no political connections.
Despite his power, he stepped back from high-ranking pack politics to prioritize their bond.
He remains the only Alpha in the top 20 to voluntarily withdraw from ranking battles.
Nene blinked.
An Alpha stepping back?
That was rare.
The instructor smirked slightly.
"This is one of the only recorded cases where an Alpha ranked in the top 20 willingly left the competition for power."
A Beta near the back frowned.
"Why would he do that?"
The instructor chuckled.
"Because once the bond settled, he didn't care about power anymore," he said smoothly. "His priorities changed."
Nene exhaled slowly.
Because that was dangerous.
If an Alpha strong enough to be in the top 20 could abandon ambition for a mate…
Then that meant a Fated Bond wasn't just instinct.
It was a complete shift in priorities.
The instructor tapped the board once more.
"The point is simple," he said smoothly. "Fated Mates can override everything—politics, ambition, even dominance."
A pause.
Then—calm, knowing—
"And once an Alpha finds their Fated Mate, they will never let them go."
Nene's stomach twisted.
Because if that was true…
Then she really, really didn't want to know what that meant for her and Alexander.