Mia and Ryan walked home that evening with smiles on their faces. They were holding hands, swinging them lightly as if they were carefree teenagers, not a powerful alpha and his human mate. The soft evening breeze brushed Mia's hair across her face, and Ryan reached over to tuck it back behind her ear. She giggled, leaning into his side.
For the first time in a long while, both of them felt peace. No arguments, no misunderstandings—just two people happy to be together.
When they arrived home, Mia went straight to the kitchen. She insisted on cooking something small even though Ryan offered to order food. "It feels more special when I make it," she said with a playful smile. Ryan simply watched her, amused, leaning on the counter with his arms folded while she prepared a simple dinner.
They ate together quietly, occasionally feeding each other with little jokes in between bites. After dinner, Ryan scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the bathroom. "Ryan, put me down!" Mia laughed, but he only chuckled, kissing her forehead.
They bathed, changed into comfortable clothes, and eventually collapsed onto their bed. Mia curled into Ryan's chest, breathing in his scent, while Ryan stroked her hair gently. Within minutes, sleep took over both of them, and they drifted into a deep, comfortable slumber in each other's arms.
---
While the young couple enjoyed their peace, Ryan's father was anything but calm. He sat in his study, the heavy oak desk in front of him littered with papers he wasn't actually reading. A glass of wine sat untouched by his elbow. His mind was far from business.
He had spies everywhere, and the reports kept coming in. He already knew Ryan and Mia were closer than ever. They weren't drifting apart as he had hoped. Instead, their bond seemed to grow stronger each passing day.
His jaw clenched. "How dare he?" he muttered under his breath. Ryan, his only son, his heir, the future alpha, was wasting his life on a mere human. It was unacceptable. The very thought made his blood boil.
Unable to contain his frustration, he picked up his phone and dialed Suzan. She answered quickly, her voice soft and eager.
"Yes, Alpha?"
"I thought I gave you a task," he said, his voice sharp. "Why are Ryan and Mia still together?"
On the other end, Suzan hesitated. She knew he would not like her answer. "I tried everything, Alpha," she admitted. "But he loves her… he really loves her. Nothing I do seems to work."
His fingers tightened around the phone. "So, you want to give up so easily? After all the sacrifices we've made, after all we've planned? Do you want to fail me, Suzan?"
"No, Alpha," she said quickly, her heart racing. "I'll try again. I promise I'll do better next time."
"Better," he said coldly. "Because if you fail again, don't expect my protection."
"Yes, Alpha," Suzan whispered, before the line went dead.
Ryan's father leaned back in his chair, his anger still simmering. He couldn't believe his son would disobey him so openly. Ryan knew the rules. He knew the pack traditions. Humans were weak. Humans didn't belong in their world. Yet Ryan insisted on bringing this girl closer.
"This ends," he muttered to himself, his eyes narrowing.
Just then, the door opened softly, and his wife stepped in. She was elegant as always, dressed in a flowing gown, her silver hair tied neatly at the back. She carried herself with grace, but her eyes showed worry.
"Honey," she said gently, "why are you still awake? You've been locked in here all evening."
He sighed. "Because of Ryan. Because of that girl."
His wife frowned. "You mean Mia?"
"Yes," he snapped. "He's still with her. He refuses to let her go. How dare he bring a human into our family? Into our pack?"
She stepped closer, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Honey, Ryan loves her. Can't you see? He's happy with her. Isn't that what matters?"
"Never," he growled, standing abruptly. "I will never accept her. She is weak. She doesn't belong here."
"But baby," his wife said softly, "maybe she's different. Maybe—"
"Enough!" he cut her off, slamming his fist on the desk. "I will handle this myself. Ryan clearly won't listen, and you… you're too soft. Leave it to me."
She sighed heavily, realizing she wouldn't win this argument tonight. She turned and left the study, her heart heavy. She had never met Mia, but she had seen how Ryan looked when he spoke of her. Despite her dislike for humans, she couldn't deny the love in her son's eyes. For that reason alone, she had been willing to accept the girl. But her husband… he was stubborn. He would never give in easily.
---
Suzan's Escape
Meanwhile, Suzan left Ryan's father's house in frustration. Her plan had failed again, and now the Alpha was growing impatient with her. She needed to clear her head, so she went to the club in the pack's territory.
The music was loud, the lights flashing, and the room filled with the scent of sweat, alcohol, and wolves enjoying themselves. She sat at the bar, sipping a drink, when a handsome young werewolf approached her.
"Hey, beautiful," he said with a smirk. "Care to dance with me?"
Suzan smiled. If there was one thing she was good at, it was distracting herself. "Sure," she said, standing and letting him lead her to the dance floor.
The two swayed to the rhythm, their bodies moving closer and closer until the heat between them was impossible to ignore. Within minutes, they slipped away from the crowd and entered a private room.
Clothes came off quickly, and soon the room was filled with heavy breaths and moans. For Suzan, it was nothing more than a physical release. She didn't care about the man—she never did. For her, sex was just sex, a way to drown out her frustrations and fill the emptiness she felt whenever Ryan rejected her.
When it was over, she went to the bathroom, freshened up, and slipped back into her clothes. She didn't even glance at the man still lying on the bed. With her chin high, she walked out of the room as if nothing had happened.
That was her life. When she wanted something, she took it. When she was frustrated, she satisfied herself. No feelings attached.
But tonight, as she lay in her own bed, her thoughts returned to Ryan. He was the one she wanted, the one she couldn't have. And as long as Mia stood in the way, Suzan knew she would never be satisfied.
Her eyes narrowed as she whispered to herself, "I'll end her, one way or another."
With that bitter promise echoing in her mind, she drifted off to sleep,