"I need to tell my family about it," I muttered, rubbing a hand over my jaw as Alex stood beside me in the empty parking lot.
The words felt heavier spoken aloud, like saying them made everything real in a way I wasn't ready to face yet. The imprint was still fresh—raw, burning beneath my skin, pulsing with every heartbeat.
My wolf paced restlessly inside me, claws scraping against my control, demanding I act immediately to claim her and Protect her.
Alex glanced at me, brows lifting slightly. "You sure you don't want me to tell the others?" he asked carefully. "You know how they get when we keep secrets. Especially Nathan."
I exhaled slowly, dragging my fingers through my hair. "It's fine. I've imprinted, Alex. That's not something I can hide or undo." My voice dropped, rougher than I intended. "They'll find out eventually."
Eventually meant soon. It always did in a pack like ours.
He hummed, tilting his head. "Yeah… with Dante already knowing about it, he's obligated to inform the elders immediately."
He winced. "My guess? They'll know by tonight. The whole pack."
The word elders made my jaw tighten.
"Doesn't matter," I said curtly. "They'll start annoying me again, questioning every breath and decision I take like they always do. I wonder how my dad coped with them for so long."
Alex snorted. "Occupational hazard of being the Alpha. I give you a thumps up all the time for dealing with them. I get goosebumps whenever I hear that they're coming to the pack."
He gave me that stupid grin he always wore whenever things got awkward or dangerous—or both. "Man, the big bad Alpha got himself a human mate. Never thought I'd see the day."
I shot him a glare sharp enough to cut glass. "Don't start again, Alex."
He raised his hands in mock surrender, but the smirk stayed firmly in place. "Hey, I'm not judging. Just saying, this is going to drive the packs crazy. You know what the elders think about humans—"
"I don't give a damn what they think," I cut in sharply.The words came out hard, final.
"She's mine," I continued, my voice dropping into something darker, more dangerous. "That's all that matters."
My wolf surged at the declaration, pleased.
Alex's expression shifted, amusement fading just enough for him to nod in understanding. "Yeah," he said quietly. "I figured you'd say that. Must be the alpha blood."
I didn't even bother replying him.
I reached for the door of my car, my thoughts already racing ahead—how I'd tell my parents, how the pack would react, how I'd keep her safe from all of it. Before my hand could touch the handle, Alex called out.
"Hey, Cole?"
I turned, expecting something serious. "What?"
His grin returned, wider than before. "Is she hot?"
I stared at him, genuinely considering throwing my keys at his face, or anything hard that might hurt him.
"You're an idiot," I muttered, yanking the door open.
Alex laughed. "That's not a no!"
Before I could respond, I heard my name -that familiar, high-pitched voice that sliced through the air—sharp enough to instantly make my wolf bristle instantly, and twitch in irritation.
"Cole!"
I froze and Slowly, I turned. Then I saw her...Camile.
She was strutting toward me across the parking lot like it was a runway built solely for her. Short black leather skirt.
Tight cream-colored top hugging every curve. And those damn knee-high boots that keeps clicking aggressively against the pavement like weapons she wielded with intent.
Every step screamed look at me.
Her blonde hair was perfectly styled, not a strand out of place, and her lips, painted red were curved in that practiced pout she knew drove men insane. Well...it did nothing for me now. My mind was still hooked on a certain green eyed girl.
She stopped in front of me, planting a manicured hand on her hip. "You didn't answer my text," she said, irritation lacing her tone. "I sent it, like, five minutes ago."
Behind her, Alex rolled his eyes. "Five minutes?" he repeated. "That's tragic."
Camille shot him a glare sharp enough to kill before turning her attention back to me. "Seriously, Cole. What's your problem today? You've been acting weird."
I exhaled slowly, forcing down the frustration clawing its way up my throat. My wolf snarled, irritated by her proximity, by the way she invaded my space without permission.
"I need to go home, Camille," I said flatly. "I don't have time for this. I'll talk to you later, right now I have a more pressing issue to attend to."
Her eyes narrowed. "An issue more important than me? What's wrong with you? You've been acting weird since—"
"Since five minutes ago?" Alex cut in, smirking.
"Stay out of this, Beta Boy," she snapped.
He placed a hand on his chest, mock-offended. "Ouch. That one actually hurt."
"Camille," I said, my patience thinning by the second. "I seriously have things to take care of. We'll talk later."
"Things?" she repeated incredulously. "Cole, I'm your girlfriend!" The word grated against my nerves.
"Soon-to-be ex-girlfriend," Alex murmured under his breath.
My enhanced hearing caught it anyway.
I didn't respond. Didn't argue. Didn't explain.
I simply opened the door, slid into the driver's seat, slammed it shut, and started the engine.
"Cole!" she called after me, her voice rising in pitch. But I didn't look back.
The Porsche roared to life beneath my hands, the vibration grounding me as I pulled out of the lot and sped away, leaving her standing there—furious, and utterly powerless.
As my car disappeared down the road, Alex shook his head slowly.
"Well," he muttered, "that was dramatic."
He glanced at Camille. "Guess the world doesn't revolve around you after all. You just caught him at a bad time."
Her head snapped toward him. "You're his beta," she said sharply. "What's going on with him?"
Alex tilted his head, clearly debating whether to mess with her, or how much damage he felt like doing today. "Oh, nothing major," he said casually. "He just found his mate."
"What?" she shrieked.
The sound of her voice was sharp enough to make him wince. He rubbed his ear. "Damn. Could you not do that? You know, for someone who likes yelling, your voice is really loud. We have sensitive hearing, remember?"
Her lips trembled, color draining from her face. "He—he found his mate?"
Alex nodded. "Yup. Fated one. The real deal. Pretty sure the Moon Goddess herself stamped it when he imprinted on her."
Her expression shifted rapidly—confusion, disbelief, then something dark and dangerous. Her perfectly glossed lips parted "Who is she?!" she demanded.
Alex shrugged. "Don't know yet. Didn't ask." He paused, then added dryly, "But you might want to stop screaming before you burst a vocal cord. And if I were you, I'd start investing in ice cream and tissues."
Her face went pale. "You're lying."
"Wish I was," Alex replied with a shrug. "But why the overreaction? You knew this was going to happen sooner or later anyway."
She blinked, speechless for once.
Alex gave her a sympathetic smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. Then he turned and started walking away, waving over his shoulder.
"Good luck, princess," he muttered, leaving her frozen in place like a statue—beautiful, furious, and watching her world begin to crack.