(Cole's POV)
"Bro, I swear if you keep frowning like that, your face is going to stay that way forever."
I shot Alex a sideways glance as I drove, the low hum of the engine filling the silence between us. "Do you ever stop talking?"
"Not when you're brooding. Which is… ninety percent of the time." He stretched in the passenger seat, one hand behind his head.
"I can't believe you dragged me out here just so you could enter full creepy-stalker mode on her."
"I'm not stalking her," I said, trying to sound convincing. Truth be told, my actions probably weren't helping my case.
"Uh-huh… and what do you call what you're doing right now?"
"Ughh," I groaned.
"You've been different lately. Quieter. More… lover-boy-ish."
I almost choked. "Lover boy?"
"Yeah," he smirked. "You know—the type that stares out the window dramatically, thinking about a certain blonde girl. Probably humming sad songs in his head."
I groaned again. "You're an idiot."
"Correction," Alex said, pointing at himself. "I'm your idiot. The one who keeps you sane when your wolf's acting up over a girl."
I tightened my grip on the steering wheel. "She's not just a girl."
"Exactly my point." His grin widened. "You are a lover boy."
I shot him a glare, and he immediately raised both hands in mock surrender. "Okay, okay! Chill. Don't bite my head off, Alpha Romeo."
"Keep talking and I just might."
He laughed, clearly enjoying himself. "Anyway, speaking of biting, the others have been asking about you. Especially Ryan. I literally had to put my phone on silent mode cos of you. Ryan Says you've been dodging them since the elders' meeting."
"I've not been avoiding them. It's just that I've been.... preoccupied," I muttered.
"Yeah...i can guess. Preoccupied staring at your human mate?"
I gave him a warning look.
He chuckled. "Fine, fine. But seriously, they're all at The Den. You should swing by before they start thinking you've gone full hermit mode."
"The Den"—their name for our hangout. Not really a cave, though outsiders assumed so. It was a hidden underground lounge beneath one of the old packhouses, fully renovated with leather couches, dartboards, a pool table, a bar stocked with whiskey, a wide-screen TV, and a sound system that could shake the walls.
It was ours. Mine, Alex's, Ryan's, Nathan's, and a few others in my inner circle. No rules. No formalities. Just us. Where we can chill and relax.
I pulled into the gravel driveway, parking beside a row of motorcycles and trucks. The night air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of pine and running water from the nearby creek.
As soon as I stepped out, Alex clapped my shoulder. "Try to smile when we go in, yeah? Don't want the guys thinking you've joined the dark side."
I gave him a dry look. "You know what Alex? You're lucky you're still alive."
"I know." Alex chuckled.
We made our way toward the heavy steel door that led underground. Music leaked faintly—laughter, clinking glasses, the steady bass of something upbeat.
Alex pushed the door open. "After you, Alpha."
A chorus of familiar voices greeted us.
"Well, look who finally decided to crawl out of his royal cave!"
"Alpha Cole in the flesh!"
"Took you long enough, man!"
I couldn't help a faint smirk as I surveyed the room. Ryan Blake sat near the pool table, cue in hand, his dark hair tousled, expression calm as ever. He looked up as I approached.
"About time, Alpha," he said, setting the cue aside. "We were starting to think you forgot where The Den was."
"I've been handling elder business," I replied, heading to the bar and pouring myself a drink. "You know how it is."
"Yeah, but rumor has it," Ryan said slowly, "that elder business this time involves a certain human."
The room went quiet for a split second before Alex burst out laughing. "See? I told you, man! Word spreads faster than wildfire in this pack."
"Who is she?" Ryan asked. "I tried to pry information from your stupid beta, but he won't budge.
"Hey!!!!!" Alex shouted, clearly offended at being called stupid. The rest of the guys smirked at his misery.
"I believe congratulations are in order," Ryan said, raising an eyebrow. "You've imprinted—the first Alpha in this generation to do so. The other Alpha heirs will be pissed."
"Yeah… I can't wait to see Pierce's face when he shows up at school," Alex added. "Always bragging he'd be first to imprint and break his lunar curse."
"Will she be able to break your curse, seeing as she's human." Ryan asked me.
Once again all eyes were on me again.
I rolled my eyes. "I see you've all been busy gossiping."
"Not gossip," Ryan said, his tone measured. "Just concern. When we heard she's human, we weren't sure whether to be sad or happy about it."
"Yeah… which is why the elders found it convenient to rush to my residence," I said, running a hand through my hair and chugging my drink.
"And what was decided?" Nathan, my Delta, entered. His blonde hair shone under the dim lights, tall and imposing.
I hesitated, all eyes on me.
"You've been avoiding this issue, Cole. That's not like you. You need a plan. If not for you, then for her."
I sighed, taking a sip of whiskey, the burn grounding me. "There's nothing to avoid. It's true. I imprinted on a human yes, but unlike what you might think, the pull I feel towards her is quite strong. It's getting hard for me to resist her and I don't think I can do it for long.
A murmur ran through the room. Alex grinned like he'd won the lottery. "See? Lover boy confirmed."
"Alex," I warned.
"What? I'm just appreciating the miracle of love!"
Ryan chuckled, crossing his arms. "So it's true. The Alpha of Longclaw Pack… imprinted on a human."
I met his gaze, unflinching. "Yes. And before anyone jumps to conclusions, I know how complicated it sounds."
"Not complicated," Ryan said thoughtfully. "Just… unexpected. This has never happened before, this....this is uncharted territory Cole."
Jason, one of our lieutenants, whistled low. "Man, the elders must've had a heart attack when they heard that."
"Pretty much," I muttered. "Since it made them rush straight to my house last night."
"Let me guess," Alex said, "lots of 'this is dangerous,' 'you can't be with her,' 'think of the pack,' and so on?"
"Exactly."
Ryan leaned against the table. "So… what now? You plan to tell her?"
I hesitated, swirling my drink. "Soon. But not now. She doesn't know what we are. What I am. This world...the supernatural world, will be a new world for her."
"Maybe that's for the best," Ryan said. "Ease her into it. Humans scare easily when they see fangs."
"Pls don't say fangs.." Nathan shuddered. "It makes me think of those blood...sucking.. leaches in westvale."
Alex smirked. "Yeah you're right. Fangs are for those dead people vamps. But wait... werewolves have fangs too, do we not? Does that mean we're dead too?"
"Alexxx!!!!!" Everyone shouted his name at the same time. One thing we don't like I guess, is being compared together to those bloodsuckers.
"Ok fine. I change my words to claws then. You happy?" He asked everyone, but no one paid him any heed. "And Cole, like I was saying....if he plays it right he will get her. Women love a little mystery."
I ignored him. "The elders want a decision before the Blood Moon."
Ryan's expression darkened. "That's in four weeks."
"I know."
"I think I understand why the elders are pushing for it before the blood moon." Nathan said.
"Cole....you know well enough what happens during the blood moon. By tradition, she needs to be with you during that time. Your wolf will want to mate with her. It's not something you can stop, your wolf will seek her out. You're a pure blooded lycan....we won't be able to stop you on our own."
The room fell heavy. The Blood Moon wasn't a joke—not for Lycans, and definitely not for a human bound to one.
"Hey," Alex said, clapping his hands, "let's not get doom-and-gloom-yet. Our Alpha's got this. He Survived rogue attacks, elder politics, those vamps and Camille's tantrums.
Seriously...there could be worse things that could have happened, like maybe Camille turning into a vampire. Guess what would have happened to Cole?."
Laughter broke the tension. Even I smirked.
Ryan shook his head, amusement flickering. "You're an idiot, Alex."
"Yeah," I said dryly. "But he's my idiot."
Alex grinned. "See? Lover boy and sentimental."
"Keep talking and I'll make you run laps till dawn."
"Still worth it."
The banter flowed—laughter, teasing, jokes—filling the Den again. Yet even as I leaned back, my mind drifted… to her.
To Rachelle Monroe. Her voice. Her eyes. The way she moved, unaware yet captivating.
My wolf stirred beneath the surface, a low growl vibrating in my chest that only Alex noticed.
He nudged me quietly. "Stop thinking about her. You're not helping yourself if you do."
I didn't deny it. "I can't help it."
He nodded slowly. "Then maybe it's time you stop fighting it, man. Fate doesn't wait forever. Tell her."
I stared into my drink, my reflection catching in the amber liquid. Deep down, I knew he was right.
"Tomorrow then… I'll tell her tomorrow."