Haylie POV
The morning was a whirlwind as I scrambled to get ready, Aunt Camilla urging me along after I overslept.
I dressed in a simple shirt and jeans, tied my hair in a messy bun, and spritzed on my favorite daisy perfume.
After grabbing a breakfast bar, I followed her to the car, my nerves bubbling up as we neared the school. Yesterday's events, and the overwhelming realization of being connected to Liam, loomed in my mind.
Facing him today seemed impossible. I wasn't ready for this.
As we reached the school entrance, my aunt gave me a concerned look. "Will you be okay today?" she asked softly.
I gave her a small smile, hoping to reassure her. "I'll be fine, don't worry." I'd been through enough already, and I knew I had to rely on myself now. With a quick kiss on her cheek, I got out, watching as she drove away.
I slipped into the crowd, trying to make myself as invisible as possible.
My goal was to avoid Liam; I needed time to sort out everything I was feeling. Moving quickly, I reached my locker, opened it, and stashed my books in my bag.
The library would be my sanctuary today—a quiet, hidden place where I could think. It had been my refuge during tough times in the past, especially when I was bullied, and thankfully, Claudine had been there to help me through it.
Clutching my bag, I close my locker, the metallic clang echoing through the hallway.
As I turn, my heart skips a beat, startled by the sight of Claudine's radiant smile. The fluorescent lights buzz above us, casting a harsh glare on her face. "There you are?" say Claudine.
Beads of sweat trickle down my forehead, the nervous tension filling the air around me. I curse myself for not anticipating this encounter with Claudine. She's going to ask about Friday, and I panic, my thoughts screaming in my head. "So, are you just going to stand there, or must I pry it out of you?" Claudine's voice breaks through my racing thoughts.
I glance around, searching for a safe escape route, but my eyes land on the football team, their boisterous laughter filling the corridor.
Panic surges through my veins, and I grab Claudine's arm, pulling her urgently along the hallway. The sound of our hurried footsteps reverberates against the cold, tiled floor.
"Come with me," I plead, my voice strained. I can't afford to be seen today; I need time to process everything since I discovered the meaning of fated mates. Finally, as we reach a deserted corner, I come to a sudden stop.
But then I notice Claudine's gaze fixed on me. "What is going on?" she snaps, her tone demanding answers. I hesitate, unable to reveal the whole truth.
"I have a really busy weekend, and I need some time away from Liam," I confess, my words tumbling out.
Claudine's eyes widen with surprise, and then soften as she looks at me. "Did he say something or hurt you?" she asks, concern lacing her voice.
I shake my head, denying any harm caused by him. "No, he didn't," I assure her, taking a deep breath. "I just need to think and sort things out on my own."
Claudine's hand gently rests on my upper arm, offering comfort in her touch. "Whatever you're going through, just know that I am here for you," she says, her words bringing a sense of relief.
"Thank you, Claudine," I reply, gratitude filling my voice. I may not be able to share the whole truth, but right now, I need a friend I can rely on.
This day at school isn't going to be easy. A wave of anxiety washed over me, accompanied by the distinct smell of fear that seemed to permeate the air. It was as if Liam, the wolf, could already sense my presence, his acute sense of smell detecting my unique scent from miles away.
I couldn't escape his heightened senses - his hearing, so sharp that he could pick up the faintest sound, making me feel exposed and vulnerable. No matter what I did, he would surely find me. It has to hide from him that I could think about everything.
As I entered the classroom, the tension in the air was palpable.
The scent of freshly sharpened pencils mingled with the musty smell of books, creating a familiar yet stifling atmosphere. I took solace in the fact that Liam was a year older than me, meaning we were in different classes. Perhaps this small age difference would grant me some respite.
Claudine, my only true friend, sat beside me as we settled into our seats.
Today, I'm going to focus entirely on the teacher. This way, I won't have to think about my mother, Liam, or the whole "mate" situation. I need time away from it all.
Everything is happening too quickly, and I can barely keep up.
My aunt using magic on me for the first time yesterday was unsettling, and I still need to ask her how she does it. In my ten years, I've never seen her use magic before.
I need a break from everything—a day off to clear my mind. This is what my mother wanted for me: a human life, something normal. And that's exactly what I'm going to focus on today.
Claudine POV
I tried to keep cool, acting like I didn't know what was going on, and focused on being a friend to Haylie rather than adding to her stress. As we sat in class, my mind link opened, and Liam broke through, saying, "Claudine, have you seen Haylie? I haven't seen her all morning, but I can pick up her scent here at school. She must be here, right?"
Typical wolf instinct—mates always want to know where their partners are and if they're safe. But with Liam, it was different since he couldn't mind link with his mate, Haylie, because she was human.
I cleared my throat and responded through the mind link, "Haylie's fine. She's with me, but I think she needs some time alone today after what happened between you two."
She might try to hide it, but I could tell she was in troubled. As a human, this was all new to her, overwhelming even. For me, it was second nature, just part of life.
Titan and I had already mated, and he'd marked me. It was natural for us wolves, nothing unusual. But for Haylie, it was different—outside her realm of understanding. If she were a wolf, I could've shown her my mark, which she'd recognize, but as a human, she couldn't see my wolf mating mark.
I picked up my pencil when Liam broke through again. "Thank you for telling me. You're right; she needs time, and I'll give that to her."
Thankfully, Liam was understanding. Most Alphas are possessive and intense about their mates, wanting to be with them constantly, especially after bonding, which binds them for life.
"He's just worried about his mate," my wolf, Red, whispered in my mind. "I know, but this is different, Red," I reminded her. I tried to refocus on my work when Red interrupted again. "What do you expect? It's not like you and Titan, who mated in the woods. If a wolf bites a human's neck, the human will bleed out and die instantly."
I took a deep breath and glanced at Haylie, who was immersed in her schoolwork, but I noticed something—she bore Liam's mark.
"How does she already have his mark?" I asked my wolf. Red was silent for a few moments before replying, "That mark only appears when the mate bond is complete, and the male has bitten the female's neck."
It was true. Liam hadn't bitten Haylie's neck, yet she was already wearing his mark.
She might not even realize it because she's human. It was strange, something I couldn't quite figure out.
I tried to focus on my work, transcribing notes from the whiteboard, but I couldn't stop thinking about the mark on Haylie's neck. It hadn't been there on Friday when I last saw her.
My curiosity burned until I finally reached out to Liam through our mind link. "Liam, did you… mark Haylie's neck?"
His response was immediate and sharp. "Are you crazy? If I marked her, she would die. A bite from me is dangerous. It could kill her instantly," he answered, worried.
He was right humans weren't built like us. Wolves could mark each other's necks as an intimate bond, signaling to the pack that they were mated and off-limits. But for humans, a bite like that could be lethal.
Yet somehow, Haylie had a mark, and I couldn't deny what I saw: a clear image of Liam's wolf, Ace, inked into her skin. "Then how did she get it, Liam?" I pressed. "That mark only appears after a mating ritual."
I glanced back at Haylie. She gave me a polite smile and went back to her work, seemingly unaware of my scrutiny.
Moments later, Liam's voice echoed in my mind. "I don't know how she got it," he admitted. "But when we were in the water, I noticed it. I was kissing her, and there it was—my wolf's mark, clear as day. It wasn't there the night before."
A frown creased my forehead.
This had to be magic. A human bearing a wolf's mark without the mating process was a mystery. I remembered my own mating bond with Titan and how powerful it had been. It wasn't just physical; it was intense, intimate, and meaningful.
The mark was special and only appeared through true bonding.
I took a deep breath, trying to refocus on my work. But my mind kept drifting back to Haylie and the mystery of her mark. Maybe Aunt Amora would have some answers after school.
Haylie POV
The first period of school finally ended, and it was break time. Instead of heading to the cafeteria, I bought a chocolate bar and a bag of chips from the snack machine, then made my way straight to the library.
Claudine had disappeared somewhere, likely off with her boyfriend. The library was peaceful, with only a few kids scattered around. Most high schoolers didn't come here much anymore.
I nodded a greeting to the teacher at the front desk. She recognized me from my frequent visits—I loved coming here to grab books.
Today, though, I had a specific purpose in mind. I wandered to the animal section, determined to learn more about wolves and their bond rituals. If this was my future, I needed to understand it beyond just stories.
The scent of old pages filled the air as I searched through the shelves.
Eagles, owls, foxes... and finally, a book on wolves.
As I reached for it, my gaze caught on something unusual: a smaller, worn book hidden behind it.
It looked like a diary, handwritten and filled with personal notes on wolves. Intrigued, I grabbed both books and found an empty corner with a table and chair.
Settling in, I unwrapped my chocolate bar, taking a big bite and savoring it. I might just be a chocolate addict. Then I opened the first book and flipped through the pages.
Most of it was information I already knew—wolves hunted for their food, had sharp senses, excellent eyesight, especially at night, and powerful jaws for capturing prey or defending themselves.
But I was searching for something specific: information on the mate bond. As I paged through, I found a passage on it.
It explained that a male wolf would be drawn to his mate by her scent, which only he could detect. This unique scent pulled him toward her, guiding him to his perfect match.
Once they were bonded, he'd keep other wolves at a distance by marking her.
The book described how the male wolf would pull his mate away from the pack, spending time with her in close proximity.
They would lick, nuzzle, and share an intimate closeness.
When the female was ready, they would join in a deeply personal act, and to seal their bond, the male would bite her between her shoulder and head at a soft spot.
His scent and mark would then be permanently imprinted on her skin—a clear signal to others that she was his and his alone.
I leaned back, lost in thought.
The bond was more than just a mark; it was a commitment that connected wolves deeply, both mind and body. The more I learned, the more questions I had about Liam's mark on my neck.
From what I gathered in the books, if I were the female in this story, I'd be giving off a scent that only Liam could detect—a scent that drew him to me and marked me as his mate, like a wedding ring in the human world.
But this bond was stronger than marriage; it was for life, lasting until death. In our world, there was divorce.
My heart tightened as I thought about my mother and how she betrayal her mate.
In human terms, it would be like she cheated on him. The thought of how much it must have hurt Alpha Mathew made my heart ache. She truly breaks his trust and have hurt him.
I closed the book, and my thoughts drifted to the person who might have answers—Alpha Mathew. If he was truly my mother's mate, he would know the truth of her story better than anyone else.
He'd known her well, perhaps better than my aunt Camila. I glanced down, realizing I was fiddling with the charm on my necklace.
My mother had met my father through Alpha Mathew, so he was the key to unlocking their story.
I knew I had to go to Alpha Mathew and ask him about my parents. It was time to find out where I came from and uncover the history of my mother's side of the wolf lineage.
Growing up in the dark, surrounded by mystery, I'd always wondered about them. Now, after learning how my mother died, I felt the need to know about my father, too.
Who he was, what he was like as a person—anything that could connect me to the pieces of myself I'd never known.
I rose from the chair, my thoughts focused on who could help me reach Liam's home.
Titan was my best option; he knew Liam well and would know where he lived. If I could get Titan to take me, I'd be one step closer to meeting Alpha Mathew this afternoon and finally piecing together the fractured story of my life.
I slipped out of the library, keeping an eye out for Liam. According to the books, wolves could always smell their mate's scent, so hiding was nearly impossible—but I wasn't ready to see him just yet.
I spotted Titan in the cafeteria, busy with lunch. With no sign of Liam or Claudine around, I seized the chance and walked up to him.
"Titan, can we talk?" I asked as I approached. He looked up, a smile breaking across his face.
"Haylie! Long time, no see," he replied, his warm brown eyes softening.
"I really need to talk to you, but not here." I placed a hand on his arm, hoping he'd sense how serious I was. Titan noticed the gesture and cleared his throat.
"Okay," he said, nodding. I took my hand back as we moved away from the crowded cafeteria, stopping in an empty hallway that was quiet enough for a private conversation.
"What's going on?" Titan asked, his voice calm but curious. "You looked pretty serious back there."
I took a deep breath, leaning my back against the cool wall. "I need to know if you can take me to Liam's house this afternoon," I began, watching as a frown slowly creased his face. "I need to speak with his father, Mathew."
Titan's gaze darkened, his eyes studying me carefully. "Why don't you just ask Liam to take you?"
I expected him to ask that. Another deep breath steadied me. "That's the thing—I need a little time away from Liam to figure things out on my own. I don't want to involve him until I understand more."
Titan held my gaze for a moment, seeming to weigh my words. Finally, he gave a slow nod.
A wave of relief washed over me as Titan nodded. "I'll take you this afternoon," he said, his gaze meeting mine.
I felt a surge of gratitude; Titan and Liam were the only ones I knew who had their own vehicles. Titan drove a black motorcycle, while Liam usually borrowed his father's truck—though I wondered if he had a car of his own.
Titan stepped closer, his expression serious, his eyes locked onto mine. "Haylie, about this mate bond with Liam… You know you can't avoid it forever. Liam is your mate, and you won't be able to run from him."
My eyes widened as I pushed away from the wall. "How did you know?" I asked, shocked.
I thought this bond was private, something only between Liam and me. Panic rose within me, my green eyes narrowing. "Did he tell you?"
Titan leaned in even closer, lowering his voice to a near whisper. "I know because I'm a wolf, too, Haylie."
My mouth dropped open in shock.
Titan has a wolf side, too? My mind reeled as I stared at him, feeling the blood drain from my face.
"But… we dated, and you never told me." I struggled to process the revelation. "How is this even possible?"
Titan gently placed a hand on my shoulder, grounding me. "I couldn't tell you," He explained softly, "because you were human, and the world of wolves must remain hidden from humans. I had to keep that side of myself a secret."
I searched his face, trying to understand. The realization hit me like a cold wind—this hidden world of wolves wasn't just Liam's reality; it was part of Titan's, too.
All this time, my ex was a wolf, too. I glanced around, wondering just how many other wolves were walking these school halls without me knowing.
Titan's voice brought me back to the moment. "Haylie, having a fated mate in the wolf world is serious. It means everything to Liam. He's an Alpha, someone everyone looks up to. If you're going to be his mate, you need to understand what that means."
I bit my lower lip, feeling the weight of his words.
If only he knew how hard I was trying to absorb all this, how overwhelming it was to find out that my parents had been wolves.
"I am trying," I replied, looking into Titan's warm brown eyes. "I know this is everything to him. I just… need this afternoon to sort through it all on my own."
Titan released my shoulder, his face softening slightly. "I'll take you. But remember, it's Liam's house. If you run into him, don't turn away," he said, his voice firm but understanding. "He cares about you, and he understands that you need time—that's why he's given you space. But when you're ready, give him a chance."
A whirlwind of emotions surged through me, leaving me momentarily speechless. Lost in my own world, focused on unraveling my past, I hadn't even realized how much I was pushing Liam away.
"I'm sorry," I whispered, my voice thick with guilt. "He's been nothing but kind to me. I shouldn't keep hurting him like this."
Memories of Liam flooded my mind: how he'd saved me that night in the woods, taken me to the movies, and even shown up at my house just to say he missed me. When I'd been stung by a bee, he'd stayed calm, taken me to the hospital, and sat by my side the entire time.
Tears welled up, and it felt as if the world was pressing down on me, too heavy to bear.
Liam loved me, and I realized he was my mate. But how could anyone love me when I was the daughter of a mother who'd betrayed an Alpha? I glanced at Titan, and he looked back at me, concern etched across his face. "Haylie, are you okay?"
The tears slipped down my cheeks, silent and unstoppable.
All I could manage was, "I'll meet you at the front at three o'clock." Before he could respond, I turned and ran. I needed to be alone, to let myself feel everything that had built up inside.
Liam's love felt like both a gift and a weight I wasn't sure I deserved. How could he care for me when, all my life, I'd felt invisible? Yet here he was, this powerful, kind person, bound to me.
And now, with my heart wide open and raw, I couldn't tell if I was ready to accept it.