Broken Heart

5 Mate

David's POV

A wave of relief washed over me as my parents rejoined my side, their smiles warm and understanding. They knew the swirling social dynamics of pack gatherings weren't my natural habitat. "Having a good time, David?" my mother asked, her hand gently resting on my arm. I offered a small, genuine smile in return. "It's… lively," I replied, opting for diplomacy over a full confession of my awkwardness.

The evening took another turn after the elaborate cake, adorned with silver wolf figurines, was ceremoniously cut and distributed.

Mr Walton, the alpha of the pack, he cleared his throat, drawing the attention of the room. "Tonight marks not only Kevin's sixteenth birthday," he announced, his voice resonating with pride, "but also his appointment as the new CEO of Walton Enterprises!"

A ripple of applause and congratulatory howls erupted through the ballroom. So, that was it. Not just a milestone birthday, but a significant step into leadership for Kevin. It explained the heightened air of importance surrounding the event.

My gaze drifted across the room and landed on Kevin. He was standing near the edge of the dance floor, engaged in an animated conversation with Rose. Even from a distance, their easy camaraderie was palpable. Rose, a member of the neighboring Shadow Creek pack, had a vibrant energy that seemed to draw people in.

I remembered the story – how 4 years ago, a couple of rogue wolves had attacked her near the border, and Kevin, who happened to be patrolling the area, had intervened, his quick thinking and decisive action undoubtedly saving her life.

Ever since that incident, whispers had circulated through the pack. Kevin and Rose had become… close. They maintained it was merely a strong bond of gratitude and friendship, a natural outcome of such a traumatic event. But the knowing glances exchanged between pack members told a different story. There was a certain way they looked at each other, a comfortable intimacy in their gestures, that hinted at something more than platonic affection. The way Kevin’s hand lingered a moment too long on her arm as he gestured, the soft smile that played on Rose’s lips as she listened intently to him – these small moments fueled the rumour mill.

My inner wolf stirred slightly at the sight of them, a soft hum resonating within me. Still no words, just that persistent, cheerful anticipation. It was as if she knew something I didn't, a piece of the puzzle that would suddenly make everything click. I watched Kevin and Rose , their heads bent together in quiet conversation, and couldn't help but wonder if the pack's speculation held any truth.

Were they truly just friends, or was there a deeper connection blossoming beneath the surface? And more importantly, why did the sight of them together trigger this strange, almost knowing feeling within my usually communicative wolf? The secrets of the night seemed to be multiplying, each unanswered question adding another layer to the already perplexing evening.

My gaze, which had been idly observing the room's occupants, snagged on Kevin's. It was just a fleeting connection, a momentary brush of eyes across the crowded space. But in that instant, something shifted within me, a seismic tremor that resonated deep in my core. And then, a voice, clear and resonant, echoed in the silent landscape of my mind – my inner wolf, finally breaking her cryptic silence with a single, earth-shattering word.

Mate.

The world around me dissolved into a hazy blur. The music faded to a distant hum, the chatter of the guests became a muffled drone. All that remained in sharp focus was Kevin, his figure now radiating an almost luminous quality. It was as if a spotlight had suddenly illuminated him, casting everything else into shadow. An undeniable pull, a magnetic force, drew my attention, my very being, towards him.

A hasty excuse tumbled from my lips. "Mama, Dad , if you'll excuse me…"

They nodded understandingly, already being drawn into a conversation with a group from the Crescent Moon pack. Their distraction was a blessing, allowing me to navigate the crowded floor without further explanation.

Each step I took towards him felt both inevitable and surreal. The rumours about Kevin and Rose flickered at the edges of my awareness, a nagging doubt trying to penetrate the certainty that had bloomed within me. But the primal recognition, the undeniable call of my inner wolf, drowned out the whispers of hearsay. I needed to know, to see it in his eyes, to hear it from his lips.

But before I could reach him, before I could even formulate the tentative question in my mind, Kevin turned.

His gaze locked onto mine, and a look of stunned recognition, of profound understanding, washed over his features. It was as if he, too, had heard the echo of that single word, felt the same undeniable pull.

He began to move towards me, his steps purposeful, his eyes never leaving mine, a jolt of electricity seemed to pass between us . Time seemed to stand still as our gazes locked, a silent recognition passing between them. It was a moment of profound connection, a sense of familiarity that transcended their brief encounter.

Then, a voice in my head again , ancient and undeniable, whispered the truth: Mate.

As I drew closer, a wave of intense heat washed over my body, starting as a subtle warmth that quickly escalated into a burning intensity. It was a familiar sensation, a primal surge that stirred long-dormant instincts within me. And then it hit me – the heat.

The first manifestation. But that was impossible. My heat cycles had ceased a year ago, a source of worry for my parents until the pack doctor had assured them it was a consequence of my early shift and posed no future problems.

Panic seized me. The scent. My scent, heightened and amplified by the sudden, unexpected onset of my heat, would be flooding the ballroom, a beacon to every unmated wolf present. Especially to him. To Kevin.

The realization slammed into me with the force of a physical blow. Our first meeting, the recognition of our bond, was happening amidst the chaos and heightened senses of my reawakened heat.

Instinct screamed at me to flee, not from him, but from the overwhelming vulnerability of the situation. I couldn't bear the thought of our first encounter being defined by this primal surge. I turned to run, to escape the suffocating intensity of the ballroom, to find some semblance of control in the sudden storm raging within me.

But I didn't get far. A strong hand closed around my arm, his touch sending another jolt of heat through me, this one different, a spark of connection that resonated with the deepest part of my being.

Kevin's voice, a low rumble that sent shivers down my spine, filled my ears. "David," he breathed, his eyes filled with a mixture of shock and an undeniable possessiveness.

"Mate."

My eyes widened when he said the word that I have been dying to hear since I was a little.

" Mate" he growled into my neck . Inhaling my scent deeply, my inner wolf whimpered under his touch and he let go my of chin.

He reaches a hand towards me again but this time gently as he caressing my cheek and tracing down my neck . I can't help the sigh that escapes from me as the sparks erupt under his touch .

But the burning sensation became more hotter by second and I could only focus on his scent which could only be described as the most wonderful thing I had ever smelt.

Then we just stare at each other.

My mate