A Werewolf's Human Mate

33

Warm Welcome

Aurora eyes sparkled as she listened, especially when a young woman with a kind smile told her, "Aurora, do you know that your mate has waited just for you all these years? Many girls tried to get close to him, but he never wavered. He only wanted his true mate."

Aurora's heart swelled with a mixture of happiness and pride. The idea that someone had waited, devoted only to her, sent a quiet warmth through her.

Just then, a dark-skinned young man stepped forward, his expression both friendly and sincere.

He glanced at her and said, "You two are truly lucky that your love has been so straightforward. These days, finding love without any complications is rare."

She looked up in surprise, a smile breaking across her face as she recognized him. "Alex! You’re here too!"

Alex, that dark skinned man grinned, and before Aurora could say more, a pack member interrupted with a playful tone,
"Hey, Edwin, have you introduced your mate to the Alpha yet?"

"Alpha?" Aurora turned to Alex, her eyes wide with surprise.

"Wait, does that mean… Alex, you’re the leader of the pack?"

Alex chuckled softly, giving her a warm look. "Nice to meet you again, Aurora," he said with a welcoming smile. "And welcome to our pack."

Still slightly taken aback but now smiling with a soft glow, Aurora replied, "Thank you."

They continued talking, laughing, and exchanging stories for some time. Each pack member was warm and friendly, and Aurora found herself gradually relaxing, enjoying the lively atmosphere.

Eventually, though, the group began dispersing as the pack members headed off to their practices.

As Aurora made her way down the forest path, the fading sunlight casting long shadows across the trail, she glanced at Edwin beside her. "So," she asked, teasingly, "they’re all off practicing… but you? Don’t you need to practice too?"

"We practice in shifts," Edwin explained. "One group practices in the morning, another in the afternoon, and one in the evening."

Aurora nodded, letting his words settle in. “Okay. But why didn’t you tell me earlier that Alex is the Alpha, the leader of your wearwolf pack?”

Edwin looked at her, a faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “What difference does it make? You know now, don’t you?”

“Hmph! " Aurora crossed her arms, mock-annoyance in her eyes. " But still, you should have told me. What if he thought I was rude or disrespectful?”

Edwin chuckled lightly. “Don’t overthink it.”

As they continued along the path, Edwin's expression grew more serious.

"Alphas, they’re fierce, yes—but only on the battlefield. Outside of that, they’re incredibly protective and caring. Our Alpha works tirelessly to keep the entire pack safe. With so many responsibilities, it’s hard to find a balance between his duty and personal life.”

Aurora’s mind drifted as she recalled Edwin mentioning Alex’s mate. "Oh, right,” she murmured. “You said something about his mate… what was her title again? Lu-”

“Luna,” Edwin corrected her.

“Yes, Luna,” Aurora echoed, her eyes lighting up. “So, did he find his mate?”

“He did." Edwin nodded, though his face held a trace of sadness. " But as I told you before, things are complicated, they’re not truly together yet.”

A frown crossed Aurora's face. “Why not?”

“Because Luna isn’t ready,” Edwin explained, his voice soft with understanding.

“She only recently discovered that she’s not just an ordinary human but a werewolf. And not only that, but she’s also the destined mate of an Alpha—the Luna of our pack. With recent threats looming over the town, it’s overwhelming for her. She hasn’t fully prepared herself for this role or this bond.”

A mix of curiosity and sympathy glinted in Aurora’s eyes.

"Have you met her?" she asked gently.

"Yes," he said without much thought,
glancing up.

"Alpha brought her around to meet everyone in the pack. She’s really putting in the effort, learning to train with us and trying to control her wolf form. Honestly, it’s inspiring to see how hard she’s working to accept her new identity."

Aurora, a hint of curiosity and maybe a little playfulness in her tone, asked, "Is she pretty?"

"Yeah. " Edwin gave her a quick nod. "I wonder how Alpha’s been able to resist imprinting on her. That must be really difficult for him, especially since he’s an Alpha, whose nature is inherently overprotective and possessive."

Aurora gave him a sly smile, crossing her arms. "Hmm… You seem to be singing her praises an awful lot."

"Baby!" Edwin laughed, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You’re not jealous of our Luna, are you? She’s like a motherly figure for everyone in the pack."

"Really?" Aurora replied, a bit intrigued.

Edwin nodded, his smile turning gentle. "Yes!"

Aurora tilted her head, a teasing sparkle in her eyes. "Then tell me, who’s the most beautiful of all?"

Edwin smirked, putting on a thoughtful expression, pretending to ponder. "Hmm?"

Aurora laughed, then started playfully pinching his arm, making him chuckle as he dodged her attacks. They exchanged lighthearted banter and laughter, their steps blending with the soft rustle of leaves on the forest floor.

Suddenly, Aurora’s expression turned serious as a question came to her mind.

She stopped, glancing at Edwin with concern in her eyes. "By the way, you haven’t told me much more about those ...attacks. What’s the latest news on them these days? The ones from the Ravenwood Pack aren’t going to attack us anymore, right?"

"The threat is still looming," Edwin had said, his gaze distant but resolute. "And now everyone is certain that the Ravenwood Pack wants to take over our Moonbridge territory."

Aurora absorbed his words, her heart racing slightly at the thought of conflict. She instinctively wanted to help, but Edwin's calm smile reassured her.

His eyes softened as he noticed her concern, a subtle pride in his voice as he said, "You want to support me, that is enough! But this is a fight among us werewolves. There’s no need for you to get involved. Just live your life and stay cautious. If you notice anything unusual, just come and tell me."

Aurora nodded, feeling both relieved and grateful for his protective nature.

Sensing the heaviness between them, Edwin changed the tone, his smile turning playful. "By the way," he teased, "you kept asking to meet my friends. Now that you’ve met them, how did it go?"

Aurora's expression brightened, recalling the warmth of the pack members. "It was nice," she said with a soft smile.

"Everyone was so welcoming. They spoke to me kindly and accepted me so easily… even though I’m just a human."

Edwin chuckled, his eyes sparkling with pride for her. "Of course they did. You’re one of us now."