Matthew's P.O.V
I cracked my eyes open, and bam, light slammed into me like a freight train. Damn, that lamp was brutal. I blinked a few times, trying to adjust, only to realize I was sprawled out in some sterile room with an IV drip next to me and my left hand totally dead.
Hospital? Had to be.
Curtains boxed me in, but through a sliver in the fabric, I caught cloudy skies outside. Real cheerful.
My head was spinning like it'd been tossed in a blender. Memory? Shot. Everything felt hazy, like I'd downed a bottle of whiskey solo. But the pain in my right hand? That was sharp enough to punch through the fog.
I lifted it, bandages wrapped tight around my palm and thumb, dark smears bleeding through. Dried blood? Maybe ointment? Whatever it was, it looked like hell.
And yeah, it hurt. But all I could think was how much worse it could've been if I'd actually laid a hand on that guy. Wait, guy? Why the hell does my inner wolf keep dragging me back to him? Could he be… no. No way.
My chest clamped down, hard. Brain spinning. Felt like someone dropped a cinder block on my skull.
"No. That ain't possible…" I muttered, dragging my bandaged hand down my face like it could erase the damn confusion.
"You're damn right it's not," a voice cut through, making me flinch. "You're supposed to be stronger than this, but here you are, biting your damn hand just to keep from wrecking someone."
Curtains whipped open. Dr. Chad. Deadpan expression. Old-school pack medic who's patched me up since I was a pup.
"You're finally awake, Matthew Wayne," he said, calm as ever. "You were supposed to wake up yesterday, but looks like your body needed extra time to recalibrate. You're stable now." He kept talking, but honestly? His voice was background noise.
"What happened?" I asked. That's all I cared about.
Chad flipped through his notes like he was skimming an old menu. "No memory at all?"
I shook my head. Clean blank.
He sighed, snapped the notebook shut. "You hit your first heat phase. Also known as a Rut."
Ice flooded my stomach.
"And you came this close—" he held up his fingers, "to assaulting someone in a public restroom."
"What?!"
"Police wanted a word, but you got lucky. His parents didn't want the drama. Said if their son's okay, they'll let it slide."
Bitter taste crept up my throat. "That brat—"
"He's an omega," Chad said quietly, watching me real close. "Are you two… connected?"
Instinctively, I shook my head. "I don't know. But my wolf's been screaming the same thing you just said."
"Two people hitting their phase at the same time?" Chad raised a brow. "That's not a coincidence, kid. That's a bond."
A bond?
He leaned in. "Your grandfather expects you to step up as the next Alpha. You understand what that means, yeah?"
I clenched my jaw. "I haven't forgotten who I am." My voice was steady. My brain? Not so much. "And this doesn't change a damn thing."
He studied me a little longer, then sat down, exhaling like he'd been holding it in.
"Your mom and grandfather are en route. Should be here in an hour. In the meantime…" he hesitated, like the next question weighed a ton. "Do you know why he was in heat in a public restroom? Have you met him before?"
"No," I answered immediately. "Never seen him."
But my wolf snarled in protest. The moment I saw him, something clicked. Something primal. He was mine.
That thought alone made me wanna puke.
A guy? My fated mate is a guy?
Chad seemed relieved at my answer, like he was bracing for worse. Not sure what he was fishing for, but he was digging too damn hard.
"We'll wrap it there," he said, standing and straightening his coat. "Just needed to confirm you were stable. And let you know, there won't be any apology."
I blinked. "What?"
"His parents moved fast. Pulled him out, wiped his records, then ghosted."
My hands balled into fists. "So they're dodging me?"
He shook his head. "Doesn't feel like that. Feels like they're hiding him."
"Cause he's an omega?"
Chad nodded, grim. "Male omegas are rare. Families like his? They don't gamble. They hide or vanish before anyone catches wind."
Right then, Camilla strolled in, arms full of groceries like she just hit every store in town. Chad made his exit, telling me I could bounce once the IV drained.
She dumped a plastic bag on the table with a thud, crossed her arms like she was ready to throw down. "Alright, spill. What the hell happened?"
I groaned. "What do you wanna know?"
"How'd you know he was in heat?"
I hesitated. Truth? I didn't know. My body just… knew. Instinct dialed in like GPS.
"Father, Grandfather, and Mother are already on the hunt," Camilla said. "They wanna find him. Force a sever."
My throat went dry. "That's not bonding, Cam. It's just—"
She cut me off. "You can sense him from miles away. That's not 'just' anything."
I exhaled, sharp and shaky. She wasn't wrong. Even now, I could feel him out there, like a damn string tied to my ribs. And worse? That scent still haunted me.
Caramel. Thick and sweet. Enough to drive me outta my mind.
"No." I said it flat. "He's not my fated mate. Don't say it. And sure as hell don't mention it around them."
Camilla didn't look convinced. "You know the Elders won't keep quiet if they find out."
I gave her a sharp look. "Then shut your mouth and let me handle it."
Silence hung between us, heavy.
I turned toward the window, watching the dark clouds roll in.
A storm was coming. And somewhere out there… so was he.