Matthew's P.O.V
"Alpha, you up?"
Someone was jostling my shoulder, persistent. No clue how long I'd been out.
"Where are we?" I mumbled, stretching the kink outta my spine.
"We're almost there. Landing soon."
"Then why not let me sleep till we're on the ground, Elliot?"
"I would've, but you've got that meeting with Lady Isabella tonight. We need to hit the ground running."
I blinked at him. Yeah—I picked the right guy. Elliot Stone. Top Beta candidate from Grandpa's list. Clean record, sharp instincts, reliable as hell.
Sometimes the weight of this role gnaws at me, judged, compared, expected to perform. But Elliot? He's steady. Never cracks.
I turned toward the window. Clouds drifted by like they had nowhere to be. But that calm didn't last. Just like that, the nightmare came roaring back. Thirteen years later, and it still dragged me under.
"What's on your mind, Alpha?" Elliot slid a few pages onto my tray, documents for tonight's memorandum.
I'd finished business in Landrabaros, hopped a flight to Canada. I'd been pumped to finally see Camilla after months of nothing but unread texts. She said it was school. Always school. But now that I was this close, something felt off.
"Just dreaming," I muttered, eyeing the papers.
"Dreaming about what?"
"Stuff that's mine. Stuff I don't share."
"That's cold. You're not even gonna give me a peek?"
I laughed. Low. "You actually care?"
"Maybe I just like being prepared, for worst-case scenarios."
"Elliot, relax. It was just a dream. That's all it'll ever be."
I meant it to sound chill, but it stung. Like admitting something had been stolen that I'd never get back.
"You've changed, Alpha. Not the guy I thought you were."
I didn't argue. Just gave him that half-smile people hate because it never answers anything. Everyone sees it now. How much I've shifted since Grandpa stepped down a decade ago. The old me faded thirteen years back. Fast.
I leaned on my elbow and pretended to skim through the docs. But I wasn't reading. I was back in Landrabaros. Back to him.
He wasn't my fated mate. I knew that. But that scent, rich, caramel, warm and sweet, never left me.
Like walking past a bakery and getting sucker-punched by nostalgia and hunger. Made me feel stupid. Because some part of me still chased that feeling.
I'd grilled Doctor Chad for answers, but he stonewalled every time. Said it was up to the family. Protected by hospital policy. Alpha or not, they weren't giving me jack.
"Alpha… is this because your heat's about to start?" Elliot tossed the question out like it wasn't loaded.
"What?"
"You're nearing your phase, huh?" Like he already did the math. I usually forget to.
I slumped back in my seat. "Haaa~ It's gonna suck if I don't wrap up quick, especially with Isabella hanging over me."
My heat? Pure hell. After that incident, I couldn't go through it with anyone. Pheromones make me nauseous now. Almost pushed away a second-chance mate, even. My body's wired to reject anyone who's not him.
Only Camilla and Elliot know. I've got a second place now, away from pack lands, unknown even to Mom and the Elders. Cleaner air. No triggering scents.
"You still not down for Lady Isabella?"
"Why are you asking?"
Elliot sighed, slipped something from his jacket.
"The doc said no to this stuff, but if you're dead-set on riding solo, this is all I got. Just don't make me play dungeon warden while you spiral."
He placed the vial of suppressant on the table. His backup plan for me. Not on the books, definitely not approved. My doc had already warned me: no more suppressants or injectors. Get through the phase naturally, or lose the wolf.
Risk of overdose. Side effects. Worst-case? Losing my instincts altogether.
That's a future I refuse. But right now, I'd take anything to survive this storm without collapsing.
"Use it right. Don't make things worse," Elliot warned.
"Do I look like the kind of guy who'd chug the whole thing in one go?"
I didn't. But something tugged at me. Familiar and low-key terrifying. My wolf was nudging me toward something buried.
We left the café and drove to a fortified mansion at the city's heart—security like I was here to start a war. I almost laughed.
"Welcome, Alpha Wayne," a voice boomed.
Alpha Killian. Arms outstretched. I stuck out a hand instead. Let's keep it polite, not warm.
His smile was tight. Disappointed, maybe.
"Good to meet you, Alpha Killian. First time, but weirdly… feels familiar."
"Familiar and dangerous," he chuckled. "Come on. Let's talk somewhere quieter."
"Lead the way."
Inside, it got messy. Raised voices. Snapped tempers. One breath away from a full-out brawl. Our Betas had to step in, diffuse the tension. Eventually, Killian agreed to send warriors to help hunt the rebel leader.
"You keep this up and you'll get cuffed," Elliot muttered.
Couldn't argue with him. Killian's pack was slick, they knew how to dodge blame.
"Patience, Matthew," came a voice from behind.
"Father."
He'd said he'd arrive late, classic move, waiting till the dust settled.
We hugged. Too much time apart. After catching up, I suggested we step out. No politics. Just air and coffee.
We end up ion city park. Quiet. Elliot stayed in the car, buried in emails. For once, I exhaled.
"How's Camilla?" I asked.
"Buried in assignments. Said she'll call when she's done."
"She worries me?"
"Of course, yeah, she's your little sister... and how about Isabella? Elders still pushing for that marriage?"
Whiplash topic switch. Father never changed.
"That's business," I said, tone flat.
"And you're okay with that?"
"No. But I—"
Bam.
My cup hit the pavement, coffee splattered across my shirt. A guy slammed into me, hard.
Before I could react, something snapped inside me. Like lightning under my skin. Breath caught. Chest tight. What the hell?
"You good?" I asked, eyes sharp.
"N-no! I'm so sorry, sir," he stammered, scrambling up. "Please forgive me."
Then awkwardly, he fished out a card. "For the dry cleaning, or a replacement. Call me if you need anything. Really sorry…."
He handed it off and bolted. No goodbye. No second glance.
"He must've been in a rush, huh." Father said.
But I was frozen. Staring.
That jolt wasn't just adrenaline. It was him.
That feeling I'd buried thirteen years ago… just slammed back into my chest like it never left.
"I finally found you…"