My beta, Jaxon, stood in front of me, his expression tight with frustration. "Alpha, did you hear what I said? The western border was attacked again. We lost-"

I tuned him out.

Not because the attack wasn't important. Not because the pack wasn't my responsibility.

But because something far worse loomed over me.

My time was running out.

They had told me yesterday.

"Two weeks. That's all you have left."

Two weeks to find the mate I had spent centuries searching for.

If I failed, I would lose my strength. My immortality. My life.

I clenched my jaw, staring at the fire crackling in the hearth.

I had lost count of my years long ago, long after I crossed the 1,000-year mark. But ever since the elders warned me of my impending death, I had started counting again.

And now, the number was getting dangerously low.

The weight of it pressed against my chest, suffocating.

I needed air.

"Handle it," I muttered to Jaxon, already standing.

His eyes flashed with frustration, but he said nothing. He knew better.

I left the room, stepping out into the night.

The only place that had ever brought me any solace was the human world.

They were simple creatures, ignorant of the monsters that walked among them. Their problems were nothing compared to the wars and betrayals I had witnessed.

And yet, their world fascinated me.

It was the only place I could exist without the weight of my title.

Without the burden of who I was supposed to be.

I decided to take a drive. To clear my head.

But just as I was about to leave, my phone buzzed.

I glanced at the screen.

Alec.

My younger brother.

"Ryker," his voice came through the speaker, slightly muffled. "I'm landing soon."

"I'm already on my way," I said, changing directions toward the airport.

Alec had been away for a few months, dealing with pack affairs in another region. His presence had been missed though I would never admit it.

I arrived at the airport within minutes, parking outside the arrivals section.

And then my phone rang again.

"Don't bother waiting," Alec said. "A friend picked me up. I'll be home soon."

I exhaled sharply, irritated. A wasted trip.

I was about to pull away when the passenger door flew open.

I turned sharply, muscles tensing.

A woman stood there, she didn't say a word.

She simply stared at me.

I narrowed my eyes. She looked familiar, but I couldn't place where I knew her from.

Her wide, startled eyes flickered with recognition as if she knew exactly who I was.

Then, before I could say a word, she slammed the door shut and ran.

I watched her retreating form disappear into the crowd.

That was... unexpected.

But I didn't dwell on it.

Instead, I pulled away from the curb, shaking my head.

I needed a drink.

The bar was loud, dimly lit, filled with the scent of sweat and liquor.

I took a seat in the farthest booth, away from the noise.

A waitress approached, all sultry smiles and lingering glances. I ignored her and ordered my usual something strong.

Tonight, I wanted to drink until the world blurred.

Until I forgot the ticking clock over my head.

Until I forgot that no matter how much I fought, fate was winning.

I was halfway through my second glass when the noise behind me became too much.

Raised voices. Shouts. Laughter that wasn't right.

I tried to ignore it, but I couldn't.

I turned to the back. A group of men surrounded someone near the bar.

A woman.

Her movements were unsteady, her arms limp as one of the men grabbed her by the waist, pulling her closer.

Something about her was familiar.

I stiffened. The girl from the airport.

I sighed, rubbing my temples.

Not my problem

But then one of the men grabbed her wrist, twisting it hard enough to make her stumble.

Something in me snapped and I stood up.

The next moment, I was in front of them.

The men turned, sneering, eyes filled with arrogance.

"Walk away," one of them said, smirking. "This isn't your concern."

I smiled. And then, I broke his nose.

The fight was over in seconds. The men lay groaning on the floor, and I turned to the woman. She was swaying, barely conscious. I sighed, reaching out to steady her, and everything stopped.

The moment my skin touched hers, a sharp, electric jolt shot through me, setting my blood on fire. My wolf roared

"Mate!"

I froze. My entire body locked up as shock coursed through me. This girl, this human couldn't be my mate. It wasn't possible. I had searched for centuries, traveled across continents, and yet... she was right here.

Weak. Drunk. Vulnerable.

This was the woman fate had chosen for me?

She stumbled, and I caught her. She was warm. Soft. And the moment she looked up at me, something clicked.

I tried to step back, to pull away, but she didn't let me. Instead, her arms looped around my neck, and before I could react, she pulled me down and kissed me.

Fiercely. Desperately.

Like she had been waiting for this moment her whole life.

And as much as I hated to admit it. so had I.

Chapter 3 Meeting my mate

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