Alpha Knight’s Cursed Mate

NIRVANA “Grandpa! Where the hell have you been?”

“Vana?” His eyes widened like he’d never seen me in years. He ran in my direction and squeezed me into a tight hug. “Oh, Goddess. Thank Goddess.”

I chuckled as I hugged him back. “It’s only just been a week, Grandpa. You’re overreacting.”

He looked me in the eye from head to toe, cupped my head, and kissed me on the cheek, and he was about to get all teary-eyed.

“We don’t do that, Grandpa. Where have you been, anyway? I was worried when you did not pick up my call.”

“What do you mean?” There was pain, confusion, and relief in his eyes.

I slumped my ass to his couch. “You’re acting weird. What’s going on with you? How’s the pack anyway?”

He came sniffing me, making me freeze. “You’re a-”

“A werewolf?” I scoffed. “Yeah, since birth. Duh. You taught me how to shift. Don’t tell me you suddenly forget about it.”

There it was again, the staring, and then he smiled. “I’m proud of you, kiddo.”

“Of course, I just sold two pieces of my paintings in Italy, Grandpa. Did you hear that? My paintings are in one of the biggest galleries in Italy. Zarah says hi, by the way.”

“You met Zarah?”

I blew a breath. “Okay. What’s going on with you? Let’s escape the part where you ignored my calls. That’s why I came over to your house-you did not show up at the restaurant.”

“I was with a friend.”

“A friend? May I know who that is?”

“Honey. I love you so much. And I’m proud of you.”

“You said that already. And I love you, too.” I rose from the couch. “Anyway, I have to get back to my apartment.”

When he looked at my neck, I put my finger on it, and I suddenly felt a hollow in my chest, as if something was missing.

I threw a joke. “I didn’t meet my mate if that’s what the look is all about.”

“You should join a pack.”

I rolled my eyes as I picked up my bag. “We already talked about it. The last time I joined, the alpha wanted to claim me for his son.”

“You can’t be a rogue longer, Vana.”

“I know.”

“You should visit Kailin.”

My eyes lit up. “Yeah. I missed her. I haven’t seen her since she left New York, and I’m tired of Facetiming her. I wonder if she met her mate? But Kailin is someone who would resist a mating pull.”

“I will pay for your ticket. Go and see Kailin. I’m sure she’s thrilled to see you.”

I kissed him on the cheek. “I can take care of the fare, Grandpa. I’ll let you know once I get there. I love you, and don’t go wandering without telling me.”

***

I was in Italy a week ago and just arrived at the vineyards. It was beautiful around here. I could smell the different varieties of ripe grapes.

I looked around, still in awe of how wealthy Kailin’s family was, especially her cousin, who owned the company’s majority share.

“What happened in there?” The vineyards in the west looked like a massive hurricane hit it.

I dragged my suitcase to the tasting room, hoping to surprise Kailin. The smell of fine wine instantly flooded my nostrils.

“Hi.” I smiled at the pretty lady with curly hair on the counter.

She gasped when she saw me, and the glass she held just dropped on the floor.

“Hey. Are you okay?”

She nodded like a bubblehead and swallowed. “Yeah.”

“Where can I find Kailin Blackwell?”

“Um.” She hadn’t blinked, but she fumbled to call a number on her phone.

“I actually have her number,” I chuckled. We were roommates in college, and I thought I would come here and surprise her.”

She smiled, and the call just answered.

“Why are you calling me, Roisin?” Kailin asked from the other line. The pros of being a werewolf with an enhanced hearing than normal humans. Roisin. Pretty name. I also noticed a mark on her neck.

“Please come to the tasting room immediately. As in now.” She hung up the call and smiled at me. “She’s coming over. What can I get you? Let me guess, Merlot?”

“Thanks. That would be nice.”

“You’ve never been here?”

“No. Kailin invited me, but I never had the chance to visit this place. Feels like familiar, though.” I looked around. Lovely place.

Kailin just walked in through the door.

I stood up and made it with a little exaggeration. “Surprise!”

“Ohmigoddess!”

My breathing stuck inside my lungs when she threw herself at me and squeezed into a tight hug.

“I missed you, too. It’s been what? Four months?” I chuckled as I hugged her back.

“Oh, Goddess, Vana. I thought we lost you.”

I stared at her as I pulled away, and she wiped her tears. “Lost me? What do you mean lost me? I was just in Italy last week, and you and Grandpa are acting weird, like you haven’t seen me in years.”

There was a confused look in her eyes. “Case?”

“Who else? Of course, Grandpa Case.”

“Wait. What-” She held my arms and sniffed the air.

I laughed at her. “Don’t tell me you’re also like Grandpa and forgot the fact that I’m a werewolf. What’s wrong with you, guys?”

“You-”

“Hey. Did you hit your head or something?”

“Vana.” There, the strange staring again. Then she hugged me again. “I’m glad you’re here.”

“Of course. Are you surprised?”

She smiled, and some tears of joy rolled down her cheeks. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

“Of course I am. Unless you had a bad dream about me that I drowned in your glass of Merlot.”

“It’s not funny, but Rosé is fine. One of your favorites.”

I smiled as I sniffed her. She proudly showed off the mark on her neck. “Who’s the lucky guy?”

“You don’t remember?” There was a moment of silence, and if I could read it right, she was communicating with someone through the pack link.

“Remember what?”

“Never mind.”

Another shadow appeared in the door, and then a tall man with cinnamon curly disheveled hair walked in, sucking all the attention to his presence. He looked like he hadn’t been sleeping well, with dark circles under his eyes, but that was not what caught me off guard.

I gasped.

His presence stunned me and crashed into me like an avalanche of force of sensations, making me hyperaware of him. Although he seemed to carry the burden of the entire world over his shoulder, he still looked stunning, magnificent, and had the most delicious scent.

And the way he stood there, he was not just a werewolf- he was an alpha.

His scent was nothing I’d ever smelled before- it was an alluring aromatic of white musk, a dash of cedar and sandalwood with a note of citrus and herbs, like an expensive cologne that lingered in my brain.

“Mate.”

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My heart rammed against my chest as our gazes locked. His green forest eyes showed recognition, but there was something profound in those orbs that had suffered a terrible loss.

His body language said he was fighting hard an urge, his muscles tensing, and his jaw clenching. For whatever reason, he amazed me with his indestructible self-control.

Then he stepped unbearably closed, his scents spread through right into my lung, my senses, and my soul, and it was stuck in there forever, and staring at him, and no amount of force seemed to break that pull and make me flee back to where I came from.

“You’re a rogue.” His voice was deep and seemed down. It was unsettling how he looked at me like he knew me.

“Uh-huh.” I bit my bottom lip as I nodded.

“Um, Alpha. This is Nirvana, my best friend. She was my roommate and my classmate in college.”

“Hi.” I swallowed the lump in my throat when he didn’t say anything.

“Can she stay at the pack house, please, Knight?”

“Knight?” Knight, huh?

“Yeah.”

I turned to Kailin. “I can’t stay in the pack house, or they will claw me to shed.”

“No one will lay a hand on you,” he said under his breath. “I’ll see you soon.”

That was it. He was gone, and my wolf was the only one who recognized him as my mate.