Fated to a human

Haylie Pov  

I was dreaming of standing on the edge of a cliff, with Liam in front of me. He was slipping, his hand growing sweaty as I tried desperately to hold onto him, but he slipped further with every second. I fought to keep my grip, but then he slipped from my grasp completely, falling into the void below. I screamed, feeling utterly helpless as I watched him disappear. 

I jolted awake, drenched in sweat, my heart racing wildly. My scream echoed in my room as I sat up, disoriented and gasping. 

 Realizing I was back in my bed, I tried to calm myself, but tears began streaming down my flushed cheeks. Before I could catch my breath, my door flew open, and I heard my Aunt Camelia's voice, filled with alarm. "Haylie, are you okay?" 

I quickly wiped my tears, watching her rush to my bedside, concern etched on her face. "I had a nightmare about Liam… I was losing him," I whispered, my voice trembling. 

Aunt Camelia's piercing blue eyes met mine, her gaze full of worry. But then her expression deepened, a more intense concern shadowing her face. 

"What is it, Aunt Camelia?" I asked, noticing the worried frown on her brow. 

"Haylie… your mark. It's gone," she said, her voice thick with alarm. 

I instinctively brought my hand to my neck. I couldn't see the mark myself, but I knew it was something deeply connected between Liam and me, something that symbolized our bond. 

"Are you sure it's gone? But how?" I asked, panic rising in my voice as I scrambled out of bed. 

Aunt Camelia stood up, examining my neck again, her face tight with worry. "I don't know, Haylie… but it's just… gone," she said softly, her voice laced with dread. 

Panic shot through me as I recalled the dream. I looked at my aunt, my voice shaking. "My dream… I dreamt that I was losing Liam. Do you think something happened to him?" 

Aunt Camelia's piercing blue eyes were filled with worry as she met my gaze. "I don't know, Haylie. 

It's strange, though—nothing can remove a fated mate mark… unless there was magic involved," she said, her voice tense. 

My mind buzzed with questions. What was happening? And what did that dream mean? I wished I had a wolf side; then maybe I'd understand better. 

"This is… strange," I murmured, sinking back onto my bed, trying to make sense of it all. 

 Aunt Camelia gently pulled me from my thoughts. "We'll figure this out. Get dressed, and then head to school. Your Aunt Amora and I will look into it," she assured me. 

I nodded slightly, realizing she was right. I'd have to trust the witches to figure this out; it was beyond what I, as a human, could handle. She left the room, and I got dressed for the rainy day. I chose a cozy blue hoodie, jeans, and sneakers, hoping that the familiar routine might calm my nerves, at least a little. 

Once I was finished, I make myself downstairs to the kitchen to eat breakfast. 

Liam POV  

I woke up from my dream, finding myself lying on the floor, which struck me as odd. I couldn't remember how I ended up on the ground. The last thing I recalled was pulling my shirt on. 

Slowly, I rose to my feet, trying to piece everything together. My thoughts raced, and I reached out to my wolf, desperate for answers. 

"Ace, what happened?" I asked, feeling an overwhelming wave of confusion. The dream—it hit me again like a tidal wave. I suddenly remembered what I had dreamt, and the realization made my heart race. 

"Oh no, the dream…" I muttered to myself, sinking my head into my hands in frustration. *That dream was about our real mate, Liam*, my wolf spoke in my mind, his voice calm but filled with the same confusion I felt. 

*I had a dream about meeting this beautiful white wolf with piercing purple eyes. *said Ace back in my mind. 

The words sent a shock through me. Panic set in. *Who was she? * I thought desperately. *Why was I marking her as my mate in the dream? * 

I stood up, overwhelmed by the flood of questions rushing through me. 

The uncertainty gnawed at my mind, and the weight of it all made me feel dizzy. *Ace, who was she? Why is she, our mate? * I asked, my voice shaking. The dream, the girl—it all felt so real, yet so impossible. 

I couldn't stop myself from asking the next question. *What about Haylie? * 

The questions continued to swirl in my head, but my attention snapped to the mirror in the corner of the room. 

 I caught my reflection, and for the first time, I really saw myself. The weight of what had happened hit me hard. That dream—everything in it felt so real, and that girl… I felt like I was betraying Haylie, but at the same time, I was inexplicably drawn to this mysterious figure in my dream. 

It was crazy. I didn't understand any of it. How could this happen? And why did I feel this connection to a girl in my dream, when I had Haylie, my true mate? 

I headed to the shower, hoping a hot rinse would clear my mind. 

As I undressed, flashes of my dream kept intruding—images of myself undressing as if I were still in that surreal moment. 

I shook my head, turning on the shower and letting the water heat up before stepping in. The hot water cascaded over me, easing the tension in my body, and for a few minutes, I just stood there, trying to process everything. 

*How could I mark someone I'd never even met?* I thought, frustrated. Despite knowing it was a dream, it had felt so real, as if I'd actually been there. 

 The confusion gnawed at me, and my wolf's claws extended in response to my agitation. Without thinking, I dug my claws into the tiles of the shower wall, the pain grounding me, if only slightly. But even that didn't chase away the vivid memory of the dream. 

After a long shower, I got dressed in my black jacket, blue shirt, jeans, and sneakers. Once I was ready, I grabbed my bag and headed to the front of the house, where I found my dad waiting by the door, a mug of coffee in hand. 

"Good morning, son," he greeted, taking a sip. 

"Good morning, Dad," I replied, throwing my bag over my shoulder. I was running late and needed to get going, so I quickly scanned the entryway for the truck keys. 

Then I heard my dad chuckle. "Are you looking for this?" 

I frowned, turning to see him holding up a key—but it wasn't the truck key. Instead, it had a BMW logo on it. Confused, I took the keys from him. 

"This isn't the truck key," I said, puzzled. 

A smile spread across his face. "I know. It's for your new ride. It's outside." 

My heart raced as I rushed out of the house, eager to see what my dad meant. When I spotted the sleek black and blue BMW F 900 XR bike waiting for me in the driveway, complete with two black helmets, I couldn't believe my eyes. 

"Are you freaking kidding me?" I exclaimed; my eyes wide with excitement. "This is freaking cool!" 

I walked over, taking in every detail of the brand-new bike. Not a scratch on it, and the tires were untouched. I turned to my dad, my excitement overflowing as I wrapped him in a huge hug. 

"Thank you, Dad," I said, my voice thick with gratitude. I could feel a hint of tears in my eyes as I pulled back to look at the bike again, unable to stop smiling. 

"She's all yours," he said, a proud smile on his face. "But you have to promise me you'll take good care of her." 

I nodded, grinning. "I'll definitely take care of her," I promised. Then I picked up the two helmets, admiring their sleek design. 

"When I bought the bike, I was thinking of Haylie," my dad added. "I thought you two could test it out together first." 

My pulse quickened, and I could feel the adrenaline already coursing through me. I placed one helmet on my head, holding Haylie's helmet carefully, then inserted the key and started up the bike. 

 The engine purred beautifully, sending chills through me as I gave it a few revs. The sound was pure perfection, and I could barely contain my excitement. 

"Just be careful, Liam," my wolf Ace murmured in my mind. 

I smirked. "I'm always careful," I replied, then looked over at my dad. "Thanks again, Dad." I revved the engine one more time, loving the deep, powerful rumble. 

"Enjoy it, son. Have a good day at school," he said with a nod. 

I nodded back, lowered the hand brake, and set off down the driveway, feeling a rush of freedom as I rode away. This was going to be a day to remember. 

The bike roared to life beneath me, and in seconds, I was in front of Haylie's old red wooden house. 

The thrill from the ride still pulsed in my veins, keeping my energy high as I dismounted, took off my helmet, and placed both helmets neatly on the bike. I couldn't wait to show Haylie my new ride. 

I knocked firmly on the door, waiting only a few moments before it swung open. There she was, standing in the doorway, her green eyes bright and warm. 

"Good morning," she greeted me with a smile. 

"Good morning," I replied, smiling back. But then, something felt... off. The familiar scent of daisies that always seemed to linger around her wasn't there. I pushed the odd feeling away and asked, "Are you ready?" 

She nodded, and I stepped aside to let her out. As we walked toward the bike, I saw her eyes drift around, then stop as if she were searching for something. "Where's the truck?" she asked, sounding a bit surprised. 

I chuckled, knowing that was coming. "I thought you'd say that," I replied with a grin, watching her face light up as she took in the sight of the bike. 

"You got a freaking bike?" she said, her voice high-pitched in surprise. 

 Her face was priceless—she looked almost more excited than I was. Her fingers trailed over the bike, inspecting every inch, a big smile spreading across her face. "So, this is your new ride?" she asked, practically glowing with excitement. 

I picked up her helmet and walked over to her, holding it out. "This is *our* ride," I said softly, catching her eyes. Her emerald gaze sparkled with excitement, making my heart swell. She looked stunning in her blue hoodie, and I had to swallow my thoughts to stay focused. 

As I moved to place the helmet on her head and strap it in, I froze. My mark—it was gone from her neck. 

 Panic shot through me, and I tried to keep my expression calm. I reached out to my wolf in desperation. "Ace, why is my mark gone on her neck?" 

I tightened the helmet strap, still in shock, then looked at her with concern. 

"Is everything okay?" Haylie asked, noticing my worry. 

Clearing my throat, I tried to play it cool. "Yeah, all good," I said, managing a smile before I put on my helmet. "Are you ready?" 

I climbed onto the bike, feeling Haylie's arms wrap around my waist as she settled in behind me. "Just hold on tight," I told her, trying to focus as I started the engine. 

As the engine roared to life, Ace's voice echoed in my mind. *"I don't know how to tell you, but Haylie isn't your fated mate anymore. I think that girl in your dream... she's our mate, and that's why she has our mark now."* 

A chill ran through me as his words sank in. I tried to stay focused, but the revelation left me with a mix of confusion and guilt. 

As I rode toward school, my mind was spinning. How could this be true? Just yesterday, Haylie was still my fated mate. I couldn't wrap my head around how my bond with her could have faded overnight, replaced by a stranger from a dream. 

"Ace, this can't be happening," I scrambled through my thoughts, struggling to make sense of it. I may not smell her familiar daisies scent anymore, but my feelings for her were still strong. 

Haylie's fiery red hair and bright green eyes were forever etched in my mind, and she was still *my* red-haired girl. 

 Her arms wrapped tightly around my waist as we sped down the road, and it reminded me of everything I didn't want to lose, fated mate or not. 

How could I just let go of someone who'd been my world for so long? 

Haylie POV  

The bike slowed to a stop in the school parking lot, and as I climbed off, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was seriously off. I unstrapped my helmet, setting it on the seat, watching as Liam did the same. His usual easy smile was absent, replaced by a quiet tension that hung between us. 

Taking a deep breath, I turned to him. "Liam, what's going on?" 

His eyes met mine, worry etched in every line of his face. "Nothing," he said, but his voice betrayed him. I knew him too well to believe that. 

"Is it because of your wolf mark?" I pressed. His expression darkened, and he looked away, confirming my suspicions. "Aunt Camelia told me this morning that your mark was gone." 

For a moment, he stayed silent, his gaze fixed on the ground. 

My heart sank, but I willed myself to stay calm. Just as I turned to leave, his hand shot out, gripping my wrist and stopping me in my tracks. I turned back to him, surprised to see his eyes glistening with unshed tears. 

"Haylie, I don't care if you don't have my mark. I still want to be with you," he said, his voice thick with emotion. He stepped closer, his arms sliding around my waist, pulling me to him. 

"Then why does the mark bother you so much?" I whispered, trying to keep my voice steady as I looked up into his tear-filled eyes. 

His grip on me tightened. "It does bother me, but... you're still the woman I want. I can't imagine my life without you." His words were soft but resolute, and I felt the weight of his sincerity. 

In that moment, mark or no mark, I knew we still had something worth holding onto. 

I raised my hand to his face, gently cupping his cheek, feeling the warmth of his skin under my fingers. 

Rising onto my toes, I brought my lips close to his, letting the distance between us disappear as I kissed him. The familiar feeling of his touch, the safety in his embrace—my heart raced, and I realized just how much he still meant to me. 

Liam leaned in, deepening the kiss, his hands steadying me as his tongue gently found mine, igniting a swirl of butterflies in my stomach. He tasted so good, familiar yet electrifying, as if everything around us faded away, leaving only the two of us. In that moment, nothing else mattered.