Fated to a human

Liam POV  

I woke up early to get a morning jog in, feeling my wolf stirring, eager for a run. He loved the fresh, cool air and the wind rushing through our fur, and there was something about the morning woods that made us feel alive. 

After a good run, I took a hot shower to shake off the chill, then headed out to pick up Haylie for school. 

When I pulled up to the red wooden house, there she was, already waiting. Her bright smile lit up when she saw me, making warmth bloom inside me. "Ready to go?" I asked, handing her a helmet. 

"Ready as ever," she replied, hopping onto the bike behind me. 

I started the bike, feeling it rumble beneath us, and soon we were off. The ride to school was quick, and as we pulled into the parking lot, I noticed Claudine standing there, her eyes fixed on Haylie. 

 I barely had a chance to cut the engine before she strode over, taking Haylie by the arm and pulling her away. Haylie glanced back at me over her shoulder, her eyes sad, and I felt a pang as I realized we hadn't even said goodbye. 

I took a deep breath, watching her walk off with Claudine, then made my way into the school, trying to shake off the strange, lingering emptiness. 

The school buzzed with activity on a bright Friday morning. 

As I made my way to my locker, the vibrant colors of backpacks and the sound of laughter filled the air. 

 Suddenly, my eyes locked onto her, the girl who claimed to be my fated mate. My heart raced in my chest, the pounding echoing in my ears, and my throat went dry, as if a desert had taken residence within. 

Inside my head, my wolf howled with excitement at the sight of our supposed mate. But I knew I had to handle this situation properly and put an end to it. I couldn't allow this connection to continue when my heart already belonged to Haylie. 

 A heavy weight settled upon my chest, as if my heart was sinking deeper into the depths of my being. 

She approached, her footsteps echoing softly against the tiled floors. "Hey, stranger," she greeted, her voice a gentle melody that danced in my ears. I straightened my posture, taking a deep breath in an attempt to steady myself. 

 My fingers tightened around the strap of my school bag, the sensation grounding me in reality. 

"Hey," I replied, keeping my tone cool and composed. "What happened yesterday?" she inquired, her curiosity evident in her eyes. I tried to maintain my composure, but my nerves were on edge. With a slight tremor in my voice, I said, "Look, we need to talk." 

Her eyes widened, searching my face for answers. And then, she softly uttered, "My name is Melody." The sound of her name on her lips was like a sweet melody that tugged at my heartstrings, causing it to skip a beat. 

I ran my hand through my thick brown hair, a nervous gesture, as I mustered the courage to continue. 

"My name is Liam," I finally confessed, inhaling deeply to steady myself. I took in the softness of her features, the delicate lines of her face, and felt a pang of guilt. This was going to be difficult, but my love for Haylie compelled me to be honest. 

"Listen, Melody," I began, my heart heavy with the weight of my words. "I don't know how to say this, but I'm already in love with someone else. I think I need to reject this bond and put an end to it." 

Melody's face fell, and her shoulders tensed as if bracing herself for the sting of my words. Her bright eyes, which had been glowing with a mix of hope and curiosity, dimmed slightly. For a moment, I saw a flicker of pain cross her features, but she quickly masked it with a soft, polite smile. 

"You're... rejecting me?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, laced with disbelief. 

I nodded, the weight of my decision pressing heavily on my chest. "Yes," I replied, my voice steady but strained. "I'm sorry, Melody. I never wanted this to happen, but my heart already belongs to someone else. Haylie and I—we've been through so much. I can't turn my back on her." 

My wolf growled in protest, his anguish rippling through me. He wanted to reach out to her, to comfort her, to claim her. But I pushed him back, clinging to my resolve. I couldn't let instinct override my love for Haylie. 

Melody's lips quivered slightly, and she swallowed hard, as though trying to keep her emotions in check. "I see," she said, her voice trembling despite her effort to sound composed. "I guess I should've known. You didn't choose this bond any more than I did." 

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. She was right—neither of us had asked for this connection, this cruel twist of fate that bound us together while my hearts was with someone else. 

 Still, I couldn't let her think she was unworthy. She deserved someone who could give her everything, and that person wasn't me. 

"You deserve better, Melody," I said earnestly, taking a step closer. "You deserve someone who can love you completely, without hesitation or doubt. I can't be that person, but I hope you find them. I really do." 

The rest of the day dragged on painfully slow. My chest felt heavy, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't shake the image of Melody's wounded expression. It was like a ghost, haunting me from the edges of my thoughts. 

 But I pushed it aside, focusing instead on Haylie. Thinking about her was the only thing that brought me any comfort. 

In class, I let my mind wander back to the times we shared—the kiss in the rain, the way her hands had clung to my shirt, and the warmth of her lips when we kissed in her room. My heart swelled at the memories, and I could feel a smile tugging at the corners of my lips. 

That's when I realized I'd been gripping my pencil too tightly. *Snap.* The pencil broke clean in two, the sound jarring me out of my thoughts. 

"I'm glad I'm not that pencil," Titan's teasing voice echoed in my mind through the pack's mind link. His chuckle was soft but loud enough to break through my haze. 

I turned my head sharply to glare at him, only to see him grinning at me from his desk. 

 His amusement was clear, and I could feel his wolf's energy radiating humor. Rolling my eyes, I muttered under my breath, "Shut up, Titan," and shifted my attention back to the broken pencil in my hand. 

The jagged pieces lay in my palm, a reminder of how distracted I'd been. Clearing my throat, I set the broken pencil aside and reached for another one, determined to focus this time. 

 But even as I stared at the notes in front of me, the words blurred together. My thoughts betrayed me, pulling me back into the vivid memories of Haylie's laugh, her touch, and the way her presence made everything feel right. 

Titan must've noticed my lingering distraction because I heard him mind-link me again. "You okay, man? You're more spaced out than usual." 

"I'm fine," I replied curtly, hoping he'd drop it. But Titan wasn't one to let things go easily. 

"Uh-huh. If 'fine' means breaking pencils and staring off into space like a lovesick pup, sure," he teased. "You've got it bad, Liam." 

I clenched my jaw, resisting the urge to snap back at him. Instead, I took a deep breath and tried to focus on the lecture. 

Titan might be annoying, but he wasn't wrong. I *did* have it bad—for Haylie. And no matter how much my wolf protested or how guilty I felt about Melody, my heart wouldn't let me love anyone else. 

Haylie POV  

The end of the school day finally arrived, and relief flooded through me. It had been a long, exhausting day, but the thought of my date with Liam made it all worthwhile. 

 I couldn't wait to see him again, and my excitement bubbled up with every passing second. 

Except Liam have to be at the field first . At break he told me that the cough want to meet with the football players at the field. So I am just going to wait for him at the bunch .Thank full my aunt had been surprisingly cool about the whole thing when I asked for her permission. 

She trusted Liam, which was a huge relief, and so long as I behaved, she had no problem with our plans. That small green light from her gave me all the encouragement I needed to let my excitement take over. 

As soon as the last bell rang, I packed my books into my bag as quickly as I could, barely caring if they were neatly organized. 

My heart raced as I hurried through the school corridors, weaving between clusters of students heading to their lockers. The noise and chatter faded into the background as I focused on making my way to the field outside. 

The sprawling green lawn stretched out before me, dotted with football players gathering together at the afternoon sun. 

Among them, I spotted Liam. A smile tugged at my lips as I gave him a small wave. He saw me almost immediately, his face lighting up as he waved back. My heart did a little leap, and I quickly looked away, trying to hide the blush I felt rising to my cheeks. 

I found an empty spot on the bench near the field and sat down, my mind racing with anticipation. 

 Tonight was going to be our first real date night—a sleepover at Liam's house, no less. It would be my first time stepping foot inside that big, mysterious house of his. I couldn't wait. 

Lost in my thoughts, I glanced back toward the field, watching as the players gathered around the coach for a pre-practice huddle. I didn't notice someone approaching until a familiar voice pulled me back to reality. 

"What's a beautiful woman like you doing out here?" 

I turned my head, and there he was—JC. His mischievous grin was as familiar as ever as he plopped down beside me on the bench. 

"I thought it was you," I said, smiling back. 

His grin widened, and he leaned in just slightly. "I'm still waiting for that coffee, you know. Thought I'd take my chance and ask again while I'm here." 

I couldn't help but laugh at his charm. JC always had a way of making his words feel like a warm embrace. 

"Well," I said, tilting my head playfully, "since you came all this way, I suppose tomorrow afternoon works. How about it?" 

His eyes sparkled as he nodded. "It's a date." 

I couldn't help but laugh at our conversation, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks as a blush spread across them. My eyes met JC's striking blue ones, and I felt my heart skip a beat when our gazes locked. 

"You know," JC said with a charming smile, "you're the first girl I've met who looks so sweet when she blushes." 

"I don't blush," I shot back quickly, attempting to hide my reddened cheeks by covering them with my hands. 

A soft chuckle escaped his lips, warm and rich. "As you wish," he said, his grin widening. "But you know, Haylie, you're a real, true human. You've got a big heart." 

I slowly lowered my hands from my face, placing them back in my lap as his words settled in. My gaze dropped to my fingers, fidgeting slightly. "I was supposed to have a wolf," I admitted quietly, "but my mother took it away from me before I was born." 

JC reached out, his hand covering mine with a gentle warmth that made me look up at him. 

His expression was soft, his sincerity shining through. "With or without your wolf, you're still an amazing person, Haylie," he said. 

His words were so kind, so unexpected, that my heart skipped again. But the moment was shattered when I heard Liam's voice calling out from the field, his tone carrying easily over the noise. 

I jerked toward the sound, spotting Liam standing by the goalpost, waving me over. Flustered, I quickly rose from the bench and pulled my hand away from JC's. "I'll see you tomorrow at one, at the Crescent Moon Coffee Shop," I said hastily. 

JC gave me a nod, his smile lingering. "See you then, at one," he replied. 

Without another glance, I turned and made my way toward Liam, my steps quick and purposeful as I tried to shake off the lingering warmth of JC's touch. 

I approached Liam, who was waiting for me on the field, his easy smile making my heart flutter. "You looked pretty busy talking to that guy over there," Liam said casually, the corner of his mouth lifting in a playful smirk. 

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of his words as our eyes met. "That was JC," I said, my tone steady. "The guy you sent the other day to pick me up." 

Liam's smile faltered, his expression darkening as a frown settled on his face. His deep brown eyes searched mine, a flicker of confusion crossing them. "I..." he started, stumbling over his words, his voice quieter now. 

"You did send JC to pick me up and give me a ride home, right?" I pressed, the slightest edge creeping into my voice. 

My heart pounded as I glanced over my shoulder toward the bench, but JC was gone. When I turned back to Liam, I folded my arms, waiting for an answer. 

Liam's expression shifted to one of concern, his brows furrowing deeply. "Haylie, I never sent anyone to pick you up," he said firmly, his voice laced with worry. "When I got home that day, I realized you weren't with me. I went back to look for you, but by the time I got there, you were already home." 

The ground felt like it tilted beneath me as his words sank in. My lips parted, but no sound came out at first. Finally, I managed to whisper, "You never sent anyone?" 

The shock coursed through me, making my limbs feel cold and unsteady. 

 I turned my gaze back to the empty bench, my thoughts racing. "Then who was the man who picked me up?" I asked, more to myself than to Liam. 

I felt his hand gently grasp my upper arm, grounding me as my breathing quickened. His eyes, filled with determination, met mine. "Whoever it was, we need to find out," Liam said, his voice firm. "Because I didn't send him, and someone did." 

Anxiety settled over me like a heavy cloud as I looked up at Liam, my worry plain on my face. His expression softened, and his hand moved from my arm to gently cup my cheek. 

"Don't worry, Hayls," Liam said, his voice steady and full of promise. "I won't let anything happen to you." 

His words carried such reassurance that, for a moment, they quieted the fear swirling in my chest. 

 But the thought of the stranger I'd been speaking to—someone Liam hadn't sent—crept back into my mind, chilling me. 

"Can we go now?" I asked quietly, my voice trembling just enough to betray my unease. "I don't want to be here anymore." 

Liam's face softened further, his thumb brushing against the back of my hand as he held it. "Let's go home," he said gently. 

The word home brought a sense of relief, a safe haven I desperately needed in that moment. I nodded, and together, we walked off the field toward the parking lot, where Liam's bike waited for us. 

Being with him eased the knot of fear in my chest, replacing it with a fragile sense of comfort. With Liam by my side, I felt safer, more secure, as though nothing could reach me while he was there.