"You can hate someone so much you just love them."

Zane's wolf is on top of me. He is easily twice the size of my wolf and I'm bigger than some males. The wolf drags his snout along my neck like it's a juicy steak he's resisting to bite into. My wolf, Leya, let's out a purr.

You're a wolf, not a cat!

Before I can even react, Zane shifts back into his human form.

"Shift," he demands.

I stay in my wolf form.

Well, no one can deny the alpha command.

I shift back into my human form. The cold breeze swept past my skin and reminded me that I am naked.

Oh shit.

This is not good. I don't think twice when I shift because nudity is normal among us wolves. Clearly, I wasn't thinking because now I am pressed up against a naked man who happens to be my mate. With every breath I take, my breasts are pushed against his chest. I can see his eyes switching from brown to gold and I'm sure mine are doing the same.

"Blushing are we little wolf?"

"I'm only little compared to you."

He chuckles which only enrages me more. His face settles back into a smug grin.

"Oh Alessandra just admit it already."

"Admit what?"

"That you like me."

"I don't like you!"

"Really? Because you were purring not so long ago, ready for me to impale you with the way you were sitting."

"That was my wolf asshole!"

"You see that's interesting because right now I can smell your arousal and you are very much a human right now."

My eyes widened. I hadn't even realized.

"Y-you're wrong."

"Are you saying," his index finger trailed down me, starting from the bottom of my breast to my navel. His eyes are glued on mine while his finger continues its descent. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew I should stop him but I didn't want to.

"...that if I were to feel," his finger goes lower and lower as my breathing quickens.

"..your pussy, that it wouldn't be wet?"

His finger reaches its destination. He curls his hand and runs three fingers up and down my entrance.

"Liar. What a liar you are Alessandra, you're soaked."

It takes everything in me to not let a moan escape. I control it for my dignity because this asshole is not going to win. His eyes return to their normal brown and his hand wraps around my throat.

"Take a fucking shower."

And the asshole's back.

"Excuse me?" I mean for it to be sassy but it comes out strangled with his hand wrapped around my neck.

"Your scent, it's driving my wolf crazy. I can smell it from miles away."

"I can't just erase my natural scent, Zane!"

"I don't care what you do, roll in some dirt for all I care but get it off you."

I pry the hand on my neck and send him a glare.

"You know, I think I know the perfect way to mask my scent."

"What is it?"

I raise my head so it's directly next to his ear.

"Sex."

His eyes widen.

"I'm sure there are lots of guys willing to help me out."

The eyes that were recently filled with shock are now emersed with rage. His hand returns to my neck and he grips it even harder this time.

"Shut up."

"What? Actually, I think Jaden would love to assist me. We never got to-"

His hold on my neck is so tight now that I can't even speak.

I've never been afraid of Zane before, but I think I've pushed him too far. His voice is so deep that I can tell it's his wolf that is talking. His hand grabs my sex in a punishing way.

"This belongs to me. Do you hear me?"

"Y-yes."

His head lowers so it's next to my ear. I feel his hot breath as he speaks to me with more power than I have ever heard from him before.

"I'm an alpha, Alessandra. I can make heads roll and not be questioned. You best remember that because I will not hesitate to rip someone's neck if they touch what belongs to me."

I know I can't fight him right now. I don't agree with him but it's the only way to make him calm down, so out of desperation I nod.

"Good girl."

I nod again.

"Hmm, go home, I will arrange a meeting with you and your sister soon enough."

I don't bother giving a response before I shift and run home.

I don't belong to anyone, Alpha.

Rafael! What the fuck was that?

Don't lie, I could feel you in my head.

I would never say those things. I hate her.

None of this would have happened if you didn't run after her.

I loved the smell of vanilla before I met her.

I'm done with you.

I was running out of time. It was only a matter of when now. How long would it take for me to sink my canines into Alessandra's neck? That's the point of no return. Once a wolf is marked by its mate, they are marked for life. I need to find a solution and I need to find it now.

As I approached the elder's house the smell of sage assaulted my nostrils.

Donata de Medici was one of the oldest members of our pack. She had survived the massacre that one of our former alphas had committed. Shortly after, she moved from Italy to America. Many of the wolves who had survived moved to America and the Blood Moon pack continued on here. We have many wolves in Italy that still fall under our jurisdiction.

Donata was known for one thing. She and her sister were the only two humans who have survived being bitten by a wolf. They were bitten in the massacre and shunned by their family which led Donata to America. Her sister remains in Italy but even she is still alive today. They were anomalies. A human is not supposed to survive a wolf bite yet here we are.

"Enter my child."

The bite gave them abilities. They are almost like oracles. Both of them are able to sense things and see visions that help us understand the future or warn us of what is coming. However, none of them have had a vision in years. The last vision Donata had to do with the death of my mother.

I enter her home which is a nice little cabin at the edge of our territory. It's filled with books, art from the Italian Renaissance, and some gimmicks whose functions I am not aware of. Her home instantly brings me peace, and I already feel more relaxed.

"I see you have found your mate."

"What? I haven't told anyone."

"There is no need, I can sense it from your wolf. He's distressed in a way that I have only seen with male wolves who have not laid their claim."

"That's actually what I came to talk to you about."

"Go on."

"I have found my mate, but we are not right for each other. I do not want to mate with her."

"All mates are right for each other, it's how it works dear."

"We hate each other, and you know I love Isabel. I just need a way to control my wolf and my emotions so I don't go out and mark her on accident."

"Ah I see, you are denying the greatest thing the goddess has blessed you with."

"Yes, yes I am, but I need a way to get rid of the bond. I can't even focus on my alpha training anymore because I can smell her everywhere!"

"Hmm, and once you mark her, it's only a matter of time before she goes into heat."

Oh fuck I had not thought about that.

"Please Donata, I need your help. You're the only one who can help me."

She let out a deep sigh as her head hung low in disappointment. When she raised her head again she looked more composed than before.

"Zane, one day you will be an incredible alpha I don't need a vision to tell me that."

"Ok?"

"You need to understand that an alpha without his luna is like a pool without water. He's useless."

Ouch.

"There are plenty of alphas out there who do not have mates."

"Yes, but the difference between you and those alphas is that you have found your mate. Your wolf will always feel restless and distressed when he is not with his mate, it could make you a bad alpha."

"I will control my wolf, I promise. Please just help me Donata."

"Mates are complex Zane. To fully understand let me tell you a story..."

When Selene first created the lycans, they were a disturbance to nature. They had no weakness. lycans were nearly unstoppable. This made the other supernaturals upset and they set out to kill the lycans before they multiplied.

The only problem was that they were no match for the lycans. It was a bloody war and the majority of vampires and witches were wiped out in the process.

As the lycans gained more power, they became more reckless. They would kill thousands of innocent people with no remorse. Selene was upset that her creations had become such bloody monsters. They had messed with the balance of nature and Selene knew she had to fix it before the other gods took matters into their own hands.

Her solution was one that started as a curse but ended as a blessing. A mate.

Each werewolf is given a wolf, but in reality, it is only one half of a wolf. The hope is that one day, the soul will reunite with its other half and they will continue their journey even when they leave this earth. The goddess did this so that wolves had a weakness, but also a heart. It's a curse and a blessing.

"That just sounds like some folklore Donata, no offense."

"Child you are young. You do not understand the workings of having a mate just yet."

"So I'm supposed to just be with a woman I don't even like so my wolf is happy with his soulmate?"

"It's not just his soulmate, she's yours too. Her human and wolf souls both connect with yours."

"Look Donata, thanks for the story, but can I have a solution to my problem?"

"The only way for your wolf to resist her is if she's far away from you."

"So you're saying..."

"You have to send her away."