*

  A bond unbidden, fierce and tight, a thread spun deep in fate’s own light. Yet doubt and fear, like storms untamed, rage within a heart unnamed. She fights the call, the pull, the cim, a whispered truth she cannot tame. Yet in his breath, so soft, so still, lies a fate she cannot kill. A mother’s tale, a love once feared, now echoes in the path she nears. And as the night begins to wane, she wonders will she fight in vain?

  *

  ---

  The air in the room was thick with tension as Sophia sat near Sam’s unconscious form, her thoughts spiraling in all directions. The revetion from her wolf echoed relentlessly in her mind: Mate.

  Her mother sat across from her, calm but watchful. She could sense Sophia’s turmoil as clearly as if it were her own. Finally, Sophia broke the silence.

  “What am I supposed to do?” she asked, her voice tight. “How is this even possible? He’s... he’s human. And a stranger. How can he be my mate?”

  Her mother leaned forward slightly, her voice soft but firm. “That’s how fate works, Sophia. It doesn’t ask permission, and it doesn’t always make sense at first. But the bond never lies.”

  Sophia shot up from her chair, pacing in front of the bed. “I don’t even know him!” she snapped. “How can I trust this... this bond? How can I trust him?”

  Her mother let her vent, watching her daughter with patience. When Sophia finally stopped pacing, her hands trembling at her sides, her mother spoke again.

  “Sit, Sophia.”

  Reluctantly, Sophia obeyed, dropping into the chair with a huff.

  “You’re scared,” her mother began, “and that’s natural. But let me tell you something that might help.”

  Sophia gnced at her, curiosity flickering through the storm of emotions on her face. Her mother smiled faintly and continued.

  “I wasn’t born in this pack, you know. I was born a wolfen, but I didn’t find my mate until I was nearly 80 years old. I was traveling through Europe at the time, and your father was... well, human.”

  Sophia blinked, startled. “Dad was human?”

  Her mother nodded. “He didn’t stay that way, of course. But yes, when I met him, he was as human as that boy over there. And just like you, my wolf whispered ‘mate’ the moment I saw him.”

  Sophia leaned forward slightly, her frustration momentarily repced by curiosity. “What happened?”

  Her mother’s gaze softened as she spoke, but there was a deep possessiveness in her tone, something fierce and protective that could not be ignored. “It was a coincidence, really. I was on a diplomatic mission, visiting a pack in the Swiss Alps. A storm came in unexpectedly, and my usual guide was unavaible. That’s when your father appeared. He was just a human, no wolfen blood in him, but he had been hired as a guide for the trek.”

  Her mother’s eyes darkened as she remembered the moment, her voice tightening with emotion. “At first, he was just another man doing his job. Nothing special, or so I thought. But the moment I id eyes on him, I knew. It was like a spark had ignited between us. I couldn’t expin it, but I felt it deep in my bones, he was mine.”

  Sophia's mother paused for a moment, the possessive gleam in her eyes returning. “At first, I thought it was just an instinctive reaction to him. His strength, his presence, his courage. But no... it wasn’t just that. It was the bond. The pull. He didn’t understand it, of course. He was human, and he had no idea what was happening. But I knew. And he knew too, after a while. It wasn’t just that I wanted him. He wanted me too, in a way he couldn’t deny.”

  Her mother chuckled softly, almost wistfully. “He tried, of course. At first, he resisted, convinced that a retionship with someone like me—someone who was not human—was impossible. But the bond didn’t care about those things. It was undeniable. And the more time we spent together, the more he realized that, too. He fell for me just as I had fallen for him.”

  Sophia listened intently, feeling a strange sense of awe mixed with disbelief. “So it wasn’t just you who wanted this. He… he wanted it too?”

  Her mother’s smile softened, though there was still a trace of her usual dominance in her gaze. “Of course he did. It was never one-sided. He didn’t understand the bond at first, but it was there. Just like it is with you and that boy. It was fate, Sophia.”

  She paused, a wistful smile pying on her lips. “When I told him what I was… what we were. He didn’t ugh or call me crazy. He listened. And when I asked him to be with me, knowing it would mean giving up his humanity, he didn’t hesitate.”

  Sophia’s heart raced as she processed her mother’s words. The idea that this powerful, relentless bond wasn’t something that had been forced onto her father, but something that had developed naturally between them, was both comforting and terrifying at once.

  “So... what happened next?” Sophia asked, her curiosity piqued. “Did he… did he ever try to leave?”

  Her mother’s expression softened even further, her voice carrying a note of tenderness. “He tried, yes. But once the bond was formed, there was no going back. It’s not just love, Sophia. It’s something deeper. A connection that ties you to another soul in a way you can’t expin. It doesn’t matter if you’re human or wolfen. Once you’re connected, you can’t live without each other. He realized that, eventually. And when he did, he came to me, and we... we built a life together.”

  Sophia felt a rush of conflicting emotions as her mother finished her story. The thought of a bond so strong that it could not be broken, not by anything, was overwhelming. But the way her mother spoke about her father, the way she described their love, was undeniable. There was something pure about it. Something that, for the first time, made Sophia feel like maybe… just maybe this whole mate thing wasn’t such a curse after all.

  Her mother’s smile turned knowing. “You’re lucky, Sophia. You’ve found your mate early. I was already over eighty when I found mine. And you don’t know how rare that is. Most wolves don’t find their mates until they’re much older, sometimes not at all. So when you do find that bond, you have to honor it. It’s a lifetime commitment.”

  Sophia nodded slowly, the weight of her mother’s words sinking in. The bond was real. It was undeniable. And now, she had to face the reality of it.

  “I won’t lie to you, Sophia. The mate bond is powerful, but it’s not a prison. It’s a connection, a gift. But it’s up to you to decide what to do with it. You don’t have to embrace it right away. You can take your time, get to know him, and see where it leads. And if, in the end, you decide it’s not what you want, you can sever the bond. I’ll support you, no matter what.”

  Sophia swallowed hard, her mother’s words weighing heavily on her. “But... what if I can’t do it? What if he doesn’t... what if he doesn’t feel the same way?”

  Her mother reached out, pcing a comforting hand on her shoulder. “You’re stronger than you think, Sophia. And as for him... well, you’ll never know until you give him a chance.”

  Sophia nodded slowly, her gaze drifting back to Sam. He looked so vulnerable lying there, his face pale but peaceful. Her chest tightened as a wave of protectiveness surged through her.

  Sophia’s mother turned her attention to Sam. Her sharp eyes narrowed, observing the subtle changes in his face. The old burn scars were smoothing out, the discolored skin regaining a healthier tone. His transformation was progressing quickly, but that wasn’t unusual.

  What caught her attention next, however, was the scent. She inhaled deeply, her brow furrowing. Her gaze sharpened as she stepped closer to him, her movements purposeful.

  “What is it?” Sophia asked, noticing her mother’s sudden intensity.

  Her mother didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she leaned in closer to Sam, her nose just inches from his skin. She inhaled again, her brow lifting slightly as realization dawned. Straightening, she turned to Sophia, her expression unreadable.

  “What’s wrong?” Sophia pressed, worry creeping into her voice.

  Her mother hesitated, then said carefully, “His wolf.”

  Sophia blinked. “What about it?”

  Her mother’s lips pressed into a thin line before she answered, “She’s female.”

  For a moment, Sophia simply stared, the words sinking in. “Wait… what?”

  Her mother nodded, her tone calm but certain. “The scent is unmistakable. His wolf is female.”

  Sophia’s eyes darted to Sam, her lips parting slightly in surprise. A mix of emotions flickered across her face confusion, curiosity, and something she couldn’t quite name.

  Her mother watched her closely, gauging her reaction. “It’s rare, but it happens,” she added softly.

  Sophia didn’t respond, her gaze fixed on Sam as she tried to sort out her feelings.

  Queen