Alpha's Human Mate - Chapter 39: Chapter 39

"See, son, love is something beyond control. It arrives unbidden and in its own time. You don't have to force it, no matter how much society tries to box you in," said Alpha Pique, as he relaxed with his son in the backyard, the aroma of brewed coffee wafting around them.
"But pho, how did you know you loved mae and found the one?" questioned Alpha Pique's son, curiosity shining in his eyes.
"Ah, because your mae and I are mates, and I recognised her scent the moment I laid eyes on her. But what I want you to grasp, son, is that love can blossom anywhere—between any genders, different religions, or even across species, like your great-great-grandfathers," Alpha Pique explained.
"Talking about my great-great-grandfather's story to our son, babe?" Luna Pear chimed in, gliding over to sit beside her husband.
"Indeed, my love. He needs a nudge to pursue what his heart desires; you know how these hormonal stages can be," replied Alpha Pique, teasingly, earning a warm smile from Pear, while their son scowled.
"Oh, my baby boy, fret not! Even without a partner by your side, we've decided to hand over the pack to you on your 25th birthday. And about your love life—don't overthink it, alright, darling? You're free to wait for your fated mate for as long as you need," Luna Pear reassured him, her eyes twinkling kindly.
"But I feel like a loser, mae, pho. It's as if I'm marooned, the only one not mated, growing older while the pack needs an emotional pillar, a future alpha to carry on our legacy. What if my mate is male, not female? Won't the other packs mock us? We've had a female Luna for generations—what if I'm the one to break the tradition?" he lamented, his voice heavy with anxiety.
"Baby boy. Did you even hear the moral of the story I just shared with you?" Alpha Pique asked, disappointment creeping into his voice.
"I did, and I understand, but pho, you must know the world has changed. In our line, every Luna since Luna Gulf is female; it's the way of things," the son replied, his voice firm despite the turmoil in his heart.
"You're almost twenty-five, still tripping over your own doubts like a puppy on a slick floor! I hope you find a mate like Luna Gulf. Then you'll really understand what life's about – be it a werewolf or a human," Alpha Pique joked, a cheeky grin spreading across his face as Luna Pear chuckled, her laughter ringing like silver bells in the warm evening air.
"Oh, goodness! Our household would be an absolute circus, wouldn't it, mate?" Luna Pear murmured, giggles escaping her lips, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Oh, absolutely, my sweet boy! Just follow your instincts and your wolf," Luna Pear chimed in with encouragement, her gaze steady and warm. "You never know what adventure awaits you!"
But Pique and Pear's son turned his gaze away, a heavy sigh escaping his lips as his thoughts drifted to the dreams that plagued him for a week, now mercifully silent. "I feel like something inside me is lost..." he murmured to the vastness of the sky above, his voice barely a whisper.
"What do these dreams mean?" he pondered, the words floating away in the gentle breeze. Pique and Pear exchanged puzzled glances, concern etched on their faces, yet they let the silence linger, respecting their son's deep sigh.
"Is everything settled, son?" called Am from the kitchen, her voice lilting and a touch maternal.
"Yes, mae, everything's all settled. I'll be clocking in by tomorrow afternoon. Now I just need to sleep like a corpse," he replied with a smirk, planting a feather-light kiss on her cheek before plopping down to devour his early dinner.
"Phew, I'm stuffed. Thank you, mam, for the scrumptious food!" he exclaimed, his plate nearly licked clean as he sauntered over to his mother, bestowing her another kiss on the cheek and winking mischievously.
"Cheeky boy," Am replied, a smile blooming on her face as she stirred the pot, her heart warm with pride.
"Mae, don't disturb me, not until tomorrow for our flight," he called out playfully before bounding upstairs to his sanctuary.
"Sawadee Krap! I'm Doctor Gulf Kanawut Wongtrakul, and I must say, it's an absolute pleasure to join your team," he announced, a broad smile lighting up his face as he introduced himself to his new colleagues.
"Oh, Phi! Quit being so formal! We're just thrilled to have you as our senior surgeon!" Green piped up, practically bouncing in excitement, positioning himself close to Gulf.
"Yes, Phi, don't hesitate to ask us anything! Welcome aboard!" Plai added, her smile warm and inviting as she waied her senior with enthusiasm.
"Phi, do you have a fan?" Green blurted out, his eyes gleaming with intrigue.
"No, N'Green, no one wants phi because phi doesn't have time for that kind of relationship," Gulf replied nonchalantly, a teasing glint in his eyes.
"Then~," Green sidled closer, nudging Gulf's shoulder with playful camaraderie.
"Then~ Green, will you—do you—would you—" Gulf teased, eyebrows arched and a smirk dancing on his lips.
"Yes, Phi! Uh-huh! What is it, Phi?" Green responded, eyes wide and shimmering with anticipation.
"Get back to work," Gulf retorted with a laugh, sticking his tongue out playfully, chuckling at Green's bewildered expression.
"Eeee... Phi, so mean!" Green squeaked, his voice taking on an almost mock-wounded tone.
"Hahahaha, Nong, you're simply too funny!" Gulf laughed heartily, changing out of his doctor's coat into something more casual as he clocked out for the day.
Gulf ambled over to his car, planning a quick dash to the grocery store before retreating to his apartment. But, as luck would have it, he took a wrong turn and found himself staring at a familiar mansion.
"Hmmm, this place seems oddly familiar," he murmured, squinting as he tried to piece together the recollections when suddenly, a furious knock on his window jolted him back to reality.
"Yes?" he replied, half-rolling down the window while rolling his eyes at the impatient guard.
"Get out of this property!" the man barked, his tone as unfriendly as an attack dog.
"Wait a moment, you overgrown tomato, I'm backing out!" Gulf shot back, eyeing the heavily tinted car behind him in the rearview mirror, where headlights flashed impatiently like a rebellious disco ball.
"Get the fuck out of here now!" the guard snarled again.
"Oh, darling, do you know you're both ugly and incredibly rude?" Gulf quipped, raising an eyebrow, irritation bubbling beneath his surface.
"Ha. Ha. Ha. Very funny. Just scram." The guard's sneer could curdle milk.
"Fine, rotten tomato, I'm going!" Gulf declared, shifting into reverse.
"Bye, jerk face!" Gulf laughed loudly, zooming away from the scene, the night air filled with the echoes of his mirth.
But moments later, as he drove away, he noticed a car tailgating him, flashing its lights like a madman.
"Motherf... hell to the no. I'm not stopping for you!" he grumbled, pushing the accelerator.
"What if you kill me or, goodness forbid, rape my virgin ass? No way!" he yelled, dread tightening in his chest just as something large leapt in front of his car.
With a heart-stopping screech of tyres, he swerved and pulled an emergency brake, narrowly avoiding a cataclysmic collision.
"You absolute twat! Can't you see there's an incoming car?" he raged, stepping out to confront whatever had nearly turned him into a pancake, but froze mid-step.
"Fuck me!" he whispered, an incredulous breath escaping him as he turned to retreat to his car and that's when something strong and terrifyingly fast slammed into him, leaving him breathless and bewildered.
Gulf's frantic cries echoed in the dim alleyway as he squirmed in the stranger's grasp, the desperation of his isolation wrapping around him like a heavy shroud. "No! Don't kill me! I'm no one! HELP!" The panicked plea was swallowed by the night, muffled and drained of hope.
"Don't scream, bii," the stranger murmured, his breath warm against Gulf's neck, as he took in the scent that lingered there, gently nipping and tasting. To Gulf, it felt as if something deep within him had ignited, an unexpected heat kindling a rush of conflicting sensations, a turmoil that he could neither explain nor resist.
After a pause, Mew pulled back, lifting Gulf's chin with a tender hand to gaze into his eyes, a sweet smile softening his features. "Me-Mew?" Gulf's voice trembled, a whisper swallowed by his confusion.
"Yes, bii, my mate, my love," Mew replied, his tone laced with sincerity as he pressed his forehead to Gulf's, a gesture that felt both foreign and familiar, a connection that stirred something buried within.
"Ho-how?" Gulf stammered, lost in a sea of emotions, his mind a chaotic whirlwind of memories both new and painfully familiar. He stood trembling, caught between fear and an undeniable yearning that surged forth like a tidal wave.
"I follow your scent, bii," Mew revealed, sliding back just far enough to lose the intimacy of their foreheads, yet keeping their bodies tantalisingly close, a reminder of the bond forged in dreams and longing.
"OH, MY GODDESS! Those dreams weren't a mere dream after all!" Gulf exhaled, abruptly shattering the silence as he enveloped Mew in a tight embrace, desperation clinging to every inch of their connection.
"No, mate, apparently it's not," Mew reassured softly, reciprocating the embrace, pulling Gulf closer as if to shield him from the bruises of the past. "Like I promised you, I will always be by your side."
"I love you too, mate, and I'll always be by your side," Gulf whispered, tears cascading down his cheeks, pooling on Mew's shirt, remnants of the sorrow he had carried for what felt like an eternity. Each drop felt like a release, washing away fragments of despair and loneliness, as he recalled the haunting refrain from his dreams, each repetition echoing a life that had been both his solace and his torment.
In dreams, they had both endured the agony of separation, waking in joy only to be gripped by an overwhelming grief that left them gasping for breath in the darkness. But now, at last, the two souls had found their way back to one another, their reunion a bittersweet melody played in quiet tears. Together, they stood on the precipice of a new chapter, hands entwined and hearts forever linked, silently weeping in the precious embrace of shared fate, healing the wounds of a lengthy, lonely journey.