My Possessive Alpha Twins For Mate Chapter 361

Faelan’s POV

The dull thud of a rubber ball hitting the closed door of my office was the only sound filling the silence. Throw, bounce, catch—again and again. It was all I had the energy for today, that and getting tangled up in the same thoughts of her. Lia.

An envelope lay half-buried under a pile of paperwork on the edge of my desk, but I could still see the delicate silver embossing—an invitation to the mating ceremony of Dahlia Sterling and the Blood Moon Alphas. It had arrived this morning, and it had hit me like a truck I hadn’t seen coming.

I should’ve expected it. I knew it was inevitable. Still, I'd clung to the delusion that I’d have more time. A few weeks. A month. Time to prepare myself to truly let her go.

“It hasn’t even been a damn week!” I growled to the empty room.

“Boss, the transfer from Cherry Mountain’s here. I’m heading to the gate to meet her now. I’ll bring her to your office for a quick intro before I give her the full tour. If she’s hot, it might be an extended one,” Zared chuckled through the mind-link.

“Yeah, whatever.” I muttered back, my voice flat.

I’d been so wrapped up in my own head I completely forgot she was scheduled to arrive today. I shuffled through the mess on my desk until I found her file. Mireille Wilder. Twenty-five. A grad student transferring to Midnight Moon to be closer to the university for her research on forest degradation prevention.

“Sounds like a total snoozefest,” I murmured under my breath. “Probably some overachiever with her nose permanently buried in a book and glasses always sliding down her face.”

It wasn’t a kind thought, but kindness wasn’t something I had in surplus today. And if things weren’t bad enough, the second Zared mind-linked me, my wolf Hunter had been pacing, growling, clawing at the inside of my skull.

“Hunter, knock it off,” I growled low. “Let me get through this damn meeting and I’ll let you out.”

I inhaled slowly, grounding myself—only to be hit with the most addictive scent I’d ever breathed in. Cherry blossoms carried on spring wind. Light, sweet, dangerously alluring. And it was getting stronger. It clouded everything.

“Almost there, boss,” Zared's voice broke through the fog, but I barely registered it.

Before I could get out of my chair, he strode in, and behind him… her.

My body moved instinctively, drawn to her like a magnet. I forced myself to freeze, to stay in control.

Everything blurred.

Whatever I'd imagined—bookworm, meek, plain—it evaporated. She was radiant. Raven-black hair cascaded in loose waves to her shoulders. Skin like warm cream. Five-foot-eight, maybe, but petite compared to my six-six frame. A denim skirt clung to her slender hips, showing off those long, toned legs. And her eyes—stormy gray, intense, unforgettable—pinned me in place.

I instantly regretted every assumption I’d made.

She looked just as stunned, wide-eyed and unmoving. I actually glanced down to check if I’d forgotten clothes. And I wondered if my scent was hitting her the same way hers was undoing me.

Then I noticed Zared. His arm casually slung over her shoulders like he owned her.

A low growl rumbled in my chest, primal and territorial. My glare was enough to make him drop his hand and take a step back, though his brows furrowed in confusion.

Then came her voice, soft but certain.

“Mine.”

“Mate! Mate! Mate!” Hunter yipped in triumph.

For one fleeting second, joy cracked through me. She was mine. Finally.

But then a darker emotion took hold.

How could I feel this when I was still mourning Lia? Was I really that shallow? Could I just... move on so easily?

"I'm sorry," I blurted, shoving past her. Our arms brushed—sparks exploded across my skin. Her gasp said she felt it too. But I didn’t stop.

“Faelan!” Zared barked behind me.

“I’ll be right back,” he told her, and of course, he followed.

I ran. Not shifted. I couldn’t let Hunter take over because I knew he’d drag us right back to her. His voice was snarling in my head the entire way.

“Go back! She’s ours! You’re ruining everything!”

I ignored him, sprinting through the trees until I reached my favorite meadow, breath heaving. I dropped into the tall grass and stared at the sky, willing my emotions to settle.

“What the hell was that?” Zared snapped, storming in and dropping down beside me. “You’ve been waiting years for your mate, and now you run out on her?”

I didn’t respond. Just stared upward until I finally muttered, “Seconds before she walked in, I was grieving Lia. What kind of man does that make me if I just… switch?”

“You’re not just a man. You’re a wolf,” he countered. “There’s nothing more sacred than a fated mate. Look, I like Lia, but maybe you weren’t really in love. Maybe you just told yourself you were because you were lonely.”

His words hit harder than I wanted to admit. The longer I sat with them, the more they made sense. I didn’t really know Lia, not in the way I thought I had. I cared, yes. She was easy to talk to, and I wanted to protect her. But love?

“Maybe what you’re heartbroken over is the idea of love, not the person,” he added.

And just like that, clarity dawned.

“Fuck.” I groaned, burying my hands in my hair.

“Come on.” Zared stood and extended a hand. “Let’s get you back to your mate.”

“What if she doesn’t want me anymore?” I asked, panic creeping in. “What if she thinks I’m a total asshole?”

He rolled his eyes. “You’re a six-foot-six Alpha with abs for days and eyes women write poetry about. You’ll be fine.”

I barked out a laugh. “Yeah. I am kind of irresistible.”

He snorted. “Now you’re getting it.”

When I stepped back into the office, her scent wrapped around me like a promise. She was still here. Still waiting. Her storm-gray eyes met mine—and there was hope in them.

“Hey,” she said shyly.

“Hey,” I echoed. “Can we talk?”

She crossed her arms. “If you're going to reject me, I'd rather skip the chit-chat and get it over with.”

My gut clenched. “Is that what you want?”

She inhaled deeply. “I’m 25. I gave up hope of finding my mate years ago. Then I walk into this room and there you are. I was stunned, yes, but thrilled. Until you bolted. I assumed you didn’t want a mate. Or didn’t want me. Either way, I’m not going to beg someone to choose me.”

“I do want you,” I said, heart pounding. “I’m sorry I ran. It wasn’t you—it was everything else. But you? You’re smart, driven, brave enough to leave everything behind for school. And you’re so fucking beautiful it hurts.”

A small smile tugged at her lips. She extended her hand.

“Can we start over? I’m Mireille. Nice to meet you, mate.”

I took her hand and kissed it. “Faelan. And it’s a pleasure to finally meet what the Goddess made for me.”

The contact sent lightning through us. I tugged her into my lap, expecting resistance. Instead, she curled into me like she belonged there.

When her hand brushed my cheek, I shivered. That one touch said everything: we found each other, and we’re done waiting.

I dipped my head close, giving her the chance to stop me. She leaned in, lips brushing mine. The kiss ignited something primal.

I deepened it, teasing her lip between my teeth. Her gasp opened her to me, and my tongue swept inside. She straddled me, moaning softly, hands exploring.

She nibbled my earlobe, lips trailing fire along my jaw and neck. I lifted her shirt, fingers grazing smooth skin, her breath catching as she kissed over my marking spot and sucked.

My control shattered.

One hand cupped her breast, the other slipped beneath her panties. She ground against me, soaking my hand as I explored her soaked folds. My fingers slid inside. Her body welcomed me.

She reached into my pants and freed my cock, wrapping her small hand around it and stroking.

My canines snapped free. Her teeth grazed my neck and I snapped.

We bit—together. Claiming. Marking. Binding.

Her pussy clenched around my fingers, soaking my hand. My release came in thick spurts into her hand and down her thighs.

We didn’t let go until the last tremor faded.

We licked each other’s marks, sealing our bond.

“Mine,” we whispered at the same time, laughing breathlessly.

“You’re mine now,” I murmured against her lips. “And this? This was only the beginning. I need to taste you. I need to devour you. Let’s see if you taste as sweet as those cherry blossoms.”

I fixed my pants, straightened her clothes, and swept her into my arms.

My room—our room—was waiting.

And I was going to spend every night from now on worshiping the mate I never knew I needed, but now couldn’t live without.