Theon's car slowed as it approached the gated entrance.
To humans, it looked like any other high-end residential community that was secure, pristine, and exclusive. Tall gates, uniformed security, well-maintained roads. Nothing about it hinted at what it truly was.
But behind those gates lived a pack.
A powerful one.
As the gates opened and his car rolled through, the shift was subtle but unmistakable. The air felt alive and most humans would never notice it. The scent of nature lingered more strongly here, blending with something deeper and something instinctual.
Theon drove through the community, his expression set as his eyes scanned the familiar surroundings. Rows of beautiful houses lined the streets, each one carefully maintained, each one part of the larger whole. There was a large park within the community, its open space often filled with activity during the day, wolves having fun with their young ones. Paths wound through trees, leading to different sections of the community like veins through a living body.
It was, in every sense, a self-sustaining town.
And it thrived because of the pack and the wealth that supported it.
Aldrith Corp wasn't just a company. It was the backbone of everything here. Its success ensured that no member of the pack lacked what they needed, and in return, the members contributed where they could, maintaining the balance that kept everything running smoothly.
As Theon drove deeper in, the buildings became more spaced out, the environment more secluded. He passed the large central structure that housed members without families, as well as those newly transferred into the pack. It also served as a meeting place, its grand hall used for gatherings that required the presence of many.
His destination lay further ahead. The road eventually narrowed, leading into a more wooded area where the noise of the community faded into the quiet rustle of leaves and distant wildlife. The trees parted after a short drive, revealing a wide clearing.
And at the centre of it stood his home.
A large, two-storey house, its structure both imposing and elegant, surrounded by carefully maintained gardens and a neat driveway. It had housed two generations of Alphas before him, a symbol of lineage and power that carried significant weight within the pack.
Theon pulled into the garage, cutting the engine before stepping out. His strides were quick as he made his way inside, the tension from earlier returning as he approached the living room.
They were all already there.
His father, Dorian, sat upright, as composed as he always was. And his younger sister, Valeria, sat slightly apart, her posture relaxed, tapping away on her phone. The moment Theon stepped in, his mother, Lenora, emerged from the kitchen, her presence warm and inviting.
"There you are," she said, wiping her hands on a cloth. "I managed to put something together for dinner, so everyone come and eat before it gets cold."
Her gaze shifted to him, narrowing slightly. "And honestly, Theon, what exactly do you keep in your fridge? It was a miracle I was able to make anything at all."
He exhaled quietly, already bracing himself.
"We'll have these discussions at our house next time," she continued, shaking her head. "At least there, I know there will be actual ingredients. We're going shopping this weekend."
"Yes, Mum," he replied, his tone even. It was best never to argue with her.
They gathered around the table. After a fee bites of food and light conversions, Dorian decided it was best to bring up why they were here in the first place.
"So," he said, setting his utensils down as he looked at his son. "What was so important that you called us here?"
The question hung in the air, drawing everyone's attention to Theon. He placed his fork down slowly, his gaze moving from one face to another; his father, his mother, his sister.
"I've found my mate."
Silence. A brief, stunned pause.
And then everything erupted at once.
Lenora let out a joyful exclamation, immediately pushing back her chair as she rushed over to him. "You have?" she said, her voice filled with excitement as she pulled him into a tight embrace.
Valeria stood next, a smile spreading across her face as she approached. "Congratulations, Bro," she said, hugging him as well, though there was a slight awkwardness to it, a distance that had always existed between them.
Dorian rose more slowly, his expression proud as he placed a firm hand on Theon's shoulder. "Well done, Son. Congratulations," he said.
The room buzzed with excitement, questions already forming.
"When do we meet her?" Lenora asked, pulling back slightly but still holding onto him.
"Is she from our pack? Is she new?" Valeria added.
"Or another?" Dorian's voice carried a sharper edge now.
Theon drew in a slow breath.
"That's actually why I called you all here," he said.
The excitement dimmed a little, replaced by curiosity as his family shared skeptical glances at one another.
Dorian's eyes narrowed slightly. "She's not from here," he stated. Theon didn't respond and a beat passed. Then Dorian's expression darkened. "Is she from the Rhodes pack?"
There was a clear note of anger in his voice.
Lenora smacked his arm lightly. "Must you jump to conclusions?" she scolded and Dorian rubbed his arm even though they all knew that did not hurt him. Lenora turned back to Theon, her expression softening. "We'll love her regardless of where she's from, my love."
Valeria nodded in agreement, though her gaze remained fixed on her brother in anticipation.
Theon stood there, feeling the weight of their attention, their expectations. He inhaled deeply and said the words that had everyone in the room stood frozen.
"She's human."
The words settled heavily into the room, pressing down on everyone present with such a strong weight that no one had been prepared for.
For a moment, no one moved a muscle. Lenora's hands, which had just been holding onto her son, slowly fell away from him. Valeria remained where she stood, her expression frozen in a mixture of surprise and disbelief. Dorian's posture stiffened, his gaze stared directly at his son, searching his face as though he might find some indication that this was a misunderstanding.
But there was none. The silence stretched. It didn't pass quickly either. It lingered, thick and suffocating, filled with thoughts none of them quite knew how to voice. But, finally, Dorian spoke.
"Are you certain?"
His tone was soft, but there was an underlying edge to it.
"Yes." Theon looked into his father's eyes to share his unease. The single word cut through the tension as another silence followed, shorter this time but no less heavy.
"I met her during a boardroom meeting," Theon continued, his voice steady despite the storm of thoughts running beneath it. "She walked in unexpectedly. The moment she entered, I… knew."
He paused briefly, as if still trying to fully grasp it himself.
"I didn't believe it at first," he admitted. "I still don't, entirely. This hasn't happened in centuries."
His gaze drifted slightly, unfocused for a second as old teachings resurfaced in his mind. The stories told when he was younger, lessons passed down through generations about the rare and complicated bonds between wolves and humans.
"We were taught about it as children," he went on. "The last recorded cases. Human mates. What happened to them." His jaw tightened faintly. "I just never thought it would happen to me."
Lenora slowly lowered herself into her seat again, her fingers pressing lightly against the table as she absorbed his words. "A human…" she murmured softly, more to herself than anyone else.
Theon exhaled quietly before continuing, his frustration slipping through now. "What I don't understand is how I didn't find her sooner. She's been working at Aldrith Corp this entire time. Right under my nose."
That caught their attention again.
Dorian's brows drew together. "Working at the company?"
"Yes."
"And you're only just realizing now?"
Theon nodded once. "I came of age years ago. I should have sensed her. But I didn't." His expression darkened slightly. "Not until today."
Valeria shifted slightly, her earlier shock giving way to curiosity. "That doesn't make any sense."
"It doesn't," Theon agreed. "But Nathan did say the mingling scents at the office could be a factor to why I hadn't found her."
Lenora, who had been quiet for a moment, suddenly looked up, something thoughtful crossing her features. "There is… something I've heard before," she said slowly.
All eyes turned to her.
"It's an old wives' tale," she continued. "It's just a myth not many wolves talk about, but…" She hesitated briefly, choosing her words carefully. "It says that if someone loses their mate, that is before they ever realize that person was their mate, they may be given a second chance."
The room stilled again, but this time, it was a little more contemplative. Theon's gaze searched his mother's slightly as her words sank in.
"A second chance," he repeated quietly.
Lenora nodded. "It's rare. Extremely rare. But given everything you've just said… it could explain why you didn't sense her before. And why it took so long. There's a possibility you had a mate before this one, but she has passed on."
Theon leaned back slightly in his chair, his mind immediately connecting the dots. His mother's words and what Nathan had suggested earlier. It wasn't a perfect explanation, but it was something. And right now, something was enough.
"…Maybe," he murmured.
He didn't dwell on it for long because as much as the why mattered, it wasn't the most pressing issue anymore. His focus shifted.
"To be honest," he said after a moment, his voice lowering slightly, "that's not even my biggest concern right now."
Lenora's attention snapped back to him. "What is?"
Theon's expression hardened, the uncertainty beneath it surfacing just enough to be noticeable.
"She's human," he repeated. "She has no idea what we are. What I am."
A faint tension crept into his shoulders as he continued. "And from what we were taught… humans don't always react well when they find out."
That was an understatement and they all knew it. History had not been kind in that regard.
"There were cases," he went on, his voice quieter now. "Humans who couldn't comprehend it. Who couldn't accept the fact that wolves exist. They… broke under it."
Lenora's face fell slightly, she remembered those histories.
"Some of them lost their sanity," Theon added. "Others…" He didn't finish the sentence, but he didn't need to. The implication hung heavy in the air. "I don't want that for her," he said firmly. "I won't let that happen."
For the first time since the conversation began, there was something undeniably vulnerable in his voice. It was fear. Deep fear for her.
Lenora reached across the table, placing her hand over his. "It won't come to that," she said gently.
Valeria nodded quickly. "We'll help you," she added. "All of us. Right, Dad?"
Dorian, though quieter, gave a firm nod of agreement. "You won't be handling this alone."
Theon glanced between them, something in his chest easing slightly at their words.
"I appreciate that," he said and he meant it.
Valeria tilted her head slightly after a moment, curiosity flickering again. "So… how did it go?" she asked. "When you first met her. Did you talk to her at all?"
Theon exhaled softly.
"Well," he began, a faint, almost disbelieving look crossing his face, "she barged into the meeting."
Valeria blinked. "She what?"
"She walked straight into the boardroom without permission," he continued. "Interrupted everything. Ignored the secretary trying to stop her." A small smile touched his lips when he thought of such a small woman carrying such a storm within her. Lenora's brows lifted slightly.
"And then," Theon added, his tone flattening just a bit, "she proceeded to yell at Idris and I… then she quit the job."
Valeria's lips parted slightly in surprise, while Lenora looked momentarily taken aback.
Dorian had more of an immediate reaction. "And what exactly was she yelling about?" he asked.
Theon hesitated briefly before answering. "The hiring decision… for the new Director of Operations." He coughed awkwardly. "We chose Celeste."
"Celeste," Dorian repeated, his expression turning flat with disappointment.
Theon nodded.
Dorian leaned back in his chair, exhaling as he ran a hand over his face. "Unbelievable."
Lenora frowned slightly. "It's that bad?"
"Yes," Dorian replied without hesitation. "She severely lacks the experience for that position. Placing her there is not just irresponsible, it's very damaging."
Theon glanced at him. "She does lack the experience."
"Then why was she chosen?" Dorian pressed.
Theon's jaw tightened slightly. "Uncle Matthew recommended her. He… pushed for it."
Dorian's eyes narrowed. "I see." He sighed, annoyed. The tone of his voice made it clear he was not pleased. "I'll be having a word with him," he said firmly.
Theon didn't respond, but there was a slight sense of relief in knowing his father understood the gravity of the situation.
Lenora sighed softly, though her focus quickly returned to her son. "Well," she said gently, "regardless of how your first meeting went, what matters now is what you do next."
Valeria nodded. "You're probably going to need a plan."
"That's exactly what we'll do," Dorian added. "We'll figure out the best way to approach her."
Lenora reached for Theon's hand again, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "We'll help you navigate this carefully."
There was a brief flicker of nervousness in her expression, which was understandable given the circumstances, but she didn't let it overshadow her support.
"We'll ease her into it," she continued. "No sudden revelations so we don't overwhelm her."
Valeria leaned forward slightly. "And maybe start by… getting to know her properly? Without the whole mate situation immediately hanging over everything."
Theon considered that. It wasn't a bad idea. In fact, it might be the only way this could work. "She already doesn't like me," he admitted dryly.
Valeria winced slightly. "Well… we can work with that."
Lenora smiled faintly. "First impressions aren't everything."
Dorian gave a short nod. "What matters is how you proceed from here."
Theon sat back, his gaze dropping briefly to the table as he processed everything: the situation, the risks, the possibilities… and Azaria. The way she had walked into that room. The fire in her voice. The defiance in her eyes.
His mate.
A human.
A slow breath left him as his thoughts began to settle. He had spent enough time questioning how this had happened. Now, it was time to figure out what he was going to do about it. And for the first time since the realization had hit him, he didn't feel like he was facing it alone.
He looked up at his family again, meeting each of their gazes in turn.
"Alright," he said finally.
A plan. That was where they would start.