Her Forbidden Human Mate

Ch. 2

(Narrator)

Tessa felt sunlight hit her face. Her eyes batted open. She immediately sucked in a breath. She realized she was not in her own bed and an arm rested around her waist. Her hand shot to her mouth. She gently rolled to her back and gazed upon Rowan. She didn't think it was possible but he looked just as gorgeous asleep as he did awake. His hair was mused. She resisted the urge to brush it off his face.

She felt peace, joy. "Our mate is perfect," her wolf, told her. Tessa froze. Mate? A human mate? This was why she was drawn to Rowan? Why she had needed him so badly last night? Wolves didn't have human mates. It would never be accepted. "He's perfect," her wolf spat at her when she heard her reaction. She glanced at Rowan once more. "Yes, he is, but I can't have him. Not a human," she sighed to her wolf. Determined not to disturb Rowan, Tessa attempted to slide away from him but his arm recaptured her, pulling her closer to his side. He let out a contented sigh and Tessa felt her heart flutter. How could this happen? Of all the stories she'd been told of fated mates, not once was it known that anyone who wasn't a wolf could be a mate.

She needed to leave now, before it hurt. She needed time to think and get guidance. Once again she glided away from Rowan. This time his eye lids fluttered open. "Hi," he said softly.

Tessa felt her cheeks blush as she turned her head to him. She's glanced at his eyes only to be mesmerized by them once again. "Good morning," she whispered back. She forced herself to break his gaze and practically jumped out of his bed. She quickly scooped her clothes up from the floor and hastily got dressed.

Rowan immediately sat up in the bed. "You don't have to leave." His sweet voice almost sounded pleading. Could he be feeling the bond too? Tessa shook the thought away as impossible.

"I-I've gotta go," she stammered. She found her shoes and quickly slipped them on.

Rowan hurriedly got out of bed and slipped on his jeans, following her quickly to his bedroom door.

Tessa turned around quickly almost running into him. "I don't normally do this, I've never done this, I mean..." He was so close to her and his scent was driving her wild.

He smiled gently, bending down to pick up her purse and hand it to her. His fingers brushed hers and Tessa could tell he felt the same rush of tingles she did. "I hope I can see you again," Rowan said hopefully, his blue-grey eyes searching her face, trying to gauge how she was feeling.

"I'd like that very much," Tessa replied, tucking her hair behind her ear.

"You sure you have to go?" he asked, reaching his hand up to caress her cheek.

"No!" her wolf was screaming at her, huffing.

Tessa felt like she couldn't trust her own mouth so she simply nodded instead, avoiding his eyes for she knew she'd give in to her desires if she stared into his dreamy pools of blue-grey.

Rowan nodded and ushered her to the front door of his apartment. He opened the door for her, like a gentlemen. Tessa didn't know how to leave. Saying bye was ridiculous, a wave was just stupid, and a hug was not nearly enough.

Rowan gently sneaked his arm around her waist, pulling her close to him. He glanced at her eyes and then to her lips before he gave her a soft but perfect kiss. Tessa eagerly returned his kiss. When they pulled away from each other, it was clear neither wanted to. Tessa forced herself to go down the steps, only glancing back once to see Rowan leaning on the doorway, a small smile on his face.

Tessa rushed away. If her wolf had had her way, she would've rushed back to him and thrown her arms around his neck. She walked quickly along the side walk, the Boston air brushing her hair around. As soon as she got to the clearing of woods, she could shift.

Once deep enough in, she quickly stripped her clothes and tossed them in her bag, along with her shoes. Dez, her wolf, would grab the bag in her mouth as she bounded away.

Tessa allowed Dez to take over fully. Dez shook her head, casting the bronze fur this way and that. She picked up the bag and went full speed through the trees. Tessa could feel how upset Dez was about leaving Rowan. "You don't leave your mate," she hissed. "Just get home Dez, we need answers," Tessa sighed in response.

Once I could see Red Wood up ahead I slowed, ready to shift back to my human form before walking into my pack. Dez dropped my bag. Once I was in my human form, Dez retreated from my mind. I could feel her disappointment. I quickly dressed then walked the familiar path to my small, but perfect cottage that I shared with Ellie.

Red Wood was nestled in a beautiful spanse of woods. We had stayed true to our history and tradition with most of our buildings and homes in similar style, the humans would've called it Spanish style I believe. I say would've because no humans know we exist. Our elders long ago had conjured a spell that cloacked our borders from humans. It had become necessary after our ancestors were cursed. Long ago a beautiful Luna of our pack found out she was mated to a vampire. They went against nature and every law to be together. Their union cursed all those in the pack and the vampire kingdom her mate was from to to be hybrids. Those who were enemies now were burdened with their enemies nature. Thus, becoming one large pack after centuries of conflict.

I was a dark time when the curse first befell the Luna's pack and her vampire mate's kingdom. Some were so distraught over being turned into half of their enemy, ended their lives. Many fought one another and died doing so. Those that were left continued on when they had no fight left in them, resigned with the fact that there was nothing they could do to change their future. As the hybrids found their mates, their children were also born half wolf, half vampire.

This is why Tessa knew having a human mate would never be. It was against nature and law and no one dared to repeat history. Surely she would be killed if someone knew. She was no Luna. Her father was a skilled builder and her mother a doctor. They were important people to the success of the pack but not enough to save her should it be known her fated mate was not hybrid, nor wolf, nor vampire.

It is with all these thoughts rushing through her head that Tessa sighed as she used her key to enter her home. Her home coming disturbed Ellie who was sprawled on the couch. She sat up suddenly, stretching and yawning. A smile crept on her face when she saw Tessa. "So how was he?" she teased.

Tessa felt her cheeks burn. "Oh Goddess stop," she shot back. Ellie giggled and hopped off the couch too follow Tessa as she bee lined for the bathroom.

"Oh come on, give me something! You've never actually hooked up so quick before! You must really be smitten," Ellie teased. Tessa tried to push the worried look off her face before Ellie could see it and darted into her room to gather a change of clothes for after her shower.

But Ellie had seen. She grabbed Tessa's arm gently, pulling her to sit on the bed with her. "Tess what's wrong?"

Tessa wrestled with what to do. She wanted to tell Ellie, she needed to talk to someone about what she was feeling and how scared it made her. But she was afraid to utter the words aloud. Of all people she could trust Ellie couldn't she?