Midnight Mate

Human

Katya POV

I will admit I was nervous about spending the day without Falcon since I knew very little about his world, but I was going to try my best to be okay without him. As he prepared for his day, I took a moment to look at the mark that had now formed on my wrist. It was a moon tattoo, yet it was just the outline. I closed my eyes for a moment. I had to make the tattoo solid; I would not fail. I could not lose Falcon.

Finally, I got out of his bed and picked up the outfit Falcon had given me so that I could get dressed. As Falcon came out of the bathroom dressed, he came over to me. He hesitated for a moment, but then reached out and brushed his hand against my side. I could feel the warmth of his touch against my skin. "My touch on your body, does it give you as much pleasure as it gives me, Katya," he whispered against me.

"Your touch makes my entire body feel like a fire is burning within me," I responded, feeling the heat spreading through me.

"It is not going to be easy leaving you today when I would very much like to explore you more," he said, a growl rumbling in his chest, his eyes almost glowing.

"Your eyes," I whispered as I looked into them.

"It's Ash, you drive him wild, Katya," Falcon admitted, releasing me so I could dress.

"Can I spend more time with him again?" I asked, causing a smile to form on Falcon's face.

"Yes, as much as you want," he said, taking my hand. "Katya, my wolf can move forward in my human form. You see, for mates, usually when we are mated, our wolves take over when we sleep. It's their time to connect, to mate," he explained.

"Oh," I whispered, feeling a little bad. He brushed a stray hair out of my face and then brushed his fingers against my lips.

"I did not say that to make you feel bad, Katya. It's just that when you're comfortable, Ash would really like to be the lead sometime so you two can be together as well," he explained.

"I understand." I responded, causing his smile to brighten as his lips met mine.

"I promise, real soon, I'll find some time so just the two of us can escape and spend some time just you and me away," he promised.

By the way he was looking at me and what even his kisses were doing to me, I believed the majority of any time alone with him would be spent in bed. It's strange, for the longest time, I did not want to go the final step. I feared that sort of connection with anyone. But now, with Falcon, all I can think about is feeling all of him again later today. A small smirk formed on his face.

"I still hear your thoughts," he said. My face flushed with embarrassment. "I think it may be our mind link. It will take you time to adjust."

"I want you just as badly, Katya," he confessed. "I already told you, my kind, especially me as an Alpha, require very intimate relationships. And now that you have my mark, you will crave our connection even more. It's not just for pleasure, it heals us and provides energy and strength."

As his explanation sank in, I mustered up some courage. "You held back with me last night, I could tell," I confronted him, causing a low chuckle to escape his lips.

"I don't ever want to hurt or overwhelm you," he explained. "Yes, I did hold back, but it will take time for you to adjust to me."

I found myself growing more confident as I spoke. "Just don't hurt yourself in the process. I want to know what it's like to be with you when you're just being yourself. I don't think it's possible for you to hurt me," I admitted, causing his eyes to briefly glow with intensity again.

But our moment was interrupted by a knock on his door. "Come in, Maeve," he called out, and a stunning woman entered the room. It seemed like everyone around here was a supermodel.

"Alpha prince," she greeted him with a respectful bow of her head before her gaze turned to me. A wide smile graced her lips as she looked back at Falcon.

"For now, we must keep her mark a secret. Maeve, I trust you can help Katya cover it up," Falcon instructed her.

"Of course," Maeve replied warmly. "Leave it to me. We'll have some girl time today." Her friendly smile put me at ease.

"If you need me, just tell Maeve or any of the guards. No matter what, I will come to you," Falcon promised me before turning his attention back to Maeve.

"Don't worry, I'll take good care of Katya," she assured him as he reluctantly left the room.

Maeve's words hung in the air, and I found myself at a loss for words. "I never thought I would see the day Falcon would soften up," she remarked. Uncertain of what to say, I simply nodded.

"Don't worry, we'll have fun today. I'll take you to the dining hall first, and then we'll head out to get you some clothing," she offered with a friendly smile.

An awkward feeling settled over me as I admitted, "I feel bad taking so much without having money here."

Maeve sat down next to me, a comforting presence.

"Falcon already filled my mate in on your situation and then me. Don't worry, all secrets are safe with me. I've been friends with Falcon since we were pups. As your mate, it's his duty to take care of you. And now, you are a part of our pack. Once you settle in, you'll have responsibilities. But for now, let your mate take care of you and spoil you. Falcon never smiles, or at least not recently. Since he turned fifteen, he's been serious, consumed by his duties. But today, the Falcon in front of me seemed different, like a puppy with a huge grin. He needs you, Katya. You bring him happiness that I've wished for a long time for him. Being an Alpha prince is not easy, with a lot riding on his shoulders. He's expected to lead and protect, especially with our kingdom facing enemies that grow closer each day. Falcon has been under immense stress. But now, with you, he can find calm and a reason to be happy to fight."She said to me.

"So, you don't mind that I'm human?" I asked.

"Not at all. Some may, but all I care about is that you make my best friend happy and, of course, that you are happy with him as well. We will make good friends, Katya." Her words made me feel a little relieved. She pulled out some makeup. "I hate that you have to hide your mark, but hopefully not for long.” she admitted.

"I will warn you, there are plenty of she wolves wishing they were Falcons mate, so you may see some try to flirt with him," she said, her voice tinged with annoyance. "It's pathetic in my opinion, but know Falcon never pays them any attention."

With how hot he is, I wasn't surprised by her words. Maeve held up the bottle of makeup, "Is it OK for me to put this on you?" She asked. I nodded in response, and she delicately applied the makeup, covering my mark. "Perfect," she said when finished.

"Let's get food now," she offered, taking my hand and leading me out of the room. As we walked through the sprawling mansion, Maeve explained every room we passed. The mansion was vast, and I marveled at its grandeur.

Finally, we arrived at a large room filled with the enticing aroma of various dishes. "This is the dining hall," Maeve explained, guiding me to get a plate. As I glanced around, I noticed several others in the room eyeing me curiously, but their hushed whispers remained unspoken until we sat down.

Two females approached our table with a mischievous glint in their eyes. "Babysitting a human today, Maeve?" one of them giggled, causing a low growl to escape Maeve's throat. The room was momentarily filled with tension.

"So, is it true Falcon bought a human to be his plaything?" the other female asked, her voice laced with skepticism.

Maeve's response was swift and authoritative. "Hold your tongue," she snapped at them. "Katya is Falcon's guest. Let me remind you, per his orders, she is to be treated with respect. Punishment will be given to anyone who does not follow the prince's orders.”

The two girls scoffed and walked away, their heels clicking on the floor. "Are you sure it's OK for me to be in here? I don't want to upset everyone," I whispered to Maeve.

Her eyes met mine, and she reassured me, "Absolutely, please ignore what they said."

"Do humans get sold here?" I asked in a hushed tone. The expression on Maeve's face spoke volumes.

"Humans are typically only used as servants here," she admitted quietly. A sense of unease settled over me. Being an orphan, I had never felt wanted in my own home as well.

"We can go," Maeve offered, sensing my discomfort. She led me out of the dining hall and out of the mansion.

Outside, a sleek luxury car awaited us. "Let's go shopping," Maeve said with a smile, as a chauffeur opened the back door. I hesitated, memories of being taken against my will flooding back. "Don't worry, it's safe," Maeve assured me, guiding me into the car. Falcon must have informed her about my past. As the car started moving, I took a deep breath, my trembling hand betraying my fear. Sensing my unease, Maeve took my hand and lifted her shirt, revealing several large scars.

"I was taken by the Rogues two years ago," she confided. "My mate and Falcon saved me, but I can tell you've been through hell as well, Katya. I'm here if you need someone to talk to," she offered sincerely.

"Thank you, that really means a lot," I replied, gratitude filling my voice. Wanting to understand more, I asked, "What are Rogues?"

"Rogues are outcasts, many of them criminals. We've been battling them lately, as we suspect packs that oppose our kingdom are working with them to overthrow our leadership." She explained.

I nodded, realizing there was still so much for me to learn. But she seemed to understand. "I'm sure everything is a little overwhelming, but in no time you will learn everything you need to know," she said reassuringly. As we pulled up to what looked like a mall, I was happy to see that some things were familiar. However, I had only been to the mall twice in my life.

"Ok, time for some shopping," Maeve said as we got out of the car. "Let's see, we need a little bit of everything for you," she added. I tried to explain that I only needed a few things and that I could wash them myself, but she shook her head. "Falcon will be upset if we don't stock you up. He said for me to get everything you like," she explained, pulling out a card. "He will get you a card soon, but for now, we will use his," she said.

We entered a huge department store, and I realized that werewolves were just like humans in their love for shopping. Maeve went crazy once I told her my sizes. The man who drove us, Tom, walked with us. I learned that Falcon assigned him to guard me. Maeve used him to stack clothing in his arms, taking advantage of my lack of pickiness. I allowed her to help, not expecting her to grab half the store. Some of the outfits were worth a month's salary just for one shirt.

In the final section, she selected several dresses and picked out shoes to be delivered directly to Falcon's room. She finally took my hand, sensing my panic. "It's okay, Katya. Deep breaths. Falcon is a prince, so we need to get you a wardrobe that fits events and outings he must attend. I know he will want you with him," she explained soothingly.

"Okay," I said, feeling a little better. "Since we seem to have everything you need, should we go watch Falcon? He's not far from here. He's at the training academy, working with some of the students to form a new team for an upcoming mission," she suggested. The mention of seeing Falcon lit up my face.

"I had a feeling you would want to see him. He may not be able to talk with you much there, but you can see your mate in action," she said with a smile. We paid for everything and arranged for it to be delivered. Tom then took us to see Falcon. We stopped in front of a huge building, and Maeve led me into a large gym filled with men. She guided me up a set of bleachers, and we sat down. She pointed towards the center of the gym.

There stood Falcon, his muscles glistening with sweat under the bright lights of the gym. Shirtless and focused, he commanded attention from several other women who couldn't help but watch him. A tinge of jealousy welled up within me as I saw their admiring glances.

"Falcon tends to draw in a crowd when he is sparring and training with the students," Maeve explained.

I observed as Falcon moved onto a mat with one of the men, their bodies colliding in an intense spar session. It was the first time I had witnessed him fight like this, and it was truly mesmerizing. I couldn't tear my eyes away from his impressive display of skill.

We stayed for over an hour, and then Maeve smirked at me. "Falcon's coming up to see you. Looks like all the girls here are about to be envious of you," she laughed.

As I watched Falcon walking towards us, one of the women who had been ogling him got up and headed in his direction. However, he completely ignored her and approached us instead. Falcon took my hand and pulled me closer, catching me off guard. Knowing he wanted to keep our connection hidden, I assumed he wouldn't want to act so intimately in public.

"I'm happy you came to see me," Falcon said, planting a gentle kiss on my cheek. "I missed you," he whispered. My heart raced wildly in my chest.

"I'll be back in a few hours, so make yourself comfortable at home, Katya," Falcon explained, rushing back down to the gym floor.

"He's crazy for you, that's for sure," Maeve remarked as we stood up. "Let's get you settled in and maybe surprise Falcon with one of your new outfits." She wore a mischievous grin, hinting at the fun we were about to have.

Falcon was correct about Maeve - I have a feeling we’ll become good friends.

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