Midnight Mate

Bond

Falcon POV

I stepped into my father's office, the heavy oak door creaking behind me. The room was filled with a tense atmosphere. My father sat behind his grand mahogany desk, his face twisted in anger.

"Sit down," he commanded, his voice laced with authority. I obeyed, sinking into the leather chair across from him. His piercing gaze bore into me, his eyes filled with disappointment.

"You handled the recent Rogue situation well," he began, his voice low and gruff. "But there are reports that vampires are now working with them. They are moving closer to our territories, putting us at risk. We may need to send our warriors to face them before they pose a threat to our lands. This should be your primary focus."

He paused. "And yet, I hear of you disappearing off to a completely different world. Working with a witch," he continued, his voice filled with disdain.

I spoke up, defending my actions. "I only left because my mate needed me. You taught me to protect the one fated to me," I said, trying to reason with him.

My father let out a heavy sigh, his shoulders slumping. "I'm assuming this mate of yours is the human you brought into our territory," he said, his voice laced with disappointment.

I nodded, feeling the weight of his disapproval. "Yes, she is human," I admitted.

He growled, his frustration evident. "You are to reject this bond and take a chosen mate, one fit to be a Luna, to be a queen," he demanded.

I met his stern gaze. "I won't reject my fated one. The goddess does not make mistakes. Katya is meant to be my Luna. I will never accept another," I responded firmly.

My father sighed, his weariness apparent. "I know the importance of fated mates, Falcon. But no one here is going to accept a human," he tried to reason with me.

I stood my ground, my conviction unwavering. "I will prove she is worthy. She is the only one I will accept," I explained.

He leaned back in his chair, contemplating my words. "This kingdom needs a strong Luna. The throne is set to be yours on your 25th birthday, only six months away. For now, I will allow this human mate of yours to stay. But she must prove herself. And if she is not fit for the role, I will choose a mate for you," he explained.

"If you intend to mark this human, it must be done in private and kept hidden. Our enemies will see her as a weakness. Right now, prove to me she can stand by you and that you can lead while protecting a human," my father explained in a low, serious tone.

I nodded in understanding. "I will prove to you that Katya is the queen this kingdom needs," I confidently declared to him.

"Very well. You may return to your mate and have the remainder of the day to help her settle in. But come morning, you need to return to your duties," my father commanded, his voice firm and authoritative.

"Understood," I responded. With that, I left for my room, eager to be back with Katya.

As I hurried, I skillfully avoided engaging in conversations with anyone, my footsteps echoing softly in the grand corridor. I wanted to be by Katya's side as soon as possible.

Finally, I reached my room, the door opening silently. There, on my couch, lay Katya, peacefully asleep. "Why did she not go to the bed?" Ash questioned in my mind, concern evident in his thoughts.

"She will take time to adjust," I reassured him, my mental voice calm and steady.

I approached her quietly. Ash's worry intensified. I gently brushed my fingers against Katya's bruises, a twinge of pain coursing through me as I witnessed her injuries. Trevor, the monster who had harmed her, seemed almost inhuman with how quickly he healed.

Suddenly, Katya's breathing quickened, small gasps escaping her lips. It was clear she was having a bad dream. Ash's protective instincts surged. "You better hold her, or I'm taking control." He said. Without hesitation, I took her hand in mine, the touch soothing and grounding. With my other hand, I tenderly stroked her face.

Slowly, she calmed and woke up, her voice barely a whisper. "Falcon," she breathed, relief evident in her voice.

"I'm here with you, and I will be for the rest of the day. It's just you and me so you can get settled in," I promised.

As she sat up, her eyes met mine, uncertainty clouding her expression. "I need to tell you something. It's important," she said.

I leaned in closer, my gaze locked with hers, offering reassurance. "You can always tell me anything, Katya, no matter what it is," I assured her.

After a moment of hesitation, she gathered her thoughts and spoke, her words holding a weight of revelation. "Trevor showed me a video of when I was in the crash. The water, it glowed, and this lady who saved me, she was glowing as well, and then vanished into thin air. Trevor said he had a tumor, but I was special, and I could heal people because of the one who saved me," she explained, her worry palpable.

Ash interjected in my mind, reminding me of how quickly Katya had healed us from the silver. "You may have a special ability then, and if so, I will help you learn as much as you can about it," I responded. Katya nodded, her eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and uncertainty.

"So to mark me, you just bite me, what does that do?" she asked, her voice filled with curiosity.

"It forms a tighter connection between us," I explained. "With my mark, it shows that you are mine and I am yours. Since you are human, I admit I am unsure exactly what you will feel. But typically, my mark would allow me to sense when you are upset or hurt. It may even enable us to communicate through our minds, no matter how far apart we are."

"To finish this bond, you need to mark and claim me, correct?" she inquired.

"Yes, but only when you are ready," I reassured her. "To complete the bond, we must mark and mate. My mark may intensify your desire to be with me intimately, as intimate relationships hold great significance for werewolves."

"I understand," she whispered softly.

"I may crave a very intimate relationship, Katya, but I will never push you to do something you're not ready for. And even when you are ready, I promise I'll never force you. I will always respect your boundaries. If my wolf becomes too forward, causing my control to slip, I will distance myself from you."

"I'm ready," she declared, her eyes meeting mine. "I want you to mark me. I want to remain with you forever." Her words filled my heart with happiness, but also a sense of trepidation. I needed to ensure that her decision was not influenced by the events of the day.

"Katya, we don't have to rush," I urged her gently.

"I know, but I am ready," she affirmed, her voice steady and resolute.

"Food will be here soon, so how about we freshen up, eat, and relax a little first?" I suggested. "For she-wolves, a male's mark, especially that of an Alpha, can cause you to become tired. It may put you to sleep, but it is safe. So, I will mark you if that's still what you want before we head to bed." She nodded in agreement as a knock echoed through the room. I rose from my seat and opened the door to find a maid standing there, holding a bag containing a nightdress and new undergarments for Katya, along with a bag of toiletries based on her needs.

I brought the toiletries back to the bed for Katya, setting them down gently. "These are for you," I said. "How about you shower first? I'm sure you want to get changed."

"Thanks," she replied, her eyes scanning the bathroom before she stood up and vanished inside. As I waited for her, I rose from the bed and glanced out of my window, the soft glow of the setting sun casting a warm hue over the room. It felt a little strange to be back here, but knowing that Katya was safe within my room brought me a sense of relief.

Lost in my thoughts, time seemed to slip away, and before I knew it, she emerged from the bathroom. A smile tugged at my lips as I saw her wearing the clothing I had provided - a simple night shirt and shorts. It wasn't much, but at least she would be a bit more comfortable.

"Thanks for everything," she said, gratitude lacing her words. "I'll find a way to pay you back somehow."

"No need," I reassured her. "You took care of me as well."

"I'm going to take a fast shower now," I informed her, and she nodded in understanding.

I moved quickly, aware of her discomfort being alone. As I stepped outside, a maid stood by my door, holding a tray of food. Carrying it inside, I placed it on my table, the aroma of fresh stew filling the air. "I hope this is okay," I said to Katya, attempting to lighten the mood.

"I'll have to teach the staff what pizza is," I joked, finally getting a smile out of her.

"the food smells really good." She said as she sat with me, I watched her take a bite, and a look of delight crossed her face.

"Tomorrow, I must focus on some of my duties, but I will make sure you are settled in, and I will assign someone I trust to show you around," I explained to her.

"The lady that spoke with me to come here said being with a human would be hard for you," Katya spoke.

I sighed, understanding the challenges we may face. "Some humans do live in this world. I'm not the first to be mated with one. We have rules that we have followed for a long time. Rules that say Alpha wolves must take on a strong she-wolf to protect their packs and maintain a strong bloodline. I'm not just an Alpha wolf; I'm an Alpha prince. So, there will be many who object to us, but I will change that. You are the only mate I want, Katya, and I trust that you will be the perfect Luna. Please trust in me, although it may be hard at first, you will be accepted," I assured her.

"I'm used to not being accepted, but I will do whatever it takes to stay with you," she said, giving me a small smile. We finished the food, and she vanished into the bathroom briefly before returning.

Fidgeting with her fingers, a sign of her nervousness, I suggested, "Want to go out on my balcony?" Her face lit up, and I led her outside.

"It's beautiful here," she said, awestruck by her surroundings. As she took in the sights, I stood behind her, wrapping my arms around her. She fit perfectly against me. Brushing her hair away from her neck, I planted a gentle kiss on her skin. The sky had turned dark, but the night was peaceful. Slowly, I moved my hand against her body, gauging her comfort. I wanted to complete the bond with her, but I needed to ensure she was truly at ease. When she relaxed against my touch, it put me at ease as well. I continued to place soft kisses on her neck as my hand inched towards the hem of her shorts. "Remember, I will stop the moment you tell me to," I reminded her, prioritizing her comfort above all else.