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Change.

Change is unpredictable, isn't it? All that you've come to know prior to that one moment suddenly becomes irrelevant, it's like being thrown onto a path where the directions are vague and you have to figure things out all over again and re-learn from scratch if you wish to make it through.

Kai despised such changes, having experienced them when he was barely seven. A storm came out of nowhere, wreaking havoc, leaving him dealing with unfathomable damage. He would have died a miserable death if the Alpha of the Cherokee tribe hadn't rescued him, offering Kai a second chance at life. That one event had altered his life entirely; life that had been nothing but peaceful.

And ever since that day, all he wanted was a simple life, call it boring or whatever but he liked to have that predictability. Knowing what was going to happen next, and having certain rules or steps to tackle any uncertain situation gave him a sense of comfort, it made him feel like he was in control. His life back at the tribe was set, protect, hunt, do the daily chores and sleep and to him it was peaceful. He didn't have to worry about what the future held for him since it was pretty much obvious that he would find a mate eventually, settle down in the tribe and have a normal life, as normal as a werewolf can expect.

But now, looking down at the human sleeping soundly on his lap, Kai knew he'd have to kiss that peace he wanted goodbye and brace himself for the whirlwind of changes that were about to come in his life. Because with having a human mate, his life was going to be anything but normal. The adjustments he'll have to make, the possible backlash he would have to face from their tribe and the council, it would never stop.

In their part of the world, it was a rule to keep their contact with humans minimal. Of Course, there were mythical beings who lived in cities, in proximity to the humans, especially the vampires and warlocks but they too were careful enough to not let their identity show. Warlocks had their magic to create illusions and be under the radar, it was easier for them to mingle amongst the humans. Meanwhile, vampires were stealthy enough to live undetected, besides they needed to stay close to their source of sustenance.

But when it came to werewolves, they were the wildest amongst their kind, being the progeny of feral beasts, they couldn't live far away from their roots - the woods. They belonged in the wild, where they could freely exist in their true form.

Kai knew there were a few wolves from other packs who rubbed shoulders with humans, and lived amongst them to learn their ways but those were mostly from the packs that were in the central part of the country, living closer to human settlements. The packs here in Appalachian were traditional of sorts, never leaving the woods and if Kai chose to be with his mate, he would either have to live in the city or bring Ender to the tribe, both options unworkable.

He gently ran his fingers through Ender's hair, the soft black curls slipping easily through his fingers, making the latter tilt his head as if asking for more, and Kai continued to do just that. Despite his hostility towards the species, Kai found it endearing, the touch sending sparks through his nerves. No matter how much his brain tried to completely deny it, his body contradicted it all, it ached to be closer to his mate. Ender seemed to be a gentle one, in all the time they had been together, he had been nothing but kind. Kai would never admit it, he would blame it all on the mating bond but that won't deny the attraction he felt toward the other. He was mesmerized when Ender showed him videos of his dance, he danced like a dream. Never in his imagination had Kai thought it was possible for someone to move their body the way Ender did. For a moment, he imagined how it would be, to live here in the city amongst humans. He hated the smell, the environment was too stuffy as compared to back home but maybe he might get used to it. Maybe he could endure it if he got to stay close to his mate. Would Ender be patient enough to teach him how they lived in the city? Would he help Kai adjust or will he be annoyed? He wondered if there ever will be a day when he could tell Ender what he was and if he did, how will his mate react?

But those were a minuscule part of the bigger problem. If he couldn't tell Ender what he was, he might have to live his entire life pretending to be a human, he won't be able to shift much. And if he wanted to bring Ender into his world, he'll have to reveal his true self which was risky because what if he freaks out? What if he rejects Kai? He would never understand how painful it was for a wolf to be rejected by their mate, they could either become rogue or die from heartbreak. And after spending half of the day with Ender, he knew the latter wouldn't take it well either. Ender had a comfortable life here, he had his goals, and his dreams, and Kai didn't wish to take that away from him.

He ran a hand through his hair in frustration, wishing he could ask someone, maybe Alpha could have helped him? No, that man may consider him as his own child but this? No, the Alpha would kick him out, that man was a stickler for rules and would happily hand them over to the council. Aunt Amelia could probably give him some good advice but she was miles away and he had no idea how to find his way back to the woods.

He caught the whiff of other humans approaching before he heard the footsteps nearing the door. In a few moments, the front door creaked open and the man who had tried to hit him in the morning, walked in, followed by a woman.

"What are you doing?" the man, Jake as his mate had called him, hissed in a low voice so as to not wake Ender up. He stood there with his arms crossed over his chest, glaring at Kai and when he moved to wake up Ender, Kai grabbed his arm and shook his head, instantly getting in a defensive mode

"Let him sleep, he seems tired" Kai glared back, not wanting anyone to disturb his mate.

Jake shrugged off his grip, glowering at him "Get up, we need to talk" he pointed at the door

Kai gingerly slipped his fingers beneath Ender's head, lifting him up enough for him to get up before laying him back down again, completely missing the way Jake was giving him death glares.

The moment they were out on the porch, Jake shoved him, making him stumble back, a small growl left Kai's mouth, his anger flaring up.

"I don't know what you're aiming at but you better stay away from him" Jake snarled right in his face as he pushed Kai again.

"I'm pretty sure he can speak up for himself." Kai seethed. He knew the guy hated him, which was valid since he was a stranger to them but this decision was up to Ender and if he asked Kai to leave, he would respect Ender's choice and leave that very instant.

"This ain't your home to boss around buddy" the human fumed, pressing a finger to his chest. "And, look," he scoffs, "I know he's attractive, I've seen that look on many people when they see him. No offense but it's kinda unlikely for someone like him" –He holds his hand next to his head – "to be interested in someone who's way beneath him" he gestures towards his shoes as if to emphasize his words.

And it hit him because even if the words were meant as an insult, it made him look back, until now, Ender had been kind, he was the first human who seemed to be genuinely concerned about Kai; human or not, it would be unfair to ask him to leave a secure, comfortable life behind.

Maybe this whole bond was some mistake because right now, Kai felt like they were two characters from different universes who were never meant to be, they were completely different, incompatible and no matter how much he tried to find a way out of this, it seemed impossible.

Jake snickered and walked past him, purposely bumping his shoulder, making him stumble.

Kai walked over to sit on the steps, completely at a loss. The Wolf Goddess was truly a cunning bitch, he thought, and maybe all the creatures he killed until now, all his sins were catching up to him