Chapter 2 - Zeke & Khai

Of course, that didn't happen.

They met countless times before graduation—under the stars, in the fields where the wind sang through the trees. Sometimes they ran, other times they tangled in passion, both in their human and wolf forms. Always on the edge of losing control. But Rina had a grip on Maya, always. It was Khai who was harder to contain. When Zeke shifted, it was like he drifted somewhere untouchable, letting his wolf take over completely—wild, unbound, elemental.

Eventually, though, graduation day came.

Zeke was practically glowing. For once, his tie was straight, his ashen blonde hair slicked back in a way that made the girls in the crowd do a double-take. Tonight was the night—after graduation, they would be planning the mating ceremony. He and Rina would finally be bound together eternally. He could only pace to control Khai, he had been giddy all morning at the prospect of sinking his canines on his mate. Then licking the wound as they divulge in more intimate pleasures.

But more importantly… he was going to propose.

She'd always said she wanted a human wedding. Something soft and slow, with vows under the sun, not just instinct and canines beneath the moonlight. And if that's what made her happy, he'd give it to her.

He reached into his pocket to make sure the velvet box was still there.

"Would you look at this guy!" Angelique laughed, poking Zeke in the ribs as she walked up with two other packmates—Luca and Lyra. "All cleaned up like a golden retriever in a tux. You nervous or just that excited?"

Zeke grinned, cocky as ever. "I don't get nervous."

"Sure, sure," Luca said with a chuckle. "You only paced the hallway seven times since you got here"

"I was warming up."

Lyra raised an eyebrow. "Right. And smoothing your hair every five minutes was just part of the warm-up too?"

Angelique stepped closer, eyes gleaming with mischief. "So, Zeke… I hear you're looking forward to the mating ceremony, you and Rina will be officially mated. Any last-minute regrets? Maybe you'd prefer someone less serious, someone who doesn't glare at me for chewing gum too loud?"

Zeke smirked, but his eyes softened. "Rina's not just serious. She's strong. Loyal. She's everything. She's… home." His fingers brushed the box again. "Actually… I'm gonna propose to her tonight. Properly."

"Oooh," Lyra gasped, clutching her chest.

Angelique's teasing grin faltered. For a brief moment, something unreadable passed through her expression. "Wow… seriously?"

"Seriously," Zeke said. "She deserves it."

He turned back toward the hall, eyes scanning. His wolf stirred beneath his skin, restless.

"Speaking of… where is Rina?"

In the girls' restroom, Rina stood in front of the mirror, adjusting her gown, her hands trembling. She was hiding it—the bump. The baby bump. She was carrying Zeke's child.

She ran a palm over the soft curve forming beneath the satin. A baby. Zeke's child. Growing inside her.

There was nothing wrong with the child. Zeke was her mate, after all. But the timing—goddess, the timing! This was going to be beyond awkward at the mating ceremony after the graduation dinner. Rina had always wanted a traditional human wedding, or at least something close to it. Now? They were halfway to fully bonded wolves. The elders would surely talk. She had to tell Zeke before someone else smelled the truth.

She stepped out of the building, weaving through the crowd. Her senses pricked.

That scent—sharp, ancient, magical.

She turned a corner and froze. Standing there was a man with deep blue eyes, clothes refined but a bit outdated. Power clung to him like shadow. A warlock.

He lifted her chin and said in low voice, almost reverent. "It's you. Fate is so cruel—you're now a wolf shifter."

Her breath hitched. Her wolf, Maya, shrank back in alarm, a warning growl forming in her throat. Rina's body flushed without permission. Confused. Drawn. What is this?

The warlock stroke her face ever so gently like soft breeze touched her face. His fingers were cool against her skin, like water flowing over stone. Their eyes locked—and the pull between them was almost unbearable. She felt it her knees gave in a little and something warm happening between her legs. 

"Rina!"Zeke's voice cut through the moment like a blade.

She turned abruptly. Zeke stood at the end of the corridor, red-eyed, fists clenched and trembling. He saw him too right? Rina turned and the warlock was already gone—vanished like smoke in the wind.

"Who was that!?" he demanded, storming forward.

"I—I don't know," Rina stammered. "He just came up to me."

"You don't know?" His voice dropped an octave, deep with fury. "He was a warlock. I could smell him."

Onlookers began to gather, sensing the tension crackling in the air.

Zeke grabbed her toga, eyes narrowing. "Why are you so aroused?" he growled, voice low. "I can smell it from the other end of the hall."

Rina's cheeks flushed with heat, embarrassment and anger warring inside her. "Zeke, what are you trying to say!?"

"I get it now," he snapped. "All those times you said you were meeting your dad or those late night studying. All those times you pulled away. You always had that scent—like his magic."

"What the hell are you saying!? I literally just saw him two minutes ago! And keep your voice down. I'm not aroused!"

Zeke stepped forward, close enough to press against her. "Really? Then tell me why my wolf is reacting like this?"

She felt it, he was hard and his breathing was almost primal. He held her waist and pulled her neat hair up, to make her look at him. She saw it in her eyes he was on the verge of losing control a small snarl escaping him, Khai surged forward, his voice echoing from Zeke's throat. "Mate!"

Rina stepped backward trying to let break free from his grasp. She remembers this look when she saw reflected in his eyes more Khai than Zeke it always ended in a passionate and intimate congress. She grabbed his arm before the storm in his eyes could fully rise. 

"Zeke, let me go first. Be careful… I'm pregnant."

"What did you say?" he blinked, stunned. Slowly regaining control. 

"I'm pregnant, stupid! Don't get excited here of all places!" she whispered, half-laughing, half-panicked.

For a split second, joy lit his entire face. He swept her up, whirling her around in a dizzy spin of laughter and disbelief. "You're serious? A baby? Our baby?"

She nodded, breath catching in her throat. Zeke bent down and kissed the gentle swell of her belly, reverent, awed—

That's when he smelled it.

His nose twitched. The joy drained from his expression as quickly as it came. His eyes darkened—glowing red. 

"What's the matter?" Rina confused with his sudden change of mood. 

More students turned to look now, whispers spreading like wildfire through the event hall.

Zeke's voice dropped, low and guttural. "The child… it reeks of magic."

Rina's breath caught. "What?"

Zeke stepped back, recoiling as if he'd been burned. "That can't be mine."

Rina's cap slipped from her hand, her graduation gown crumpling around her ankles like a fallen curtain. She stood frozen, exposed—not just her body, but her heart, her future, everything.

All eyes were on her now.