Arranged To The Beast Alpha
Mate

LEAH'S POV.

The hallway felt colder than usual, the dim lights casting long shadows on the same wooden floor. My footsteps echoed softly as I walked, my arms wrapped around myself. I wasn't sure where I was going, but staying in my room felt unbearable.

The tension from Damien's visit still clung to me like a heavy cloak. His words or lack of them-rattled in my mind, and my heart felt like it was caught in a vice. I needed air. Space. Anything to clear the storm raging inside me. The corridor stretched ahead, silent and empty. The house seemed to be holding its breath, waiting. My legs moved on their own, taking me further and further from my room. I passed closed doors and unlit hallways, not paying attention to where I was headed.

And then, I felt it.

It was faint at first, a subtle tug deep in my chest. I paused, my brows furrowing. It wasn't pain exactly-more like a pull, as if something unseen was calling to me.

I took a hesitant step forward, and the feeling grew stronger. It was impossible to ignore, like a magnetic force drawing me in. My heart began to race, but I didn't stop. I couldn't stop.

The air felt cooler as I made my way outside, the faint scent of pine and earth filling my lungs. The pack grounds were quiet, most of the members were either inside or busy with their duties. I walked past the edge of the property, my bare feet brushing against the soft grass.

The pull guided me like an invisible thread, and soon I found myself nearing the pack lake. The moonlight reflected off the water's surface, creating a silver mirror that rippled with the gentle breeze. The sight was calming, but my heart refused to settle.

I stepped closer to the water, my arms still wrapped around myself. The pull was strongest here, and my eyes scanned the area as if searching for something or someone. And then I saw him.

A wolf stood at the edge of the lake, its sleek black fur shining under the moonlight. My breath caught in my throat. The wolf was huge, its golden eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. Before I could process what was happening, the wolf began to shift.

Bones cracked and reshaped, fur receding into skin. The transformation was seamless, almost graceful, and within moments, a man stood where the wolf had been. Jason.

I froze, my heart pounding in my chest. He was completely naked, the moonlight highlighting every line of his toned, muscular body. His skin glowed faintly in the silver light, and his dark hair fell messily around his face.

I should have looked away. I should have felt embarrassed or shy, but I didn't. My eyes stayed on him, unable to tear themselves away. There was something magnetic about him, something that made it impossible to turn away. Jason's lips curved into a slow, knowing smile as he began to walk toward me.

"You're not afraid of me,” he said, his voice deep and smooth. It wasn't a question.

I swallowed hard, my throat dry. "Should I be?"

He stopped a few feet away, his golden eyes gleaming with an emotion I couldn't quite place. "Most people are," he said, tilting his head slightly. "But you... you're different."

The air between us felt charged, like a storm about to break. I couldn't move, couldn't breathe. His gaze held me captive, and for a moment, I forgot everything-Damien, the pack, the chaos in my life.

Jason took another step closer, his smile softening. "I knew it the moment I saw you," he said, his voice quieter now. "You're my mate."

The words hit me like a lightning bolt. My lips parted, but no sound came out.

Mate?  

I shook my head, taking a small step back. "No," I said, my voice trembling. "That's not possible."

"It is," Jason said firmly, his gaze never leaving mine. "You feel it too, don't you? The pull?"

My heart was racing so fast it felt like it might burst. The pull-that strange, unexplainable force that had led me here. Was he right? Was it because of him?

"I don't "I started, but my words faltered as Jason took another step closer.

His hand reached out, brushing lightly against my arm. The touch sent a jolt of electricity through me, and I gasped, pulling away instinctively.

Jason's expression softened, his golden eyes searching mine. "I'm not here to hurt you, Leah," he said gently. "I'm here because of you. You're the one I've been searching for."

My mind was spinning, torn between disbelief and something deeper, something primal that I didn't understand.

"You can't be my mate," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Jason's smile returned, softer this time. "You'll see," he said. "In time, you'll understand."

Before I could respond, the sound of heavy footsteps behind me made me whirl around. Damien.  

He stormed toward us, his eyes blazing with fury. His chest was heaving, and his fists were clenched at his sides. I had never seen him look so angry-or so terrified. "What the hell are you doing here?" Damien growled, his voice low and dangerous.

Jason didn't flinch. He simply smiled, his golden eyes glinting with amusement. "Relax, brother," he said casually. "I was just introducing myself to Leah." Brother?  

My head snapped toward Damien, my eyes wide with shock. But Damien wasn't looking at me. His entire focus was on Jason, his body radiating tension. "Stay away from her," Damien said through gritted teeth, taking a step forward.

Jason's smile widened. "Or what?" he challenged, his tone light but his eyes sharp.

The air between them crackled with hostility, and I took a cautious step back, my heart pounding in my chest. "Damien," I said softly, hoping to diffuse the situation. But he didn't hear me or if he did, he didn't care.

"Leave," Damien said, his voice dangerously low.

Jason chuckled, crossing his arms over his chest. "Make me," he said, his tone mocking.

And just like that, the tension exploded.

Damien lunged at Jason, his movements swift and brutal. The two of them collided, and the ground seemed to shake beneath their weight.

"Stop!" I screamed, but neither of them listened.

They were a blur of movement, fists flying, growls echoing through the air. Jason managed to shove Damien back, but Damien recovered quickly, charging forward again.

I stood frozen, my hands trembling. They weren't just fighting-they were trying to tear each other apart.

Jason shifted first, his body morphing into the massive black wolf I had seen earlier. Damien followed seconds later, his own wolf just as large and terrifying.

The fight became even more savage, their claws slashing and jaws snapping. Blood stained their fur, but neither of them seemed to care.

"Stop it!" I cried again, my voice breaking. But they were too far gone, too consumed by their rage.

It felt like hours before they finally broke apart, both of them panting heavily. They shifted back into their human forms, their bodies battered and bruised.

Jason wiped a streak of blood from his mouth, his golden eyes gleaming with something dangerous. Then he smirked, looking at Damien.

"You did