“I don’t think fear will be a problem,” she said dryly. “Annoyance, maybe. But definitely not fear.”
“Good. And don’t back down from a direct challenge, especially from the younger males. You’re an outsider, which means you’re automatically at the bottom of the pack hierarchy. The only way to gain respect is to refuse to submit.”
“And the elders?”
“The Elders are trickier. You can’t fight them directly—that would be seen as disrespecting pack wisdom. You have to outsmart them. Use facts, logic, evidence. Show them that your way protects the pack better than their traditions.”
She made a mental note to create a series of charts and graphs. Wolves might respond to dominance displays, but data ultimately ruled. She hoped.
“How possessive are male werewolves? Like, in relationships?”
Elise laughed, a knowing sound that made Harper’s cheeks flush. “You have no idea. Male wolves are intense. Especially Alphas. Once they decide someone is theirs, they’re completely obsessive about it. The whole ‘mine, mine, mine’ thing is hardwired into their instincts. They get jealous if other males even look at their mate wrong, they want to know where you are all the time, they can barely stand to be apart from you…”
She thought about the way Adrian had growled when other pack members got too close to her. The way he’d insisted she work in his office where he could keep an eye on her. The possessive grip of his hand on her waist.
Her stomach fluttered.
“That sounds… a lot.”
“It can be overwhelming if you’re not into it. But honestly? When it’s the right person, it’s kind of amazing. Having someone who’s that devoted to you, who would literally fight anyone who tried to hurt you, who thinks you’re the most important thing in the world…” Elise sighed. “It’s like being the center of someone’s entire universe.”
The center of someone’s universe.
She had never been the center of anyone’s universe. She’d learned early that attachment only led to disappointment, and built a life where she depended on nothing and no one except her own skills and her computer. The idea of someone wanting her that intensely, needing her that completely, was terrifying.
It was also, she could admit in the privacy of her own head, incredibly appealing.
“But there’s something else,” Elise said quietly. “Being an Alpha comes with expectations, and traditionally, Alphas mate with female werewolves. Strong ones who can stand beside them, give them heirs, and help lead the pack.”
Her heart sank. “So a human wouldn’t be?—”
“I’m not saying it’s impossible! Mixed matings happen. It’s just… rare. And the Moonstone pack is very traditional. The Elders would probably lose their minds if he chose a human mate. There’d be political implications, succession questions, all kinds of drama.”
“Right.” She swallowed past the sudden tightness in her throat. “Of course. That makes sense.”
“Harper, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to?—”
“No, it’s fine. Really.” She forced her voice to stay light, casual. “I wasn’t thinking about mating, anyway. We barely know each other. I was just… curious. About the dynamics.”
“So you’re not interested in him?”
“I’m interested,” she admitted. “But also confused, and frustrated, and maybe a little bit obsessed in a way that’s completely unlike me.”
“That’s the mate bond,” Elise said matter-of-factly.
“The what?”
“The mate bond. It’s what happens when werewolves meet their fated mate—their perfect match, the one person they’re destined to be with. The attraction is immediate and overwhelming. Humans can feel it too, apparently, if they’re matched with a wolf.”
Her brain stuttered. “Are you saying Adrian might be my?—”
“I’m saying it’s a possibility, but mate bonds don’t always lead to actual matings. Sometimes wolves resist them, especially if they’re scared or stubborn or have emotional baggage. And sometimes the bond fades over time if it’s not acted on.”
“So it might just be… regular attraction?”
“Human-wolf chemistry is weird. You could just be really into him in a normal, non-fated way.” Elise paused. “How do you feel when you’re around him? Like, physically?”
Harper considered the question seriously. “Like my skin is too tight. Like there’s electricity running through my veins. Like I can’t think straight because part of my brain is justwant, want, wanton repeat.”
