I did not see it coming.

From what my father had told me when I was a teenager, rut is a phenomenon that converts any male werewolf into a killing machine. An excess of testosterone, produced by the body of a mated werewolf, and without an outlet for all of that male hormone - i.e. the completion of the bond - the tendency for this particular male is to explode in uncontrollable rage.

Once upon a time, a student asked our biology teacher what would happen if a couple refrained from completing the bond. She said without any hesitation that the mated werewolves would shift into our wolf selves and complete the bond as wolves. Yes, really.

No one said you are obligated to accept your mate, but you are compelled by nature to complete the bond. We are werewolves after all. There is no escaping the mate bond. There is no circumventing the bond completion.

In my high school class, there was an asexual panromantic nonbinary AFAB werewolf.

Did you get lost in the terminology? Yeah... welcome to the modern world.

They were mated to another AFAB werewolf, so they had to work something out to complete the bond even within the asexual spectrum of one of the mates. And they did. To the best of my knowledge, they live happily together with a pup that they were able to gestate via a sperm donor.

There are no unhappy couples in werewolf society. There are unsatisfied people with how their lives, children, and jobs have panned out, but not with their partners. Not in the sense that it would lead to abuse or infidelity. If you don't take your partner for granted, you won't lose them.

Back to my original point, I thought I was safe from rut. Here I imagined it would come after Carlisle's heat, not before. I considered it happening to me, but only later on. I guess this is better than me having a fit of rage in front of an employee.

Goddess forbid I hit one of the warriors, I would not have been able to forgive myself. At least a fever can be remedied without a fuss. At first, I thought Carlisle was exaggerating with his determination to take me to the hospital because of my fever.

In my book, I would pop in some ibuprofen and that would be it. But as soon as the nurse took my temperature at the hospital, I could see in her face the gravity of the situation. Right away, the doctor ordered an I.V. drip and a shot of medicine in my arm.

This was not a common fever, it was rut. An unforgiving condition that spares no mated male werewolf who takes too long to complete the bond. Once I was medicated, my temperature started to lower and I began to feel better.

Later on, I professed my love to my mate when I was still in the hospital while he was visiting me. I guess there is no more time to waste. I love Carlisle and I am here for him, come what may.

In a couple of hours, I was discharged from the hospital. Phillip and Linda were there to accompany me and take me back to the pack house where I could do my job. Given the situation, Phillip told me not to go to the training center today and rest as soon as possible. Rut is not a life threatening condition in any way - once medicated - but I should take it easy, he insisted.

No problem. Things are going pretty smoothly with the force after the changes I made, so I have no issue with working from my second home. Plus, I am still available to Iris if she needs me.

Later that afternoon, I drove to pick up Charlie from school because Carlisle was working. I reassured my mate that I was okay to drive, it was not an issue for me. At night, he came home to find me in bed, showered and ready to sleep.

Now that he has decided to finally complete the bond with me, Saturday is my favorite day of the week. I am counting down the minutes, to be honest. And not just because I get to ditch the rut medicine the doctor prescribed me, I genuinely am in dire need of connecting with my mate and sealing the deal.

Oh Goddess, how badly I want to mark my mate for eternity... I never wanted something so badly before in my life. Ever!

It's Friday morning. I woke up in Carlisle's bedroom once again, but by now I already have clothes here to change into. It is just a question of getting up early, scoring some breakfast with the Alpha couple, and going about my day.

Tick, tock...

"Good morning, Beta. Are you feeling better?" Iris greeted me as I walked inside the training center later in the morning. The warriors present also do the same.

"Good morning, Delta. Yes, I am. Thanks for asking. I am medicated and good as new." I replied to her in a good mood.

"Great, I am happy to hear it. Around here, everything is fine. Clarkson and I are still adjusting to the new routine and having an Assistant Delta, but we are just about accustomed to it. I am glad you found a promotion for Kaleb, he most certainly deserves it." She told me with some enthusiasm, referring to Kaleb Michaels, Owen's dad.

"I agree with you. I am glad we are on the same page about it. I have no doubt that he will excel in his new role. I can tell from the short time he has been on the field that things are already looking more efficient." I commented, feeling pleased with myself that everything was happening according to my plan.

"And how is the baby?" I asked her, concerning her pregnancy.

"It's going fine. Leo almost had a syncope when I told him about it months ago, but now he is very much into it. Clary can't wait to have a sister or brother. But she definitely wants a little sister." She told me, feeling content. She is still not showing as of yet because she is very physically fit, but I am sure this will breathe in more love to her family.

I would love to be a father myself, but I don't need to rush my mate into it. However, as soon as he is ready for it, I am too. I already feel like a stepdad to his son. Charlie has been doing great in his new school. Even the fact that he thinks Clarissa is his mate is not throwing people off anymore.

They figured children will be children. Let them dream what they want. Only time will tell.

I walked upstairs to the second floor to check on Thomas, who is also pregnant. He is glad to see me out and about, fully recuperated. Since this is his first pregnancy, he is having the time of his life with it and his mate is one happy man now that they are finally starting a family.

I returned to the pack house for lunch and reunited with the Alpha couple who asked me about my health and how I was adjusting to the rut medicine. I told them I was fine and...

"CODE AMBER!" I was mind-linked by a warrior.

I got up from the table, dropped my fork, and abruptly left the dining hall without any explanation. I got into my car as fast as I could and drove to the middle school. I would have shifted into a wolf if I thought it'd make me get there faster, but that would be counterproductive. It takes time to shift and I had none to waste.

In less than five minutes, I was parking my car in front of the school when I saw one man holding Charlie against his will and two other men pointing guns at the school staff in order for them to leave the place with him.

I was yet to see the eleven year old kicking and screaming like that. The man was obviously too strong for him to get away from. I tried to remain calm in the situation and not panic. This is exactly what my mate has feared the most since he came here.

"Good afternoon, gentlemen. Can we talk things out? Negotiate?" I presented myself at the gate, not far from the men who were holding Charlie against his will. It was a very fast operation, but fortunately I had stationed a warrior here exactly to protect him.

"There is no negotiation. Now move unless you want a bullet in your skull, Cortez!" The man who was holding Charlie snarled. He was not armed because he had to secure the young boy, but that is why he brought armed backup.

"Please, please. You don't have to do this! Whatever Richard offered, I can double. Triple even. Just name your price, and I can match it!" I tried to negotiate my way out of this, still blocking their exit. Meanwhile, school employees were terrified at this, having just been held at gunpoint. The children freaked out, naturally. Fortunately, the men are here for Charlie, not anybody else. So at least they are safe.

"Do you seriously think we would betray our Alpha for you? For money? Money can't buy everything, Cortez. Now move or we'll shoot you down. Final warning!" The so-called leader growled at me, raging. Meanwhile, Charles is still kicking and screaming, trying to get rid of his hold on him unsuccessfully.

"Stephano, don't let them take me please!" He cried out to me, but I couldn't take one step ahead to rescue him. Not without getting shot in the process.

"Please, he is just eleven years old. I beg of you, don't take him away from his father. His place is here!" I tried to plead with them, to no result, unfortunately.

BANG!

A shot was fired in my direction and I fell to the ground immediately when it hit my chest. Charlie screamed at the top of his lungs at seeing me being shot.

"I told you to get the fuck out of the way! We warned you!" One of the gunmen spat at me, his revolver still hot, smoking after he shot me.

"You will never get away with this! You won't even be able to leave town with him!" I threatened them, down on the ground.

The men scoffed as they walked towards the gate.

"You can't do anything to us or you'd risk the boy. Do you think we are stupid?" He sneered at me, dismissively.

"You're right, I can't. That's why I can not allow you to take the boy away." I declared, rabidly.

The gunman pointed his revolver at my head as I was already down on the ground. He looked livid.

"You should count yourself lucky to be still alive, scum!" - He raged at me. - "Let's go now." He motioned the other men to leave.

"Shadow activate." I mind-linked one of the warriors.

At this, a shot was fired from an undisclosed location hitting one of the men in the head. He dropped dead immediately, his gun dropped on the ground with him.

"What the fuck!" The two other men looked around the area completely taken aback. The one who had a gun kept pointing randomly outside the school from where the shot was fired, however neither of them could see anything.

"Stop whatever the fuck you're doing or I'll shoot you down, Beta!" He then pointed the gun at me, his eyes glowing in anger.

"Even if you kill me, you won't leave this town with the boy." I told him, fearing for my life but putting up a good front. I was still on the ground after the other guy had shot me.

"Grab the Beta! They can't shoot us if we have him and the boy!" The leader proposed, telling the man to take me hostage. That is not a bad idea, actually. I should have thought of that... *widened my eyes*

The man moved towards me at gunpoint. As he did this, he turned his back to the gate for a moment because I fell sideways, managing to land on top of the school garden at the entrance. He marched to take me hostage as it would only take him a few steps from where they were both standing.

At the same time that this was happening, as soon as he turned his back to the front gate with his arms stretched out, pointing the gun at me...

"Shadow activate." I mind-linked the same warrior as before.

Another shot was fired, catching the man from behind. He fell on the ground just next to me, dead.

As this happened, the leader took out a gun that was hiding in the back of his pants and pointed it at Charlie, who trembled in fear for his life. He was still holding onto the boy with his other arm.

"Let me leave now or I'll kill the boy!" He threatened as the tween sobbed with shock and fear. I had never seen Charlie in that state, but I completely understand his reaction. He was petrified by the gun threat.

"Are you sure you want to do this? If you kill Richard's only heir you will end his bloodline forever. What are you going to say when you get back to your pack? Sorry Alpha, but I had to kill your only son even though the mission was to retrieve him?" I said sarcastically, raising an eyebrow at him, genuinely defiant.

As I said that, he realized the obvious reasoning behind my statement but counter-argued right away:

"If you don't let me leave this place with him, neither of us will survive." He threatened me, gun still pointed at Charlie's head.

"Are you mated? Do you have a lovely girl back home? Do you have kids? Because if you do, even if you don't survive I will make sure to let Richard know who it was that killed his only living heir. He's such a nice guy, I am sure he is not going to do anything against the family of the man who murdered the only son he will ever have." I countered, getting up from the ground with some difficulty.

The man stared at me for a while, mulling over what I just said to him, still threatening Charlie who was terrified at this.

"You should know... I am very good at my job. I was not only born to be Beta of the pack, but I dedicated my life to this job. I knew Richard would send his men after Charlie one day. I prepared myself for this event. But I swear to Goddess if you don't let go of my stepson now I will send assassins to kill your entire family! And unlike you, I am very good at my job." I threatened him, fuming. An impossible rage crept in as I watched him threatening Charlie, the gunman shook at my menacing words.

My eyes glowed at him as I meant every syllable that I had just enunciated.

Scared half to death, the man dropped Charlie on the ground carefully and the young boy ran towards me, crying desperately with fear and relief at the same time.

"I love you, Charlie! I am sorry that this happened to you, but I will never allow anybody to take you away from your father. I promise you that!" I declared, hugging the boy for dear life. Charles was completely shaken by the events that just happened as any child would be.

As I was holding Charles, the man sprinted out of the school in the direction of his car parked not far from the front gate. As he ran outside, a pack of warrior wolves eviscerated his body. I tried to shield Charlie from the loud screams as the wolves attacked the criminal, putting my hands over his ears, and covering them.

Unfortunately, this could not wait until he was far away. It had to be done. Now.

You move against me, you die.

You move against my pack, you die.

You move against my loved ones, then you die a most painful death.

I am Stephano Cortez, Beta of the Regency Falls pack, and I did not come here to play. *stares menacingly*

https://youtu.be/cjVQ36NhbMk

A|N: BOOM!

I bet you didn't see that one coming, did you?

Oh, my dear readers... You ain't seen nothing yet!

What happens next is heartbreaking.

It's called "Say You Won't Let Go."

OFF: I loved having the opportunity to use this song in one of my books. It's quite perfect for it.

AFAB stands for Assigned Female At Birth, in case you were curious.

Love,

Léo.