Matthew's P.O.V
I cracked my eyes open, and the harsh light from the lamp smacked me like a ton of bricks. Damn, it was bright. I blinked a few times, trying to adjust, and realized I was alone in a big room. An IV drip hung beside me, and my left hand felt completely numb.
Is this … a hospital? Yeah, it had to be. There were curtains surrounding my bed, but through the small gap, I caught a glimpse of the cloudy sky outside.
My head was spinning like crazy. My memory was foggy, like a bad hangover, but the sharp pain in my right hand was impossible to ignore.
I lifted it and saw bandages wrapped around my palm and thumb, dark red-brown stains seeping through. Dried blood? Or maybe just some kind of ointment?
It hurt like hell, but I could only imagine how much worse it could've been if I had actually done something to that guy. Wait! Who is he? Why does my inner wolf feel so drawn to him? Could he be—no, that's impossible. A guy?
My chest tightened, my mind racing in circles. It felt like someone had dropped a boulder onto my skull.
"No way. That can't be right…" I muttered, dragging my bandaged hand over my face, as if that would somehow wipe away the confusion.
"Of course it's not right. You should be able to handle more than that, but here you are, biting your damn hand to keep worse things from happening."
The sudden voice made me jolt. A doctor yanked back the curtain, his expression unreadable.
"You're finally awake, Matthew Wayne. You should've woken up yesterday morning, but maybe your body needed extra time to adjust. Everything's fine now." He rambled on, but I barely processed half of it.
It was Dr. Chad, the family doctor who'd been treating my pack for years.
"What happened to me?" That was the only thing that mattered right now.
Dr. Chad flipped open his notebook, scanning through the pages. "You don't remember?"
I shook my head. Not a single clue.
He let out a sigh before closing the book. "Matthew, you went into your first heat phase. Also known as a Rut."
My stomach dropped.
"And let me tell you—" he continued, "you nearly assaulted someone in a public restroom."
What?!
"The police should have questioned you, but you got lucky. His parents didn't want to escalate things, as long as their son was okay."
A sharp, bitter taste filled my mouth. That little brat—
"He's an omega," Chad cut in, watching me carefully. "Are you two… connected?"
I shook my head instinctively. "I don't know. But my inner wolf keeps saying the same thing as you said."
"Both of you hitting your heat phase at the same time isn't a coincidence. It's a bond."
I swallowed hard. A bond?
Chad leaned in slightly. "Your grandfather expects you to step up as the next Alpha. You realize what that means, don't you?"
I clenched my jaw. "I haven't forgotten who I am." My voice was steady, but my grip on the situation wasn't. "This… doesn't change anything to me."
Chad studied me for a moment, then exhaled and sat down. "Your mother and grandfather are on their way. They'll be here in about an hour. In the meantime…" he hesitated. "Do you know why he was in heat in that public restroom? Have you met him before?"
I frowned. "No. I've never seen him before."
But my inner wolf disagreed. The moment I saw him, something inside me knew. He was my fated mate.
The realization made my stomach churn.
A guy? My fated mate is a guy?
Chad seemed to relax at my answer, like he was expecting something worse. I wasn't sure what he was digging for, but he was definitely pushing too hard.
"Let's end this conversation here." He stood, straightening his coat. "I just came to make sure you were stable. And to tell you—you won't get the chance to apologize to him."
My heart skipped a beat. "What?"
"His parents moved fast. They pulled him out of the hospital, wiped his records, and disappeared."
My hands clenched into fists. "They're avoiding me?"
Chad shook his head. "I don't think so. It looked more like they were hiding him. Keeping his situation under wraps."
"Because he's an omega?"
He nodded, an uncomfortable look flashing across his face. "You know how it is. A male omega is rare. Families like his… they either hide them, or they bolt before anyone finds out."
Just then, Camilla walked in, arms full of grocery bags. Chad took the excuse to leave, telling me I could go home once the IV finished.
Camilla dropped a plastic bag onto the table with a thud and crossed her arms. "Alright, spill. What the hell happened?"
I sighed. "What do you want to know?"
"How did you know he was in heat?"
I hesitated. The truth? I didn't know. It was instinct. My body just knew.
"Father, Grandfather, and Mother are trying to find out who he is," Camilla continued. "Do you not care if they track him down and force him to sever the bond?"
My throat went dry. "That's not bonding, Camilla. It's just—"
"You can sense him from miles away. If that's not bonding, then what is it?"
I exhaled sharply. She's right. Even now, I could still feel his presence, like an invisible thread tying us together. And the worst part? I could still remember the scent that drove me insane.
Thick, sweet caramel.
"No." I finally said. "He's not my fated mate. Stop saying that. And don't ever bring it up in front of them."
Camilla didn't look convinced. "You know the Elders won't just sit back if they find out the truth."
I shot her a sharp look. "Then do me a favor and keep your mouth shut."
Silence stretched between us. I looked toward the window, watching the dark clouds gather. A storm was coming.
And somewhere out there, so was he.