Chapter 2

• Taking slow steps in the hall, Helena noticed a familiar figure approaching the same place she was headed to.
• “Shawn...” she mouthed to her friend, and his gaze whirled to her.
• He grimaced, and his face twisted into a scowl as he motioned with his hands at her outfit. Helena glared at him. They had no time for his snarky remark. There was a big chance she would have to shift into a werewolf anyway. Clothes were only going to get in the way. She pointed at the door between them, and Shawn clenched his jaw. The source of the unfamiliar shuffles was somewhere inside.
• They stood on the both sides of the laundry room, and Helena drew her eyebrows together. Whatever was inside was big. Like, really big. She gritted her teeth and jerked her chin to her Beta. He knew the drill. They burst in through the door together, with him just behind her. He nodded and locked his muscles, ready to pounce on anybody who tried to hurt his future Alpha. Helena wanted to roll her eyes. He intended to jump in first, didn't he? He was always doing this, even when it wasn't necessary. She had scolded him so many times, but she knew it was in his blood. He was her Beta and best friend. It was natural for him to want to keep her safe. Shawn took care of her like a brother, and Helena knew he was going to support her until the day he died. Just as she was going to do for him.
• Her heart was racing and pushing blood through her veins. It felt like it was going to burst through her ribcage and… and? She frowned. Was it trying to run away? Where would it go? In the laundry room? Something inside was calling out to her, begging her to enter and forget about everything else. She was ready to scream. Her whole being desired it. Her palms were sweating, and her stomach was churning and twisting into knots. Restlessness was making her mind go in circles and reach the same spot again and again. The laundry room. What was going on with her?
• Something in the room rattled again, and they heard a quiet growl. It was low-pitched and different from other werewolves' growls. It sounded like it was uttering words.
• An unfamiliar chill ran up Helena's spine, and its attack on her senses made her burst through the door. She had no time to lose and hoped a surprise attack would give her some advantage. The faster she dealt with the intruder, the better. She wanted this night to be over. When her eyes shifted and managed to finally clearly see the room, she noticed a furry figure standing between the laundry machine and the dryer. The fair light from the open window behind the creature was illuminating its shape. It was huge, it was intimidating, it was... beautiful. The monster was standing on its enormous hind legs, slightly bent because of its height that reached the ceiling, and its human-like arms were hanging from its wide shoulders and torso. By the look of it, she could immediately tell it was a male.
• A male lycan.
• His head tilted in her direction, and his huge mouth generously displayed his long teeth. Helena sucked in a breath, and the creature mumbled something inaudible. She strained her efforts to hear it. Blushing, she bit her lip by the way his husky, creepy voice was making her tremble. It had a mixed effect on her emotions. Fear and excitement mingled into one and fought for dominance.
• Behind her, Shawn tried to enter the room and attack the beast, but Helena stopped him with her arm. Her gaze just couldn't leave the creature in front of her.
• The lycan's mouth opened again, and his growly, non-human voice uttered, “Mate...”
• The desperation in his tone made her shudder. She couldn't understand why he had such an effect on her, but she knew she wanted more. She craved this sensation. It was better than the last Thai massage she had paid over four hundred bucks for. It was incomparable.
• Her eyes widened in a thunderous wave of shock, and she whispered, “Who are you...?”
• This was not an ordinary break-in. This monster had a reason, and he had come with a purpose.
• While things were starting to fall into place, Helena's confusion was dimming her train of thought. She felt like she was out of her own body. Detached, yet still there. Nothing else, except this creature in front of her, mattered anymore. This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and she was sure she'd never feel it again. Giddiness filled her body, and she felt like she could climb Mount Everest. Unfamiliar quivers shot all over her body, reaching the tips of her fingers and made her release a breath. Her knees were going to buckle. Barely containing her scream and these conflicting emotions, she finally swallowed. Her hold over herself was quickly slipping away.
• The huge beast moved to the left, hiding behind a high shelf where Helena and Shawn stored cleaning supplies, sometimes washed towels or clothes they had to take to their rooms. After less than two minutes filled with a big load of cracks and strange sounds, a man showed up and stood between the laundry machine and the dryer. Right at the place of the lycan. He was wearing a pair of Shawn's jeans, but they were too wide on him and hung low on his waist. He was much smaller than the heavy beast, but his body was still muscular. His hair was black, disheveled, wavy, and covered more than half of his ears, and his piercing green eyes were staring at Helena. It was as if they were shining in the dark, and when he smiled, two charming dimples appeared on his cheeks.
• At the very second his lips twisted up, the world stopped.
• Helena sprinted towards him, realizing the cause of her madness. Her excitement was pushing her limbs, not even acknowledging her brain or rational mind. She hugged the young stranger, wondering if she'd cause them to fall back on the ground by the force she used. But he didn't even sway. His arms immediately flew around her and returned the same strength by embracing her.
• “I finally found you!” she whimpered in his arms, her happiness overtaking her mind. Touching him and getting so close to him, she realized that her mate was only a few inches taller than her. But he was real. So real!
• She pulled back and looked at his face, noticing how youthful he was. He was so handsome. His full lips generously stretched into a smile and displaying his dimpled cheeks again. Surprisingly for her, these wonderful lips were over hers in a matter of seconds. She immediately jumped back, startled by the unexpected touch and the feel of his mouth on hers. She grabbed her towel, making sure it wouldn't fall.
• This was moving way too quickly.
• “Actually, I found you.” He smirked, not even slightly fazed by his actions.
• Seeing the rosy redness that was creeping its way on her face, the lycan continued, “What? My eighteenth birthday is fifteen days away. But that doesn't mean I can't at least kiss you, right?”
• That explained his youthful face. He was two years younger than her. Helena knew that lycans started searching for their mates when they turned eighteen. It was not only because they matured faster than the werewolves and humans, but they were also very impatient. What surprised her was she hadn't even known lycans could find their mates earlier than that.
• Helena smiled at him, still flustered by his sudden appearance and brazen kiss. She decided to let it slide just this once, as she was sure it was just triggered by his impetuous nature and excitement to see her. He was a lycan, after all. And a teenager. Besides, she had also sprinted to him, initiating contact. Maybe it was half her fault for giving him green light.
• She grabbed a few washed sets of her clothes and pushed the two men out of the room, getting dressed. Her clothed—or barely—clothed state made her even more flustered, and she knew she had to do something about it. Fast.
• When she got out of the room, she took her mate's hand and said, “Come. Let's go to the kitchen.”
• The fact a lycan had entered the premises of Helena's pack had explained why nobody had caught him sneaking in. The lycan kind excelled in everything—they were faster, stealthier, and stronger. Still, it didn't excuse the security officers and Helena knew she'd have to lecture them about it.
• ...
• They entered the kitchen, and Helena made her still grinning mate sit on one of the stools next to the counter.
• “Do you want anything? Food, tea, milk?” she asked, reaching for one of the cabinets. Her guts were telling her to be as friendly and gentle as possible to him. They had so much to talk about and get to know each other.
• Her mate's gaze never left her. He just shook his head.
• She went next to him, studying him, and asked, “What's your name?”
• She still couldn't believe she had found her destined person and he was a lycan. While they were similar in many fashions, they were still... incompatible in her eyes. That's why she had never considered that option. In the rare times a lycan and a werewolf were mated, they both had to put a lot of effort into their relationship and make it happen. Mates were all about synch, good teamwork, and understanding of each other. All of these privileges dimmed and turned into something the couple had to fight for when they turned out to be two different kinds. The werewolf had to be strong enough to keep up with the pace of the lycan.
• “Keiran,” he said. His voice was gentle and soothing, but it was still deep and manly. It was the perfect balance. “And yours?”
• Helena couldn't stop gazing at his eyes. They were captivating her in their reassuring color and made serenity envelop her. There was nothing that worried her anymore; nothing that she had to resolve or take care of. Pack business was pushed back into her mind, gently reassuring her she had done everything there was at work. Finally. Finally, she felt at peace and ready to purr. She hadn't felt this way in years.
• “I'm Helena, future Alpha of Cloudbridge. I'm still in the final stages of training.” She smiled, struggling to cool down the volcano of excitement in her.
• “An Alpha, huh?” Keiran's brow shot up, and his dimples appeared in full force. Helena sucked in a breath. He was beautiful.
• Suddenly, his attention shifted to Shawn, who was just entering the room.
• “Oh, and this is my Beta and best friend—Shawn,” she introduced, putting a hand on Shawn's shoulder.
• “Hi, Shawn,” Keiran greeted with a small wave.
• “Hello, I'm so happy to finally meet you!” Shawn extended his arm for a shake, and Keiran took it. “If you need anything and Helena can't help you, just turn to me! I believe we'd be able to become good friends!”
• “Me too!” He grinned.
• “Shawn's currently living here with me. His room is on the first floor. I wanted him to be close to me, especially during my training, after I was left alone by my parents,” Helena explained, and her mate nodded at the new information.
• Shawn hummed, still looking excited, and then said, “So, after I introduced myself, I intend to give you some privacy. I'll see you tomorrow!” He winked and turned around, leaving the room.
• Helena prepared herself a cup of hot milk and looked at her mate. “Let me show you the rest of the house!”