We’ve been mates for three years, but my Alpha mate, Clint Delgado—who's cursed with an insatiable need for physical contact—has always refused to have sex with me.

Whenever desire surged, he would wait until I’d fallen asleep before curling up at the edge of the bed, greedily inhaling my scent to keep his wolf at bay.

I used to think he was pining for his rumored ex—a pureblood werewolf from a high-ranking family—and that he despised me for my human fragility.

It wasn't until later that I accidentally overheard a conversation between him and his Beta, Marcus.

"Clint, if you care so much about Alaina, why won't you touch her? It's been three years. Aren't you worried she'll leave you?"

Clint shook his head. "You don't understand. The longer we're together, the harder my inner wolf is to control. She's too fragile; I'm afraid I'll tear her apart. As long as she's still my mate, I don't even care if she finds someone else to be with first."

Marcus scoffed. "You're all talk. If you could really stand her being with another man, you wouldn't be running to the elders every chance you get. You think I don't know what you're asking them?"

The next day, I found Clint's secret journal. In entry after entry, he asked the elders the same question: "How can I be gentle enough during the mating? I don't want to leave a single scratch on her."

————————

1

After my ninety-ninth failed attempt to seduce my Alpha husband, Clint Delgado, I finally confronted him. "Clint, what's wrong with me? Why won't you touch me after three years as mates?"

He was perfect in every other way. He remembered every anniversary and every special occasion. Anything I added to my shopping cart would appear before me as a gift the next day.

However, when it came to physical intimacy, Clint always wore turtlenecks and long sleeves, as if to shield me from every inch of his scorching Alpha skin.

I reached for the hard ridge in his trousers, the only thing that ever betrayed his desire. "Darling, let me help you."

Clint spun around, his back rigid. After a long, tense silence, he finally spoke. "Go to sleep. I need to cool down."

In the darkness, I bit my lip and pressed myself against his back, unwilling to give up. I could feel the taut muscle of his back and the searing heat radiating from him.

"Don't you want me?"

Before my hand could wander further, Clint roughly shoved me away. "Don't do this again." His voice was a low growl, laced with a warning.

His cold words shattered my hopes as he fled into the bathroom.

Through the door, I could hear his heavy panting, the low growl of a beast fighting its instincts. I closed my eyes, knowing exactly what he was doing in there.

Almost every night had ended like this since we became mates.

I stared at the bathroom door. He had left it ajar, just a crack. Through that gap, I saw his golden pupils glinting in the dark, devouring me with a scorching gaze as his hand moved steadily to grant himself release.

Humiliation washed over me, and rage ignited within. "Clint, if this continues, I'll find another man!"

Clint's body shuddered. His eyes burned with desire, but when he spoke, his voice carried a strange hurt. "Don't get the wrong idea. Just wait a little longer."

Furious, I pulled the covers over my head. He stayed in there for what felt like an eternity. All that incredible Alpha stamina, completely wasted.

When he finally came out, he stood helplessly by the bed, gazing at me huddled under the covers. Eventually, his hand landed gently on the blanket.

Even through the covers, I could feel his palm. It was cool at first, then gradually warmed until it became scorching hot. I could feel the weight of his gaze, but there were no further movements.

I closed my eyes in disappointment.

Thinking I was asleep, he carefully tucked me in.

Clint was always like this. Just when I'd convince myself he didn't love me, he’d do something small and tender that left me utterly confused.

I had no idea what Clint was waiting for.

...

I was in a terrible mood the next day, so I met my best friend, Chloe Sterling, at a new bar downtown.

I downed my drink in one gulp, my heart filled with bitterness and resentment. "Why won't Clint touch me? Everyone says an Alpha's possessiveness is uncontrollable. Wouldn't a normal Alpha have lost his mind by now with a mate like me?"

Chloe pushed a cocktail across the table. "Maybe Clint has his reasons?"

I racked my brain but couldn't come up with a single decent one.

I gave a bitter laugh. "You know what? Last night, he was so aroused he was losing control, but he still wouldn't touch me. If there's anyone he can't let go of, it must be that woman from years ago—his ex from a high-ranking family."

I knew part of the story. Clint and his ex had broken up years ago over a misunderstanding. She went abroad afterward and hadn't been heard from since.

It was a ghost he could never shake.

I used to believe that staying by his side would help him move on, but now it was clear I had lost.

The reason Clint wouldn't touch me was because he still loved her. The thought of his coldness in bed sent a pang through my heart.

I tried to put myself in his shoes. What if I were forced to be bonded with someone I didn't love? The mere thought gave me goosebumps.

He probably thinks touching me, a human, would be... defiling.

My mind went blank. Chloe looked at me with concern. "Are you okay?"

I shook my head. "I'm fine. But I have to sever the mate bond with Clint. I can't take this sham of a bond anymore!"

If Clint's heart wasn't with me, then I was done. There were plenty of human men interested in me; I didn't need him.

That night, I drank too much and accidentally ate a type of nut I'm allergic to. I immediately broke out in an angry, red rash.

I crashed at Chloe's place, and when I finally woke up, I found my phone was dead. I didn't think much of it until I got home and saw Clint with bloodshot eyes. His hair was a mess, and his clothes were wrinkled; he clearly hadn't slept all night.

His voice was as hoarse as sandpaper. "Where were you last night?"

His frantic expression only fueled my anger. "Clint, I want to sever the bond."

He didn't respond, his golden pupils fixed on the red rash on my neck from the allergy. The fire in his eyes died, replaced by pain and self-blame.

When he remained silent, I ignored him and stormed upstairs.

What was the point of keeping an Alpha who didn't love me, whose heart belonged to his ex? The sooner we separated, the sooner we could both be free, and the sooner I could find my own happiness.

Since his heart belonged to another, severing the mate bond was the only choice for both of us.

I hadn't dealt with an allergic reaction in a long time and hadn't taken any medication. By nightfall, my symptoms had worsened.

Gradually, my throat began to close, and I realized I couldn't breathe. I tried to call for help but couldn't make a sound.

Just as despair set in, Clint burst through the door. He called my name frantically and summoned the healer.

After the healer treated me, Clint sat by my bed, his eyes red-rimmed. "You idiot. How can you be so careless?"

I mumbled incoherently, "I don't need you to take care of me. Go take care of her."

Clint froze, staring at me with those reddened eyes. His fists clenched and unclenched. When his gaze fell on my chapped lips, however, he couldn't help but sigh.

He wrapped me in a blanket and pulled me into his arms. "Who are you talking about?"

I wanted to say he knew exactly who, but I had no energy left to argue. A thought suddenly flashed through my mind. Does Clint actually care about me?

Clint reached out to check my temperature. I looked at him with teary eyes, my cheeks flushed red.

Seeing me like this, his breathing immediately grew heavy. He quickly withdrew his hand, as if he wanted to flee into the bathroom again.

The fragile hope that had just sparked in my chest was instantly extinguished.

Before long, he returned and held me quietly. In a gentle voice, he said, "Go to sleep, baby. You haven't fully recovered. I'll stay here and watch over you."

I could feel his hard body pressed against my back, but my allergic reaction was too uncomfortable. I eventually fell into a deep sleep.

Clint took care of me all night, feeding me water from time to time and keeping a close watch on my condition. When I woke up the next day, I was still in his arms.

He held me all night?

I noticed the unusual tension in his body, and my mind wandered. This Alpha had been hard all night.

Such a fine body, completely going to waste.

My resentment deepened. Even if I was going to leave, I should get something out of this relationship first.

I tentatively kissed him and asked, "Clint, I'm giving you one last chance. Do you want me?"

Behind me, Clint's breathing quickened, but after what felt like an eternity, I heard his trembling voice. "Alaina, not yet. Can you please wait for me a little longer? The problem is with me, not you."

I looked at Clint, who remained unmoved. I changed my clothes and turned to leave.

This bond had to be severed.

As I steeled myself to leave, my hand accidentally brushed against Clint's. The next second, he grabbed my hand, his grip so tight I thought he would crush my bones.

Those predatory golden eyes, the same ones I’d seen in the boardroom, now looked as vulnerable as an abandoned pup's. Clint's bathrobe gaped open, revealing a sculpted torso that rippled with raw power.

His broad back and shoulders looked strong enough to lean on. Faced with such a tempting body, my own heart hammered against my ribs.

I swallowed hard.

I felt the hard ridge of his arousal press against my knuckles and thought he’d finally given in. However, after standing there for a long time, he finally released my hand, his own trembling.

He lowered his head, his voice tinged with a plea. "Come home early, okay?"

I turned and left.

What I didn't know was that the moment the door closed, he turned and buried his face in the pillow I had slept on. He greedily inhaled my scent, releasing himself while growling my name: "Alaina…"

...

After that day, I decided in a fit of anger to sleep in a separate room from Clint. I moved into the room next door, and Clint said nothing.

However, every night as I slept, I could have sworn someone was holding me.

After noticing this pattern, I went to find Clint. "Clint, has someone been breaking into our house at night?"

He shook his head. "No, but I've had the strangest feeling there’s someone else in my bed at night, too."

The pen in his hand snapped under his grip.

Before I could speak, he picked up a contract and said flatly, "Don't worry. I'll have the house thoroughly checked. If you're still uneasy, I can stay in your room with you tonight."

I opened my mouth to speak. Glancing at the snapped pen he had tossed aside, I said coldly, "That won't be necessary!"

I had already hired a lawyer to draft the papers to sever our bond. Soon, I would be completely free of him. I didn't need his protection anymore.

Clint kept his head down, his voice soft. "I just want to protect you."

Protection wasn't what I wanted, though. I stormed back to my room, my mind a chaotic mess, and fell asleep without realizing it.

In the middle of the night, I once again felt warm breath fanning the nape of my neck. A warm embrace enveloped me, carrying the familiar, intoxicating scent of cedarwood. A hand roamed over my skin, leaving a trail of heat in its wake.

I felt my lips being roughly kissed, bitten, and plundered. The sound of wet kisses filled the air, and the man's scorching breath made my mind go blank, my body arching into the intoxicating sensations.

I was lost in a world of ecstasy, unable to surface.

After struggling for a moment, I finally opened my eyes and shouted angrily, "Who's there?! Get out!"

In the darkness, the person behind me froze, then quickly got up and fled. I huffed, slowly got dressed, and didn't immediately give chase.

The moment I realized someone had broken in, I had prepared a backup plan. I had set up a high-frequency alarm. By now, the Pack guards should already be at the door.

When I came out, dressed, I was surprised to see that the one leading them was Clint's childhood friend and Beta, Marcus.

I heard his voice before I even got downstairs.

"I thought some fool dared to break into the Alpha's house. Clint, did you finally snap and scare your mate? You want her so badly, yet you've held back for three years."