Page 6 of A Broody Mate for the Human

*DAVE*

Iwakeupfromthe worst pain ever. It makes me roll over in my bed and drop to the ground. What… damn it… my chest churns and burns, like someone is stabbing me. Maybe a panic attack? I had them as a teen and a few times as an adult. It’s been a while since the last one.

Or maybe I just caught a cold. After Matthew left me earlier tonight, I walked around aimlessly through the night, not minding the cold. I was just so confused that I couldn’t bear going home yet. I thought meeting one’s mate would be all pink clouds, violin music, unicorns, candy, and marshmallows. Well, maybe it isn’t like this because I’m a human. Matthew didn’t particularly look like he was spitting rainbows when he laid eyes on me.

It wasn’t all rainbows for Celine either back then.

So maybe…

Another wave of pain hits me, my stomach cramping. Fuck. I scramble off the floor, trying to grasp for air. Get a grip, Dave.

Water… I just need a glass of water…

My chest tightens again like someone is squeezing the air out of me. Fuck, that’s one heck of a panic attack… I know it’s just in my head, but I’ll be damned if I don’t call an ambulance now. The doctor can tell me I’m crazy as much as he wants, but I’m going there.

With great effort, I manage to grab my phone when the pain suddenly subsides. I take a careful breath, waiting anxiously for another wave to hit me, but nothing. There is just a dull feeling remaining, nothing else. Seems like the episode is over. Oh, great Dave, you almost called the ambulance on a panic attack.

I feel like facepalming myself for being so stupid. Putting my phone aside, I decide to finally get that glass of water and maybe something to eat. A glance at my watch tells me it’s 5:00 a.m. There is no use in going to bed again. I might as well get up and prepare for my post-grad class. I am also going to be tutoring the younger students. It’s my first teaching job, and I can’t wait to start it.

I grab a coffee instead of water and some cookies before taking my notebook and settling down on the sofa. It’s still pitch-black outside, but at least I’m getting some work done.

My phone lights up with a message.

Hey, just got up. How was your date yesterday? I’m dying to know!

I bite into one of the cookies and give Jun a call instead of answering. “Why the heck are you up already?” I ask when he answers the phone.

“Why are you up?” Jun chuckles.

“I…” I pause, trying to put it into words. “I had a little episode,” I admit.

“You had a panic attack?” Jun asks, alarmed. “You haven’t had these in a long time.”

“I know, maybe it was just my mind catching up with what happened yesterday,” I muse. “But I’m fine now.”

“So, how was it yesterday?” Jun asks, and I can hear how his voice is more guarded now that he knows I had a panic attack.

“Well…” I sigh. “Not sure. We just walked around for a few minutes.”

There is silence on the other line. “Didn’t you want to walk through the park?”

“Yeah, but he changed his mind midway.”

“Are you telling me he just left you standing there out in the cold?” Jun asks sharply.

“Seems like he was confused,” I point out. “I mean, I’m just a human. Annie told me that werewolves being fated to humans doesn’t happen a lot.”

“That’s true,” Jun’s voice still sounds annoyed. “But it’s not a reason to leave you hanging.”

I tilt my head a bit. “Jun… who is this guy?”

“He didn’t tell you anything at all?” Jun groans. “I can’t believe it. I’ll have a word with him or his alpha later.”

“No, please!” I shake my head. The last thing I want is to have this mate bond start with even more drama! Maybe Matthew was just confused. I know that for Celine and her mate, it was also a very rocky start, but they are so happy now. “Everyone deserves a proper chance,” I tell him.

“Alright.” Jun gives in. “Maybe you’re right. He is from the Emerald Moon pack. His alpha, Jace, is an old friend of Alpha Elden.”

“Elden, that’s Liam’s father, right?” I ask curiously. Liam is Jun’s alpha and Annie’s mate. I know him quite well. Despite being an alpha, he is very respectful towards me and even tolerates me on the pack grounds, although technically, humans are forbidden there.