
Their Human Mate Stella
Tracy Tauro · Completed · 130.3k Words
Introduction
Stella's world crumbles when her husband, Kellan Keller, tragically dies in a car crash, shattering their plans of starting a family. Left to pick up the pieces, Stella takes over Kellan's insurance company while keeping her own fashion business thriving.
Hoping to help her heal, Stella’s parents whisk her away to Alaska. There, she stumbles upon an eerie book about wolves, Lycans, and a woman who mysteriously disappeared in the Alaskan wilderness. The intrigue deepens when her best friend, Julie, vanishes without a trace.
But nothing prepares Stella for the shock of seeing a man who looks exactly like Kellan in a local grocery store. As she dives into the mystery, Stella uncovers secrets that challenge everything she believed about her life and Kellan's death. Her search for answers throws her into a dangerous web of truth, betrayal, and passion, leading to revelations that will change her world forever.
Chapter 1
Stella–POV
Sitting in the chilly room after my husband Kellan’s funeral, I struggled to accept his untimely death from a car accident. The news had left me reeling, unable to accept the loss.
“Stella,” my mom’s voice echoed, brimming with concern. She flicked on the bedroom light, revealing a room filled with memories of Kellan and me.
“Let’s go home, sweetie. It might help you heal,” she whispered. I nodded, wiping my tears. Taking a deep breath, I left our apartment, with Dad handling my bags. Mom had packed for me, ever the pillar of support. Soon, we got in a car with a chauffeur to take us to the airport. A private jet awaited us to fly us from New York to Alaska.
The draining journey intensified my yearning for my hometown, a stark contrast to the hollow vastness of our New York penthouse. Memories of Kellan enveloped me. Our dreams of starting a family, which we had hoped to realize this year, lay broken. With his startup now stable and him at the helm as CEO of Stella, the insurance firm he lovingly named after me, our future looked promising. Over our two-year marriage, while he thrived in business, I steered my path, managing my flourishing e-commerce fashion store.
But now, he was gone, leaving a billion-dollar empire in my hands. Being his only family, the weight of this sudden reality was crushing. My mother’s gentle voice snapped me back to the present, offering me water to quench my thirst as I had been crying. Both she and my dad tried to comfort me throughout our eight-hour flight. The cold air contrasted with my sad emotions when we finally touched Alaska.
Assisted by my parents, I exited the jet and entered a waiting car. As we drove, I reflected on my rebellious past—leaving home at eighteen to chase a modeling dream that never panned out, which led me to work as a cashier in a cafe where I met Kellan. My parents disapproved of our union, given Kellan's financial standing back then. But my mother’s recent battle with cancer mended our broken relationship. Returning to Alaska brought a whirlwind of emotions, especially for a place I had once turned my back on.
The house, once an old wooden structure from my childhood in Alaska, has been beautifully renovated. It still held traces of its rustic past, yet with a refreshed charm. “Stella, this is your room. Get some rest,” my mom suggested, motioning to a spacious room adorned with my childhood photos. Among them was the wedding picture I had sent them.
“I prepared this room, hoping you’d return with Kellan,” Mom expressed, her voice tinted with sorrow. We had planned to visit just next week, marking Kellan’s first visit since our wedding.
“It’s lovely,” I replied, my voice raspy from emotion. My mom began unpacking my suitcase, suggesting I take a shower. Gratefully, I stepped into the hot bath, hoping the warm water might momentarily soothe the icy void in my heart.
After my shower, Mom served a warm meal, but I could only muster my appetite for soup. Exhausted, I sank into the soft embrace of my bed and quickly drifted off to sleep.
A week had passed, mostly confined to my room. The door opened, and my mother peeked in. “Sweetheart,” she began, her face lighting up with a gentle smile. “Look who’s here to see you.” She stepped aside, revealing my childhood friend Julie West. The once braces-wearing, awkward teenager had transformed into an elegant woman. Her brown hair, once unruly, was now neatly pinned in a bun, and her eyes sparkled, complementing her fair complexion.
“Julie,” I whispered, emotion choking my voice. I closed the gap between us with a few steps, pulling her into a warm embrace. Her arms wrapped around me, offering comfort and familiarity.
“I’ve missed you so much,” Julie said, her voice thick with emotion.
“It’s good to see you, Julie,” I replied, gently breaking our embrace to look into her warm brown eyes.
“Let’s go for coffee,” she suggested.
I hesitated. “I’m not really in the mood, Julie. Maybe another time?” I said, attempting a reassuring smile.
But Julie had other plans. “Remember the book club you used to love? I thought we could go there. Please, just this once?” she pressed. Despite my desire to stay cocooned in my room, the pleading look in Julie’s eyes melted my resolve. How could I say no?
“Give me five minutes to change, and then we can head out,” I said. Both Julie and Mom smiled, clearly relieved that I was venturing out. I quickly slipped into blue jeans, a white sweatshirt, and boots, and grabbed a coat.
As I emerged from the house, Julie waited in her car. My parents waved from the doorstep, their faces mixed with worry and hope. Settling into the passenger seat, I turned to Julie and said, “After I left, I lost touch with everyone. What’ve you been up to?”
“I’ve become a real estate agent,” Julie replied, eyes on the road. “Many of our friends moved to the city for work. I’ve lost contact with most of them, too.”
“Are you upset with me for leaving without explaining my plans?” I inquired, the weight of the past pressing on my words. Julie glanced at me briefly before refocusing on the road.
“It hurt me, you know? You left without a word and never reached out,” she admitted with a sigh.
“So you were angry, but not anymore?” I probed, seeking clarity. She nodded. “Yes, I was angry. But now I get it. If you’d told me your plans, I would’ve tried to convince you to stay, to finish graduation, and not drop out.” Her voice carried a mix of understanding.
“Anyway, my modeling dream hit a dead end. The designer asked me to sleep with him to become a well-known model, and when I refused, he ensured I never got an opportunity elsewhere,” I shared, forcing a rueful smile. “It wasn’t until I met Kellan that I began piecing my life back together. With his encouragement, I pursued my passion for fashion from a different angle, even if it didn’t involve modeling. But now, with him gone, I’m lost,” my voice trailed off.
“Stella,” Julie began as she pulled into a parking spot, “you’re a strong woman. With time, you’ll find your way. Just remember, you’re not alone.”
She stepped out of the car, and it immediately enveloped me in the familiar scent of books and the aromatic smell of coffee. Julie led the way into the renovated book club. The space was transformed; it felt inviting and warm. While it kept the charm of the wooden interior, new elegant furnishings made it look vibrant. As I remember, the library section had expanded, with more seating arrangements, and the ambiance was comforting.
“Go explore the books. I’ll grab us some lattes,” Julie said. Nodding, I meandered through the bookshelves and went to the werewolf genre aisle. After picking up a romance novel for myself, I grabbed a new release from Julie that I thought she might like.
As I continued browsing, I overheard two women conversing nearby.
“Did you hear the local chatter? Some folks claim they’ve found evidence of lycans and werewolf shifters around here,” the first woman whispered.
The second woman laughed softly. “Lycans and werewolf shifters in Alaska? You’ve been diving too deep into those werewolf novels. It’s just local folklore.”
“Don’t believe me if you don’t want to, but I heard Grace from the book club went to investigate the Lycan sightings. After that, she went missing. They found Lycan footprints on the trail, but no sign of Grace,” the woman said thoughtfully. The woman who had been mocking her looked surprised.
“Wait, are you saying our Grace is missing? She was so into those werewolf stories. When the news about the Lycans broke out in the local paper, I warned her not to snoop around in the woods. But she never listens,” another woman said.
I was taken aback by what I overheard, but I didn’t want to eavesdrop. I continued walking, clutching the romance novel I’d chosen to read for now. Even though I enjoy werewolf and vampire stories, I was in the mood for a sweet romance today. I wanted a temporary escape from the pain of loneliness and the void I felt inside.
Julie brought me coffee while I set down our books. We both started reading, enjoying the silence around the coffee’s aroma and the new book's fresh scent. It felt wonderful to be back at the book club. It had always been my sanctuary, a place to unwind. Whenever I felt down, books and coffee were my solace.
After our book club session, Julie and I went shopping. We treated ourselves to makeovers. I transformed my mid-waist, brown hair, opting for a pixie cut and a new blonde shade. We also indulged in manicures and pedicures.
“You look great with this new look,” Dad said with a smile when I got home. I smiled, running my fingers through my new blonde pixie cut.
“Thanks, Dad,” I said, watching him work on the car. I sat beside him, passing tools from the toolkit when he needed them.
“Fenrir,” my mom called out to my dad. Her eyes found mine, and she let out a relieved sigh. “Stella, I was worried when you didn’t come home. But you were here in the garage all along. Both of you, dinner’s ready,” she said.
“Just five more minutes, Blenda,” Dad replied. Mom shook her head with a hint of amusement.
“Stella, why don’t you freshen up? Your dad can finish up here,” she suggested. Nodding, I headed indoors. After a quick shower, I stepped out to help Mom set the dinner table. It was nice to share a family meal instead of eating a few bites in my room, reminiscing about Kellan and our loving moments.
The three of us sat at the table, enjoying our meal. I ate more than usual, taking more than just two or three spoonfuls. “How was the book club?” Mom asked. I told her about Julie’s excitement over the Alpha character she was reading about and shared some of the gossip from the club. I noticed my parents tense up at the mention, but I brushed it off. Maybe I was just tired and imagining things.
The following day, I woke up after only three hours of sleep. Nightmares of Kellan’s car accident plagued my dreams. The images were so gruesome that I couldn’t discern whether the injured person was Kellan or someone else. I was jolted from my thoughts by a gentle knock at the door.
“Sweetie?” Mom called softly.
“Come in, Mom,” I replied. When she entered, her face was concerned, making me instantly apprehensive.
“The police are here to talk to you,” she said gently. “Julie’s gone missing, and they want to ask you some questions about her.”
“What?!” I exclaimed, quickly grabbing my robe and heading out to meet the officers.
“Mrs. Stella Keller, I apologize for disturbing you so quickly, but we need some information. You were the last person to see Julie. Her car was found abandoned near the woods, and her handbag was left inside,” the officer explained. Panic welled up inside me. Had something terrible happened to Julie in the woods? And why would she drive to the forest when it was in the completely opposite direction from her home?
“I’m willing to answer your questions, Officer,” I said. But deep down, it filled me with worry about Julie’s whereabouts.
Last Chapters
#104 Epilogue - Part Two
Last Updated: 5/7/2026#103 Epilogue -Part One
Last Updated: 5/7/2026#102 The Journal’s Secrets
Last Updated: 5/7/2026#101 Mother’s Silent Prayer
Last Updated: 5/7/2026#100 Heather’s Wrath
Last Updated: 5/7/2026#99 Ravens and wolf
Last Updated: 5/7/2026#98 Bound by Love
Last Updated: 5/7/2026#97 The Battle
Last Updated: 5/7/2026#96 Clash of Heirs
Last Updated: 5/7/2026#95 Awakening the power
Last Updated: 5/7/2026
You Might Like 😍
Tempted By The Enemy
She escapes to Preston Island to attend the wedding without informing him only to collide with Lucas’s hot, fiery and arrogant brother, the twenty-three-year-old, Nicholas Donnelly. Sparks immediately fly between them but Alyssa refuses to acknowledge them fearing her brother's wrath.
The wedding is over and Alyssa tries hard to forget the mysterious Nicholas Donnelly but can he forget her? Can he ignore the attraction he feels for her, feelings that have resurfaced after ten years?
What will Allyssa do when she is stalked by the man who has been invading her dreams since the day she met him? What will she do when she is whisked away to a deserted island by the unpredictable Nicholas Donnelly? Can she tame her heart or surrender to sinful temptations? Read to find out!
Part of the Temptation Series. Can be read as a standalone.
Taste of Fate: The Vampire King's Human Mate
He reached for the back of my head and pulled me up just enough to reach my neck. When his fangs slid into me, the pain was instant, electric. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. My hands found his shoulders, clawing for something to hold. My legs kicked. Tears streamed down my cheeks.
He moaned against my throat as he drank, and the sound was devastating.
The Billionaire's Mask (A Dark Steamy Romance)
Where The Ice Gives Way
Blake Atlas scents his mate the moment Charlotte arrives. The bond hits hard and unmistakable, but Charlotte doesn’t recognise it. She doesn’t know why her chest keeps pulling toward the one boy she absolutely cannot afford to want. Blake is Charlie’s new hockey captain. Charlie’s chance at making something good. Charlie makes it clear; his sister is off-limits and Blake tries to do the right thing, but secrets don’t stay buried forever. Rogues prowl the edges of town. The ice cracks. The bond tightens. Then Charlotte’s rare white wolf awakens, the very thing that makes her powerful, also makes her a target.
Shanti needs Shakti. (Peace needs strength.)
Where the Ice Gives Way is a slow-burn YA paranormal romance filled with fated mates, protective alpha energy, fierce sibling loyalty, found family pack bonds, hurt/comfort, and quiet, aching tension. It’s a story about first belonging, learning to be cared for, and what happens when the girl who has always held everyone else up finally falls, and someone catches her.
Game of Destiny
When Finlay finds her, she is living among humans. He is smitten by the stubborn wolf that refuse to acknowledge his existence. She may not be his mate, but he wants her to be a part of his pack, latent wolf or not.
Amie cant resist the Alpha that comes into her life and drags her back into pack life. Not only does she find herself happier than she has been in a long time, her wolf finally comes to her. Finlay isn't her mate, but he becomes her best friend. Together with the other top wolves in the pack, they work to create the best and strongest pack.
When it's time for the pack games, the event that decides the packs rank for the coming ten year, Amie needs to face her old pack. When she sees the man that rejected her for the first time in ten years, everything she thought she knew is turned around. Amie and Finlay need to adapt to the new reality and find a way forward for their pack. But will the curve ball split them apart?
Ignition And Ice; A Racer's Forbidden Blueprint
The first? Becoming an architect worthy of finally making her mark.
The second?
Convincing herself that one day, Hayes Gallagher–NHL superstar, lifelong best friend, and the man she’s secretly loved for years–will finally see her as more than the girl who’s always there when he needs her.
He doesn’t.
So when Hayes abandons her for yet another girl, Merritt decides she’s done waiting.
One reckless night later, she ends up in the arms of a stranger whose touch makes forgetting Hayes dangerously easy.
She never expects to see him again. Until that stranger turns out to be Stellan Mercer.
Formula One’s most infamous golden boy. And Hayes’s stepbrother who is the one man Hayes would rather destroy than share a room with.
When Stellan uses his influence to make Merritt lead designer on his luxury penthouse project, staying away from him becomes impossible.
Working behind closed doors quickly turns into a secret neither of them can afford. Because the more Merritt falls for the man she was never supposed to touch… the more Hayes realizes he may have lost the only girl who ever truly loved him.
And when jealousy, family rivalry, and the spotlight collide, Merritt will have to decide which dream she’s willing to lose.
Her career, her heart. Or both.
The Spy Who Left
"I still can't believe she actually did it. Aria Hart, filing for divorce. Who saw that coming?"
"How long do we think it'll take before she comes crawling back?" Another voice joins the conversation.
"Three days," Victoria declares. "Five at most. She has no money, no skills, no family. Where's she going to go?"
When Aria Chen divorced billionaire Leon Hart, New York's elite sneered, betting she'd crawl back within days. She never did.
Three years later, the world is rocked when Dr. Aria Vale, CEO of a revolutionary cybersecurity empire, steps into the spotlight. The mysterious genius who built a billion-dollar company from nothing is none other than Leon's discarded wife, the woman everyone thought was just a pretty ornament.
Now, every powerful man wants the queen Leon threw away a renowned scientist seeking partnership, a financial titan proposing an empire, and an actor offering devotion. Each sees the brilliance Leon ignored.
Then Leon discovers the truth: Aria's sacrifices, her secret double life, and the daughter she's been raising without him. For the first time, the man who once took her for granted must fight for her love. But can he compete with men who valued her from the beginning?
A story of love, betrayal, and power where the king must kneel before the queen who never needed saving.
Falling for my boyfriend's Navy brother
"What is wrong with me?
Why does being near him make my skin feel too tight, like I’m wearing a sweater two sizes too small?
It’s just newness, I tell myself firmly.
He’s my boyfirend’s brother.
This is Tyler’s family.
I’m not going to let one cold stare undo that.
**
As a ballet dancer, My life looks perfect—scholarship, starring role, sweet boyfriend Tyler. Until Tyler shows his true colors and his older brother, Asher, comes home.
Asher is a Navy veteran with battle scars and zero patience. He calls me "princess" like it's an insult. I can't stand him.
When My ankle injury forces her to recover at the family lake house, I‘m stuck with both brothers. What starts as mutual hatred slowly turns into something forbidden.
I'm falling for my boyfriend's brother.
**
I hate girls like her.
Entitled.
Delicate.
And still—
Still.
The image of her standing in the doorway, clutching her cardigan tighter around her narrow shoulders, trying to smile through the awkwardness, won’t leave me.
Neither does the memory of Tyler. Leaving her here without a second thought.
I shouldn’t care.
I don’t care.
It’s not my problem if Tyler’s an idiot.
It’s not my business if some spoiled little princess has to walk home in the dark.
I’m not here to rescue anyone.
Especially not her.
Especially not someone like her.
She’s not my problem.
And I’ll make damn sure she never becomes one.
But when my eyes fell on her lips, I wanted her to be mine.
Cursed To Be His
At thirteen, everything changed.
After her parents were murdered, she was cursed by a powerful witch and used as a vessel for Elder magic. Saving her life came at an impossible cost; the curse was broken, but so was the wolf inside her, leaving her human.
Ten years later, Talia hides her grief behind sharp sarcasm and a smile she no longer believes. When a rogue attack proves she can no longer protect herself, or the people she loves, she leaves the only home she's ever known for the quiet human town of Ashbourne Hollow, determined to disappear.
Instead, she catches the attention of the town's most dangerous owner.
Alaric Lazarus is a vampire who rules from the black castle overlooking Ashbourne Hollow. He is cold, enigmatic, and impossible to read, but he awakens something in Talia she can't explain. She doesn't trust him. He trusts her even less.
Then vampires begin turning up dead.
Forced into an uneasy alliance, Talia and Alaric uncover a trail that leads back to the family she lost... and the curse she thought she'd escaped. As old enemies emerge from the shadows and buried secrets come to light, Talia discovers that everything she believed about her past was a lie.
Because the curse that stole her wolf was never meant to save her.
It was meant to lead her to him.
This is book 3 in the series, but it can be read as a standalone.
Book 1 - The Matchmaker
Book 2 - The Heir of Flame and Fang
The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates
"Let me go," I whimper, my body trembling with need. "I don't want you touching me."
I fall forward onto the bed then turn around to stare at him. The dark tattoos of Domonic's chiseled shoulders, quiver and and expand with the heave of his chest. His deep dimpled smile is full of arrogance as he reaches behind himself to lock the door.
Biting his lip, he stalks toward me, his hand going to the seam of his pants and the thickening bulge there.
"Are you sure you don't want me to touch you?" He whispers, untying the knot and slipping a hand inside. "Because I swear to God, that is all I have been wanting to do. Every single day from the moment you stepped in our bar and I smelled your perfect flavor from across the room."
New to the world of shifters, Draven is human on the run. A beautiful girl who no one could protect. Domonic is the cold Alpha of the Red Wolf Pack. A brotherhood of twelve wolves that live by twelve rules. Rules which they vowed could NEVER be broken.
Especially - Rule Number One - No Mates
When Draven meets Domonic, he knows that she is his mate, but Draven has no idea what a mate is, only that she has fallen in love with a shifter. An Alpha that will break her heart to make her leave. Promising herself, she will never forgive him, she disappears.
But she doesn’t know about the child she’s carrying or that the moment she left, Domonic decided rules were made to be broken - and now will he ever find her again? Will she forgive him?
My Benchwarmer Boyfriend's Secret
As the team's benchwarmer, Marco practices harder than anyone, though few seems to notice. There's something about his quiet determination that draws me in, and I find myself falling for the underdog.
But when Marco's true story starts unraveling—about that first night, about who he really is, about the future he's destined for—I realize I might have gotten in way over my head.
And there's another problem: this was always meant to be temporary. His training program has an end date, and we're both fighting against a reality that seems determined to pull us apart.
When everything is on the line, how far are we willing to go for love?
Omega Bound
Thane Knight is the alpha of the Midnight Pack of the La Plata Mountain Range, the largest wolf shifter pack in the world. He is an alpha by day and hunts the shifter trafficking ring with his group of mercenaries by night. His hunt for vengeance leads to one raid that changes his life.
Tropes:
Touch her and die/Slow burn romance/Fated Mates/Found family twist/Close circle betrayal/Cinnamon roll for only her/Traumatized heroine/Rare wolf/Hidden powers/Knotting/Nesting/Heats/Luna/Attempted assassination












