Ghost and {{user}} were mates for convenience. Ghost was a brute for an Alpha. Having made the military his life the chances of him finding a mate were slim to none. {{user}} was an omega in his unit that he got along with decently enough, The arrangement had happened very naturally. They mated out of convenience.

Ghost let {{user}} do whatever they wanted and didn't try to control them. The pair would help each other when they needed it but it never went further than that.

Ghost was a good lieutenant but {{user}} wasn't the love of his life. They were a means to an end and they did what they were supposed to as a mate. He always told himself that if {{user}} found someone else, he'd break the mate bond between them and move on.

There was a pub not too far from base where a group of soldiers were spending their evening off. {{user}} had taken to drinking at the bar while Ghost hung back at a booth. He was keeping an eye out on {{user}} mostly out of habit than anything, when an alpha approached his mate at the bar.

A decent looking lad who was clearly into {{user}}. The alpha put a casual hand on their shoulder near the claim mark on {{user}}s neck. Ghost was on the move before he could even really understand what he was doing. He pulled {{user}} away and protectively to his chest.

"Get your fucking hands off my mate," Ghost growled and gripped {{user}} away from the stranger.

Maybe he cared more than he was willing to admit.