Cut my dreams

**ALONG THE STREET

ALINA'S POV

My feet felt heavy as I slowly walked through the dimly lit streets. I had nowhere to go.

Yet I was still in denial. How could Sean betray me? After everything I’d done for him? Even with the sacred rule I broke behind the Moon Goddess’s back...

The haunting words of the Moon Goddess echoed in my head, “For what you have done… you’ll reap the consequences.”

There wasn’t a thing I hadn’t done for Sean. I never disobeyed. Never betrayed. And yet, in the blink of an eye, he abandoned me… left me with nothing.

I lifted my head, trying to see through the shadows, hoping I had walked far enough. There I was, right at the edge of the border—the boundary that led out of the Dexter Pack’s neighborhood and into the unknown.

I looked back once more, a tear sliding down my cheek.

“I don't deserve this... but I know I’ll be back for you.”

Then I stepped past the invisible line, out of everything I’d known, and into the dense path of twisted trees and bushes. The bright lights of the pack behind me faded as the forest swallowed me into darkness. I turned on my phone's torch, the weak beam trembling in my unsteady hand as it sliced through the thick night air.

My senses were alert, though dulled without my wolf. That was part of my curse—the reason five Alphas had rejected me before Sean. No wolf, no worth. Apparently, no werewolf wanted a mate with no inner beast.

Now, here I was, alone on a path feared by even the bravest. They called it cursed—deadly even. But I didn’t care anymore. If fate wanted me dead, so be it.

Each step I took was slow and deliberate, until I heard it—heavy, raspy breathing, close and irregular. My heart raced in my chest, and my fingers trembled around the phone.

The sound grew louder with every step I took. Still, I didn’t turn back. I needed to see what it was.

Then I saw him.

A werewolf—his form barely holding together, half-shifted. One side of him was furred and clawed, the other still human. He lay on the forest floor, blood soaking into the ground beneath him. A short sword pierced through his leg.

His breathing hitched as the torchlight reached his face. Blood streaked across his jawline and brow, but through the small light, I could see a striking face—scarred and fierce, yet oddly noble.

Despite his state, when he looked at me, it wasn’t with fear. It was with pity.

I dropped to my knees and scanned the forest floor for meth leaves—the only herb I could think of that might help stop the bleeding.

“Trust me... this is going to hurt. But stay still. Don’t say anything!” I warned. He nodded once, gritting his teeth.

I yanked the sword free, and he howled in agony. The moment it left his body, it burned my hand— it was a magical blade infused with some cruel potion meant to drain a werewolf’s soul. I hurled it to the side.

Without hesitation, I pressed my hand to his wound, connecting to him. Energy pulsed from me into the wound, and it closed halfway. I knew someday, my healing would be complete—but not today.

I dragged him up with effort, leaning him against a tree as gently as I could. A soft smile crept to my lips. Even though I felt horrible, I still found the strength to help.

Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced my hand. My phone slipped from my mouth and hit the ground with a dull thud.

I couldn’t see who—or what—hit me. My breath caught. I was no longer alone.

Then, I felt a massive body step in front of me. The power in his scent told me instantly—he was an Alpha.

A deep, husky voice growled from the shadows, “Stand by me, Luna… Don’t you dare run.”

He didn’t need to say it twice. I reached forward blindly, wrapping my arms around the solid warmth of his chest. His body was built of hard muscle and old scars.

I felt bruises under his shirt. Without thinking, I tried to channel energy into healing him, but the moment I did, my knees buckled. Darkness swallowed me whole.

****

NEXT MORNING

My eyes fluttered open as the rays of sunlight entered my eyes. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and yawned, stretching instinctively.

I blinked.

Where was I?

This wasn’t my room. It wasn’t even close. The ceiling was wood-paneled, and the walls were a soft grey stone. There was no trace of Dexter Pack territory here.

Panic rose in me as memories of last night returned in pieces.

I tried to stand, but a sharp pain on my hand made me wince. The spot where I was struck still throbbed. I had passed out while trying to heal him—how was that possible? Was his energy too strong for me to handle?

My stomach growled, and I noticed a plate of sausage on a nearby table, steaming and beautifully presented. I approached the food, took a bite, and swallowed—only to gag immediately.

It was awful.

I rushed to the bathroom, barely holding back the nausea. I made it to the toilet in time, vomiting violently.

Then, I felt a hand lift my hair back, holding it up gently. “Thank you,” I mumbled through my retching—until it hit me.

I spun around.

There he was—smirking with devilish amusement, still holding my long blonde hair. His features struck me like a punch.

He had a jawline sharp enough to cut glass, high cheekbones, and eyes that gleamed a golden hazel—piercing and unreadable. His dark hair was tousled perfectly, like he hadn’t tried at all. His build was massive, shirt clinging to broad shoulders and defined arms.

“Hey! What are you doing?” I barked, glaring.

“You didn’t say let go,” he teased.

“Let go!! Owww!”

He released me with a chuckle, then went back into the room, laying on the bed like he owned the world—hands behind his head, legs crossed.

“Um… who are you? I—”

Then I saw it. A tattoo on his bicep—sharp lines forming a eagle I recognized instantly. It was the mark of the North Pack.

“You… you’re part of the North Pack! Oh no!! ” I gasped, backing away in horror.

He scoffed, then his voice dropped. “Part??Alina… I’m the leader of the North Pack.”

My heart raced.

What had I done?

Oh no. This was a terrible idea. I was in worse trouble than I thought—dealing with an enemy.

Did I really just use my powers to help someone from the North Pack?

“I need to go… please…” I stammered, panic tightening in my chest.

But before I could move, he was already on his feet. Each step he took made the floorboards creak beneath his boots, deliberate and slow, like a predator closing in on prey.

I took several steps back until I hit the cold, hard wall- trapped.

He stood in front of me, casually shoving his hands into the pockets of his black pants. He leaned in just slightly, his hazel eyes narrowing with a glint of something unreadable—something dangerous.

“Don’t act so naive,” he said codly.

“I know you have nowhere to stay. Do you really want to wander into the outer world? Trust me… your nature is far too innocent for what’s waiting outside your little bubble.”

I clenched my jaw and straightened my spine, refusing to shrink beneath his towering presence.

“You don’t get to dictate my life. Thank you for saving me, but I can’t relate with you. I might have been kicked out… but I’m still a member of the Dexter Moon Pack!”

I turned, heart pounding, ready to walk away from him and everything he represented.

But his voice stopped me in my tracks. “Alina… you healed my member yesterday. And you did an outstanding job. Why don’t you join our pack’s doctors? You know you want this...”

I froze.

The offer was tempting—too tempting. But was it worth it? Was it worth betraying my pack?

“Don’t be stupid,” he said, his voice suddenly colder. “You know they wanted to throw you out years ago. He just needed an excuse—and he found one.”

His words hit me hard. I clenched my fists at my sides, trembling.

Then I slowly turned around, eyes narrowing with intent.

“Sooo… when do I start?”

*****TWO DAYS LATER

I stood in the infirmary, watching as wounds were cleaned and stitched by pack doctors. Here did I belong, it felt divine!

The sterile scent of herbs and antiseptic clung to the air, mixed with the faint smell of blood.

I had already done my bigger part—healing where I could, soothing the ones in pain. But I still wasn’t strong enough to heal more than surface wounds. My energy was limited, even though I wanted to do more.

Suddenly, a girl passed by with a sly smirk and whispered near my ear, “Oh… I guess the boss must have given you a day off since you’re getting promoted!”

“What? Huh?!” I stood frozen, blinking in confusion.

But before I could ask anything, she was gone—leaving behind nothing but questions spinning in my head.

How could this happen? I had only been here for two days.

Was it because of how I healed that werewolf? Or… was it because I knew the Alpha?

I sighed and turned to look around, but one thing was clear—I hadn’t seen him since that morning.

“Wow,” I muttered to myself. “I didn’t even ask his name.”

I tried to remember if I had, but my thoughts were interrupted. The room suddenly shifted—every werewolf, even the wounded ones, gave a slight bow.

I turned slowly.

There he was—standing tall with an effortless confidence that made everyone else fade into the background. Dressed in a blue shirt that hugged his broad chest and fitted black trousers.

His hazel eyes locked onto mine as he approached. A crooked smirk tugged at his lips.

“Hi,” I blurted, awkwardly. “You know what? I didn’t ask for your name!”

He didn’t answer.

Instead, he reached out and gently stroked a lock of my hair between his fingers. I froze.

“I’m not sorry,” he said darkly, “but your dreams are going to be cut off by me…”

Before I could react, his hand moved to my chest and, with a swift tug, he ripped the locket from my neck.

“I, Alpha Noxi, claim you as my Luna. You are not his anymore… but mine. Mine.”

“What? What is going on?”

Panic emerged in my chest, rising fast. He couldn’t do this. He couldn’t just claim me.

I had lost my final mate. The bond was shattered. No other mate was meant for me—not unless...