Chapter 4

Dylan Pov

She says her name is Aderyn Brookes.

Earlier, when I saw her, I was chaotic. I couldn't move. I had no plans to stop for the dinner but I could smell a faint woody and rose smell from miles away. It was so intoxicating that I almost crashed my car. I couldn't keep my sanity. 

I needed to know the origin of the smell.

But deep down, I knew it. I understood very well what it was. 

She is here.

The chosen one.

The one who is gonna be my mate.

Mate.

I'm a member of a unique community where we don't get to choose our life partners. Instead, our goddess selects a mate for us who will be our life partner and our source of strength. It's not about flings or short-term relationships, but about finding the one who is meant to be with you forever.

When we reach a certain age, we begin the search for our mate. It's a journey that can take time, but we know that when we find the one, we'll just know it. It's all about the fragrance and tingles that shoot up our bodies when our skin touches.

It's an unconventional way of life, but it's ours. It's how we operate and how we find our lifelong partners.

This is us. 

This is how it works. 

After all, we are not humans.

For me, it was a different story. I never had the desire to find a mate. In my mind, it was a sign of weakness. Being alone made me feel stronger, as there was no one to defend or mourn over.

Of course, we all had a choice. We could reject the mate we were given, but it came at a cost. The one who took the initiative to reject the other would be punished.

Then I saw her. 

A woman with waist-length brown hair. A strikingly beautiful woman, with sharp features and a confident presence that commanded attention. Her dark, expressive brown eyes are framed by thick, luscious lashes, and her full lips curve into a sultry smile that hints at both mischief and charm.

She was gorgeous. 

I never thought I would ever see a woman like that. 

Despite her undeniable beauty, there is a strength to her demeanor that speaks to a fierce determination and a deep sense of self-assurance. She moved with fluid grace, each step measured and deliberate, as if every action is a deliberate choice made with purpose and conviction. 

And then she looked straight into my eyes, and that's when I realized - she was human.

It was just another reason why I didn't need a mate.

At first, I thought about rejecting her and leaving her be. But then, as we were at the diner, she dropped her wallet and I caught a glimpse of the IDs inside. They had the same picture, but two different names - Nicole Taylor and Jasmine Rodriguez.

I couldn't help but wonder, what was going on.

I wanted to stay normal. Act normal. As if nothing really happened but then Beta and my warrior commander realized, she was my mate and they waited for my commands. The minutes passed by and I was losing the whiff of the fragrance. It meant she was going far away and then I couldn't ever reach her which would be good but then the IDs in my hand got my attention.

Just what is going on with my mate? 

"Get her," was my only command before I saw my pupil racing back to the car without any queries and driving off toward the way she just left.

***

A scowl formed on my face as I saw the IDs lying on my table. 

Something about those names struck a chord deep within me, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I had to know more about this girl. Suddenly, my plan to reject her had turned into a burning desire to get to know what exactly was going on with her.

As I sit in my office, I hear a knock at the door. "Come in," I say, and in walks Bella, the younger sister of my warrior commander, Cole. She bows her head in respect, and I can feel her nervousness radiating from her.

"What is it?" I ask, and she stammers nervously. But with a quick focus on her face, I soon learn everything she was thinking and what had happened.

"It's good that she liked her room," 

 "You will be with her at all times. I want you to give me every detail about her and make sure to protect her. She shouldn't be harmed in any way."

Bella nods, flabbergasted. "Am I clear?" I ask. She quickly replies, "Yes Alpha."

"Good, and one more thing. Make sure she doesn't find out anything about us until I want it to happen. Are you getting me?" I ask, leaning back in my chair and raking my fingers through my hair.

"Ye-Yes, Alpha," she stammers.

Leave," I commanded, my voice cold and unyielding. The young woman scurried out of the room, her footsteps echoing down the hallway as the door clicked shut behind her.

I leaned back in my chair, my mind racing. I never wanted a mate, never thought I needed one. But fate had other plans, it seemed. When I saw her for the first time, I felt nothing but disdain.

I gazed out the window, lost in thought. I may not have wanted a mate, but now that I had one, I would do whatever it takes to keep her safe. She may be a burden, a liability, but she was chosen, and I would take care of her. No matter what.

Just why do I have to get a human as a mate?

"Humans," a sigh left my mouth. To me, they were the weakest creatures alive. They seemed to cry and mourn over everything, and their physical and mental weaknesses were undeniable. It was as if they were fragile, delicate beings, easily broken by the slightest touch of the world around them. And yet, they persisted, fighting tooth and nail for their place in the world. Despite my disdain, I couldn't help but marvel at their tenacity and will to survive.

"Aderyn Brookes," 

I didn't notice as I had scribbled the name multiple times on a piece of paper. I had no idea why I figured this could be her real name. But why is she having multiple names in the first place anyways? 

Just, who are you?

As I sat behind my desk, the door suddenly burst open, and my attention was immediately drawn to Blake as he strode towards me with a resolute expression on his face. He approached me with a purposeful gait and came to an abrupt stop right in front of my desk.

"I am not here in my capacity as your Beta, but as your friend. And as a friend, I must ask you: why are you so reluctant to accept her as your mate? Admittedly, she may be human, but she is also the chosen one. That makes her our Queen, our Luna," he said, his tone serious and earnest. 

"Everyone in our kingdom has been eagerly anticipating her arrival, and now that she's finally here, you seem indifferent to her presence. Have you never yearned to find your mate? I always believed that finding one's mate could change a person's life for the better. That is what others have told me - that the mate bond is a beautiful thing and has a profound impact," he spoke, his words weighty with meaning.

I let out a deep sigh, leaning back in my chair and staring up at the ceiling. My mind wandered back to the moment I had first laid eyes on her.

"She is not my mate," I whispered and heard him taking in a deep breath. 

"Dylan," he paused abruptly, seeming to struggle with his own thoughts. I could sense the inner conflict within him, as his position as Beta prevented him from raising his voice at me. He was perhaps the only individual in the entire kingdom who had the courage to address me by name.

Blake my childhood friend was more like an older brother to me. 

"I hope you are aware of what a mate is. We are shapeshifters. We are what they call us, a werewolf."

"A werewolf needs a mate for a variety of reasons, including companionship, emotional support, and to help regulate their werewolf transformations."

"When a werewolf goes through their transformation, they can become unpredictable and potentially dangerous to those around them. Having a mate can provide a stabilizing influence and help them control their behavior during these times," he was lecturing me when I placed my hand on my forehead. 

"Enough of this. I am well aware of the situation, but I do not require her assistance. I am perfectly capable of transforming on my own, without anyone's aid. Besides, what help could she possibly offer me? She is powerless, a mere human," I exclaimed, huffing at the end. Blake appeared disheartened by my words.

"I beg your pardon? The moon goddess has chosen her for a reason. Regardless of her human nature, she is still your mate, and she is my Luna. I wholeheartedly accept her as my Luna, and I am certain that everyone else will too. With that being said, I shall take my leave," he spoke sternly, his lips forming a thin line as he finished speaking.

"Alpha," he whispered respectfully, bowing his head before me as a sign of reverence before turning to leave.

As much as I wanted to protest, I knew there was no use arguing with Blake. He held a strong belief that Aderyn, Nicole, or Jasmine, whatever her name may be, was chosen by the moon goddess for a reason, and he would never allow me to reject her so easily.

Unlike me, the kingdom has been waiting for a long period of time for their Luna.