2. Miles

MILES' POV

    “One! Two! Ready! Go!” Rico bellowed over the thumping bass that filled the room, his voice competing with the music as he raised his shot glass.

Evans and I downed our drinks, slamming the empty glasses on the table. I let out a sigh, glancing around at my friends who were practically buzzing with energy.

Evans clapped me on the shoulder, grinning wide. “It’s good to have you back, man! Snowfall just isn’t the same without you.”

“It’s good to see you two again,” I replied, matching his grin. Coming back home felt surreal after four years away. I had missed these guys.

Rico leaned in; eyebrow raised with a mischievous glint. “So, tell us, Miles—found your mate yet? Bet there were some beautiful girls in the Riverwood pack.”

I shook my head, feeling a bit sheepish. I knew what I was about to say would sound like a joke to them, but I didn’t care. “Actually… there is someone. Someone I met before I left.”

Their eyes went wide as dinner plates. “Wait, who is this girl?” Evans asked, leaning closer.

“Is she from our pack?” Rico chimed in, clearly invested.

I shrugged, trying to downplay the whole thing, even though my heart raced just thinking about her. “I think so. I met her the night I almost drowned in the river. She saved me. She was my savior."

My friends exchanged a look, eyebrows raised in surprise. “What’s her name?” Rico asked, clearly intrigued.

I scratched the back of my neck, feeling a bit foolish. “Well… I didn’t exactly get her name. The warriors found me before we had the chance to introduce ourselves.”

Evans rolled his eyes. “So, let me get this straight—you’ve got a mystery girl with no name, and you’re holding out hope she is still single? What if she found her mate?”

I shrugged again, determined to keep my faith. “I’ll know her when I see her. She promised to wait for me.”

Rico let out a low whistle, raising his glass in a mock toast. “Here’s hoping your mystery savior is still single and waiting for you, Romeo.” He poured us another round, filling our glasses to the brim.

More people drifted into the party room, filling the room with chatter and laughter. I scanned the new faces, hoping to spot her—hoping she might be among them. But every girl that drifted my way, flashing me a smile or a wave, just didn’t seem like her. And none of them wore the necklace I had given her. I was starting to lose hope that she would actually show.

“Hey, Miles!” someone called out.

I turned, surprised to see Yuri, the Alpha’s son from Riverwood, making his way over with an easy grin. He extended his hand, and we clasped it, pulling each other into a quick one-armed hug.

“Yuri! Thought you had already headed back to your pack,” I said, genuinely surprised.

He shook his head, waving at Rico and Evans, who acknowledged him with curt nods. That caught me off guard—Rico and Evans were usually friendly with everyone.

“Not yet,” Yuri replied, giving a casual shrug. “Had a few things to wrap up first. But welcome home, man. How’s Riverwood? They treat you alright?”

“Your parents were amazing hosts,” I said with a grin. “How was it staying with mine?”

He laughed. “They wouldn’t stop talking about you. But they treated me like I was their own son. It was cool, honestly.”

“Glad to hear it,” I replied, lifting a glass and gesturing toward him. “Why don’t you join us?”

Yuri shook his head, giving me an apologetic smile. "This is not my crowd, man. You guys go on and catch up. I’ll see you around.”

“Alright,” I said, nodding as he drifted back to a couch at the edge of the room.

I watched him for a moment, wondering why he chose to sit all alone. When I turned back to Rico and Evans, I could see they were both frowning.

“What’s up?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “You guys don’t seem to like him.”

Evans scoffed, downing his drink. “Yuri? That guy doesn’t talk to anyone—acts like he’s better than us. Full of himself, honestly.”

Rico snorted. “Yeah, except for one person. He seemed really cozy with that quiet girl then… what’s her name? Roxy’s sister.”

“Rhea,” Evans supplied, his tone dismissive. “Plain, quiet, kind of keeps to herself. She and Yuri are perfect for each other.”

I gave a small smile, shrugging. “What if they’re both introverted? I used to be like that, remember? Back then, I would only talk to the two of you and barely knew anyone else my age. Meanwhile, you two knew everybody.”

Rico rolled his eyes. “Yours was different. You talked to us. But this guy? He’s stuck to Rhea like glue.”

Before I could respond, someone called my name, a high-pitched and unmistakable shout. “Miles!”

I turned and saw Kitty, the beta’s daughter, strutting over with an entourage of giggling friends in tow. I recognized Kitty well—her father was my dad’s beta, so she had been around our house countless times. She approached with a bright, almost too eager smile, but as my eyes scanned the group, I froze.

There, standing among her friends, was a girl wearing my necklace. My heart stopped, then started again with a heavy, pounding rhythm. Kitty practically flung herself at me, throwing her arms around my neck and pressing kisses to my cheeks, but I barely registered it. My gaze was locked on the girl with that necklace—the girl who looked back at me with a small, shy smile.

Goddess.

She was beautiful. How had I not noticed just how beautiful she was that night? She wasn’t my mate, but seeing her again, I knew in that instant my heart was hers. Kitty kept up her affectionate barrage, but my focus was on the girl wearing my necklace. Finally, she stepped back, looking ready to burst with excitement as she began introducing her friends.

“Miles, these are my girls,” Kitty said, gesturing to each one in turn. “That’s Joana.”

“Hi, Joana,” I greeted, shaking her hand.

“Beauty.” I repeated the greeting, doing the same for each friend. “Felicia.” And then she pointed to the girl with the necklace, the one who had held my thoughts all these years. “And this is Roxy.”

Roxy. Even her name was beautiful. I took her hand, feeling an inexplicable warmth as our eyes met, and I whispered, “Roxy. It’s you.”

Her smile brightened, eyes welling with tears. “So… you remember me?”

I chuckled, my own throat tightening with emotion. “How could I forget? You’re all I thought about these past years, my savior.”

“Excuse me?” Kitty’s voice sliced through the moment, her tone brimming with confusion and annoyance. "What’s going on here?"

I blinked, pulling myself back, but my heart was pounding with joy, almost too full to contain. I looked over at my friends, who were watching me with matching looks of disbelief and curiosity.

“Guys,” I said, pulling Roxy close, “this is her. The girl I told you about. My savior.”

Evans’s mouth dropped open. “Roxy Chapman is your savior?” he asked, clearly stunned.

Without answering, I pulled Roxy fully into my arms, holding her tightly, as if she were the only air I needed. She wasn’t my fated mate, but I didn’t care. She smelled sweet, warm, and familiar, and at that moment, I silently vowed that I would reject any mate bond I might find. My connection with Roxy from that night was real, deep, and unbreakable.

But our bliss was shattered when Kitty grabbed Roxy’s arm, yanking her out of my embrace. She fixed Roxy with a glare so intense I could practically see flames in her eyes. “Traitor!” she spat before spinning on her heel and storming off, her friends trailing after her in shocked silence.

Roxy looked devastated, as though tears might spill any second. I cupped her cheeks gently, gazing into her eyes. “Don’t worry, my love,” I murmured. “Everything’s going to be alright.”