Chapter 2

The growling of the wolf reaches my ear's. That’s when I know that I wasn’t going to die under the man's bullets, much less by drowning because of the river's current, but somewhat under the claws of a wolf or, I should say werewolf.

I have read about them and grew up listening to werewolf stories. I am truly destined to die today. But I’m not going to give up and lets myself die without a fight. I resume the race hoping to get out of the situation . once again, I ran to save my life, except that I ran away from animals this time. I never ventured into the forest, and I did not know where I was going. I was lost and distraught. The only thing I was sure of was that the howls of the wolf who was here to chase me from their land or make me their prisoner. They were getting dangerously close.

I have read that werewolf has pack, mark their territory, no one is allowed to enter their territory without their alpha permission. Humans and werewolves had signed a peace treaty that both humans and werewolves will live peacefully and happily; we will not invade their matters and vice versa. But I think I had just broken the treaty; I am in werewolf territory.

It didn’t take them long to reach me. A growl sounded behind me. When I look back without stopping my run, I see that five big wolves are chasing me; they are more significant than any wolf I have ever seen. Suddenly I hit something challenging. The shock makes me lose my balance, and I fell to the ground, a few steps away from the thing I hit. When I get up, I face a giant black wolf. He is taller than the other four that are with him. Till ten big wolves surround me, some as threatening as others, but the one standing in front of me, the black wolf I hit, is the most threatening.

I was terrified and back away immediately. The black wolf growls and takes a few steps in my direction. His gaze is dark and threatening; He shows me his fang. His angry face was only a few inches away from mine when again, the sound of the roar resounded, increasing my fear and anxiety. They were here, my uncle's men who were chasing me, they found me.

Even though the wolf standing in front of me looked very uncomfortable and unwelcome, I didn’t want him to suffer a terrible fate; something inside me told me to warn the wolf; it would go to safety. The guards had a gun; they can kill the wolves.

I started to signal it to look back, try to say to them it is dangerous. They should run.

----------------------------------------------------------

An hour ago

ROSE QUARTZ PACK

Alpha Vance Knight P.O.V

A mating bond is something that ties you with someone either in a lovely way or in a forceful way for your whole life, and for that reason, I don't support this system. I do not like this forever bonding shit because we cannot choose whom we want to live with. We can't determine if the person is even suitable for us. Our inner beasts, our wolves, say that the person you are seeing is your mate, and you believe it and give in.

But I am not like that. I am Alpha Vance, the future heir of the rose quartz pack. I make his own rule. I had my own options, and I had already decided on my mate whom I have personally chosen, whom I love and want to spend my life with. She is Astrid.

She is a werewolf, the only wolf for whom my heart beats. Seeing her is the most beautiful thing, and she means the world to me. She was my chosen mate.

POV ends

He met her in a pack meeting with a different pack. Astrid liked him and confess to him each, and gradually they fell in love.

Every time He sees her, his heart skips a beat. Every time he touches her, his body wants more, but, When they stare at each other's eyes, Vance melt and get stirred in the orbs of her eyes, but his wolf, who clearly disagree with Vance Alpha wolf, is patiently waiting for his lovely Mate. But Vance believes that someday his wolf will give in and accept her Astrid as my mate.

Vance caresses Astrid hair as she was sleeping beside him.

" wake up, honey,"

"Hmm….just five more minutes." She whined.

"1,2,3,4 and 5. Now wake up. We have to attend a meeting." Vance whispers in her ears and slowly shook her.

" Not we, it's you who has a meeting." She said, eyes still closed and mouth a little bit opened.

"Yeah, but I don't want you to be alone here. You should join me" Vance family don’t like the idea of him living with Astrid. They don’t hate her personality, but they hate their relationship. They always complain that both should wait for their mate.

"Hmm, okay." She said and made grabby hands which means, sometimes she really behave like a child.

"Are you going to act this way in front of our kids?" Vance raised his eyebrow, and Astrid opens her eyes and winked at him.

"Maybe, maybe not." Vance shook his head and carried her, He placed her on the bathroom slab and left her and started to get ready for the meeting. It was about the security of the pack.

---------------------

" Alpha, how am I looking?" She said, wearing her crop top with a baby pink sweater and jeans.

" you always look Beautiful." Vance kissed her on her forehead.

She blushed and asked me the same question she asks every day.

"Vance, are we really mates?"

And like always, he answered, " We love each other, Astrid. That's enough for being mates."

She hummed and snaked her hand around his arm and cheered him to go. 

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Vance POV

The meeting went smoothly. I am now going to the park to collect Astrid as she always visits there in the morning to calm her wolf. 

I parked my car in the parking lot and walked toward her.

"Vance," Astrid screamed and ran in my direction. She jumped, and I carried her. Her legs twisted around my waist and her hands on my neck.

" How was your meeting?" She asked, and I replied, " it was good, and how was your day?"

"As usual, soothing." She said in a relaxing tone.

" yeah yeah, now let's go."

We reached our packhouse, more specifically, my packhouse. We entered, and my cousin Daxon spoke up,

" Found your mate?"

"Not again, brother. I told you that Astrid is my mate, and no one can take her place." I said, gripping Astrid's hand tightly.

"Someday, you will find her, and that day, you will understand what really is mate bond. What it is capable of."

" Daxon, why do I always have to tell you that I don't like this mate bonding. I can choose my own mate, and it is Astrid. "

" I am afraid, Vance, that maybe you will find your fated mate soon. "

He said.

" Yeah, and I will be waiting so that I can reject her the moment we meet."

" if it was that easy. " He said, and I just shrugged. Every day the same thing, I am tired of it.

I grabbed Astrid by her hand and dragged her upstairs with me.

" Alpha, you are hurting me," Astrid said.

" I am sorry. " I said and hugged her.

" I love you." I said, and she replied with an " I love you too. "

Astrid broke the hug almost immediately when he gets a mind link from border security.

“Astrid, I have to leave its emergency; someone entered the territory. “Vance said and stood up. He was about to go but was stopped as Astrid called him out.

“Take care to be safe, “ she said and kissed his forehead.

Vance smiled and walked out of the room.

PRESENT TIME ----

VANCE POV

I couldn’t understand as the girl change her behaviour, what the hell is she doing? Does she even know who she is dealing with? Was she trying to make me understand something? If so, what? Unfortunately, she was a human girl; therefore, I cannot communicate with her in my wolf form. My lieutenants, who were hunting the intruder with me, are about to move toward her to keep her away from me, but a strong feeling of possession takes hold of me, and I growl at them to make them understand not to approach.

The wind that passed through us brought a foreign smell, The danger I wanted to warn them, but it was already too late, two cars came out of nowhere, and shots were fired in all directions.  

So that’s why she was so agitated.

Everybody starts to go off on their own, going to the place created for this kind of invasion. I was also about to leave when something hit me hard.

“Mate!”