Chapter 5 " Mate"

Alpha Hudson Knight’s POV

"Why?" I grit my teeth, feeling my wolf stir in agitation. "I just want to ask why the Moon Goddess delights in playing with her subjects like this. Why must she be so cruel?"

Thirteen years. I had been searching for my mate for thirteen long years. I gave up on the idea of finding her, buried the hope deep within me, and forced my wolf to accept that we were mateless.

I had finally accepted my fate. Hardened my heart.

And now, she sends her to me.

The daughter of my enemy.

How am I supposed to accept her? How am I supposed to embrace someone who comes from the very pack I despise?

My wolf growled low within me, torn between desire and hatred. She was supposed to be the one to complete me. But how could she, when her very existence was a reminder of betrayal?

"The Moon Goddess, why must you always twist the knife when I least expect it?"

I couldn’t tear my eyes away from her crystal blue gaze. There was so much vulnerability there, an innocence that cut through my hardened resolve. I could die for such beauty. Her cheeks were flushed, turning a soft shade of red, and without thinking, I placed my hands gently on her face, feeling the warmth of her skin beneath my fingertips.

Leaning closer, my lips hovered near hers as I whispered, "Breathe, angel."

She gasped, taking in a long breath as if my words were the only permission she needed to do so. Her scent, it was intoxicating, filling the air between us, overwhelming my senses. I fought to keep control, but something about her made it impossible. My wolf stirred, pushing me to surrender, to fall to my knees for her.

"Mate is weak," my wolf murmured, his voice heavy with concern.

Now that I looked at her more closely, I saw it. She was painfully thin, her cheeks hollow, and there were dark bags beneath her eyes, speaking of exhaustion and suffering. Her arms felt fragile, just skin and bone, as if she hadn't eaten properly in months. A deep unease settled in my chest.

Was she unwell? Why was the daughter of an Alpha is like this?  The thought of her being mistreated, starved, or in pain ignited a fire in me that I hadn't felt in years. 

"I can’t connect to my mate," my wolf suddenly growled in the back of my mind, his voice filled with confusion and frustration.

I frowned, slowly his words sinking in. Without thinking, I pulled her closer, my grip tighten around her. She gasped from the sudden contact, her wide eyes locking with mine as if she could feel the turmoil brewing within me. I can smell her scent though but why couldn’t I connect to her wolf? My wolf was hesitating, unable to form the link. Something was wrong, something I couldn’t quite grasp.

“No, mate!” my wolf growled in my mind, his voice laced with anguish. “No wolf!” he repeated, heartbroken.

Why didn’t she have a wolf? A wave of disbelief and frustration crashed over me. What kind of cruel joke is this? 

How is this possible?

I stared into her crystal blue eyes. Her expression shifted, a wince of pain flickering across her delicate features. My gaze dropped to her hand—there was blood. A small trickle, where I had gripped her.

But I hadn’t held her that tightly. How could such a gentle touch break her skin? My heart lurched with confusion. My wolf growled in frustration, not understanding why our mate seemed so fragile, so breakable.

"How could this happen?" I whispered, loosening my hold, afraid of causing her more harm. 

Her trembling gaze met mine, and for the first time, I saw the depth of her fear. It was more than just the uncertainty of standing before an Alpha,she didn’t know. She didn’t know we were mates.

The realization struck me like a punch to the gut. How could not feel the mate bond. The bond pulling us together, the instinctive connection that had driven me crazy. My wolf stirred restlessly inside, confused and angry.

She has no idea, I thought, as her eyes flickered with apprehension, unaware of the truth that bound us. 

I clenched my jaw, fighting the urge to pull her closer, to make her understand, but I couldn’t. Not now.

I closed my eyes for a brief moment, trying to calm my wolf down, his restlessness was almost unbearable. He wanted to claim her, to mark her as ours, but I couldn’t act on that impulse, not when she didn’t even know. Not when she was trembling with fear.

"Come," I said, my voice harsh. I barely contain the storm brewing inside me. It was the only word I could manage, as I turned and walked toward my car. I couldn't afford to look back, knowing it would only make my wolf worse.