CHAPTER 3

Cassie’s POV

Kaiden offered to carry the groceries for me as we approached the checkout line. As we placed the bags into the car, I felt relieved and appreciative for his assistance. We talked and joked on the way home, enjoying each other's company. It was such a tiny thing, but having Kaiden by my side transformed the routine process of grocery shopping into an exciting experience.

I was grateful for Kaiden's willingness to accompany me to the shop when we returned home and unpacked the groceries. It was a simple gesture of love and support, but it demonstrated how much he cared about me.

Then he suggested that we go to the nearby park later. I, like him, never bother to change my clothes. So, after giving him a cool drink, we went straight to the park. This will be our first official date, and I'm not sure what to anticipate or what he expects of me.

This will be my first outing with my love interest. I mean, I believe in having a label, and he has yet to provide me with one. What is obvious is that we are friends, and that is all that matters right now.

I sat on the bench while he went to get some ice cream from a vendor. I'm staring at random folks in this park. Children are playing, families are picnicking, and couples are dating.

And it feels romantic, but the nicest part, and the best thing here, is that I have been dating someone I adore for a long time. I never expected Kaiden, my best friend, and the popular Kaiden to be my mate.

"Vanilla flavor, as usual," he explained as he handed me the ice cream on a cone. When I saw how huge a scoop he offers me, I almost salivated.

"And yours is chocolate, right?" I mentioned it.

He has loved chocolate since we were children, and I often wondered if it was an unhealthy obsession. He was always overhyped due to too much sweets, thanks to his genes, and he could still have those stunning and attractive abs and muscles. He was the sexiest dude alive, in my opinion and he could make me drool without even trying.

"Of course, chocolate is my favorite. Some things are unchangeable," he said and I agreed with him.

The same as my sentiments towards him. I'm always so taken by him that I couldn’t help but have so several what ifs inside my head. What if he wasn’t mated to me, and other people deserve him more? Overthinking was not something I enjoyed since it was simply harmful. But I couldn’t stop myself. Why? Because I'm still doing that nonsense!

The scary aspect was the feeling of remorse, not falling in love with the Alpha. What if he would regret loving me or being his mate? I recalled how he informed me that I was ideal for him, and I should always think about it instead of overthinking with fake scenarios.

"Where do you want to marry? Do you have any ideas?" he questioned, almost giving me a heart attack. He brought up such a broad subject!

"Should we talk about our wedding? This early in the morning? Hmmm I think we have to follow our parents’ wishes, Kaiden. After all, we're still in college," I reminded him about the agreed particulars on my nineteenth birthday.

He cackled as if I had said something amusing and I wondered why.

"We're not that dumb, Cassie. We study to learn about human behavior. We have nothing to do with a degree... I can marry you whenever you want, and if you don't want to, I will still respect your wishes. But I can't stop wondering when and where. I want it to be amazing, just what you deserve."

"I adore you, Kaiden. Right now, you are everything to me. Should we defy our parents and get married as soon as possible?"

He laughed.

"You are mine, Cassie, and I am all yours," he declared all of a sudden and it made me cringe to be honest.

"What’s gotten into you?"

"Nothing. I just love the sounds that we have now," he said.

"Okay, from now on, Kaiden, the soon-to-be alpha and pack leader of Blue Moon pack, will be forever and always mine," I pledged. I showed him my pinky fingers, which represent our commitments.

"From this day forward, my future Cassie Clark, my future Luna, and the one I will live with for the rest of my life will always be mine forever and always," he swore.

Suddenly, I recalled my terrifying dreams. As a fighter, I wouldn’t allow it to happen. Nothing should keep me and Kaiden apart. To me, only the Moon Goddess has the power to separate me from him.

Later on, we decided to drop by at his favorite burger joint, and I should remind myself not to be taken aback by his voracious appetite. He ordered the largest burger and in massive quantity. One thing to consider about him, he didn’t like to share it with me. He wanted to enjoy his food without sharing and it has always been like this since we were kids.

But then, he suddenly offered me a bite of his double beef cheese burger, which surprised me. I considered it as a big miracle when he wanted to share his food with me because it never happened before.

"Are you sure about this?" I asked, seeking to explain what he had meant.

"Yeah, but why?"

"You're not eating pickles?" he inquired, as if it were no great deal!

"No, but look, you never shared your food before," I stated flatly.

"There are things in mine that are bound to change. I'm opening up the other side of my soul to you. I've never shared my good before because I wanted to do it for the first time with my friend. I am well aware that I am not a flawless person. I am aware of this, and I apologize for my previous behavior. I'm hoping you can still accept my flaws. Because I will also demonstrate to you that I am a better man now," he expressed concern.

I'd never seen him act like this before. I know him, I know him too well, no matter how many times I repeat it.

Before reaching this stage of love, he became my best friend. I observed every facet of him, and I watched him from a distance as well as up close. But I will always love him. Because I accept him for who he is and fantasize about being with him. I never give up, and now I'm reaping the benefits of my hard-won patience. While holding his hand, I smiled at him. I simply wanted to make him feel as secure as he makes me feel.

"I'm not sure what your reaction will be to this, but I hope you don't laugh or else I'll smack your head," I informed him.

He lifted his hands as if to promise. "OK, I swear I'm not going to laugh."

For a little while, I bite my lips, stifling my smile.

"Good... The truth is that I've been in love with you since then. Like when we have no notion we are related. I believe it began while we were in high school. I observed how you evolved into who you are now. From that tiny guy to the stereotypical high school jock to a college standout."

He was taken aback by my abrupt huge revelation. Although I have already told him a little bit how I truly felt before, there were lacking details, and now, I wanted to tell him everything.

"Are you shocked?" I asked.

"You mentioned it before that you liked me when we were young but I had no idea that it was love," he remarked with a little frown on his face.

"Because I'm scared of your reaction. And you are aware of our fate. We have no idea who will be our mate. Everything can change in the time it takes us to discover our match."

"I’m sorry, Cassie. I didn’t notice it before," he admitted.

"How would you notice when you always had a girl by your side? You were never vacant, Kaiden. You always had girlfriends!"

Just the thought of how much I endured every time I would see him with another girl caused me to clench my jaw. I hoped to meet someone better than Kaiden but I failed. Just like what he said before, he stopped anyone from coming to me, or getting to know me better. He was a villain to my love life.

"Maybe if you didn’t stop them to court me, I would have enjoyed my life in high school," I blurted and he frowned immediately.

"I couldn’t allow it, Cassie. Yes, I dated several girls but I always wanted you. I was just scared to let you know how I truly felt. Now that you are my mate, I will not allow you to like anyone else. I should only be the one in your heart, Cassie," he said.

"Oh God, are you feeling insecure now, Kaiden?" I asked in disbelief.

"Why not? You are very beautiful, Cassie, and several men wanted to have you as their wife. You know what, I have never been territorial to anyone I have dated in the past, but for you, I can’t even imagine it. I might kill that guy, Cassie," he warned me.

"Stop it! You are being silly for no reason right now. I love you and nobody else, always remember that, Kaiden Clark," I promised him. "I have no intention to meet someone else. You are enough for me, and I am so happy to be with you right now. Why are you thinking that way? Perhaps, was it because of your dating history? We are different, Kaiden. You were a playboy, but I am not. I am so loyal and faithful to our bond as mates," I told him.

Kaiden reached for my hand and squeezed it. Because we were still in a public place, we could only hold hands to avoid being judged.

"Were you jealous of my ex, Cassie?" he asked and I nodded. "I have no idea I caused you so much pain. I’m really sorry."

"It’s alright, Kaiden. Everything that happened in the past shouldn’t be the cause of our misunderstanding now. It’s all in the past, so let’s just forget it," I said.

"I'm really sorry, I don't know if I just know," he continued to apologize and I shook my head in response.

"You don't need to feel sorry for me. I never forced you to feel the same way. And I can't stand seeing you in trouble just because I have a crush on you. Those are the last things I want you to feel; I never want you to feel burdened or accountable."

"But I am now, and believe me when I say that beginning today, I will cherish you more than you deserve."

"I am looking forward to that, my alpha."

We, of course, chose to leave and return to our pack territory. I needed to keep myself occupied because I still have a lot of housework to do.

Why couldn’t I offer the work to the boys? They're going to ruin everything! I recalled the last time I requested Tom to clean the bathroom; oh no, he spilled a lot of soap on the floor, and an accident occurred. Lucky bastard, and if he wasn’t a werewolf, he would be able to heal in a short period.

I asked Ben to cook breakfast, but he nearly burned down our entire kitchen. I let him kneel on the beans to contemplate playing with fire. Finally, Marcus. I requested him to water our crops in the backyard, but knowing those youngsters, they despise veggies as much as they despise my nagging. They intended to destroy my beautiful crops.

Finally, I prepared vegetables for our breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the entire month. I believe I caused them some distress at the time, but they deserved it.

EVENING has arrived, and all of the boys are congregating in our living room. They were shouting and chanting for their favorite football team. Just typical boy behavior; I couldn’t blame them because I have my own. They have no choice but to back off when it comes to my favorite shows.

I was preparing the broccoli for our meal when Marcus walked into the kitchen and noticed my sinister plan. I was caught in the act and he shouted loudly to inform everyone about my plan.

"Dad! Cassie is going to poison us! She’s preparing the broccoli!" he shouted angrily and I rolled my eyes heavenward, not caring about his screams.

The next thing I heard was several footsteps coming toward the kitchen and they immediately wanted me to throw the vegetables away.

"No! Don't even think of touching that broccoli! Or I need to cut some fingers and chop them up right now."

"What exactly is your problem?" My father, frightened, inquired.

"Nothing, Dad. I just want to remind all of the werewolves with balls here that I still have the spatula. You can mock my outfit all you want, but you must still need and face the consequences. Don't worry, this is only for tonight or it will be extended depending on how well you all behave," I said.

I witnessed Ben's attempt to gain access to our refrigerator. I knew they have an emergency ration of burgers, fries, and frozen pizza so that if they would irritate me and I cook some leafy green vegetables, they can survive the night.

"Where are the pizzas?" he exclaimed. Ben was usually making a lot of noise.

"What about the pizza?"

"There will be no mercy tonight," I stated flatly. That's what happens when they tamper with me.

"Cassie!" they complained in chorus.

"WHAT?" I screamed at them and they all stepped back and let me do the cooking.

Later on, when we were on the table, I was relieved to see them frowning from time to time as they ate their vegetables. They gave me death stares. Well, there was no harm done. They were just sad boys who refused to eat their vegetables. They could despise me for the rest of their lives and I wouldn’t give them a damn.

"We will never forgive you for this meal, Cassie," Ben said.

"At least, I am kind enough to put meat on our table," I told him, and what did I get in return? A snarl?

After dinner, everyone was preparing the moonlight celebration, which would take place next week. It was similar to Christmas celebrations for humans, and we werewolves have a moonlight festival, and it would be done once a year to give thanks to the Moon Goddess and to honor her divinity.

"Cassie, what’s wrong?" Dad asked when he noticed me spacing out. "Wait, are you daydreaming about Kaiden again?"

***

I am currently in our kitchen. I'm making cookies for a light breakfast. I must also prepare because this is the day we have been looking forward to. Today is the Moonlight Festival. Though I am aware that this day will be different from others.

I received a message from our current alpha, informing me that they will send the dress I need to wear tonight in order to introduce me to the soon-to-be Luna. I'm concerned about it. I am impervious to certain criticism since many people, both human and nonhuman, despise me for reasons I do not understand. The majority of them are female.

I mean, I understand why people despise me. That could be because I'm so close to Kaiden. I can understand their rage at times. I'm not going to pretend to be innocent here. I used to wish I could grip the neck of one of the girls he used to date. Because I was envious of them. But, returning to my work, someone gets to hug me behind my back, and I smell the familiar aroma that I adore. It's his aroma that makes me think of him.

"Smells nice," he said quickly as I took the cookies out of the oven.

"Really?" I questioned him again, even though the answer was obvious.

"Hmm yeah, let me take a bite," he responded, grabbing a cookie and shoveling it into his lips. But he also realizes that the cookie just came out of the oven.

"Aww!" he shouted, pushing his tongue out to relieve the pain.

I'm laughing so hard right now since that is the result of his eating so quickly. He's a real thief.

"You know that was hot and you shoved it straight from your mouth," I said matter-of-factly as I poured cold water into his glass.

"You are hotter, bomb and fire," he teased.

I break his head, but it doesn't mean he's my friend, and as the alpha of this pack, he'll be able to tease me like that. Everyone, not with my rules.

"Aww, you're so violent!" "Do you intend to convert me as your battered husband?" He said this while acting with puppy eyes. Despite the fact that he is the alpha wolf.

"You know what, you can eat broccoli too for the rest of your life," I cautioned him.

He has a terrified expression on his face as he looks at me, and says, "Ah, let us change the subject."

I also described what transpired on the night of my vengeance on my family. He burst out laughing when he heard their reaction to my brilliant plan.

"I will make a mental note not to irritate you in the future," he sighed.

"You made a good decision, my mate," I told him, and we both laughed.

Kaiden chose to go since he needed to assist with the next festival. They must scout our area to ensure the protection of our people. We are aware of a growing number of rogues on our domain. Several of our pack mates were hurt.

Not all werewolves can protect themselves from the impending threat, especially if a renegade battle breaks out. So, to the greatest extent feasible, we are mitigating any potential territorial dispute and destroying those monsters, I mean those bloodthirsty rogues.

I came upon a handful of them. I also trained to be a pack fighter in order to protect myself. I despise the thought of someone protecting me, especially if I can protect myself without the assistance of others. I prepared myself, emotionally and mentally, for the event tonight after feeding the lads, and they had to do the customary reconnaissance.

Someone has knocked on our front door, and I am currently alone because Dad was doing something outside our home. I made it right to the door and found Mr. Tucker, our alpha's current Beta, holding a nicely wrapped box. That may be the dress that the Clarks sent me.

"Hi, Mr. Tucker!" I couldn't stop myself from squealing with delight. I am completely overjoyed.

"Good morning, Cassie. This is intended for you. This dress will undoubtedly fit you perfectly. You are just as lovely as everyone says. "I haven't seen you in years," he explained. I recall him being dispatched to the other pack's territory for diplomatic purposes.

"I'm glad you came back," I told him. I recall how he taught me how to be a pack soldier.

He taught me many combat postures and techniques. He laughed. This aging man is still in his prime. I learned that his wife had died. I hope he is still content. I've heard that losing a mate is the most frightening nightmare that any werewolf can have. It describes anguish that cannot be simple to bear. Like a never-ending burning, like the soul crushing into nothingness. According to what I've heard, most of them commit suicide or die as a result of loneliness and unhappiness. Our spouse is the best gift we've ever received. It was like a present from our Luna that we should treasure because they are our other half. We have a similar bond.

"Yeah, I'm back, but I think it's too late," he remarked, his eyes a little melancholy. He's smiling to mask the anguish he's in.

To console this old man, I embrace him in a hug. He is more than simply a teacher to me. He, too, became a buddy. I recall telling him how much I adore Kaiden and why fate is so cruel and against me at the time. Because all I want is to be happy, but I am constantly reminded that it is not always the suffering that make us happy. I recall him telling me that I would do well. I can do better, and if I wait patiently, a miracle may occur. And herein lies my miracle.

"She's in good hands; Annie is now in our goddess' paradise. She'll live there happily," I assured him. He is in excruciating discomfort. I can see it in his eyes. Losing a friend is no laughing matter.

A tear fell from his eye. "I hope so, and I know she'll be waiting for me there," he responded firmly.

"But we still need you now." A wise and courageous man. If Luna decides to take you, I'm sure you'll see Annie again and do some mating there," I said, and he chuckled.

"I appreciate you soothing me. I recall that I am the one who constantly consoles you. Because the young master was continuously breaking your heart. And now miracles do occur. He is now your partner, and I am delighted that both of the wonderful young children I witnessed in my younger days have found happiness."

"Thank you for your words of encouragement!" If it wasn't for you, I would have given up that moment."

He smiled at me and said something to me that I will remember for the rest of my life. "Keep this in mind, Cassie: you will be a kind, strong, brave Luna of this lack who will lead this territory to prosperity."

"You are just the sweetest!" I burst out laughing.

"I am always the sweetest."

"I will agree to that," I told him.

He also bit his farewell to me. He still needs to talk to the alpha about the growing number of rogues. This is concerning because the last renegade war occurred 100 years ago.

That was a violent war, and the four largest and most powerful packs had to sacrifice several warriors to bring it to an end. I shut the door and walked directly to our living room sofa. I gulped as I unwrapped the box slowly. However, because I am a naturally impatient woman, I ended up breaking the box and grabbing what was inside.

A lovely white gown with blue accents at the hem. It appears to be something that will glow in the dark when worn in the evening. There's also a lovely pair of sandals. This is stunning! My concerned sentiments about the forthcoming event this evening shift. Now I'm overjoyed and overjoyed. Everything will change for me starting tonight. From now on, I shall be on his side.

NIGHT came so quickly that I can't believe it. If this event can be postponed, I will beg to postpone the announcement of the Blue Moon Pack's soon-to-be alpha and Luna. But I have to accept that this is a now-or-never situation. I know I should quit overthinking things right now. I can't doubt myself because if I do, I might be disappointed in him as well. That is the last thing on my mind.

Kaiden had waited far too long to be titled as the alpha. It is his destiny, and his ambition is to take up this enormous burden with his Luna. I shall be his light now that he has discovered me. I will assist him in every manner that I am able. I will remove the darkness and heal every anguish, and I will bear the weight if he is unable to do so. I looked up at the black sky and saw an infinite number of stars. The moon shines brightly in every region of the sky, and not a single cloud can dim it. It is the month of Luna, and today is the day to honor her.

My brothers are now in serious mode and accompanying me to the location. With lanterns and decorations, the entire pack territory exudes festival emotions. We are now in the midst of a massive throng, with a stage in the center to introduce the alpha's family. I observed our current alpha's magnificent stature. He still has the appearance of someone who can frighten anyone with a single gaze, but he is a kind, caring, and modest alpha. We are fortunate to have him. And I know his son is exactly like him.

"Tonight is a special night," began the alpha's statement.

"I am aware that there are lingering issues on our territory. My leadership is not flawless, but I tried my best, and we can still maintain the wealth and peace that we want. And I know that sooner or later, I will step down from my position and hand it over to my eldest son, Kaiden. Fortunately, he had already found his mate. My son is indeed lucky, just like me," the alpha joked. "I am delighted to introduce you to Cassie Anderson, the brave and soon-to-be Luna of this pack."

The crowd parted in half to allow me to pass. Because I am terrified, I walk as fast as I can without staring them in the eyes. Nobody applauded, and I'm not sure what to think at this point. I'm simply trying hard not to cry. Because I will never provide them with the satisfaction they want. But the alpha's family, the Clarks, clasped their hands and smiled.

I am delighted when the audience began to applaud. Soon, I'll show them that I'm worthy of being the pack's Luna. I'll put in my effort, and I'll fulfill my role as Kaiden's soon-to-be wife. I will never go out of my way to disappoint him.

Tucker extends his hand to shake mine, a smile on his lips.

"Congratulations! This pack will undoubtedly fall into the right hand. You deserve it, and let us prove it to you."

I am extremely grateful that people like him believe in me and my ability. Perhaps the other members of the pack see me as nothing more than a pretty face, and some of them still doubted me. But I will tell them that they are all mistaken.

Kaiden walks over to me and hugs me hard.

"I am really proud of you, and I am glad we were able to finally introduce you. Let us both demonstrate our worth to them. They are experiencing Deja vu, according to my father. Others appear to doubt them, but he shows them incorrect."

"Let us do the same! We can do it!"

"Yes, we can do this."

And when he kissed me in front of many of our pack members, I felt at ease. I felt a rush of excitement as he took my hand and led me out into the clearing. We were surrounded by the rest of the pack, all of them watching us with curious and excited expressions.

As we stood there, my heart racing with anticipation, he turned to me and took me into his arms. And then he kissed me, right there in front of everyone. It was a simple gesture, but it meant the world to me. I felt a surge of love and affection, knowing that he was willing to show his affection for me in front of the entire pack.

The other wolves cheered and hollered, their approval ringing through the clearing. I felt a sense of belonging, of being part of something bigger than myself. As we pulled away from the kiss, he looked at me with a smile, his eyes sparkling with love.

"I love you," he whispered, and I knew that he meant it.

From that moment on, I knew that we were meant to be together. And I felt grateful to be a part of the pack, surrounded by a community of wolves who supported and loved us both. Suddenly, I felt a jolt of fear as I sensed the explosion from the other region. It was a feeling that I had felt before, and one that always filled me with dread and anxiety.

As a gifted individual, I had the ability to sense trouble from a distance. And this time, the feeling was intense and overwhelming. I immediately got up from my chair and headed to the window, trying to get a better view of the region. In the distance, I could see a plume of smoke rising into the air, and my heart sank.

I knew that I had to act fast. I grabbed my phone and started calling my friends and colleagues, hoping to get more information about what had happened. As the news started to come in, I felt a sense of panic and despair. There had been a massive explosion in the nearby city, and it had caused widespread damage and destruction. I knew that I had to do something to help! So I transformed into my wolf form as quickly as I could.

"What are you up to? Go and evacuate, it's not safe here," Kaiden advised through telepathy. We were both in our wolf forms.

"I can handle it. Remember? I joined a special unit of elite pack warriors 5 months ago."

"Don’t be stubborn, Cassie!"

"Let’s argue about this next time," I told him, and he could only snort when I took the lead in going to the site that exploded.

As I arrived at the site of the explosion, I was met with chaos and devastation. The air was thick with smoke and dust, and people were running in every direction, trying to escape the wreckage.

I used my abilities to help locate survivors and guide rescue teams to those in need. It was a difficult and emotional task, but I knew that it was my duty to help in any way that I could.

"Kaiden…," I mumbled my mate’s name as soon as I realized what was going on.