CHAPTER TWO

Three Years Ago

My father's voice jolted me awake. "Smile, darling. You look like a corpse," he whispered with a touch of irritation. I managed a forced grin, hoping to appear joyful at the Full Moon celebration. As the Beta's daughter, attendance was obligatory, but after enduring eighteen years of the same festivities, it had grown painfully monotonous.

I observed the dance, music, and merriment unfold with a sense of detachment. Lucas, the current Alpha, sat beside his Luna, Lyra.

He was handsome, they said, but I never found him attractive. I didn't have a particular spec. I was content to let fate decide my mate. I have seen members of our pack live in peace with their mates even without falling for them. I wanted more than that, I wanted a strong connection with my mate, I wanted to crave him as much as he would crave me.

Looking up at the full moon, I silently prayed, "When will I meet him, moon goddess? Please, let him be handsome, kind and very strong." But the moon offered no reply.

My father's glare snapped me out of my thoughts. "Falling asleep during the ceremony, Audrey?"

I blushed and mumbled, "I'm not sleeping dad. I need some fresh air."

Without waiting for my father's approval, I stood up and hastily left the celebration. Shaking my hair free from the ponytail I had packed, I ventured into the woods behind our pack house. To many, it might have appeared creepy, but to me, it was a safe haven, especially under the full moon.

I knew I shouldn't worry so much about finding my mate, especially since I had only shifted a few months ago. But the worry nagged at me. What if I ended up like those she-wolves in their thirties who never found their mates? What if I never had one? Would I grow old and lonely without a mate?

Suddenly, my wolf, Silver, became restless, scraping at the surface of my consciousness. "Run," she urged.

I glanced around, confusion in my eyes. "Where am I running to?" I asked in confusion.

"Run," Silver repeated, the urgency in her voice driving me to take off. A surge of adrenaline raced through me as I sprinted through the forest, my feet pounding on the ground, and the crunch of twigs and leaves beneath echoed in my ears.

Silver's agitation nearly brought laughter, fueling my exhilaration as I ascended the trees and leapt from one to the next. When my wolf finally calmed, I eased my pace, leaning against a tree with my chest heaving, catching my breath.

A short distance away, nearly half a mile, I spotted a river. I immediately ran towards the water hoping to wash my face. As I got closer, a figure emerged from the water, a male, and he was completely naked.

Gasping, I froze in place, stunned at the naked body before me, silently cursing my wolf for bringing me here. The man had a strong, muscular body, illuminated by the moonlight, giving him an aura of darkness and mystery. My gaze drifted downward, captivated by his form.

I had lived a sheltered life, thanks to my father's watchful eye, and had never been so close to a man's naked body. It wasn't an entirely unpleasant experience.

"Mate," Silver said. I was shocked. I could feel her leaping. Maybe she had sensed our mate. That's why she asked me to run.

"Stay put," his voice sliced through the stillness of the night, and I gasped, my heart racing; I was caught. Ready to bolt, he added, "Don't move."

Approaching me, I stammered, "This was an honest mistake."

"Of course," he responded, a sarcastic smile dancing on his lips. "And you didn't mean to... See me naked?"

My face flushed, and I struggled for words. "I'm sorry," I muttered.

"So polite," he murmured, his fingers delicately grazing my skin. His touch, surprisingly gentle, stirred my wolf as his thumb brushed my lower lip, and I shivered. My eyes closed as his lips met mine, a slow and then more insistent kiss that parted my lips, his tongue brushing against mine. The night air echoed with my moans, and my wolf grew restless. But as I tilted my head and immersed myself in the kiss, the man suddenly broke it off, stepping back with his fingers loosening around my throat. I stared up at him, my mind still hazy from the kiss.

I think he felt the connection too. His eyes widened as he looked at me in shock.He turned away, taking steps that would lead him into the trees. I released a breath I hadn’t known I had been holding and leaned back against the tree.

I ran my fingers over the healing bruise on my neck, a mixture of pain and lingering pleasure making me groan. I needed to return to the pack house.

Dread clawed at my insides, anticipating my father's countless questions about my tattered dress and the fading mark on my neck.

Fingers crossed, I could only hope that the man who had ignited these unfamiliar desires within me was indeed my destined mate.

My heart raced, not just from the kiss but from the fear of the unknown. And as I made my way back to the pack house, the moonlight bathed my trembling form, leaving me to question the depths of my desires.  

Three weeks later, I wandered through the thick woods, the crisp night air gently touching my skin. A mix of excitement and anxiety surged within me. It had been three weeks since my last venture into the woods, encountering that peculiar young man.

Moving further into the woods, the moonlight filtered through the dense treetops, casting enchanting patterns on the ground. The memories of our meeting echoed in my mind, growing more pronounced with each step I took.

Confusion and longing mingled in my thoughts. The undeniable, potent attraction he wielded over me transcended reason. The yearning to see him again consumed me. As I arrived at a well-known clearing, illuminated by the moon's silver glow, a sense of anticipation charged the air. My heart raced, acknowledging that I stood where it all began.

Breaking the silence, his voice emerged, startling me. "Well, look who we have here," he drawled from the shadows, causing my heart to leap in surprise.