A GOLDEN ENCOUNTER

~Adrian Blackthorn POV

....The Pack’s Forest

The moon was high, its light spilling over the forest as I ran. The air was cool, carrying the smell of damp earth and flowers. My paws hit the ground in steady strides, but something felt off tonight. My chest was tight, like I was waiting for something to happen.

Kieran, my wolf, growled inside me. He was restless, pacing in my mind. It made me uneasy. He wasn’t the type to get worked up without a reason. I tried to focus, breathing deeply to calm both of us, but the forest felt different. The usual peace wasn’t there.

She’s here.

The thought came out of nowhere, gripping me tight.

Who? I asked, even though I already knew.

Our mate. She’s close. Kieran’s voice was clear, full of longing. It was sharper than I’d felt in years.

I stopped running, my fur catching the moonlight. My heart was racing. The word mate hit me like a shock, filling me with both excitement and fear. After losing Sienna, I promised myself I’d never take another mate. The pain had been too much. Could I handle it again?

And yet, I couldn’t ignore the pull. Kieran growled again, urging me forward. Then I caught the scent—soft, sweet, like rain and roses. It wrapped around me, tugging at something deep inside. I followed it, unable to resist.

And there she was.

She stood by the water, her reflection rippling in the moonlit pool. Her auburn hair spilled over her shoulders, glowing in the light. She was beautiful. No, more than that. She looked like she belonged to the forest, like she was part of it.

Kieran stirred, and I felt the bond spark to life. But I hesitated. Could I do this again? Could I protect her if things went wrong? Could I open my heart when I knew how much it hurt to lose?

She knelt by the water, running her fingers through it. Then she froze. Her body tensed like something hit her, and she fell to her knees. I took a step closer, watching as she clutched her chest. She gasped, and the sound hit me hard.

Then she shifted.

It was unlike anything I’d ever seen. Her change was smooth, almost elegant, like it was meant to happen right there. When she stood, she wasn’t human anymore. She was a wolf, her fur fiery red with streaks of silver. Her golden eyes shone in the moonlight. She was incredible.

Kieran howled. She’s ours. Go to her!

I moved forward but stopped. This wasn’t just any wolf. She had power; I could feel it. But there was something else too. She’d been hurt. Her strength came from pain, from surviving things that could have broken her.

Her head snapped toward me, her eyes locking on mine. Everything else faded. My heart was pounding, but I couldn’t move. She took a step toward me, then another. Her gaze didn’t waver.

“Mate,” she said softly, her voice steady. The word sent a shiver through me.

Without thinking, I shifted. My body flowed back to human form, and I stood before her, bare and vulnerable. Her eyes widened, and her breath hitched. She felt it too. That made it easier.

“Mate,” I said, my voice rough. The bond between us hummed with energy, pulling us together.

I reached out, my hand shaking as I touched her cheek. Her skin was warm, soft under my fingers. She leaned into my hand, closing her eyes like she wanted to hold onto the moment. My thumb brushed over a faint scar on her face. It wasn’t just a bond. It was a connection built on everything she’d been through.

I leaned closer until our faces were inches apart. Her breath mingled with mine, and when our lips touched, it felt like the world stopped. The kiss started gentle but quickly deepened. It was raw and electric, overwhelming in the best way.

Her hands rested on my chest, sending sparks through me. I pulled her closer, wrapping my arms around her like I could shield her from everything. In that moment, nothing else mattered. Just her.

But as the kiss ended, reality crept back in. My senses picked up on something in the forest. A faint shift in the air. My muscles tensed, and Kieran growled low.

“What is it?” she asked, her voice soft but worried.

I stepped back, scanning the shadows. “We’re not alone,” I said. I glanced at her, my resolve hardening. “Stay close to me.”

She nodded, trust shining in her eyes. Together, we turned toward the darkness. Whatever was out there, we’d face it—together.

As we moved further into the shadows, the forest seemed to change. The trees felt taller, their trunks thicker, and the air grew heavier. I could hear her soft breaths behind me, steady but cautious. Every sound—the rustle of leaves, the snap of a twig—felt amplified. Kieran was on edge, his instincts screaming at me to protect her.

“Do you feel that?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

I nodded. “It’s not just us here. Something’s watching.”

She stepped closer, her fingers brushing my arm for reassurance. It was a small gesture, but it sent warmth through me. I tightened my focus, scanning the area. Whoever—or whatever—was out there wasn’t moving, but their presence was undeniable. They were waiting.

A low growl rumbled from Kieran, echoing my thoughts. We need to be ready.

“Can you shift?” I asked her softly.

“Yes,” she replied. Her voice held a steadiness that surprised me. Despite everything, she was prepared to fight if it came to that. It made me admire her even more.

Before I could say anything else, a figure emerged from the darkness. At first, it was hard to make out, but as they stepped into the moonlight, their identity became clear. It was a rogue wolf, its eyes glowing with a wild, dangerous light. Its fur was matted, and its stance screamed aggression.

I pushed Jemima behind me instinctively, my body tensing as I prepared for a fight. “Stay back,” I told her, my voice firm.

The rogue didn’t attack right away. It stared at us, snarling, its teeth bared. It was sizing us up, deciding if it could take us. The mate bond between Jemima and me pulsed like a living thing, feeding me strength. I wasn’t about to let anything happen to her.

The rogue lunged. It moved fast, but not fast enough. I shifted mid-step, meeting it head-on. The force of the collision sent us both tumbling, but I recovered quickly, snapping at its neck. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jemima shift as well, her fiery fur glowing under the moonlight.

She didn’t hesitate. With surprising speed, she attacked from the side, her teeth sinking into the rogue’s flank. It yelped, thrashing as it tried to shake her off, but she held on. I took the opportunity to go for its throat, ending the fight quickly.

The rogue went limp, its body collapsing to the ground. Jemima stepped back, her chest heaving as she shifted back into her human form. I did the same, moving to stand beside her.

“Are you okay?” I asked, scanning her for injuries.

She nodded, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “I’m fine. That wasn’t as bad as I thought it’d be.”

I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. “You were amazing.”

A small smile tugged at her lips. “So were you.”

We stood there for a moment, catching our breath. The rogue’s presence was a reminder that the forest wasn’t as safe as it seemed. But it also showed me something else: Jemima was strong, stronger than I’d expected. She wasn’t just someone I needed to protect; she was someone I could fight alongside.

As we turned to leave, the forest felt quieter, almost peaceful again. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning. There was more out there, more waiting in the shadows. And whatever it was, we’d face it together.