Chapter 4: The Moon Event

As the moon event neared, Vladimir couldn't help but feel an increasing sense of unease. He had been assigned a mate, as was tradition, but he had no desire to be with her. Instead, his heart longed for Diana, the Luna who had run away from the pack.

He had been searching for her for weeks, ever since he had found out that she had left. He knew it was futile; the woods were vast, and she could be anywhere. But he couldn't help himself. He had to find her.

The day of the moon event arrived, and Vladimir found himself standing amongst the other wolves, waiting for the alpha to arrive. He could feel the tension in the air, as every wolf there was eager to find their mate.

The alpha arrived, and he addressed the pack, "My dear wolves, the time has come for the moon event. Let us all embrace our true nature and find our mates."

As soon as the alpha king finished his speech, every wolf started to howl. The sound was deafening, and Vladimir couldn't help but join in. But his howl was not like the others. It was pained, filled with longing for the one he couldn't have.

He started to run, his nose to the ground, searching for any trace of Diana. He ran for hours, ignoring the calls of his assigned mate, who was also searching for him.

As the night wore on, Vladimir's hope began to fade. He was exhausted, and there was no sign of Diana. He stopped to catch his breath and looked up at the sky. The moon was full and bright, illuminating the forest in a silver glow.

He closed his eyes, and for a moment, he let himself dream. He pictured Diana running towards him, her fur shining in the moonlight. He imagined her leaping into his arms, and he held her tightly, never letting her go.

But the dream was short-lived, and when he opened his eyes, he was alone. He let out a howl of despair, and it echoed through the forest.

Suddenly, he caught a whiff of something familiar. He turned his head and saw a figure in the distance. It was too dark to make out who it was, but he knew it was her. It had to be.

He ran towards her, his heart beating fast. As he got closer, he saw that it was indeed Diana. She was standing there, looking up at the moon.

He slowed down as he approached her, not wanting to startle her. She turned her head towards him and looked him in the eyes. In that moment, everything else faded away.

They stood there in silence for a few moments, just looking at each other. Vladimir could see the pain and sadness in her eyes, and he knew that he had to do something.

"Diana," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I've been looking for you."

She looked away, and he could see the tears in her eyes. "Why?" she asked, her voice cracking.

"Because I love you," he said, taking a step closer to her. "I know I have a mate, but I can't help the way I feel. You're the only one for me."

Diana looked up at him, and he could see the conflict in her eyes. He knew it wasn't fair to ask her to choose, but he couldn't help it. He loved her too much.

"I don't know what to do," she said, her voice barely audible.

Vladimir took a step even closer, and he could feel her warmth. "Just listen to your heart," he said, his voice low. "What does it tell you?"

Vladimir couldn't help but feel anxious as the moon event approached. He knew he had to find Diana and bring her back to the pack. He didn't want to disappoint his father, but he also couldn't bear the thought of being mated to someone he didn't love.

As the day of the moon event drew closer, Vladimir became more desperate. He spent hours searching the woods, hoping to catch a glimpse of Diana. He asked other wolves if they had seen her, but no one had. It was as if she had disappeared completely.

On the night of the event, Vladimir caught sight of Diana in the distance. His heart raced as he approached her, hoping that she would come back with him willingly. But as soon as he got close, he could tell something was wrong.

"Diana, please come back with me," he pleaded. "You don't have to be alone tonight."

Diana shook her head. "I can't go back, Vladimir. You know that. I can't be a part of a pack that forces mates on each other. It's not right."

Vladimir knew she was right, but he also knew that he couldn't defy his father. "I have a mate waiting for me," he said sadly. "I can't leave her."

Diana looked at him with sympathy. "I'm sorry, Vladimir. I wish things could be different."

As Vladimir turned to leave, he couldn't help but feel a sense of loss. He had let go of the she-wolf he truly loved, all for the sake of duty and tradition.

As he made his way back to the pack, Vladimir tried to push Diana out of his mind. He knew he had to fulfill his responsibilities as the son of the Alpha. But every time he saw his mate, he couldn't help but think of Diana and what could have been.

Days turned into weeks, and Vladimir tried his best to make his new mate happy. But he couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing. He missed the connection he had with Diana, the way they could talk for hours about anything and everything.

As time went on, Vladimir couldn't take it anymore. He knew he couldn't keep living a lie. He had to follow his heart, even if it meant defying his father and the pack.

One night, he made his decision. He would leave the pack and start a new life with Diana, wherever that may lead them. He packed his things and left a note for his father, explaining his reasons for leaving.

It wasn't an easy choice, but it was the right one. Vladimir and Diana started a new life together, free from the constraints of tradition and duty. They were finally able to love each other freely, without fear of judgment or persecution.

Vladimir realized that love should never be sacrificed for the sake of tradition. And he was willing to do whatever it took to hold on to the one thing that truly mattered in life.

Vladimir was shaken from his reverie when he heard footsteps approaching him. He quickly composed himself and turned to face the intruder.

It was his friend, Marcus. "Hey man, what's up?" Marcus asked, noticing the troubled expression on Vladimir's face.

"Nothing, I'm fine," Vladimir replied, trying to brush it off.

"Don't lie to me, Vlad. I've known you for too long," Marcus said, crossing his arms. "What's bothering you?"

Vladimir hesitated for a moment before deciding to confide in his friend. "I don't know, man. I've been having these weird hallucinations lately, and it's freaking me out."

"What kind of hallucinations?" Marcus asked, concern etched on his face.

"I keep seeing this girl, Diana," Vladimir explained. "She's the runaway Luna, and I can't seem to get her out of my head. But I have a mate waiting for me, and I don't want her."

Marcus placed a comforting hand on Vladimir's shoulder. "It's okay, Vlad. You can't help how you feel. But you can't keep pining over someone who's not yours. You have a duty to your pack and your mate."

Vladimir sighed, knowing Marcus was right. "I know, I know. It's just hard to forget about her."

"I get it, man. But you need to focus on what's important. The moon event is coming up, and you don't want to disappoint your pack. And who knows, maybe your mate is the one for you," Marcus said, offering a small smile.

Vladimir nodded, feeling slightly better after talking to his friend. He knew Marcus was right, but he couldn't shake off the feeling that there was something special about Diana.

As the moon event drew near, Vladimir threw himself into his duties as the Alpha's son. He trained harder, attended pack meetings, and made sure everything was running smoothly.

But he couldn't help but feel a sense of dread whenever he thought about the event. He knew he was expected to choose a mate, but he couldn't bring himself to do it.

On the night of the moon event, Vladimir stood on the stage, watching as the eligible females paraded in front of him. He tried to pay attention, but his mind kept drifting off to Diana.

Suddenly, he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to see his father, the Alpha, standing behind him. "Son, you need to choose a mate," the Alpha said, his voice firm.

Vladimir felt the weight of his father's words, and he knew he couldn't delay any longer. He scanned the crowd, trying to find someone who caught his eye.

But as he looked around, his eyes met a pair of familiar ones. Diana was standing at the back of the crowd, watching him intently.

Vladimir felt his heart skip a beat, and he knew what he had to do. Without a second thought, he walked towards Diana, leaving the other females behind.

"Diana," he said, standing in front of her. "I know you're the runaway Luna, but I can't help how I feel about you. Will you be my mate?"

Diana looked up at him, surprise evident in her eyes. "But what about your mate?"

"I don't care about her," Vladimir said, his voice firm. "I only care about you."

Diana hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yes, I'll be your mate."

Vladimir felt a sense of relief wash over him as he took Diana's hand. He knew he was going against tradition, but he didn't care. He was in love with Diana.