Ch. 3 My Wolf

Saoirse’s POV

All the joy I felt at his declaration was indescribable.

“You want me to be your Luna, Renzo?” I whispered, still incredulous.

He was so handsome—over six feet tall, broad-shouldered and carved with muscle. That mischievous smirk of his always melted me.

“Of course I do,” he said without hesitation. “Can there be anyone else?”

My heart squeezed, but doubt slipped out anyway. “What about your fated mate? You’ll cast me aside once you find her. I’ve seen it happen. Remember Larissa Clinton? She abandoned Trevor Smith after five years of living together the instant she found her mate. What if that happens with us?”

Renzo’s expression hardened. He gripped my shoulders, holding me steady as his eyes blazed with fierce conviction.

“Little one, don’t you know we’re endgame? I chose you the moment I laid eyes on you. Fated or not, you’re mine. If I ever meet some so-called mate and it isn’t you, I’ll reject her without a second thought. You are my forever. I’ll never let you go.”

I flung my arms around his waist, and he pressed a kiss to the top of my head. He smelled so good—clean and masculine, like wild meadows after rain. It was my favorite scent in the world.

“Will you stay with me tonight at midnight, when I get my wolf?” I asked, pulling back just enough to look into his face. “Mom and Dad don’t want a party this year. They say gaining your wolf is sacred and should only be shared with family. But you’re my family too, Renzo. It would mean everything if you were there.”

“There’s nothing in this world that could keep me away,” he vowed.

My lips parted with another question, nervous and hopeful. “Once I get my wolf… do you think we’ll know if we’re mates? It’s a full moon tonight.”

“Normally we don’t discover our fated mates until we’re eighteen,” he said gently. “But I don’t need the bond to know what I already feel. Saoirse—you are mine.”

A shiver danced down my spine at his words. His possessiveness was no secret, and many she-wolves envied me for it. None dared act against me, though—everyone knew Renzo would show no mercy to anyone who laid a hand on me. Even Shane, his Beta, was protective of me whenever Renzo wasn’t around.

Renzo dropped me off at home with a promise to return before midnight. To my surprise, both my parents were there. Since moving here, Dad had been calmer, less jealous. Back in Ireland, his possessiveness had been unbearable. They weren’t fated, and when Mom’s true mate appeared shortly after my birth, she chose to stay with Dad for me. Her mate had never stopped lingering, though, even after she rejected him. I often wondered where he was now.

“Oh, honey, you’re back,” Mom said warmly. She wore an apron that hugged her small waist. At thirty-three, she was still stunning. “I’m making your favorite dinner.”

The smell of roasted herbs and spices filled the kitchen, making my mouth water.

“Mom, it smells amazing! Did you and Dad both take the day off?”

Dad entered then, kissing my cheek before pulling me into a hug. “Of course, sunshine. Tonight’s the most important night of your life. You’re getting your wolf. Now go change—I’m starving.”

I hurried upstairs to change, but as I came back down, hushed voices caught my attention. My parents were whispering.

“I don’t know, Colin,” Mom murmured, her tone heavy with worry. “What if the Moon Goddess punishes us for going against the mate bond?”

“Aela,” Dad replied firmly, “don’t speak such omens over our daughter. If the Goddess punishes anyone, it should be me, not her. I was the one who pursued you. Saoirse will be fine.”

Their words unsettled me, but I pushed it aside as we ate together. For once, the house was filled with laughter, and I let myself bask in their love.

Time slipped by, and at 11:30, the doorbell rang.

“Mom, I’ve got it—it’s Renzo!”

My parents exchanged a nervous glance.

“Honey,” Mom said hesitantly, “I thought I told you this was meant to be intimate. Only family.”

“Renzo is family,” I insisted.

I opened the door and launched myself into his arms. He caught me easily, spinning me before setting me down. He inhaled deeply at the curve of my neck—a habit of his that always made my heart race.

Dad stepped into the hallway, his expression resigned but kind. “Well, Alpha Renzo, you’re welcome to stay. Come on—we’ve set up the backyard for the occasion.”

“Thank you, Healer Colin,” Renzo said respectfully.

The backyard took my breath away. Strings of soft lights glowed above plush cushions and flowers Dad had arranged. My stomach fluttered with nerves. Renzo sat close beside me, his warmth grounding me as we waited.

Midnight came. And passed.

Nothing happened.

By two in the morning, worry filled my parents’ eyes. Guilt lingered in their expressions like shadows. Renzo never wavered. He held me, whispering reassurance, promising to wait with me as long as it took. Eventually, exhaustion pulled me under, and I drifted to sleep on his lap, my cheeks still damp from silent tears.

I woke with the first rays of dawn, his hand stroking my hair. He kissed away the tear stains on my cheeks and murmured, “Wake up, little one. This changes nothing. I still love you, no matter what. You’re probably just a late bloomer. Don’t worry yourself.”

I sat up, blinking at him through fresh tears. “You… you love me?”

He chuckled softly, brushing away a stray tear with his thumb before kissing my cheek. “I thought I’d made it obvious. I was waiting until after Alpha training to say it out loud, but it was never a secret. Now rest, little one. I’ll see you this afternoon. I leave tomorrow morning.”

The next day, Renzo left. His Beta was meant to accompany him, but Shane had found his mate—Hanna, a strong Beta she-wolf—the night before. Renzo left them both in charge of my safety while he was away.

But if I had no wolf… what was there to protect?

Two years without Renzo already felt unbearable. And if I never gained my wolf, I could never be his Luna. The thought hollowed out my chest, leaving only a sharp ache.