2. Mate?

...Unknown POV...

This was my first time running patrols. Wolves are not allowed to join the patrols until the age of sixteen. However, being the alpha’s son, my father trained me harder than any other pack wolf. He was still leery taking me out on patrols, but I convinced him otherwise.

Something inside me was itching for me to join them. My dad enjoyed my eagerness to take up the responsibilities of the pack. So while he was concerned about me joining the patrols, he quickly gave in to my request.

I didn’t know why tonight was any different. Perhaps it was because I was getting closer and closer to my sixteenth birthday. The day in which I would get my wolf. It was also the day I would find my mate. 

I was super excited about both events. Probably even more so for the mate bond. I had seen how special the mate bond truly was. I had also seen what going against the mate bond was like for wolves. My father decided to go against the mate bond by choosing his own mate. At the age of eighteen, he decided to mate the alpha’s daughter of the Crimson pack. 

This was solely a power move. The Crimson pack was our neighbouring rivals. By mating their only child, he became alpha over both packs. My dad only ever cared about power. He never loved my mother. I’m sure if he had waited to find his destined mate, he wouldn’t be the man he is today.

Our family is nicknamed the stone-cold family for this reason. My dad is ruthless and will do anything for more power. They are traits of an alpha, but at the same time, I wish to rule with more heart. Something that having a destined mate will help me to achieve. 

Since I am to be the next alpha of the Blood Moon pack, I have to take a mate before the age of 27. This is something that all alphas have to face. Typically because of the short window, it means that Alphas commonly choose their own mate.

If I don’t find my destined mate in time, I'll end up risking the lives of all my pack members. This is because unmated wolves are weaker than mated ones. So should a strong enough pack come to challenge us, I would more than likely lose against them. It was a fate I never hoped would happen. I don’t even know what I would do if I were ever faced with the option of choosing my mate over my pack. To me, they were on equal levels. However, I may end up choosing the mate bond over the pack. 

I would wait an eternity to find that bond. If I chose a mate instead, my destined mate would end up suffering. They say it’s one of the most painful experiences one could ever have. Second, only to rejecting the mate bond. The wolf continues to be in pain until they manage to reject the bond. Some wolves have even committed suicide over the intensity of the pain.

Since I was only twelve, I had lots of time to figure out who my destined mate would be, so I wasn’t all that worried. For now, I just wanted to live my life to the best of my abilities.

 

 

Later that night, my father came to get me when we were to go on patrols. He cautioned me once more about it, but I knew I was ready. In my training, I was able to take down all of my opponents. So a simple rogue wouldn’t be that difficult. Not only that, but rogue sightings have significantly died down over the years. Because of my father’s reputation, not many rogues came close to our borders. So tonight was probably going to be rather boring anyway.

We had been on patrol for over an hour now, and as I had figured, there were no sightings of wolves. My father used the opportunity to strengthen the guards. While he was busy doing that, I decided to go further into the forest.

I hadn’t spent too much time in the forest at night, so I was captivated by everything around me. I felt a pull taking me further into the dark abyss. With my enhanced sight, I was able to see clearly, as if it was daytime. So I knew no one would be able to catch me off guard.

Suddenly, the most captivating scent caught my attention. It was wonderful. Almost manly, yet strong at the same time. It was a complex mix of Sandalwood, Jasmine, and vanilla. The smell almost made me purr inside. I knew I had to find the source of the smell. I continued venturing through the forest, trying to find the source of the smell. When I suddenly came across this little girl. 

I found myself smiling at her. From the way she looked, I knew she was rogue, but I couldn’t take my eyes off her for some reason.

‘She’s the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.’ I thought to myself.

Surprisingly, I saw her blush. Talk about a coincidence. It’s almost as though she heard me. But that's impossible since I didn’t say that out loud.

I found myself getting closer and closer to the girl. Captivated by her every being. It was like we were magnets and would only be happy once we came in contact. My senses were going crazy. I knew as a warrior that this could only get me killed. However, that thought was quickly drowned out from my mind as my need to get closer to her increased.

‘She couldn’t be my mate, could she?’ I asked myself. 

‘I’ve been told what the mate bond feels like, and from what others described, this feels exactly like it. However, mates could only find each other once they both turned sixteen. I still had four years to go, and from the looks of the girl, she had at least another eight.’ I thought, shaking my head from the outlandish thoughts.

“What’s a mate?” The girl questioned. 

My eyes grow wide from her question. I didn’t just say that out loud, did I? I began to rack my brain when I realized that no. I had just been thinking to myself.

We continued to get closer and closer to each other. Until finally, her small arms wrapped around my waist. It was a feeling like no other. Like true contentedness. Instinctively, I wrapped my arms around her, keeping her close to me.

I really wanted to know what her name was.

“Wynter.” She said, making me look down at her.

She had the most amazing green eyes I had ever seen. They were absolutely stunning. They made me want to spend the rest of my life just staring into them. I found myself smiling at the thought.

“Thank you.” The girl said, catching me off guard again. She was blushing once again, and the sight only made me smile. She looked so adorable when she blushed.

I thought came to mind. I needed to test out a theory.

‘How old are you?’ I questioned in my mind.

“I’m eight.” She said, proving my theory correct.

“How are you doing that?” I ask.

“Doing what?” She questioned back.

“Reading my mind,” I replied to her.

“I’m not reading your mind, silly. You just asked out loud.” She said, giggling.

Wow, that sound was truly amazing. It could make even the most hardened of creatures succumb to her. It was a sound I wished I could hear for the rest of my life.

I kneeled in front of her, so I was closer to her height. I was already 5’8”, and I continued to grow. My dad was nearly seven feet tall, so we all figured that I would grow up to be similar, if not taller, than him. Whereas this girl in front of me was barely over three feet. 

“Wynter.” She said again, making me stare at her once again.

“What?” I asked, confused.

“My name is Wynter. You keep calling me girl.” She replied, making me realize that she can, in fact, read my mind.

I was curious as to how much she could really do.

“Can I try something?” I asked.

She nodded her head yes in response.

“I’m going to say something in my mind, and I want you to answer me without talking.” I said.

“What do you mean?” She asked.

“I want you to focus your mind on answering my question. Almost as if you’re putting the answer in my mind.” I said.

That’s how mind links work, so it should probably be the same.

She thought about it for a while, then nodded her head. I smiled at her, then decided to think of a question.

‘What’s your full name?’ I asked in my mind.

She thought about it for a while, when suddenly I could hear her answering me. I looked at her mouth and smiled when I saw it was closed.

‘I’m not sure, actually. My adoptive parents found me abandoned outside of the blood moon pack when I was only a baby. They are the ones that took care of me. They named me Wynter Knight, as they found me during a winter storm in the middle of the night. They knew that I was strong in order to survive for so long by myself.’ She said to me in my mind.

Instinctively, I pulled her close to me. She’s gone through so much at such a young age. I used to consider myself strong, but she is far stronger than any wolf I have ever met. What she had to endure over the years is absolutely gut-wrenching. I wish there were something I could do.

I could tell she read my thoughts once more as she raised her small hand to caress my cheek. I felt myself swoon under her touch. It was truly euphoric. I knew at that moment that I was destined to be with her. I don’t know whether it was as a mate or to protect her. But I couldn’t deny this urge; I had the urge never to leave her.

Suddenly the air around us became thick. I knew someone was watching us. Instinctively, I pushed her behind me, protecting her from whoever was approaching.

To my dismay, it was non-other than my father. And he looked pissed.