Three

Zaid awoke from his slumber, the comforting darkness of his room barely disturbed by the faint glow of the moon filtering through the curtains. He blinked, his sharp eyes catching sight of a hazy, naked figure standing at the edge of his bed. He tensed instantly, his body on high alert, but as his vision cleared, he realised who it was. Edna- his Gamma's sister.

He growled low in his throat, the sound reverberating through the room. "What are you doing here, Edna?" His tone was dangerous, edged with irritation. "And why are you undressed in my quarters?"

Edna only smirked, her eyes smoldering as she took a step closer, her hips saying suggestively. "I came to see you, Alpha," she purred, her fingers reaching out to trace the edge of his blanket. "I thought you might need some. . . company." She leaned in, her lips parted, her fingers wandering across his arm.

For a fleeting moment, Zaid felt a faint shot of desire his wolf responding to the scent of the willing female before him. But it vanished just as quickly as it had come, overtaken by the cold logic that always ruled him. With a huff, he flicked her hand away, his expression hardening.

"Enough." He said, his voice commanding. "Leave."

Edna pouted, he gaze narrowing slightly, a mixture of hurt and confusion crossing her features. "Why do you keep refusing me, Alpha?" She asked, her voice dipping into a whine. "I could make you feel so good. . . "

Zaid didn't deign to respond, his face impassive as he held her gaze with cold authority. "Out." He ordered, his eyes darkening.

Edna's lips twitched with frustration but she knew better than to defy her Alpha when his eyes held that particular deadly gleam. She reached for her robe with a frown, wrapping it around her body hastily, her pride stung before she turned and hurried out, her cheeks flushed with shame.

As the door clicked shut behind her Zaid shook his head. He ran a hand through his tousled hair, his eyes shifting to the window. The room was bathed in the pale silvery glow of the moon.

His mind briefly turned to the approaching Red Moon- a time when unmated wolves in every pack waited eagerly for the moon to reveal their destined mates. His lips curled in derision. He'd been waiting his 'mate' for the past 200 years, to no avail. Two centuries of endless waiting for what did not exist. He'd long given up on finding her, and he knew this year's Red Moon would come and go like all the others.

Perhaps the Moon Goddess didn't deign to give a hopeless monster like him a mate, which was absolutely understandable. He pushed the thought away from his mind and rose.

He had work to do, a pack to run and all that. There was no time to worry about unexisiting mates.

~~~~

The Moonbeam Pack was in a frenzy of preparations, their spirits high as the Red Moon festival drew closer. Laughter echoed through the village, and the scent of freshly baked bread and roasting meat filled the air. Bright decorations adorned the pack house, and everyone was eager for the celebration.

Yasmin, however, had been working ten times as hard as anyone else, her body aching from the long hours and heavy chores. She scrubbed floors until her hands were raw, carried heavy baskets until her arms felt like they would fall off, and kept her head down through it all. Thankfully, with everyone’s minds focused on the festivities, her usual tormentors seemed to have forgotten about her. The brief reprieve allowed her to heal in peace, the bruises on her skin slowly fading. Her empty stomach gnawed at her, but that hunger had become a familiar companion, one she had learned to endure without complaint.

After she was done cleaning the pack's massive hall—scrubbing until her fingers ached and her back protested—she was finally given a moment of respite. One of the kitchen hands, a gruff older wolf, informed her she was to report to the pack farm in an hour. It was the only time she’d get to herself, and she was determined to make the most of it.

Yasmin slipped away, her bare feet moving silently over the packed dirt path. She knew a shortcut, a small, hidden trail that led deep into the woods. It was a path she had discovered when she was a child, a place where she could be alone, away from the prying eyes and cruel words. The narrow trail wound through the thick trees, the sunlight filtering through the leaves in dappled patches. Eventually, she reached her destination—a small stream, crystal clear, that ran gently over smooth stones.

Yasmin glanced around, ensuring no one was nearby, before she quickly undressed. She let her clothes drop to the grassy bank, the worn fabric pooling at her feet. The cool air brushed against her bare skin, and she stepped into the stream, sighing in relief as the cold water closed around her aching muscles. She sank down, the water lapping at her shoulders, and let herself relax. The sounds of the forest surrounded her—the chirping of birds, the rustling of leaves, the gentle trickle of water.

She closed her eyes, letting the sun warm her face, her fingers trailing through the water. For a moment, she allowed herself to forget everything—her duties, the endless work, the cruel laughter. Here, she was free.

But the sound of rustling leaves pulled her out of her peaceful thoughts, and her eyes snapped open, her heart jumping in her chest. She turned, too late to react, as two unfamiliar men appeared, their uniforms marking them as guards from another pack. They were talking and laughing among themselves, but when they saw her, they stopped.

“Well, what do we have here?” one of them said, a grin spreading across his face.

Yasmin’s breath caught in her throat, panic flooding her veins. She scrambled to her feet, the water splashing around her as she rushed to the bank. She fumbled for her clothes, her fingers trembling, but the men moved too quickly. One of them grabbed her arm, yanking her back.

“Where are you going, sweetheart?” he mocked, his grip tightening painfully.

The other guard moved closer, his eyes raking over her. “No need to be shy,” he said, his voice dripping with amusement. They exchanged a look, their smiles sickly, and Yasmin’s heart pounded in terror.

“Please, let me go,” she begged, struggling against the man’s hold, but he only laughed, his fingers digging into her bare skin.

“Why so shy?” he taunted, his other hand reaching out to touch her, his fingers brushing against her. Yasmin’s stomach churned, and she screamed, her voice echoing through the trees. She fought, kicking and thrashing, but they were too strong, their laughter drowning out her cries.

“Help! Somebody, please!” she screamed again, her voice cracking with desperation.

Suddenly, a voice cut through the chaos. “Hey, let her go!”

The guards paused, their heads snapping up, and Yasmin turned, her eyes widening in relief. Ian stood at the edge of the clearing, his jaw clenched, his eyes a bit flinty. For a moment, there was silence, and then the guards let go of Yasmin, their hands dropping away.

“Come on, Ian,” one of them said, a smirk playing at his lips. “We were just having a bit of fun.”

Ian’s voice was like steel, though he forced a smile. “We should head back. Troy's bringing out his girl's booze. You don't wanna miss it”

The guards exchanged a look, their smirks fading. One of them muttered something under his breath, but they turned and walked away, their footsteps fading into the forest.

Yasmin’s knees gave out, and she dropped to the ground, her hands trembling as she pulled her dress over her head, her fingers fumbling with the fabric. Her cheeks burned with shame, her eyes stinging with tears she refused to let fall.

Ian stepped closer, his gaze softening as he looked at her. “Are you alright?” he asked, his voice gentle.

Yasmin nodded, her throat too tight to speak. She kept her head down, her cheeks flushed, unable to meet his eyes. She felt his gaze linger on her for a moment, and then he sighed.

“You need to be more careful, Yasmin,” he said, his voice carrying a hint of frustration. “These woods aren’t safe, especially for someone like you.”

She nodded again, her face still burning, and managed to whisper, “Thank you.”

Ian hesitated, as if he wanted to say more, but then he simply nodded. “Take care of yourself,” he said, and then he turned and walked away, his figure disappearing into the trees.

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