ARES' POV
The battlefield was quiet now, but the silence didn’t bring peace, it never did. The only sounds were the crackling flames from torched bodies and the occasional groan of a dying rogue.
Blood soaked my hands, my claws, the ground beneath me. My warriors stood victorious, but there was no triumph in their eyes. This wasn’t a battle won.
It was another warning.
Another message from the bastards who wanted to take everything from me.
The sharp metallic scent of blood filled my nostrils, and my wolf, Rex, growled in frustration. They ran again.
Cowards.
They never stayed long enough to finish what they started. Just long enough to keep us on edge. To make sure I was too busy to search for her.
My mate.
The thought of her was the only thing keeping me from completely losing myself to the rage. I exhaled sharply, trying to steady my breathing.
She was out there. Somewhere. Unprotected
And every second I wasted in these meaningless battles was another second she remained unprotected.
“Alpha.”
Jaxon’s voice pulled me back. I turned to face him, my Beta and closest friend. His usual cocky smirk was missing, replaced with exhaustion. His shirt was torn, soaked in blood, some his, most not.
“They retreated south,” he reported. “Again.”
Of course, they did.
I clenched my jaw, flexing my fingers to fight the frustration crawling under my skin. My wolf was restless, and so was I.
“This is the fourth attack this month,” Jaxon continued. “They aren’t trying to take territory. They’re trying to slow you down.”
I didn’t need him to tell me that. I already knew.
They knew about her.
They knew that the moment I found my mate, the curse would be broken, and I would become more powerful than ever before.
So they wanted to find her first, before I even get to know her.
I turned to Jaxon, my Beta, who had just finished wiping the blood off his hands. His dark gray eyes flickered with concern as he stepped closer. “Alpha, you need to rest. This war is meaningless if you collapse before you even find her.”
“I’m fine,” I said, voice hollow.
Jaxon sighed, crossing his arms. “Fine? You don’t sleep. You barely eat. And this,” he gestured to the battlefield, "this isn’t going to fill the emptiness inside you.”
I clenched my jaw. He wasn’t wrong, but I refused to acknowledge it.
The bond was already pulling at me, a maddening, unbearable ache. My Luna was out there, and my wolf, Rex, howled for her.
It was time.
I turned away from the battlefield and strode toward my tent. “Get everything ready,” I ordered.
Jaxon frowned. “For what?”
“I’m leaving.” I replied walking off
His eyes widened. “Ares...”
Jaxon followed, his footsteps quickening. “You’re really going through with this?”
I didn’t stop walking. “I have no choice.”
His hesitation was clear. “You’re going alone?”
“Yes.”
Jaxon exhaled sharply. “At least take me with you. You don’t have to...”
I spun around so fast he almost bumped into me. “I do have to.” My voice was low, controlled, but filled with barely restrained frustration. “I can’t go out there as an Alpha. I need to blend in. This isn’t just about finding a mate, Jaxon. It’s about protecting her. If anyone suspects who I am, she becomes a target.”
Jaxon held my gaze, then sighed, reluctantly nodding. “Understood, Alpha.”
~~~
The weight of my father’s sins had been chained to me since the day I was born.
His betrayal was the reason for my suffering.
He had been given a fated mate—a gift from the Moon Goddess herself. A bond that was supposed to be sacred, unbreakable. But he had turned his back on her. Rejected and cheated on her
And the Goddess had punished him.
Not just him. His entire bloodline.
No Alpha born from his seed would ever find their mate. They would rule alone. Die alone.
And I had felt that emptiness my entire life.
While my packmates found their mates, bonded, built families, I remained untouched by fate.
Until the prophecy.
Until I learnt that the Moon goddess had changed her mind.
She had chosen to forgive. Chosen to give me a mate. One she specifically picked herself.
A Moon Guardian.
A divine being so rare, so powerful, that even the most ruthless beings in existence sought her out. The moment the messenger delivered the prophecy, I knew. My Luna was in danger, hunted not just because she was mine, but because she was the key to something greater.
But nothing came without consequences.
The moment I learned of her, my enemies learned too.
If I didn’t find her first, I would lose her to them
I wouldn’t allow it.
No matter the cost.
~~~
SIEGE UNIVERSITY
The human world was unbearable.
I had only been here for two days, but it already felt like a lifetime. The scents were overwhelming:
gasoline, sweat, artificial perfumes. The noise was constant, the air suffocating.
But beneath all of it, I could feel her.
She was here.
Close.
I stood at the front of the lecture hall, the weight of a hundred human eyes on me. But amongst these humans, I could smell wolves. As a powerful alpha, my sense of smell is ten times sharper than that of normal wolves and alpha. They whispered among themselves, curious, excited. Some of them were even attracted to me.
Pathetic humans. So easy to impress
I barely glanced at them as I adjusted my sleeves, rolling them up to my forearms. The role of a lecturer was beneath me, but it was necessary. If my mate was among these students, I needed a way to observe her. I look down at my fake name on the document in my hand; Rex Lutz. That's the name I will be using in the human world, to avoid any suspicion.
I inhaled deeply, searching for her scent.
Nothing.
A flicker of frustration burned in my chest, but I forced myself to remain calm.
She was here.
I just had to be patient.
Then the door swung open.
And my world stopped.
The bond slammed into me like a blade to the chest, raw and undeniable. My heart pounded so violently I thought it might break through my ribs.
This was it.
This was her.
I turned sharply, breath catching—
And my entire body went rigid.
A boy stood in the doorway.
Jet-black hair hair, a cocky smirk, eyes filled with mischief. He walked in with the kind of confidence, like he wasn't scared of anyone
My mate.
No.
No, that wasn’t possible.
I had waited my entire life for this bond. I had dreamed of it. Begged for it.
And this was what the Moon Goddess had given me?
A boy?
I stood frozen, watching as the boy strolled into the room. He stare at back at me blankly
He wasn’t reacting.
If he were truly my mate, wouldn’t he have felt something too? Wouldn’t he have felt the bond?
But, there's no way my mate could be a boy.
I had never felt somet
hing like this before. A pull so strong it threatened to consume me.
But it had to be a mistake.
Because my mate wasn’t a boy.
Which meant only one thing.
My mate wasn't him.
NOAH'S POV The moment Professor Ares walked out of the hall, something in me urged to follow him. I had no idea why, maybe it was the way he had looked at me, like he was trying to see through me. Or maybe it was the intense aura around him I hesitated, gripping my backpack strap. What was wrong with me? He was just a professor, a ridiculously good-looking, intense, and way too smart professor. Then why did I feel hot air on my skin every time he looked at me? I shook the thought away, trying to ground myself, but my focus shattered when a bright, chirpy voice interrupted. "Hi! I'm Penelope, but you can call me Penny! And you must be Noah, right?" I turned to see a petite girl with bright eyes and a contagious smile, standing far too close for comfort. I hesitated, adjusting my voice to maintain a deep, masculine tone. "Yeah… that’s me. Nice to meet you." Penny beamed. "I knew it! New face, clueless expression, classic signs of a newbie. I know what you must be thinking, ‘Oh,
NOAH’S POVThe morning sun stretched lazily across the sky, casting golden streaks over Siege University’s vast campus. Students milled about, lost in their own worlds, laughter and conversations blending into a distant hum.Penny and Nathan walked on either side of me, their energy contagious. It had been a few days since I’d met them, and strangely, I felt comfortable with them. Too comfortable, maybe.Penny crunched on a chip, her green eyes twinkling mischievously. “So, tell me, pretty boy, what’s the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to you?”I arched a brow. “What?”She grinned. “Come on, spill. Everyone has one.”Nathan snorted. “She just wants material to tease you with. What a sneaky witch."“Not really, but that would be fun” Penny winked.I licked my chocolate lollipop, making a pop sound. “Sorry to disappoint, but I’m flawless. No embarrassing moments here.”Penny gasped dramatically. “Liar! That’s impossible. I demand a story.”“Nope.”“Please?”“No.”“Just a t
ARES’ POVThe night was cold, the air crisp as I walked through the empty halls, my mind tangled in thoughts I couldn't seem to unravel. The weight of responsibility pressed down on me, the expectations of an entire pack resting on my shoulders like an iron shackle.Then, I heard it.A muffled cry. A whimper.I froze, my entire body going rigid. My sharp ears picked up the faint, trembling sound, my instincts sharpening like a blade. The scent of distress, fear, and something else–something that made my wolf snarl, hung in the air.Someone was in trouble.Following the sound, I moved swiftly, silent as a predator, until I reached the dimly lit corridor leading to the restroom. That’s when I heard them.Laughter. Cruel. Mocking."Pathetic human.""Stealing all the attention.""Can you believe my mate is even crushing on him too?"A low growl rumbled in my chest, my wolf stirring violently beneath my skin.Wolves.I didn’t need to see them to know what kind of cowards stood on the other
LUCAS’ POVI sat in the dimly lit living room, fingers pressed against my temples as Gavin paced in front of me, his expression tense."You won't believe who I saw today," he said, raking a hand through his hair. "Alpha Ares. At Noah’s school."My stomach clenched at the mention of that name. Alpha Ares Luther. The strongest Alpha of our time, the one cursed by fate, the one who is feared and respected by wolves and Alphas alike."What was he doing there?" I asked, though I already knew the answer. He's obviously looking for his mate."He’s a lecturer," Gavin said. "Lucas, we can’t keep running. Maybe it’s time we let Ares know about Noah. He’s her mate. He can protect her better than we can. And he's already close to her, it's only a matter of time before he realizes the truth."I shot up from my chair, my wolf growling inside me. "No," I said firmly. "We move again. We leave before he figures it out."Gavin groaned in frustration. "Lucas, listen to yourself! We can’t keep uprooting
NOAH’S POVThe moment I stepped into the lecture hall, all heads turned my way. I instantly regretted being late. Finding a cab wasn't easy.A woman stood at the front of the class, arms crossed, an eyebrow raised as she met my gaze. Her stern eyes assessed me, and I knew what was coming."Mr. Leister, you are late," she said, her tone carrying the weight of authority.The logical part of me told me to apologize and take my seat, but where was the fun in that? A mischievous grin tugged at my lips as an idea sparked in my head like firecrackers."You must be a new lecturer," I mused, tilting my head in feigned confusion.The corners of her lips twitched slightly. "What do you mean? Is there something I wasn't informed about you?" she questioned, trying to figure me out."Not exactly," I replied smoothly. "It’s just… I’m quite familiar with all my lecturers, and I don’t recall knowing anyone this hot."I threw in a wink for good measure.A faint blush dusted her cheeks as she shifted aw
NOAH'S POVProfessor Rex led me out of the school like he owned the place, walking with his usual confidence and not bothering to explain where we were going. I had to practically jog to keep up with his long strides."You know, for someone who just saved me from a disciplinary hearing, you could at least tell me where we’re headed," I grumbled, trying not to sound out of breath."You’ll see soon enough," he replied without sparing me a glance.I rolled my eyes. "Mysterious and broody. Got it."We stepped out into the parking lot, and I barely had time to register the sleek black sports car parked at the entrance before he unlocked it with a press of a button.I blinked. "Wait… this is yours?"He gave me a sideways glance before getting in. "No, I stole it."I scoffed, opening the passenger door. "You’re hilarious, Professor."The interior smelled like expensive leather and something distinctly him;cold, fresh, and something dangerously addictive. As we pulled onto the road, silence s
NOAH'S POVBy the time we returned to the restaurant, I was still burning with embarrassment. Professor Rex had single-handedly humiliated me in the most outrageous way possible. The way he smirked at me, the way his golden-amber eyes held nothing but pure amusement, it pissed me off.I needed to reclaim my pride.As we stepped back inside, my eyes landed on a waitress walking past our table. She was pretty; long wavy brown hair, soft hazel eyes, and a charming smile that grew even wider when she met my gaze.Perfect.Prof. Rex sat down, completely unfazed as if nothing had happened. But I wasn’t going to let him win this round.With a confident smirk, I called the waitress over. "Hey there, Gorgeous. What's your name?"She blinked in surprise before giggling. "Lily.""Lily," I repeated, letting her name roll off my tongue. "You know, I couldn’t help but notice how your beauty outshines the chandeliers in this place."Her cheeks flushed. "Oh, wow. That’s… charming."I leaned forward,
ARES' POVThe moment I stepped into the castle, I felt like I was walking through fire.Every muscle in my body was tight with tension, my golden eyes bloodshot from the torment surging through me. My breathing was heavy, controlled,but barely. Each step I took downstairs the grand hallway felt heavier than the last. My vision blurred slightly, but I ignored it, masking my pain as I strode past my subjects, my usual intimidating aura keeping them from questioning my state."Welcome back, Alpha" they greeted, I just replied with a gentle nod I had been restless since the beginning of the day, my wolf pacing with an unsettling urgency. A low growl had been rumbling in my chest all day, my patience running dangerously thin.And yet, when I was with Noah, it only got worse. That was why I couldn’t bring myself to ride with him. I was afraid I might lose control in front of him. I barely managed to hold my self together throughout the dinner. I needed a distraction, which is why I initia
NOAH'S POVThe warehouse stood in eerie silence before us, its rusted exterior blending into the surrounding darkness. The air was thick with tension, just like the when we came that day. Every nerve in my body on high alert. Professor Rex and I had come prepared, tools in hand, ready to force our way inside if necessary.But as professor Rex reached for the door, it swung open without resistance.I froze.It wasn’t locked. But it was before.He turned to me, his amber eyes narrowing. “ something is not right.”A cold shiver ran down my spine. They knew we were coming.He pushed the door open, stepping in first, his movements cautious yet firm. I followed closely, my heart pounding in my chest. The inside was dark, save for the faint glow of the moon filtering through the broken windows.But the moment we stepped inside, dread settled deep in my stomach.The place was empty. Completely abandoned. Like whatever. Or whoever, had been here had vanished just before we arrived.Professor
NOAH'S POV "Run, Noah. Run. Don’t look back."The voice in my head was urgent, desperate. I didn’t recognize it, but I obeyed without question.I ran.My legs moved before I could think, my breath coming in ragged gasps as I pushed forward. The forest was endless, the thick trees casting ominous shadows beneath the pale glow of the moon. My lungs burned, my legs ached, my heart pounded like a drum inside my chest, but I didn’t dare stop.Not with the thundering sound of paws chasing behind me.They were hunting me.But why?A sharp gust of wind howled through the trees, carrying with it a deep, guttural growl that sent chills down my spine. My pulse roared in my ears. They were close. Too close.Branches snapped beneath my feet as I dodged between towering trunks, trying to escape. Panic clawed at my chest, threatening to choke me. I didn't know where I was running to, just that I had to get away.Then, silence.The heavy footsteps behind me stopped.I staggered to a halt, gasping fo
NOAH'S POV "Run, Noah. Run. Don’t look back."The voice in my head was urgent, desperate. I didn’t recognize it, but I obeyed without question.I ran.My legs moved before I could think, my breath coming in ragged gasps as I pushed forward. The forest was endless, the thick trees casting ominous shadows beneath the pale glow of the moon. My lungs burned, my legs ached, my heart pounded like a drum inside my chest, but I didn’t dare stop.Not with the thundering sound of paws chasing behind me.They were hunting me.But why?A sharp gust of wind howled through the trees, carrying with it a deep, guttural growl that sent chills down my spine. My pulse roared in my ears. They were close. Too close.Branches snapped beneath my feet as I dodged between towering trunks, trying to escape. Panic clawed at my chest, threatening to choke me. I didn't know where I was running to, just that I had to get away.Then, silence.The heavy footsteps behind me stopped.I staggered to a halt, gasping fo
NOAH'S POV My heart still pounded from my encounter with Rex, but my eyes locked onto the desk. The document I had glimpsed wasn’t just some research paper, it was the investigation.And professor Rex had made progress."It seems you've made progress with the investigation," I murmured, my fingers ghosting over the pages.Scattered across the desk were notes, maps, and timestamps, every single detail meticulously recorded. Red circles marked specific locations, but one in particular was heavily underlined.He had found a lead.Behind me, I heard him sigh. When I turned, I caught him running a hand through his dark brown hair, the tension in his shoulders easing ever so slightly."Yes. I finally have a lead," he admitted, his deep voice calmer than before. There was relief there, like a weight had been lifted off his chest. "I plan to check it out tonight."I blinked. Tonight?Something in my chest tightened at the thought of him going alone to haunt those beast."Then I’m coming with
My eyes fluttered open to an unfamiliar ceiling. A slow, sinking feeling spread through my chest as I blinked, trying to adjust to my surroundings. The air smelled different, a mixture of mint and snow, something subtly cold. Not my room. Not anywhere I recognized.My heart picked up speed as I slowly sat up, scanning the dimly lit room.My stomach twisted as flashes of last night returned. The growl. The footprints. Then the beast.My breath hitched. I had seen it. Its massive form, those glowing, hungry eyes, like it wanted to devour me. I remembered the moment it attacked, the pain before I blacked out.But how am I alive?Instinctively, I touched my arms, my stomach, my legs, searching for wounds, for pain, for anything. But there was nothing. No scratches, no bruises, not even a dull ache.Was I dead?My heart pounded as the thought settled in. Maybe I had died in those woods. Maybe my body was lying somewhere, torn apart, and my brothers were out there searching for me.Will I r
ARES’ POVI pushed the door open with my foot, stepping into the guestroom with Noah still unconscious in my arms. The room was dimly lit, the faint glow from the bedside lamp casting soft shadows on the walls. I walked to the bed and carefully placed him down.For a moment, I just stood there, staring at him. Like I was trying to unravel him.Something about him was… off. I can feel it in my gutsI’ve met thousands of people in my life, humans and wolves alike. I could read people easily. Tell who they were, what they wanted, their strengths, their weaknesses. But Noah?He was like an unsolved mystery.And I hated unsolved mysteries.There was no reason why a regular human, should have heard that growl. No reason why the beast didn’t devour him. And more importantly, no reason why I was this disturbed by him.I clenched my jaw.I will find out what you are, Noah Leister.Turning away, I grabbed his phone from my pocket. I scrolled through his contacts and found Penny and Nathan. With
UNKNOWN POVThe dim glow of fluorescent lights flickered across the sterile white walls of the laboratory. A constant hum of machines filled the air, blending with the bubbling of chemicals inside glass tubes. The faint scent of blood and burnt flesh clung to the air. Scents I had long since grown accustomed to.I stepped inside, my boots clicking against the tiled floor, and the moment my presence registered, everyone in the lab halted their work and bowed in respect.As they should.These fools owe their existence to me.My gaze swept across the lab, rows of containment chambers filled with restrained test subjects. Some twitched violently, their bodies still adjusting to the transformation, while others lay unnaturally still.I turned to the head scientist, my voice cold and demanding. “How are the experiments progressing? Are there still bad outcomes?”The man, a middle-aged researcher with wrinkled eyes, straightened his lab coat before answering. “The process is stabilizing. The
ARES' POVThe night was alive, the scent of the forest filling my nostrils as I ran. My paws barely touched the ground as I chased the silver-furred she-wolf through the thick woods. She was fast, too fast. Every time I closed the distance, she would surge ahead again, her movements fluid, teasing, tempting.A deep, satisfied growl rumbled from my chest. I liked this game.She glanced back at me, her silver-grey eyes glinting with amusement under the moonlight before she sped up. Damn, she was breathtaking. I pushed harder, muscles burning, and finally, I caught her. My teeth gently grasped her fur, and she let out a soft whimper before going still beneath me. My heart thundered in my chest. We stayed like that, breathing hard, our warmth mingling in the cold night air.Then, suddenly, she pulled away.I let her go, watching as she turned, her silver tail swaying as she walked away.Wait.I shifted back into my human form, standing tall in the clearing, waiting for her to do the same
NOAH'S POVNathan and I walked side by side through the bustling hallway, our steps in sync as we approached our lockers. The usual hum of students filled the air—laughter, hurried conversations, the occasional locker slamming shut. But my mind was elsewhere.I was still mentally replaying last night’s disaster. Cooking had seemed like a solid plan at the time. But standing in a kitchen filled with smoke, Lucas screaming my name like I had personally betrayed him, and Gavin laughing so hard he nearly choked? Yeah. Not my finest moment. And worst of all, I didn't even got what I wanted.I sighed. “You know, in theory, cooking is just mixing ingredients and heating them up. Why is it so hard like rocket science?”Nathan chuckled beside me. “Because if you don’t know what you’re doing. You shouldn't have gone into that kitchen in the first place ”Before I could respond, a student rushed past, shoulder-bumping me hard enough to throw me off balance. I barely had time to register the impa