Elara's Point of View
The forest was quiet tonight—too quiet.
Only the chirping of crickets echoed between the trees, broken by the faint sound of footsteps running over damp earth. My lungs burned, my heart ached, but I couldn't stop. I needed to see him.
My best friend.
My mate.
My everything.
I clutched the thin silver chain around my neck—the one Liam had given me when we were twelve. "Best friends forever," he had said back then, grinning that dimpled grin that used to make my heart skip. We had promised to stand by each other no matter what, even when the Moon Goddess herself interfered.
But the boy who once held my hand through storms had turned into someone I barely recognized.
When the truth revealed itself—that Liam Blackthorn, the future Alpha of the Redstone Pack, was my fated mate—I thought the goddess had blessed me twice. My heart had never been fuller.
Until tonight.
I found him at the edge of the training field, moonlight painting his face silver. He stood tall, his back facing me, his scent—pine and steel—filling the air. A woman stood near him, her laughter cutting through the night.
Serena. A visiting warrior. Gorgeous, confident… not me.
"Liam," I whispered, stepping closer. "We need to talk."
He turned, his expression unreadable. For a moment, the old Liam flickered in his eyes—the one who used to steal berries from my basket, who wiped my tears when I scraped my knees. But it was gone as quickly as it came.
"Elara," he said flatly. "You shouldn't be here."
My heart twisted. "Why? You've been avoiding me for days. The bond—" My voice cracked. "You feel it too, don't you?"
He exhaled sharply, rubbing the back of his neck. "I do," he admitted, "and that's the problem."
"What?" I blinked, not understanding.
He met my gaze, cold and detached. "I don't want it."
The words hit me like claws to the chest.
"What do you mean?" I whispered.
"I mean, I don't want you as my mate, Elara." His tone was calm, cruel in its simplicity. "You're my best friend, and I care about you, but being bound for life to one person… it's suffocating. I need freedom. Thrill. I'm not ready to live like some old married wolf."
Tears stung my eyes. "So this is about other women?" I choked. "You want to play around while I sit and wait for you?"
He sighed. "Don't make this harder than it needs to be. You deserve someone who can give you… stability. I can't."
I stumbled back, the ground spinning. My wolf howled inside, clawing at my chest, Mate. Don't let him do this.
"Liam," I whispered brokenly, "you promised—"
"Promises made as kids don't bind us forever," he cut me off, voice hard. "Elara Grey, I, Liam Blackthorn, reject you as my mate."
The words snapped something inside me.
My knees hit the ground. A searing pain ripped through my body like fire, the rejection slicing the invisible bond between us. I gasped, clutching my heart, tears falling freely.
"Liam…" I croaked, reaching out, but he stepped back.
"I'm sorry," he said softly, turning away. "It's better this way."
I watched his back disappear into the night, taking with him every piece of me that mattered.
---
Later That Night
The packhouse was silent. Everyone was asleep, unaware that their Beta's daughter had just lost her soul. I packed a small bag—some clothes, a little cash, and the photo of Liam and me from our first hunt together.
I wrote a letter, my hand trembling.
To Dad,Mom and Brother,
I'm leaving for a while. Please don't worry. I need time to heal after what happened tonight. Don't come looking for me. I'll reach out when I'm ready.
Love, Elara.
I placed the letter on my bed, grabbed my bag, and walked out the door.
The night air was cold, but I barely felt it. Every step away from the Redstone territory felt like tearing a piece of my heart out, but I kept going.
The moon watched me silently as I crossed the border.
I was no longer Elara Grey, Beta's daughter.
I was no one.
---
Chapter 2: The Edge of Collapse
Elara's Point of View
Three days.
No food. No rest. Only the sound of my heartbeat and the whisper of my wolf, Keep going… please… keep going.
But my legs finally gave out.
When I collapsed, I barely registered the scent of strange wolves closing in—strong, unfamiliar, but not threatening. A pair of arms caught me before my head hit the ground.
"She's alive," a deep voice said. "Get her to the hospital. Now."
The world went black.
---
When I woke, sunlight filtered through white curtains. I was lying in a clean bed, an IV attached to my arm. The faint scent of antiseptic and wolves filled the room. Two people stood nearby—a man and a woman, both kind-eyed.
"I'm Beta Kael," the man said, offering a reassuring smile. "And this is my mate, Mira. You're safe now, Miss…"
"Elara," I murmured weakly. "Just Elara."
Mira placed a hand on my shoulder. "You're in the Crescent Moon Pack. You were found near our border, half-conscious."
I nodded, struggling to sit up. "Thank you… for helping me."
Kael studied me carefully, eyes narrowing slightly. "You have the aura of a Beta-born. Trained. But you're not from around here."
I stiffened. "No. I… left my pack."
"Do you need us to send a message to them?" he asked gently.
"No!" I said too quickly. My wolf whimpered at the thought. "I just… need a place to stay. For a while."
The couple exchanged a look. Something in my voice, maybe the raw pain, softened their suspicion.
"You'll need Alpha Nolan's approval," Kael said finally. "He doesn't usually take in outsiders, but…" He glanced at his mate. "We'll talk to him."
---
Chapter 3: The Alpha's Scent
Elara's Point of View
I didn't know what to expect when I entered the Alpha's office.
The scent hit me first—deep forest rain, power, and warmth. My breath caught. My wolf stirred violently.
Before I could knock, the door opened slightly. The man inside looked up.
Dark hair. Amber eyes that glowed faintly gold. A presence so commanding that the air around him shifted.
Alpha Nolan Knightrider.
For a second, the world tilted.
And then… I felt it. That unmistakable pull.
Mate.
My wolf howled in disbelief.
No… no, not again!
But my body betrayed me. My feet moved on their own. The next thing I knew, he was standing in front of me, staring with wide eyes. And before I could think, he closed the distance and wrapped his arms around me, burying his face in my neck.
The warmth of his touch melted every wall I had built.
The sparks, the electric pulse of the bond—it was overwhelming.
Then suddenly, he froze.
He pulled back, breathing hard, eyes wide in shock. "I—I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me."
"It's the bond," I whispered.
His eyes searched mine. "You know what this means, then."
I nodded weakly, tears threatening to fall. "Yes."
But this time, I wasn't that naive girl anymore. I wouldn't give my heart away so easily.
"I'm just looking for a place to stay," I said quickly, lowering my gaze. "I can work for it."
He hesitated, then nodded slowly. "Fine. You can stay as the pack's nanny. The pups' quarters are near my office." His tone softened. "I'll… keep an eye on you."
His words sent an unfamiliar warmth through me, but I quickly suppressed it. I wasn't ready to trust another Alpha—no matter how kind his eyes looked.
As I left his office, I could feel his gaze lingering on me.
And deep inside, something dangerous stirred again—the possibility of healing.