EMILY'S POV
Darkness.Everywhere I turn, there's only the sound of my own heartbeat echoing like a drum. Then, the wind shifts — and I smell it. That same musky scent that's haunted my dreams for months now… rich, wild, intoxicating.
I'm standing in the middle of the forest again, the moon shining so bright it turns the trees silver. My breath catches when I see glowing eyes staring at me from the shadows. Yellow. Piercing. Wild.
"Who are you?" I whisper, my voice trembling.
The eyes move closer, slow and steady, until I see the massive wolf step into the light — black as midnight, fur glistening under the moonlight. His gaze burns into mine, and for a second, I feel… safe? No, it's more than that — it's like he's calling to me.
I take a step forward, heart pounding. He doesn't growl, doesn't move away. He just stands there, watching me like I belong to him.
And then, in a blink, he's gone — replaced by a man.
Tall. Broad shoulders. Sharp jawline. Dark hair that looks like it could swallow the moonlight. And those same yellow eyes…
My lips part to say something, but before I can, he's already standing in front of me. So close that I can feel his breath on my skin.
"You shouldn't be here," he murmurs, voice deep and rough like thunder.
"I— I don't know where 'here' is," I whisper back. "Who are you?"
His hand brushes my cheek — and I swear sparks run through my entire body. I gasp, but I don't pull away.
"You'll know soon enough, mate."
And before I can even react, his lips brush against my forehead — then everything goes black.
I wake up with a sharp gasp, clutching my sheets. My heart is beating like I just ran a marathon. I glance at the clock — 3:00 a.m. Grandma's house is silent except for the ticking of the wall clock and the crackling fire downstairs.
"It was just a dream," I whisper to myself. "Just a dream…"
But deep down, I know that's a lie. It felt too real.
Still shaking, I step out of bed and walk to the window. The moon hangs high in the sky, and for a second — I swear I see glowing eyes staring back at me from the woods behind Grandma's house.
---
TYLER'S POV
The same dream. Again.
Only this time, I wasn't the one approaching her — she came closer. She reached for me. And I could feel her — her warmth, her scent, her heartbeat. My mate.
I sit up on the bed, drenched in sweat, my wolf restless beneath my skin. "Calm down," I mutter, gripping the edge of the bed. But he growls low in my head, refusing to settle.
"She's close," he snarls.
"What do you mean close?" I ask him silently, rubbing my temples.
"I can smell her. Her fear… her confusion… she's here."
I freeze.
That's not possible.
Could she really be in this same village?
I grab my jacket, storming out of the motel room. Mason is already half-asleep when I bang on his door. "What the hell, Tyler? It's 3 a.m.!" he grumbles.
"She's here," I say simply.
That wakes him up. "You mean—?"
"My mate," I finish. "She's in this village."
Mason blinks. "You sure?"
I inhale deeply — and that scent hits me again. Sweet, soft, pure. Just like in the forest. My wolf growls approvingly.
"Yes. I'm sure."
---
EMILY'S POV
By morning, I try to shake off the dream. Grandma makes breakfast — her usual pancakes and honey tea — but even that doesn't fully calm me. The feeling of being watched hasn't left.
"Grandma, has anyone new come to the village lately?" I ask casually.
She hums. "Hmm, I think two young men arrived yesterday. They're staying at the old motel near the main road. Why do you ask?"
I pause, my spoon hovering in mid-air. "No reason," I lie quickly, forcing a smile.
But my heart?
It's racing again.
---
TYLER'S POV
We stand at the edge of the forest, watching the village wake up. Smoke rises from a chimney at the far end — and that's where the scent is strongest.
"She's there," I whisper, eyes narrowing toward a small wooden house surrounded by trees.
Mason glances at me. "What are you gonna do?"
I clench my fists. "Nothing. Not yet. If I show up now, I could scare her. She doesn't even know what I am."
Mason nods slowly. "So you'll wait?"
"For now," I reply, though my wolf is howling inside, begging me to run straight to her.
Because whether she knows it or not…
She belongs to me.