Zane made his way to his rooms, fatigued from the extended periods of discussion and agreement during the course of the day. As the alpha of the prominent Silver Moon pack, he was bestowed with a tremendous amount of authority and respect. He also had numerous adversaries and rivals. He craved rest and tranquility, yet he was aware that his quarters would not provide such conveniences. He knew exactly who would be there awaiting his arrival.
The one awaiting him was Leila, the offspring of his paternal figure's close associate and partner, the alpha of the Red Fire pack. She possessed many admirable traits and qualities such as physical perfection, brilliance, and determination. However, she had several unsavory aspects, which included shrewdness, deception, and obsession. She aspired to be the Luna of the Silver Moon pack, desiring to stand by Zane's side and share his dominance and grandeur. However, nothing she attempted had been capable of captivating his interest or affection.
As he drew near to his quarters, he perceived Leila standing on the doorway's edge, sporting a snug red gown which defined her form and a dazzling smile that masqueraded her intentions. She resembled a predatory creature awaiting her kill and Zane felt a surge of resentment and revulsion.
"Greetings, Zane," she greeted him sweetly with her lashes fluttering. "I was hoping for this encounter. You are appearing extremely attractive and powerful today."
"Why are you here, Leila?" Zane inquired, his tone chilly and devoid of warmth. His intentions were to circumvent her presence and enter his chambers, as he wished to save his time and focus on other matters. He possessed no desire to indulge her in conversation.
"I wanted to converse with you, Zane. We rarely encounter each other, and I believe that should change. We share many similarities, and I feel that it would be beneficial for us to interact. Both of us are alphas, possessing immense potential and a prospective vision for our groups. We have the potential to operate seamlessly together, a powerful duo. Together, we could manifest great goals and objectives."
"Leila, I lack the time to entertain this," Zane snapped, proceeding to push past her and open the entrance to his chambers. She seized his arm, however, preventing him from moving forward.
"Please, I am pleading with you, permit me another moment," she implored, holding his gaze, her blue eyes blazing with determination.
"Wait!" Leila implored, firmly gripping his arm.
"The weather is pleasant this evening. Do not be harsh or discourteous. I am attempting to engage in friendliness. Would you accompany me for a quick stroll through the garden? This would allow you to enjoy the fresh air and unwind slightly from your previous labors. Come along, Zane. This will only take a brief duration. What damage could ensue from a casual outing?"
Zane viewed her quizzically. He was amazed by her staunchness and obliviousness to his evident refusal. He was astounded by how she continued to encourage him to spend time with her after his vehement dismissal. At the same time, he also found it difficult to believe that she assumed a walk in the garden would lead to a deeper interaction. He likewise could not understand how she conceived that he would choose her after she scorned her mate for him.
"I am declining your offer. I have no desire to walk alongside you. I possess no romantic sentiments towards you," Zane informed, firmly gripping her wrists.
"You were a fool for ignoring your intended, the one bestowed upon you by the goddess Luna. You shall never stand at my side as my mate. Do you grasp this?"
Leila's expression changed, a wide variety of sentiments passing through her gaze. Surprise, followed by hurt, then annoyance, and concluded with an attempted mask. She stepped back, loosening her grip on his forearm and allowing her emotions to be portrayed. Despite her efforts to conceal them, Zane perceived her feelings plainly. He felt a spark of mercy and sorrow, yet he swiftly discarded these feelings. He had to establish firmness and transparency with her, to bring clarity and conclusion to this predicament.
"Zane, you're lying!" Leila shouted, her expression shifting rapidly between fury and sadness. "...You believe that you're likely to meet your soulmate, right? Well, the reality is you'll likely not attain one..."
She paused, her eyes narrowing intensely."... You have the blood of a witch running in you. Witches don't possess soulmates... You won't find a partner... You're mine, Zane. You're the one that is destined for me... You're my fate."
She extended her palms to touch his features, but he quickly retreated and gazed sternly at her.
"Cease fabricating realities. You are not my soulmate," Zane said, his tone fierce and blunt.
"You do not constitute my fate. You are meaningless to me, Leila. Nothing. I'm imploring you to abandon the area immediately and never associate with me once again," he ordered forcefully.
While she stood motionless and startled, he aggressively pushed her out of his way and proceeded to barricade herself within his chambers, immediately locking it after his entry. He leaned against the doorway and took a deep breath, attempting to relax. It took great self restraint to stop himself from detaching her head from her body. He experienced numerous sentiments, consisting of animosity, relief, melancholy, and adoration. He felt like he carried out something significant and essential, yet cruel and sad also.
He dismissed his musings and proceeded to his workstation, opening his laptop. He possessed various significant tasks to accomplish. He needed to round out the report on the trade pact with the Blue Sky pack. Additionally, he was required to scrutinize the budget for the upcoming clan gala as well as establish a plan for the impending border patrol. He must complete all of these objectives, as well as other pertinent tasks, as he served as the alpha of the esteemed Silver Moon pack and ruler of the werewolf clan.
However, whilst he completed his tasks via typing and scrolling, he couldn't help but ponder if there was a soul mate awaiting him. He mused on her current location, her actions in doing so, her feelings regarding the situation. He contemplated the possibility of their encounter, whether she contemplated him, and if she was a werewolf or an ordinary human.
He closed his lids and envisioned her form, her expression, her irises. He noticed a spark of warmth in his chest region, a butterflies dancing sensation in his abdominal section, and a tingling covering his flesh.
He opened his eyes and sighed. However, understanding the necessity of realism and caution, he remained realistic, diligent, and patient. The realization and knowledge of needing to endure the situation, maintain hope, and grant trust pervaded his perception. He acknowledged the necessity of these actions, as well as accepting the idea of prolonging the waiting period, holding out hope, and believing that fate would deliver his predestined match