Freya Carter stared at the pale moon hanging high in the sky through her bedroom window, a strange sense of unease crawling up her spine. The night air was cool, carrying the scent of pine and earth, familiar and comforting. Yet something about tonight felt different, like the air was thick with an invisible weight pressing down on her chest.
She turned away from the window, running a hand through her dark hair. She had been living in this quiet town for as long as she could remember, hiding among humans. In all those years, she'd never quite felt like she belonged, as if there was a layer of her life that she couldn't quite touch, something always just beyond her grasp. Strange dreams had plagued her sleep for weeks now, dreams of deep forests, glowing eyes, and the sensation of running faster than any human ever could.
"It's just a dream," she told herself, but the way her heart raced every time she thought about them said otherwise. The dreams felt too real. Too vivid. And the last one had left her gasping for breath, a feeling of warmth and security that vanished the moment she woke.
Freya rubbed her arms, suddenly chilled. She needed to distract herself, and cleaning usually helped clear her mind. Grabbing a rag, she began dusting the bookshelf in the living room, hoping the monotonous task would ground her.
As she worked, her thoughts drifted back to the strange feelings she'd been having lately, like an energy simmering beneath her skin. Sometimes it felt like her body was waiting for something to happen, something inevitable. It made her nervous.
Just as she was about to push the unsettling thoughts away again, a noise outside startled her. A sharp crack, like a branch snapping underfoot. Freya froze, the rag slipping from her fingers and falling to the floor. Her heartbeat quickened.
"It's just an animal,"she thought, trying to calm the sudden rush of anxiety, but her instincts were screaming at her to stay alert. Freya crept toward the window, peeking out from behind the curtain. The night was still, nothing out of place. No movement, no sign of anyone or anything lurking in the shadows. But that sense of being watched, of being hunted, was growing stronger.
She stepped back from the window, hands trembling slightly. "Get a grip, Freya," she muttered to herself. "It's probably nothing." But she knew that was a lie.
Deep down, she had always known she wasn't like the people in this town. She wasn't human, at least, not fully. She'd been told as much by her mother, years ago, before she passed away. But her mother never explained what Freya was. She'd only left her with cryptic warnings: "Hide who you are. Don't let them find you. You are not safe."
Not safe from who? Freya never got an answer before her mother died, and after that, she had tried her best to ignore the growing signs of her otherness. But now, with the strange dreams and the growing sense of danger, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was coming for her.
Just then, a sharp knock on the door made her jump. Her heart leapt into her throat, and she stared at the door, hesitant to move. It was late, too late for visitors. She hadn't been expecting anyone. Another knock, harder this time. The unease in her gut twisted into fear.
"Who is it?" she called out, her voice shaky. No response. Another knock, more insistent. Freya's hand hovered over the doorknob. Her instincts screamed for her to run, but instead, she slowly opened the door a crack, peering out into the dimly lit porch.
No one was there.
A gust of wind blew past her, causing the leaves to rustle. She stepped onto the porch, looking around for any sign of whoever or whatever that had been knocking. The street was empty, the shadows long and dark under the flickering streetlights. But as she stood there, she could feel it again, that feeling of being watched. Like eyes were trained on her from somewhere beyond the trees.
She hurried back inside, slamming the door shut and locking it. Her breath came in short, panicked bursts as she backed away from the door. Something wasn't right. Something was out there, and it was looking for her.
The air in the room grew heavy, and her vision started to blur, her body trembling. Freya pressed a hand to her forehead, feeling an intense heat suddenly radiating through her body. She stumbled to the couch, collapsing onto it as the world around her began to shift. The sounds of the night faded, replaced by the low hum of something primal, something deep within her.
She closed her eyes, trying to control the wild energy surging through her veins, but it was no use. The last thing she felt before slipping into unconsciousness was a pair of glowing golden eyes staring at her from the darkness of her mind.
*****
Meanwhile miles away, in the Blackwood Pack territory…
Kieran, Alpha of the Blackwood Pack, stood at the edge of the forest, his keen eyes scanning the horizon. The moon was nearly full, casting a silver glow over the treetops. His wolf was restless tonight, pacing inside him, itching for something he couldn't quite identify.
For weeks now, he'd felt a strange pull deep in his chest, like something or someone was calling out to him. The sensation had grown stronger each night, and now it was almost unbearable. He knew what it meant. His mate was out there, somewhere, and his wolf was determined to find her.
Kieran clenched his fists, his jaw tight with frustration. He didn't have time for this. Not now, when his pack was on the brink of war with Gabriel Steele and the rival Bloodfang Pack. The last thing he needed was to be distracted by a mate he hadn't even met.
But he couldn't deny the pull. It was stronger tonight than ever before, almost suffocating in its intensity. His wolf howled inside him, demanding that he go and find her.
"Kieran," a voice called out from behind him. He turned to see his Beta, Declan, approaching. "You feel it too, don't you?"
Kieran nodded grimly. "She's close."
Declan's expression was serious. "Do you think it's the one the elders spoke of? The mate that could shift the balance of power?"
Kieran didn't answer, but deep down, he knew it was true. The prophecy spoke of a she-wolf with the power to unite or destroy the packs. And if what he was feeling was any indication, she was the one.
"We don't have time to waste," Kieran growled, his voice low and dangerous. "Send out the scouts. We need to find her before Gabriel does."
Declan nodded and shifted into his wolf form, racing into the woods to rally the others. Kieran stayed behind, staring at the moonlit horizon. His wolf was growing more agitated by the second, but he forced himself to remain calm.
"I'm coming for you," he thought, his eyes narrowing with determination. "No one will take you from me."
*****
Back in Ashtown…
Freya woke with a start, her body drenched in sweat. Her head pounded, and her entire body felt like it was on fire. She groaned, sitting up on the couch, trying to make sense of what had just happened. The glowing eyes from her dream lingered in her mind, and her hands trembled as she clutched the fabric of the couch.
She had no idea that her life was about to change forever. And somewhere in the distance, an Alpha was already on his way to find her.