Kieran's wolf pounded through the forest with an unrelenting pace, his paws digging into the damp earth as he tore through the dense woods. The scent was faint but undeniable, a mix of pine, rain, and something entirely unique. It called to him, pulling him like a thread woven into his very being. His mate was close.. closer than she had ever been. His wolf surged forward, driven by instinct, while Kieran struggled to maintain control of the primal urge coursing through him.
He had sent his Beta, Declan, and several of the pack's best trackers ahead to scour the perimeter, but Kieran couldn't wait for them to return with news. The burning need to find her, to protect her, clawed at him. He'd waited long enough. The prophecy of the she-wolf... his mate had haunted his pack for years, and now, at the worst possible time, she was finally within his grasp.
With Gabriel Steele and the Bloodfang Pack growing bolder by the day, a full-scale war loomed on the horizon. The rival Alpha had been trying to carve out territory for months, pushing closer and closer to Blackwood land. Now, more than ever, Kieran needed focus. But instead, here he was, chasing the ghost of a woman he hadn't even met.
His wolf howled inside him, demanding that they move faster. The moment they'd caught the faint trace of her scent earlier that evening, something inside Kieran had snapped. It wasn't just the primal desire to claim his mate, it was the need to protect her from whatever danger lurked in the shadows. And with Gabriel lurking at the edges of his territory, that danger was all too real.
"Kieran, we're picking up traces of her scent in the northwest quadrant," Declan's voice echoed through their mental link. "She's close, but something feels off. We should regroup before moving in."
Kieran growled under his breath, his wolf straining against the command to stop. Declan was right, of course. Charging in without a plan could put her in even more danger. But patience had never been his strong suit, especially not now when every instinct screamed at him to claim what was his. He forced himself to slow down, shifting back into human form as he approached the clearing where Declan waited.
"Where is she?" Kieran's voice was a low growl as he pulled on the jeans he'd tied to his ankle before shifting. His breath came fast, his heart hammering in his chest as he scanned the dark trees around them. The moonlight illuminated the forest in silver hues, casting long shadows over the ground.
Declan stepped forward, his expression tense. "We picked up her scent stronger here, but it fades toward the town. I think she's been hiding among the humans."
Kieran stiffened. Hiding among humans? That made sense, but it also made things more complicated. He couldn't just march into town and drag her back with him, especially not if she had no idea who or what she was. His wolf growled at the thought of leaving her vulnerable among humans who wouldn't understand her, who couldn't protect her.
"She doesn't know, does she?" Kieran muttered, more to himself than to Declan. "She doesn't know what she is."
Declan nodded grimly. "It's likely. The elders always said she'd be hidden until the time was right. If she's been living among humans all this time, she probably has no idea what she's capable of or what's coming for her."
Kieran cursed under his breath. This wasn't how he imagined finding his mate. He'd always pictured it as a moment of triumph, of joy, claiming her, protecting her, ruling by her side. Instead, it felt like a race against time, with enemies closing in from every direction.
"She's not ready for this," Kieran said, pacing in front of Declan. "If Gabriel finds out who she is—"
"He won't," Declan cut him off, his tone firm. "We'll find her before anyone else does. But we need to be careful. If we approach too aggressively, we'll scare her off. She doesn't know us. She doesn't know you. She might think we're the enemy."
Kieran's chest tightened at the thought. The idea of his mate, his fated mate scared of him, running from him, was unbearable. But Declan was right. He had to approach this carefully, even if every part of him wanted to charge in and take her.
"Fine," Kieran growled. "But we move fast. I'm not letting Gabriel get anywhere near her."
Declan nodded. "Agreed. I've got a team monitoring the outskirts of town. If she leaves, we'll know."
Kieran's jaw clenched, his mind racing. He couldn't sit back and wait for fate to play out. He had to take control. "I'm going into town."
Declan raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure that's a good idea? If Gabriel's men are watching.. "
"I don't care," Kieran snapped. "I need to see her. I need to know she's real."
Declan opened his mouth to argue but closed it again, seeing the determined look in Kieran's eyes. "Fine. But take someone with you. We don't know what we're walking into."
Kieran nodded, already shifting back into his wolf form. His senses sharpened as the world became clearer in the darkness. Declan would follow soon enough, but Kieran needed to be the first to find her. His wolf surged forward, taking control as they raced toward the edge of the forest, toward the town where his mate was waiting.
*****
Back in the human world...
Freya lay on her bed, staring up at the ceiling, her mind still spinning from the events of the night. She couldn't shake the feeling that something or someone had been watching her. The strange dreams, the unsettling presence outside her house, the golden eyes that had haunted her vision as she passed out on the couch… It was all too much.
She sat up, running a hand through her hair. Maybe she was just paranoid. Maybe it was all in her head. But the heat that had surged through her body earlier, the way her skin had burned as if something deep within her was Awakening, it didn't feel like paranoia. It felt real.
Too real.
Luna pulled on her jacket and slipped outside, needing to clear her head. The cool night air hit her face, soothing the heat still lingering under her skin. She walked down the quiet street, her mind racing. For as long as she could remember, she had felt out of place in this town, like she didn't quite fit in. But she had never felt this… different. This on edge.
As she walked, she couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching her. She glanced over her shoulder, but the street behind her was empty. The night was still, the only sound the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze. But the sensation of being followed clung to her like a shadow.
Luna quickened her pace, her heartbeat thudding in her ears. She had no destination in mind.. just the need to keep moving. But as she rounded the corner into a small park at the edge of town, she froze.
Standing in the center of the park, bathed in the silver light of the moon, was a man. His back was to her, but something about him sent a shiver down her spine. He was tall, broad-shouldered, with dark hair that seemed to blend into the night itself. For a moment, Luna couldn't move. She couldn't even breathe. There was something about him, something familiar, that she couldn't explain.
Before she could think, the man turned. And when his eyes met hers, her breath caught in her throat.
Golden eyes. The same eyes from her dreams. The same eyes that had haunted her vision earlier that night.
Luna's heart raced, her legs trembling as she took a step back. The man didn't move, but his gaze locked onto hers, intense and unwavering. There was something in his eyes, something dangerous, yet inexplicably magnetic. She couldn't look away.
Her instincts screamed at her to run, but her feet stayed planted in place, frozen by the pull she felt toward him. She didn't know who he was or why he was here, but deep down, she knew one thing:
Her life was about to change forever.
And this man... this stranger with the golden eyes was at the center of it all.