Daniella's POV
I woke up to the sight of Alpha's green eyes staring at me, filled with worry. My head felt heavy, my thoughts muddled. Where was I? What had happened? Then it hit me, the fire, the smoke, the balcony we were rushing to for air. But most of all, the memory that refused to make sense, Alpha transforming into a massive black wolf right before my eyes.
My heart raced as I sat up abruptly, blurting out, "Holy shit!"
Alpha flinched at my reaction, raising his hands in a calming gesture. "Daniella, calm down," he said softly.
I shook my head, my voice spilling out in a flurry of panic. "Where is the wolf? Was the wolf you? Are you… really a wolf? What the hell happened? Why are we back here in bed? And the fire what about the fire?"
"Ella, please," Alpha said gently but firmly. "Take a breath. I'll explain everything, but first, calm down."
His voice had the usual soothing effect on me, but my mind was far from calm. As I glanced around the room, I noticed his suit, the one he had worn earlier lying shredded on the floor. He was now in a simple t-shirt and sweatpants, the kind he usually wore to bed. My pulse quickened as he reached out to take my hand, but I instinctively pulled away, scooting back as far as I could.
I couldn't help it. The image of that black wolf his claws, his glowing eyes flashed in my mind. "You might not hurt me, but that wolf how do I know it won't?" I stammered, shaking my head as if to clear the nightmare away.
Alpha stopped in his tracks, not moving closer. His expression softened, and his voice was quiet but resolute. "Ella, I would never hurt you. And neither would Lexy."
"Lexy?" I blinked, confused. "You're telling me that wolf has a name?"
He nodded solemnly. "Yes. Lexy is my wolf. We're two parts of the same soul. When you saw him earlier, it wasn't magic or a trick. It was real. I'm a werewolf, Daniella. And Lexy is… well, he's me. "
I stared at him, my mind spinning. The words sounded ridiculous, but the memories of what I'd seen were undeniable. "So, let me get this straight, you allowed that wolf to appear?"
"Yes," Alpha said, his voice steady. "I let him surface. But I'm still in control. Lexy only appears when I allow it."
Before I could respond, I noticed something off. We were back in our room, not on the balcony where I last remembered being. The smoke was gone, and the room was calm, the lights softly glowing. "Wait," I said, frowning. "Why are we still here? What happened to the fire?"
Alpha relaxed slightly "After I shifted in front of you , you passed out, the sprinklers in the hallway went off. The fire was contained before it could spread. Shortly after, the lights came back on, and there was an announcement over the intercom telling everyone to stay in their rooms until security cleared the area. I carried you back to bed, and I've been waiting for you to wake up."
I blinked, processing his words. It all sounded plausible, but the part about him transforming into a wolf still left me reeling. "So… the fire's under control, and that explains why we're here," I said slowly, my voice still shaking. "But that doesn't explain you."
Alpha tilted his head, watching me closely. "I know it's a lot to take in. Let me explain everything from the beginning. Just… hear me out because I remembered who i am now. "
I hesitated, still wary, but nodded. "Fine. Go ahead."
Alpha looked at me with an intensity that made my breath catch. His green eyes were so earnest, it was impossible to look away.
"My name is Dominic," he began, his voice quiet but firm. "I'm the next Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack. On my 21st birthday, I shifted into my wolf for the first time. That's why Lexy appeared , it was his first time surfacing, and it happened in front of you."
I furrowed my brow, trying to process. "So… you turn into a wolf because you're some kind of werewolf?"
Dominic shook his head. "It's not like the movies. For us, it's about lineage. I'm a Lycan. My pack traces its bloodline back to the Lycans wolves descended from kings. Turning into a wolf isn't something random. It's who I am. Who I've always been."
"And me?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "What do I have to do with any of this?"
His lips curled into a soft smile. "That's the part I wasn't expecting. When Lexy appeared, he said one word. Mate."
"Mate?" I echoed, unsure whether to laugh or run. "What the hell is a mate?"
"In our world, a mate is the other half of your soul," Dominic explained, his voice filled with reverence. "The Moon Goddess chooses one person for each wolf a perfect match, someone who balances and completes them. You, Daniella, are my mate."
I shook my head, retreating further. "No. That can't be. I'm not even a wolf. That doesn't make sense."
Dominic's smile softened. "I know it's hard to believe. Humans don't feel the mate bond the way wolves do. For us, it's like… an unbreakable connection. You might not sense it fully, but maybe you've felt something. A pull. That spark between us."
I froze, remembering the way my heart raced whenever he was near. But I wasn't ready to accept this… this fairy tale.
"You're asking me to believe something that goes against everything I know," I said, my voice trembling. "I don't even believe in Santa Claus, let alone werewolves and magical soulmates."
Dominic's expression remained calm, though I could see the hurt in his eyes. "I don't expect you to believe it all at once. But I promise you, Ella, I'm not a monster. I'm not going to hurt you. If anything, I'll spend my life protecting you."
I swallowed hard, trying to steady my thoughts. "So… what now? Am I just supposed to accept that I'm mated to a werewolf and go live in the woods?"
Dominic chuckled, the sound warm and genuine. "Not quite. But I do think you should come with me to Mariposa. That's my home where my pack lives. You'll see that I'm telling the truth. It'll give you time to understand."
You're serious?" I asked, arching an eyebrow. "You want me to leave and run off to some wolf village?"
He nodded. "You're on vacation until the seventh. Come with me. If nothing else, you'll get to see where I'm from. And maybe, just maybe, you'll start to believe."
I hesitated, torn between fear and curiosity. If this was real, if everything he said was true, it would turn my entire world upside down. But if I stayed, I'd be haunted by questions and doubts.
Finally, I sighed. "Fine. I'll go with you. But only because I need to see for myself."
Dominic's face lit up with a grin. "Thank you, Ella. You won't regret this."
I crossed my arms, still unsure. "We'll see about that. But first, let's clear the air." I extended a hand to him, keeping my tone light. "I'm Daniella. Lawyer. 29. Firm believer in facts, not fairy tales."
Dominic took my hand with a playful smirk. "Dominic. Future Lycan King. 21. Firm believer that you're my mate."
I rolled my eyes but couldn't suppress the small smile tugging at my lips. Something told me this trip to Mariposa would change everything.