Chapter 2 Untitled Chapter

Vaelor's POV

I hated Moon Rites, I hated the ceremonies, I hated the speeches, I hated the excited howling as they shifted into their wolves for the first time.

I hated standing there year after year watching newly awakened wolves discover their mates while I, their Alpha, remained alone.

Most of all, I hated the hope.

Because hope always ended the same way.

Disappointment.

I stood before the mirror in my bedroom, fastening the silver cuff around my wrist.

The room was silent, much like my life and how it has been since I became Alpha at twenty four.

At twenty-nine, I was the Alpha of the Mildred Pack for four years now.

I had power, respect, strength, wealth, influence, legacy, everything a wolf could want and dream of. Everything except the one thing that actually mattered.

A mate.

The Elders had begun talking again.

I heard them during meetings, during these ceremonies, even at feasts, talking about arranged mating, merger proposals, looking for mateless Alpha’s daughters of bigger packs to for alliances with.

An arrangement for the mateless Alpha for their own benefit. Apparently the Moon Goddess had forgotten I existed.

My jaw clenched. The thought alone irritated me.

A knock sounded on my bedroom door. I ignored it.

A second later the door opened anyway and Orvian walked inside.

I sighed. "Ever heard of privacy?"

"No." He grinned. "That's why we're friends."

I rolled my eyes and grabbed my robe jacket. "Unfortunately."

"You're moody." "I'm always moody."

"Not like this." Orvian folded his arms. "I've been your Beta for four years."

I continued toward the door. "So?"

"So I know when something is bothering you."

I didn't answer because he already knew.

Everyone knew. Their Alpha was still mateless after nine years.

Orvian followed me outside.

"You know," he began casually, "one day you'll actually talk about your feelings."

I snorted. "That day will never come, Orvian."

"Fair enough."

We walked down the stone path leading toward the Moon Rite grounds. Pack members bowed as we passed. I barely acknowledged them. My mind was elsewhere.

It always was during Moon Rite season that I dreaded attending, because of... you know...

"What do you expect me to say?"

Orvian looked at me.

I shoved my hands into my pockets. "It's getting boring attending these rites every year."

There. I said it.

Orvian sighed. "Is this about not finding your mate?"

I didn't answer, which was answer enough.

A knowing smile appeared on his face. "Look, I've told you before."

I already hated where this conversation was going.

"It isn't the end of the world." Orvian continued. "I haven't found my mate either and look at me, I'm not dead."

"You're not Alpha." His smile faded slightly.

I immediately regretted it.

Orvian had been my closest friend since childhood. My Beta. My brother in everything except blood.

He didn't deserve that.

"That's not what I meant." "I know." He shrugged.

"What I'm saying is that mates aren't everything."

Easy for him to say.

He wasn't expected to produce heirs, he wasn't expected to provide a Luna, he wasn't expected to lead an entire pack and be under the scrutiny of the I-know-all elders.

"You're an Alpha, Vaelor." Orvian clapped my shoulder. "You can have any woman you want. Any woman in the pack, and even in other packs. There are plenty of women that will fall at your feet if you give them the littlesy of attention."

I looked away. That wasn't the point. I didn't want just any woman, I wanted mine. The one made for me. The one the Moon Goddess chose. The one I could build a family with. The one I could love. The one who would love me as her heart beat.

Instead, I was in a house filled with empty rooms and no presence except mine.

Orvian spoke again. "But you can't choose just any woman either."

I glanced at him. "What does that mean?"

He smiled. "Look at Thessara for example."

I nearly groaned. Of course, his sister.

"She's beautiful, strong, loyal."

I looked at him. "Orvian." "What?" "I know where this conversation is going."

He laughed. "Just hear me out."

I pinched the bridge of my nose. He continued anyway. 

"She shifted last year." "Yes." "She's respected."

"Yes." "She'd make an excellent Luna."

I started walking faster.

"Orvian." "I'm serious." "So am I."

He wasn't stopping. "I know she's highly fertile too."

I froze midway. "What?"

He shrugged casually. "The healer confirmed it."

That was a strange thing to know about your sister. A very strange thing.

"She'll give you strong sons and daughters if you want daughters."

All he said didn't make any sense. "You're discussing your sister's fertility with me."

"Because I'm helping."

I groaned. "You need help. I'm not discussing about your sister's fertility."

He laughed loudly. "Just say the word and everything can be arranged on my end. I doubt Thessara will say no. She will be honored to be your mate and Luna, she will be perfect for you. Just think about it."

I shook my head. "I appreciate the concern, Orvian." "You don't sound appreciative." "I'm trying." "Poorly."

I sighed, pinching my nose to keep from blowing up. "Now isn't the time to discuss this."

Thankfully, we reached the grounds. The conversation died, at least for now. Knowing Orvian, he was definitely going to bring it up again.

The clearing was already packed. Hundreds of wolves gathered beneath the rising moon. Lanterns glowed softly. Incense drifted through the air.

The atmosphere should have felt sacred. Instead, I felt tired.

Another year, another disappointment and reminder that I was alone and I was going to be forced to watch them shift and some finding their mates among the crowd or amongst them.

I folded my arms and watched the new shifters assemble.

Nothing special. Just like every other year.

Then the shifting began. They shifted to their wolves, painfully so.

And everything changed.

A scent hit me hard.

My entire body stiffened.

The world disappeared, the sounds vanished, the crowd vanished. Everything vanished.

Except that scent. 

Sweet, wild, intoxicating scent.

Mine.

My wolf exploded to life. "MATE."

My heart slammed against my ribs.

MATE!

Every muscle in my body locked.

MATE!

I couldn't breathe, couldn't think, couldn't move.

For nine years. Nine long years of nothing, and now, my mate was finally here 

I searched frantically, my eyes darted across the clearing.

White wolf.

Brown wolf.

Cream wolf.

Grey wolf—

There.

My breath caught.

A beautiful grey wolf stood beneath the moonlight, a black tail swayed behind her.

Her eyes met mine and the bond hit me like a lightning strike.

Mate.

Mate.

Mate.

My wolf, Aevryth practically screamed. "THAT'S HER! GO GET HER, VAELOR!"

I took a step forward, then another. Every instinct demanded I go to her, touch her, to speak to her, claim her as mine in front of everyone.

I didn't care who she was. I didn't care where she came from. She was mine. And I was hers. I was going to claim her.

Then Orvian stepped in front of me, pulling me from my daze 

My frown deepened. "What are you doing?"

His expression had changed. Something dark flickered across his face. He was staring at the wolf too.

"I wouldn't go to her if I were you." "What? Why? She is my mate."

His jaw tightened. "I know her."

My heartbeat slowed. "You do?"

"Unfortunately."

I looked back toward the grey wolf. She was still watching me. Still waiting. Something about her eyes made my chest tighten.

"Who is she?"

Orvian laughed bitterlt. "Her name is Aeloria."

The name rolled through me strangely.

Aeloria.

My mate.

My wolf purred.

Aeloria.

A Beautiful name for my mate.

Then Orvian destroyed everything next.

"She's Thessara's best friend."

I nodded slowly. "And?"

Orvian's expression hardened. "She's bad news."

My eyebrows furrowed. "What do you mean by bad news?"

"I didn't even want Thessara associating with her." "Why?"

Orvian sighed dramatically. "As usual, my sister has a soft spot for redeeming the guilty and the broken."

Something uncomfortable settled inside me. "Guilty of what? Stop beating around the bush."

I was eager to walk up to my mate, claim her in front of everyone.

Orvian laughed. "Aeloria is poor."

That wasn't a crime. I didn’t care about her financial status, she was going to be my Luna, she would have no money worries in the world.

"So?" "Her parents were lowly herbalists."

Again, not a crime. Her parents dedicated their lives to the art and healed people in this pack. That was an honor.

"They died years ago." 

I was already getting very agitated and impatient. "And?" "She had nothing." “Still doesn't matter to me. If you'll excuse me, I…” "Poor little Aeloria started sleeping with her uncle for money."

Everything inside me stopped. I looked at him in shock.

He nodded sadly. "As disgusting as it sounds. She was kept by her uncle who had little money."

My stomach twisted. "No." "It's true."

"Mate." Aevryth growled. "Liar."

I ignored him.

Orvian continued. "Then her uncle died under suspicious circumstances."

My breathing became uneven.

"Aeloria sleeps around."

Every word felt like a knife.

"With different men."

"No."

"For money."

"No."

"She's known for it."

My wolf snarled violently.

"HE'S LYING."

I squeezed my fists.

Why would Orvian lie?

Why?

He was my Beta, always got my back.

"She'll be the worst mistake of your life."

I looked back at the grey wolf. She was beautiful even in wolf form.

My chest felt like it had been cracked open. "You don't know that."

Orvian looked surprised then quickly recovered.

"I know enough. In fact more than enough. Rumors have it that she killed her uncle with a strange plant to take what little money he had left."

"Mate." My wolf pushed harder. "GO TO HER."

"What if you're wrong?" I asked him, looking into his eyes to see a glimpse of lies.

"I'm not."

"GO TO HER. VAELOR!"

"Orvian—"

"Vaelor."

His voice turned serious.

"If she becomes Luna, her reputation becomes the pack's reputation. If you accept her in front of everyone, you will be doomed. Vaelor, think twice…"

And just like that, doubt won. I looked away from her.

My wolf howled in agony. "VAELOR!"

I couldn't. I couldn't risk it. Not as Alpha. Not with the entire pack depending on me.

I turned my back on my mate and walked the opposite direction.

The pain that ripped through my wolf nearly dropped me to my knees.

I went to the front clearing of the newly shifters. "I know everyone of you is excited tonight, and you have had your connection and bond to your wolf. As usual, we will be having the first run, and tonight the run will be through Mildredbrooks Forest."

The shifters howled, and it took everything in me not to search for my mate.

Hours later, after the run through Mildredbrooks Forest, I shifted back into human form. The new wolves shifted too.

My eyes landed on the grey wolf as she shifted back to human form.

Aeloria. My mate.

Moonlight poured across her skin. Dark brown hair cascaded down her back.

She was breathtaking. Absolutely breathtaking.

My breath caught. She was even more beautiful than I ever imagined my mate would be.

My wolf whimpered. "Mate..."

Her eyes found mine instantly. Hope flickered there. Hope and fear.

I wanted to walk toward her, wanted to hear her voice.

I wanted—

Orvian's words returned.

She sleeps around. For money. Murdered.

How could someone so beautiful be so cruel.

I didn't care at all if my mate was a virgin or not, it never mattered to me... But being kept by men for survival. Was she that desolate?

I looked away first, and left.

I had so many questions.

Orvian caught up quickly. "It's for the best, Vaelor. You did the right thing, saved yourself from public shame. Imagine being mated to the Pack's bond woman."

I didn't answer.

"Trust me, you saved yourself."

I hated that those words actually worked.

Trust me. Because I did trust him, more than anyone.

"I have a headache." "Vaelor—" "I need to go home."

I didn't want for him to respond, I shifted and ran home.

My house had never felt emptier. The silence was unbearable. 

I walked through room after room. Everything suddenly felt wrong, so cold, lifeless and pointless.

I sat heavily on the edge of my bed.

"Mate." My wolf's voice sounded broken.

I closed my eyes and pictured her.

Aeloria.

Then I saw the future I had imagined for years. A mate, children, laughter in the halls, family dinners, tiny feet running through these halls, a Luna sitting beside me, a home, a life, a future.

One by one, those images went into smoke.

All gone.

Because fate had given me a mate I could never accept.

A bond woman.

My mate was a bond woman and an alleged murderer.

Then I felt something I have never felt before. Hatred.

I hated the Moon Goddess. Because after making me wait nine long years...

She had finally given me everything I wanted, only to rip it away the moment I touched it.