Chapter 3—FOUND YOU.

KNOX

"We found her," my wolf roared, his voice exploding through my mind with so much excitement that I almost staggered backward.

"Finally," I breathed, unable to tear my eyes away from the woman standing in front of me.

She was just as stunned as I was.

The mate bond pulsed between us like a living thing, wrapping itself around my soul, demanding that I go to her, touch her, breathe her in. It was overwhelming, intoxicating... everything every unmated wolf dreamed it would be.

She was beautiful.

No.

Beautiful didn't even begin to describe her.

Her green eyes were wide with disbelief, her lips slightly parted, and a loose strand of dark hair had escaped her ponytail, resting against her cheek. I wanted nothing more than to reach out and tuck it behind her ear.

After all these years...

I had finally found her.

"Finally what?" she asked, her voice guarded.

A smile spread across my face before I could stop it.

"I've found you."

Her expression didn't soften. It hardened.

"No."

The word was quiet, firm and final.

I frowned.

"I'm sorry?"

She shook her head.

"No."

For several seconds, I simply stared at her, convinced I'd misunderstood.

Finding your mate was supposed to be one of the happiest moments of a wolf's life. Every unmated Alpha dreamed of the day the Moon Goddess would finally place the missing half of his soul before him. I had imagined this moment more times than I cared to admit. I expected surprise, maybe tears, perhaps even awkwardness.

I had never imagined rejection.

"I thought people were supposed to be happy when they found their fated mate."

She folded her arms across her chest.

"Well, not me."

That answer hit me harder than I expected.

"You're serious?"

"I've never been more serious."

I let out a small laugh, hoping she was teasing me.

She wasn't.

"I've spent years searching for you," I admitted. "Every territory I visited, every gathering I attended, every alliance meeting—I always hoped I'd find my mate there. Who would've thought I'd walk into a hospital this morning and accidentally bump into her?"

Her face remained unreadable.

"That's nice."

I blinked.

"That's... nice?"

She nodded once.

"It doesn't change my answer."

Before I could ask another question, the elevator slowed to a stop.

The doors slid open.

A middle-aged doctor stepped inside carrying a stack of patient files.

"Good afternoon, Doctors."

"Good afternoon," Brea answered politely.

I nodded in greeting, forcing myself to stay quiet.

The ride suddenly became painfully silent.

The stranger glanced between us once or twice before returning his attention to the numbers above the door.

My wolf paced restlessly.

Say something.

I can't.

She's our mate.

I know she is.

The elevator stopped again.

The doctor stepped out with a cheerful smile.

"Have a wonderful afternoon."

"You too."

The doors closed once more, and the silence returned.

I turned toward her.

"Would you at least tell me why?"

She sighed.

"I don't owe you an explanation."

"I think you owe me a little more than 'no.'"

"I don't."

I stepped closer.

She instinctively took one step backward until her shoulders rested lightly against the elevator wall.

I planted one hand beside her head, not touching her, simply stopping her from walking away for another few seconds.

"Why are you refusing me?"

For the first time since we'd discovered the bond...

She really looked at me.

Our eyes met.

Silver.

Green.

The world around us disappeared.

There was pain in her eyes.

Not fear of me or hatred.

Pain.

The kind that only came from someone whose heart had once been broken so completely that it never healed properly.

I softened my voice.

"Brea..."

Something flickered across her face.

Then she looked away.

Without a word, she ducked beneath my arm and walked to the front of the elevator, putting as much distance between us as the small space allowed.

I reached for her almost instinctively, my fingers wrapping gently around her wrist.

"Brea..."

Before she could respond, the elevator chimed and the doors slid open.

Several nurses and doctors stood waiting outside.

The moment they saw us, they straightened immediately.

"Good afternoon, Doctor."

"Good afternoon, sir."

I released Brea's wrist at once.

"Good afternoon."

She walked out without another glance in my direction.

The nurses watched her leave before their attention returned to me.

One of them whispered just loudly enough for the others to hear.

"He's even more handsome up close."

"I know."

"Did you see his eyes?"

"I'd volunteer for surgery every day if he were my doctor."

Another one elbowed her friend, trying, and failing, to hide an excited smile.

I couldn't help but smile politely before excusing myself.

"Please have a good day."

"You too, Doctor Knox."

By the time I caught up with Brea, she was already halfway down the corridor.

"You walk fast."

"I have work to do."

"So do I."

She didn't answer.

"I'm not giving up," I said.

That finally made her stop.

She turned slowly, one eyebrow raised.

"You will."

"I don't think so."

"You will... when you get tired."

Before I could answer, my wolf spoke with complete confidence.

We'll see about that.

I almost laughed.

We'll see who gets tired first.

A grin spread across my face before I could stop it.

Brea narrowed her eyes.

"Why are you smiling?"

I cleared my throat.

"Nothing."

She looked unconvinced but continued walking.

I fell into step beside her.

"Can we at least be friends?"

She opened her mouth.

I quickly leaned my head toward her with an exaggerated pleading expression.

"Come on... don't say no."

She stared at me.

"You can't possibly break my heart twice in one day."

Her eyebrows knitted together in confusion.

"I've already suffered enough."

"I rejected you once."

"And don't forget you also knocked me over this morning."

"I did not knock you over."

"You absolutely did."

"I bumped into you."

"You sent my papers flying all over the lobby."

"I helped you pick them up."

"You still attacked me."

She tried to suppress it.

She really did.

But a tiny laugh escaped anyway.

"There it is," I said triumphantly, pointing at her.

"What?"

"That smile."

"I did not smile."

"You laughed."

"I absolutely didn't."

"You did."

She rolled her eyes, though I caught the corner of her lips lifting again.

"You're annoying."

"I accept with all pleasure."

She sighed in defeat.

"Fine."

I smiled.

"Fine what?"

"We can be friends."

My smile widened.

"Just friends."

She pointed a warning finger at me.

"Exactly. Just friends."

"I can work with that."

For now, my wolf added smugly.

She resumed walking, and I followed as she began pointing out different sections of the hospital.

"This is the pediatric neurosurgery unit. Across from it is the neurological intensive care unit. The imaging department is downstairs, while the research laboratories occupy the entire east wing. We usually hold multidisciplinary meetings every Wednesday morning..."

She kept talking.

I should have been listening.

I really should have.

Instead, I found myself watching the way she absentmindedly tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear every few minutes. The way her eyes lit up whenever she spoke about medicine told me she genuinely loved what she did. Even the tiny crease that appeared between her brows whenever she concentrated somehow fascinated me.

"...and this corridor connects directly to the emergency operating theaters."

"Hmm?"

She stopped walking.

"I just explained three departments."

"I heard every word."

She folded her arms.

"Really?"

"Of course."

"What did I just say?"

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.

She shook her head slowly.

"You weren't listening."

"I was listening..."

"Were you?"

"...Not very well."

"I noticed."

She turned and continued walking, trying to hide another smile.

This time, I definitely saw it.

I found myself thanking the Moon Goddess.

Because after years of searching...

I had finally found my mate.

Now all I had to do was convince her not to run from me.