chapter 3

Dean pov.

She was perfect, and that was all that mattered. I had reached out to different wolf packs throughout the kingdom, inviting them to witness the crowning of my new queen, Luna.

My sole focus was on making her happy and ensuring her safety. This time, my commitment to protecting her was unwavering.

Leaving the castle behind, I decided to go unaccompanied by any guards. I wanted to surprise Sierra with a special gift.

As I passed by the people, I could see the admiration in their eyes. After half an hour, I finally arrived at the mall, ready for some shopping.

Stepping out of the car, I gazed at the magnificent entrance. Perhaps, once Sierra became Luna, I would bring her here and let her choose whatever her heart desired.

Just as I was about to enter the mall, I froze upon hearing a familiar voice—a voice I had hoped never to hear again.

"Hey, Dean, old friend, it's been a while."

I turned around and came face to face with Drake. He hadn't changed a bit. His dark blue eyes and gray hair intrigued me, as I wondered about his fondness for that color.

Pausing, I looked at him as he approached, extending his hand for a handshake. However, I remained silent.

"What do you want?" I asked, pushing his hand away, studying him intently.

"Aren't you glad to see your old friend?" he asked, grinning, his gaze fixed on me.

"Why have you returned? I thought you had decided to start your own pack."

There was something in the way he looked at me, a mystery I couldn't decipher. It left me both curious and unsure.

"Come on, Dean. Don't tell me you're still dwelling on that incident. It's in the past. Why don't we reconcile?" He pleaded, attempting to ease the tension between us.

As he tried to approach, I instinctively moved aside, my eyes filled with deep-seated animosity. The intensity of my gaze conveyed my resentment.

"I didn't think our friendship could be salvaged," I replied sharply. "And by the way, where is your lovely wife?"

The sentence I said reminded me of my first love, Alex. She was everything to me, but my friend, Drake, took her away by getting her pregnant.

"Why are you asking, Dean? Are you still in love with her?" he questioned skeptically. I grabbed his collar and glared at him.

"Sorry," he mumbled apologetically, and I let go of him. I walked away, heading into the mall, but his voice stopped me.

"What happened, Dean? I thought she was going to be your soulmate. Why did you reject her?" he asked, his words hanging in the air.

I didn't respond. Instead, I continued walking into the mall, hoping to distance myself from him. I couldn't understand why he was here, but I prayed I would never see his face again.

After some time spent shopping, I decided it was time to go home. As I stepped out of the mall, I saw Linda standing there, her eyes fixed on me. I wondered how she knew I was here. Without exchanging a word, I walked past her and headed towards my car.

"Is this how our love will end?" she whispered softly, her voice filled with sadness. I stopped and looked back at her, feeling a twinge of pity.

I opened the backseat door of my car and started organizing the items I had bought. Linda approached me, determined to address the situation. I walked over to her.

"I know I hurt you, Linda, and I'm truly sorry. But we're just not meant to be together. Please, don't hold onto thoughts of me anymore. I hope you find someone who truly deserves you," I expressed, a mix of regret and resignation in my voice.

As I turned to leave, she grabbed my hands and knelt down, capturing the attention of everyone around us.

"Do you hate me because of how I speak? I'm sorry. I promise to change. I dream of being the one person who will always stand by your side. Please, Dean, I love you."

She was crying uncontrollably, her tears streaming down as she looked down, overwhelmed by sadness. Deep within me, I felt an intense remorse for causing her such pain, yet I believed it was the necessary course of action.

Gently, I released her hands from mine and turned away, only to catch sight of another young woman who bore an astonishing resemblance to her.

"So, you're the Alpha who made my sister cry?" she uttered with a mix of anger and accusation. It suddenly dawned on me that Linda had mentioned having a sister.

As she circled around me, her gaze pierced through me, treating me as nothing more than an ordinary wolf.

"Listen, Alpha. No one harms my sister and escapes unscathed. You will pay for your actions, and you will live to regret ever crossing her path."

Approaching where Linda stood, she lifted her gently, wiping away the teardrops from her eyes.

"Leave him be, sister. He's not the right match for you."

With those words, she carried Linda towards a blue car parked nearby. Opening the door, she helped Linda inside. Before they drove away, Linda rolled down the car window and cast a lingering gaze upon me, whispering words that eluded my ears.

As their car vanished from sight, I remained rooted to the spot, attempting to fathom the bewildering turn of events that had just unfolded.

Just as I was about to make my way to my own car, Drake materialized before me, sporting a mischievous grin.

"Ah, I see you have a new Luna. I imagine she must be quite beautiful."

Seizing his shirt collar, I forcefully brought him closer, my voice resonating with a fierce growl.

"Sierra belongs to me, Drake. Don't you dare come near her."

A smirk played upon his face as he found himself sprawled on the ground, defeated. Without further delay, I climbed into my car and drove off, leaving him behind.