Chapter 1

Raul is a fearless werewolf. He is relentless! He is ruthless and powerful. He is the Alpha of his pack and he is to die for. He is the hunk every female wants to be with but he is fussy and has his mind set on just one.

He is often misunderstood but there is only one that can get him to pull his acts together. Hayley, his mate, match made for him by the spirits. Both don’t understand the connection but she seemed to be the only female in the whole world who gets him.

Hayley was the sweetheart of a werewolf pack in the Western Aisles of the mountains where her brother was the leader. She was the most beautiful and known to be the most loyal. At the age of five, she had lost nearly all her family to a great war that lasted for 7 days and 7 nights. It was rumored that her only sister, Kara, another beauty to behold was in cahoots with the rival pack that attacked their pack because she eventually eloped with a lover from the rival group and was never seen again.

Hayley’s clan was located somewhere in the Western aisles over the mountains. It was said to be the most civilized clan in all of the main lands. Her brother took over the leadership of the clan after the death of their father.

Lucas was the leader of a pack in the Western Aisles above the mountains. He is a fierce leader popularly named, the Prince of the Night. He is not tolerant especially with betrayals of any sort. He was a protective Alpha and probably the strongest in all the neighboring lands. Neighboring packs sought his counsel and protection against strange attacks from outsiders from the outlands. His territory was the most secure and protected. He always had the support of his followers and even members from the neighboring packs.

Hayley never stopped bragging about her only brother since he was the only family she now knew. She would sing his praises to the younger wolves at night wherever they are gathered for the night.

“Growing up was fun.” There was excitement in her voice as she narrated to the curious young. “I had the most beautiful siblings. My only sister, Kara, eloped with a rival, that was many years ago after the great battle that took my parents’ lives.” She would tell them. “My brother, Lucas single-handedly won the battle and sent the rivals running after which he took over the leadership of the pack and became the next Alpha.”

The younger wolves loved to hear her tales.

The Moon dance is a traditional ceremony common in the main lands where alphas from different packs were matched with their Luna mates.

Raul was adopted, a stranger who was taken in because he fought alongside Lucas in one of the battles with a neighboring pack and to that effect, became Lucas’ most trusted servant. Though Hayley never liked him for once, she refused to see him as a family for some reason. But was forced to be nice to him since he had become a part of her family.

Raul’s physical appearance was rough. He was a werewolf with a husky voice. Very good-looking but unfriendly; ruthless and selfish. He is usually perceived to be mean and no one dared to approach him and he was loyal to Lucas.

Or so it seemed. Little did they know that he was planning something. 

It was the day of the Moon dance celebration and werewolves from different packs from far and wide gathered to celebrate the matching of their alphas with their mates by the Moon goddess.

The celebration was a grand one. Werewolves from all over the main lands arrived in style in their packs, communities, and families. Lucas and his most trusted servant, Raul who just stood behind him with arms crossed behind his back were in charge of welcoming the guests while the other members of the pack ushered them to their places. Raul bowed to greet the guests as they arrived while Lucas did the talking.

Hayley was with her friends standing and watching apart from across the hall, accessing the young males and making gest of them as they arrived at the party. While she was laughing with her friends, her eyes suddenly met with Raul’s, and her laughter turned into a slow frown as she wondered why he was staring at her. There was this smirk on his face as he slowly turns to face his business. Hayley felt a shrill feeling down her spine as she froze in thoughts.    

“Hey!” Mira shoved Hayley gently to call her attention back.

“Oh hey…” she responded with a quick smile.

“You were lost for a while,” Mira complained.

“Yeah, it’s like you were taken by the spirits to another world,” Jaya added.

“What did you see?” Another friend asked in anxiety.

“N-nothing!” Hayley stuttered and made to leave them. “Please excuse me.” She walked away and into her bedroom panting. She opened the curtains slightly to take a quick look at Raul who was now talking to some guests alongside Lucas.

“Hayley?” Mira called from behind her.

Hayley was startled. “By the spirits, you scared me, Mira.”

“What are you looking at?”

“Nothing.” She closed the curtains quickly.

Mira went to take a peep at the crowd below.

“Looking for your mate? Do you know who he is?” Mira was inquisitive.

Hayley takes a seat on the bed and laughs out loud. “Seriously?”

“Did the moon goddess reveal your mate to you in your dreams?” she teased.

“You tell me, you’re the spiritual one.” Mira joined her in bed, excited.

Hayley was silent.

“Is he handsome?” Mira continued. “Is he strong? Which pack does he belong to?”

“Mira relax…” Hayley cut in with a small smile around her cheeks. “I don’t know anything. Just like you, the moon goddess hasn’t revealed anything to me. I’m yet to meet my mate.” She takes a deep breath and continued with a stern look on her face.

“I just hope that if I’m to be paired with any Alpha, that he’ll be sweet, romantic, strong, and soft on the inside.”

“Eww… your choices in men are the worst.” Jaya cut in from the door.

They all busted into laughter.

“You should lock your door when you’re talking about your sick love choices.” She teased.

“Where are the others?” Mira asked.

“They’ve all moved on to mingle with the guys.”

“You never change, Jaya.” Mira shook her head smiling and turned towards Hayley. “Shall we return to the party, dear? Let’s see if your dream will come true today.”

“I’m sure the moon goddess has heard your prayers.” Mira teased.

Hayley got on her feet and smiled at her friends. “You guys go ahead; I’ll catch up with you.”

“Ok.” They both left her room.

“I can’t help but dream.” Hayley was soliloquizing after her friends left the room. “After all, a werewolf is allowed to dream.” She sighed and took a deep breath.

She came out after a while to meet her friends, trying to forget those eyes that pierced her soul earlier. She couldn’t stop seeing pictures of the image of his eyes in her mind’s eyes.

She was chatting with her friends when suddenly a supposed alpha from the Night’s clan, a pack in the wild in the Northern aisles near the outlands approached her. He was known to be a bully, pompous but really strong and muscular. She paused and turned, gazing at him.

“Hi!”

“Hey!” Hayley forced a smile as she is slowly whisked away by the huge male in front of her.

“I’m Kal.” He paused and Hayley glared at him with a cold look on her face.

“You don’t know me?” he added.

“Should I?” Hayley was irritated.

“I fought with your brother in the battle against the outlanders. The one where Raul became your brother’s favorite shield?” he explained.

“Oh… that was you?” she was being sarcastic. “But how come we never saw you again? My brother was worried about you. He thought you died in the battle.”

He blushed. “I actually did… die.” He responded slowly.

“You did?” Hayley was surprised.

He nodded with a smirk on his face. “I was rescued by the moon goddess.”

Hayley is speechless. She glared at him in shock as he smiled at her. She knew he was serious. She could feel it in his voice that he wasn’t joking even though he appeared to be. She tried to make moves to find out the truth using her abilities.

“Let me hold your hands.” She said.

He paused and glared at her in awe. “What!?”

“Give me your hands.” She repeated. “I can feel something about you that isn’t quite right.”

“You can?”

“Yes; and you must have been carrying this burden with you for many years.”

“Can you help me?” he pleaded with surprise in his voice.

“Just give me your hand and I’ll see what I can do.” She smiled sweetly looking deep into his eyes in anticipation.