1: Come

For how long could I run from my own mate?

I had asked myself that question every night for the past six months.

The answer was always the same.

Not forever.

Every time I heard his name.

Every time another pack fell by those bloodthirsty wolves of the Sapphire Blood Pack.

Every time whispers of the Soulless Alpha reached Moon Whispers.

I knew he was coming for me. 

And when he did… The life of lies I had created would fall apart. 

“Please Moon Goddess, bless me with another night.” 

My fingers tightened around the blanket as my hazel eyes stared into the darkness outside my window.

I had spent months praying he would never find me.

Months pretending that if I stayed inside the Silver Pine Pack, hidden among thousands of wolves, I could escape the fate the Moon Goddess had chosen for me.

But fate had never cared about what I wanted.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

The village bell echoed through the night. Three bells. Emergency call. 

I sat upright, watching the uproar being caused from the window before rushing out with my father, the Alpha of Silver Pine.

“What happened?” 

“Alpha.”

“Who rang the bells?”

Frightened voices filled the streets. Doors opened one after another.

The village had already erupted into chaos. 

People gathered around the Head Elder, whose face had turned ghostly white to find the scholar of our pack lying dead.

A rolled parchment rested in his limp hands.

My stomach twisted.

No.

Not that.

Not here.

“Alpha!” The Beta of our pack and my lover, Robbie, arrived hastily. “What is happening here?” 

The Head Elder picked up the parchment with trembling fingers.

“It came…” His voice cracked. “The warning from the Soulless Alpha.”

A hush fell over the crowd.

Robbie pushed his way forward, his blue eyes were determined. Holding his head up unwaveringly.

“Give it to me.”

Robbie unfolded the parchment.

No one breathed. Even the wind seemed to stop.

I couldn't breathe.

I already knew what it would say.

The moment I feared from the bottom of my heart was here. 

All eyes were on him, waiting to hear what nightmare had fallen on our heads.

His hands shook as he began reading:

“To every Alpha. Every Elder.

       To every pack beneath the Moon Goddess.

Do not hide her. Do not lie to me. Do not test my patience.”

That was it.

I could no longer hide. 

My heart began to pound abnormally along with a deadly shiver, finding my end at this very moment.

“If my mate is within your borders and you refuse to surrender her… Your pack will cease to exist.”

Robbie slowly turned toward me, locking his eyes on me, swallowing hard. 

For one terrifying second, I thought he knew. 

But, I hadn’t told him, or anyone. 

“Wherever you are…”

His grip around the parchment tightened.

“Come to me, my mate.”

Gasps spread through the crowd, people retreated their steps.

My steps froze to the ground. Deep down, I knew one day they would arrive.

But, this was too soon.

“The Soulless Alpha has begun the hunt.”

“We have to leave!” One man shouted, fear overwhelming him. 

“Where will we go?” Another one cried, falling on his knees.

Mothers grabbed their children. Men began to shake violently. Somewhere, a baby began crying. 

“We are doomed!” 

“Double the guards!” Father ordered strictly but I could already watch the fear in his eyes.

I couldn't move.

I couldn't speak.

I couldn't even pretend to be afraid.

Because everyone around me was frightened of the woman Zarius wanted. And nobody knew she was standing among them.

Nobody knew it was me.

“Bar the windows! Be prepared for defense!”

“We cannot fight them!”

My knees weakened, my mind began to spin but Robbie caught me before I could fall and lose consciousness.

“Eve!” I grabbed his shirt, looking up at him with tears in my eyes.

He immediately wrapped his arms around me, kissing my temples, “I’m here. It’s going to be alright, my love.” 

“Robbie…” I buried my face against his chest. The tears I held back finally escaped, closing my eyes in defeat. 

He stroked my hair, holding me tight. “It's alright.”

It wasn't.

Nothing was alright.

Because the man I had spent six months running from had finally begun his search.

And sooner or later… He would find me.

“Gather for the council.” Father ordered, trying to hold the people together as the Alpha. I couldn’t move an inch until Robbie nudged softly.

“Let’s go, Eve. We will find a way to negotiate.” 

With a weak nod, I agreed and forced my feet to move.

The council hall had never been this suffocating, never so quiet. 

The warning letter rested on the long wooden table.

The sun began to rise but nothing changed. 

Especially not: "Wherever you are... Come to me. My mate."

Father stood at the head of the table.

“As of today,” he began the announcement heavily, “every patrol will be doubled.”

Robbie nodded, “We'll strengthen the borders.”

“We should evacuate the children,” one elder suggested.

“And send the women into hiding,” 

“If Alpha Zarius truly wants someone.” An Elder shook his head, the look of defeat coming to face. “There is nowhere he cannot reach.”

The room fell silent again. Everyone knew the outcome already. They couldn’t hide or fight.

Someone cursed under their breath. Another elder whispered a prayer to the Moon Goddess.

I stared into nothingness.

Unable to speak.

Unable to think.

“Eve?”

I looked up with a hollow look. 

Robbie’s blue eyes searched mine with quiet concern. “You haven't said a word.”

“I'm just tired.” 

“Tired?”

I forced a smile, “I couldn't sleep.”

He didn't believe me.

I could tell.

But, before he had the chance to ask another question, Father dismissed the meeting.

“Return to your duties. Do not engage in a fight. Retreat if you see the Sapphire Blood pack.” 

The hall slowly emptied.

One by one.

Until only Robbie and I remained.

I lowered my head more. He closed the heavy doors behind the last elder before turning toward me.

“Alright, Evelise," His playful smile was gone. “Tell me what's wrong.”

“...Nothing.”

He stopped before me, voice strict. “Evelise.”

“I'm fine. Truly.” I tried to hide my face in my palm.

“You've been lying since yesterday.”

Silence stretched between us. 

My mind was in a state of turmoil. After observing my expression, he sighed, “You know you can tell me anything.”

“Anything…?” 

I hesitated, lifting my eyes slowly. 

“Anything.” 

The word shattered whatever strength I had left. My hands began to tremble accompanied by a screen of tears.

“...Robbie.”

He held my shoulders, shifting to his knees. “What is it, Eve? Tell me.”

I swallowed hard. “I…”

The words refused to leave my mouth. My mouth opened. Closed. Opened. Closed. He gently took my hands into his.

“Look at me.”

I did. The kindness in his eyes only made everything worse.

“I know…” I whispered weakly.

His brows knitted together. “You know what?”

My grip tightened on his hand, my voice cracking. “I know who Alpha Zarius is searching for.”

His expression cleared, his eyes lighting up with a sudden surge of hope. 

“Then we should warn her, Evelise. We should inform Zarius and fix this—”

“It's me.”