Fated fall

ELEANOR

Eight Years Ago…

The music pulsed through the clearing, matching the beat of my heart. Laughter and clinking glasses echoed as pack members swayed and danced beneath the moonlit sky. The Moonrise Festival buzzed with excitement, marking the coming of age for young wolves—especially the Alpha’s son. The scent of roasting meat lingered in the cool air.

For most, it was a night of possibility.

For me, I was losing my shit.

I stood at the edge of the clearing, gripping my untouched cup of punch, my eyes searching the crowd until they landed on Tristan.

He stood by the bonfire, his broad shoulders bathed in flickering light. Tristan. My brother’s best friend. My first love. And the Alpha's son. Out of my league? I suppose, but I always aim for the best. His smirk made my pulse race. Effortlessly magnetic, he was the most attractive male in nearly every pack in the region, leaving she-wolves swooning.

Oh, unnecessary competition. Great.

“You’re staring again,” came a teasing voice beside me.

I turned to find Maurice, my older brother, smirking at me.

I did not need this right now.

“I’m not,” I said quickly, though the heat on my neck betrayed me.

“You’ve been crushing on him for years, Elle. When are you going to do something about it?” Maurice grinned. “It’s getting embarrassing.”

I glared at him. “Stop it.” My fingers fidgeted with the cup in my hands. “It’s not that simple.”

“It is. Tell him how you feel. Worst case, he’s an idiot. Best case? He feels the same.”

I shook my head. “You don’t get it. I think... I think he’s my fated mate.”

Maurice raised an eyebrow. “Aiming for Luna? Pretty bold, but you don’t know that for sure.”

“No, I'm not, and I won’t know until I turn 18, dumbass,” I muttered. “But I feel it. It’s like my soul already knows.”

He sighed. “Look Elle, don't hope for something that hasn’t happened yet. Just talk to him. You won't know otherwise.”

He clapped my shoulder and left me with my thoughts.

Maybe Maurice is right. What if he isn't my mate after all?

So much for Big Brother's advice.

Fuck!

I took a deep breath, pushing past my fears—especially Maurice’s doubts. Smoothing my dress, I stepped toward Tristan.

“Hey, Elle!” he greeted, his smile like a secret just for us. My stomach flipped. He was everything I wanted, and the thought of him being my fated mate was a hope I’d held onto despite my doubts.

As I almost reached him, the air felt charged, heavy with the scent of pine and the faint hum of moonlight magic that always marked these types of gatherings.

“Hey,” I managed,the word catching in my throat.

Before I could speak, a girl appeared beside Tristan, all giggles and coy smiles. She slipped her arms around his waist, leaning into him in a way that made my stomach twist.

What the hell?

“Tristan,” she said softly, tilting her head to look up at him.

I froze, the words I’d rehearsed vanishing as I watched him turn to her, his expression softening.

Then it happened.

He murmured something I couldn’t hear, and she laughed, taking his hand and leading him into the shadows. My heart shattered as they disappeared, but I couldn’t stop myself from following.

The shadows only partially obscured them, and what I saw made my blood boil. Tristan had his hands all over her, his fingers tracing patterns on her body. They were lost in their own little world, oblivious to the chaos they created in me.

I couldn't take my eyes off of them. There was something about the way he touched her, with a hunger and intensity that I had never seen before. I could feel the heat radiating off of their bodies, even from where I was standing.

Tristan's touch seemed to ignite a fire within her. Her eyes fluttered closed as he slipped his fingers inside her. She cried out in pleasure, her moans raw and needy.

I watched as Tristan's lips found hers. Their kiss was deep and possessive, their bodies moving together in a primal dance I couldn't ignore.

No.

Every part of me ached, and I stumbled, snapping a twig. It caught their attention, but I turned and ran, driven by my inner wolf. The wind stung, and tears threatened, but I held them back. Tristan—the guy I’d loved forever—was in someone else’s arms.

Deeper in the forest, the party's noise faded, leaving only the storm inside me.

He wasn't mine.

He never had been.

I sank to the ground, the tears finally falling as my fists clenched into the soft earth. The moonlight filtered through the trees, casting a mocking silver glow on the world.

Fuck. This.

For years, I let the Mate Bond control my heart and dreams. Not anymore.

I'd choose my own path and love on my own terms, free from anything that held me back—Tristan, the Bond, all of it.

This was my life, and I was done letting anyone or anything take that away from me.

Just as the pain began to dull, someone called out to me.

"Eleanor?"

I turned to see Cedric standing a few feet away, a concerned look on his face. His sandy blond hair ruffled in the soft breeze, and his green eyes held an intensity that I hadn’t seen before.

"Are you alright?" he asked, stepping closer.

I wiped the tears from my cheeks quickly, forcing a smile. The hurt was still there, but I couldn't bear to face it any longer. I couldn’t stand the thought of being trapped in this world that held nothing for me but disappointment.

"I’m fine," I said, my voice trembling slightly. But Cedric could see through my mask. He always had.

As he stepped closer, his expression softened. "Eleanor, I know I’ve asked you before, and I know you’ve turned me down every time, but… I’m not giving up on you."

I swallowed hard, the image of Tristan with another woman still fresh in my mind. I wasn’t the one he wanted. And right now, I couldn’t live with that truth.

Without thinking, I whispered, "Yes. I’ll marry you, Cedric."

His eyes widened in surprise and relief. He squeezed my hand. "You won’t regret it, Eleanor. I promise."

A numbness washed over me. Maybe this wasn’t the solution, but it felt like my only escape. Running away with Cedric, away from Tristan, my family, and the Mate Bond. Maybe this was how I could break free.

I looked at Cedric, my mind already racing. "I need to write a note," I said. "Just a quick one."

Cedric nodded. "Take your time. I'll wait here."

I rushed home, grabbed a few things, and scribbled a note to my Mother and Maurice, telling them not to worry. I left it on the table, a final goodbye.

Taking a deep breath, I returned to Cedric, who was still waiting for me. As we walked out of the forest that night, I felt, for the first time in a long while, in control.