Hope or disappointment?

I’m still reeling from the shock of realizing the man in front of me is the Moon Goddess’s chosen mate for me, the Alpha of a powerful pack. The country’s Deadliest Pack Silverblade, a formidable force in weapons manufacturing and high-tech security, with a renowned warrior-training system, now had its leader as my mate? It felt unreal.

A whirl of emotions swirled inside me: excitement,

fear,

desperation.

Maybe coming to the Silverblade pack wasn’t such a bad idea after all. My stepfather would think twice about chasing me here. If I could just persuade my mate to let me join his pack, I could settle down, perhaps even build a future with him, a small family I’ve never had.

But he gave no sign that he was willing to acknowledged the mate bond between us. And that was odd. I know how the mate bond works among werewolves: your mate is your fated one, like a soulmate. It’s incredibly hard to resist that pull.

“If you let me stay, I’ll prove my worth and be loyal to your pack,” I murmured, gathering my thoughts.

“Prove your worth?” he asked, the skepticism dripping from his voice.

“Yes, I have nothing to hide. I’m here with a clean slate.” I stared anywhere but his eyes; they seemed to see straight through me, and that unsettled me.

“And why should I trust you?” he pressed, his piercing blue eyes narrowing.

“You appeared out of nowhere with no affiliation to any pack. No prior notice or letter from any Alpha. You’re rogue. You deserve execution for trespassing into my territory.”

Execution? That felt far too harsh, but I pressed on anyway. I’m desperate to convince him.

“Please, I mean no harm. I’ve heard about your warrior training program. I’m here to participate in it. I want to learn, to fight, to protect.”

The Alpha’s expression didn’t change, but I caught a flicker in his eyes—curiosity?

“The warrior training program is usually through selection of worthy participants, and you pay for it,” he said, unyielding. “But you came here with no application. Obviously you haven’t paid for the program either. What gave you the nerve to barge into my territory and expect me to let you in?”

My eyes locked on his, a spark of defiance lighting inside me.

“I came because I had nowhere else to go. Werewolves are supposed to be in packs. I can’t wander among humans. I heard Silverblade values strength and loyalty, so I came. I want to be part of a pack like this.”

The Alpha’s gaze stayed steady, but I felt a faint flicker of something—interest? annoyance? I wasn’t sure.

“Just like that? Just because you want to join my pack, a pack I built with a tight fist?” he asked, his voice low and smooth. “Because I happened to find you to be my mate?” His tone dripped with disdain. “I don’t need a mate, and I will never want one.”

It felt like a slap. His words cut deep, but I refused to back down. “I’m not asking for pity about our supposed bond,” I said, gripping my side, my voice steady, “I’m asking for a chance to prove myself here. I came without harming anyone.”

The Alpha studied me for what felt like eternity, his eyes boring into my soul, trying to gauge me.

“We’ll decide your punishment at dawn. And you can go back to wherever you came from,” he said bluntly, turning to leave.

“Wait!” I called, my voice cracking. “What’s your name? Don’t I get to know the name of the Alpha who’s deciding my fate?”

He paused at the doorway, shoulders tense.

“Gabriel. Alpha Gabriel Grayson of Silverblade.” And with that, he left, not glancing back.

The cell door creaked shut, sealing the sinking feeling in my chest. Gabriel. Alpha Gabriel Grayson of Silverblade. I whispered the name in my mind, trying to make sense of the storm of emotions inside me.

I paced the cell, my footsteps echoing in the oppressive silence. How could he not want the mate bond? Didn’t he sense how strong the pull between us was?

I slouched against the stone wall, already exhausted. His presence lingered in the air like a shadow that refused to fade. Gabriel. Alpha of Silverblade. My mate.

The memory of his look detached, almost uninterested, as if I were a nuisance to be solved still stung. Yet I’d also seen that faint spark of curiosity in his eyes.

Why did he hate the mate bond so much? What happened to him?

Hours dragged on, each one a reminder of my uncertain fate. Would Gabriel let me stay? Would he send me away? Would I ever see him again?

I thought of Carson and Lisa and hoped they were safe back home. Tears prickled at my eyes as I remembered their kindness, Lisa’s hug, Carson’s warm smile. I’d promised them I’d be okay, that I’d find a way to move forward.

And I had found Silverblade... but at what cost?

Gabriel’s words still cut deep: “I don’t need a mate, and I will never want one.” The cold edge of his voice lingered, fueling my anger and heartbreak.

My wolf, Val, whimpered softly in the corner of my mind. She, too, was worn thin from our journey, and my pain didn’t help.

What hurt most was the way Gabriel looked at me, like I’d stepped into his life uninvited and was just a problem to be solved. The indifference in his eyes felt like a brutal slap, making me question my worth; I’d never been wanted before.

Night fell deeper, and darkness swallowed me whole as I curled up on the cold floor, hunger gnawing at my stomach.

Exhaustion and despair finally took over, and I drifted into a fitful sleep.

Hours later, the cold stone floor seemed to seep into my bones. I woke weak and sick, hunger clawing at me from within. I tried to sit up, but dizziness swirled. Footsteps echoed down the corridor, growing louder with each moment. The cell door creaked open, and a guard stood in the doorway.

“Alpha Gabriel is calling for you,” he announced firmly.

My stomach twisted as I struggled to stand, my legs weak from hunger and exhaustion. What would Gabriel want? Has my fate been decided?

As I followed the guard out of the cell, my mind wandered to how I’d ended up here, two weeks of careful planning, a desperate escape from my stepfather’s abuse, and now the Silverblade pack’s cells, at the mercy of a man who didn’t want a mate.