Chapter One – The Ruthless Enemy Is My Mate?

Hermione’s (Hera’s) POV

“Stop right there! Who are you? How do you know me?” I demanded, taking two steps backward in fear. His ruby-red eyes glowed and a blood-curdling roar escaped his snout. The ground almost shook and so did I. Being a slender, honey-hued wolf, I was no match against his strength. The only way to escape him was to run. 

“Your enemy!” His gruff voice echoed in the still night, making a shudder go down my spine. Was he the only living member of the Whiteridge Pack? I just hoped not. 

I took another step backward, reaching the edge almost. One more step would surely make me tumble to the other side, all the way to the enemy territory! I had to think of an alternative. 

‘Run, Hye!’ Hye leaped in mid-air to jump over an enormous boulder to escape the monster. I raced down the snowy slopes with him hot on my heels. We couldn’t run straight down to the enemy village so we zigzagged, making a detour all the way towards our side. The darkness hung heavy in the sky, yet the snow sparkled under the dim moonlight. It guided me towards my village. 

I could hear the enemy hurtling down at me. There was no way I could outrun him. I tried to pick up speed, but the slopes were treacherous. The pointed crags posed a threat in my path, breaking my speed. I knew he was gaining on me and it made my heartbeats pound in a frantic rhythm in my chest. Until now, I always had Zephyrus to protect me. Now, for the first time, when I needed him so desperately, he wasn't there. 

“Stop running, Hermione!” His voice echoed from behind me. I could feel him breathing down my neck. 

Panicking, I turned to look behind me just in time to see him pouncing upon me! 

“No!” I slid over the snow to place more distance between us. There was no time to check where the monster landed, as he missed me by a fraction of a second! I could feel myself falling, unable to get a grip on the slippery terrain. A huge crag protruded ahead, right in my way. I panicked, knowing the consequences of a head-long collision, but I couldn’t arrest my fall. Closing my eyes, I waited for the hit but collided against warm fur. 

My eyelids flickered open and a cold gust of wind flew against my face, bringing me out of my daze. I blindly reached out behind me, too scared to look. Warm fur tickled my palm, sending a jolt of electricity through my chest. Was it the enemy? Did he just save me? I retracted my hand and scooted away from the creature, but he grabbed me and pulled me into him. 

“You can’t escape me!” Unlike his warm body, his voice was icy, devoid of any emotion. A whimper escaped me as I struggled to escape his sheer strength. It was an impossible task when he tightened his hold on me.

“Who are you? What do you want from me?” I turned to look at him when he didn’t respond, but it was a mistake. The fierce hatred in his eyes made my heart constrict with fear. Would he kill me? Then why did he save me? 

As soon as my eyes locked with his, all my senses pulsed in my head, shaking me to the core. I couldn’t look away from the angry swirl in his eyes. They had me hypnotized! Lost in the depth of his eyes, I could clearly feel his heartbeat. It was as violent as mine. 

I couldn’t even think straight as I felt every muscle of his body pressed against mine. The pulsing sensation strengthened as I continued to stare at him. There was a hypnotic pull in his eyes that lured me into its depths. I just couldn't look away!

‘Mate!’ whispered Hye, but I flinched at the word. How could this ruthless enemy be my mate? Surely, this was the worst nightmare of my life! All my romantic illusions about a fated mate crumbled to dust on seeing who the Goddess had selected for me. What did I do to deserve this?

He moved, and the spell was broken. “You’re coming with me!” I immediately jolted back to reality, to the threat of death hovering over my head.

“No! Why? What have I done to you?” I whispered as I fell on my butt when he moved away. I could see the bonfire through the trees. If only I could mind-link with my friends, they would come over to save me. I tried hard but couldn't establish a link with any of the pack members. It was the worst situation of my life.

He bared his teeth and growled menacingly. “One more question and I’ll kill you right here.” 

My eyes widened in panic as I staggered backward, eager to escape the enemy. His threat brought me back to reality with a jolt. If he wanted to kill me, how could he be my mate? 

“Don’t even think of escaping me. I’ll bring you back from the gates of Hell!” 

In a split second, he stood before me, his gaze burning into me, prodding me to run for my life. The lighting in his eyes seemed to dance as he shifted into his human form, standing totally naked before me. I was too helpless to look away, my eyes sweeping over his smoking hot, muscular body. Immediately, I closed my eyes, refusing to show him how much he was affecting me. I didn’t want to see how turned on he was! All my life I had grown up with my brother and his friends, living a protected life. I had no time to indulge in flings or physical proximity with anyone. I had saved myself for my fated mate but one look at him made me cringe in fear.

“Shift!” I shook my head vigorously, still with my eyes closed. I didn’t want him to see me naked! A low growl rumbled in his chest, getting louder as it traveled up to his throat. I could sense his fury as he took a step towards me.

“Shift right now!” I sputtered, feeling his hands gripping my neck. My eyes flew open as I gasped for air. From a standing position, he towered above me, the tendons in his wrists popping up as he applied pressure. My eyes bulged out and Hye whimpered, giving in to his demand. 

I shifted into my human self, lying totally bare and vulnerable at his feet. I couldn’t meet his eyes, but I knew he was staring at me. His fingers left my neck only to pick me up in his arms as if I weighed nothing! Without a word, he whirled with me cradled against his bare chest, carrying me towards the White Ridge Village! 

I couldn’t utter a word as I tried to cover myself with my long, dark, copper hair. At that moment, I desperately needed my clothes, but I couldn’t remember where I had left them when I shifted. 

“Please let me go home!” He grunted in response as he ran, zigzagging down the slopes as fast as lightning. “That’s White Ridge Village. Are you from there?” He grunted again but didn’t respond. A helicopter hovered over us and the creature waved at it. They air-dropped some clothes on us and the creature placed me down. 

“Wear them!” He wore his set of clothes while I fumbled with mine. Before I could zip up the jacket, he picked me up again and ran forward with the helicopter following us. What was going on? Aren’t we going to the White Ridge Village? Wasn’t he one of them? 

He whizzed past boulders away from the enemy territory with me flung over his shoulders as if I were just a rag doll! I struggled against his hold, but the man was too powerful for me. In fact, he exuded more power than my twin! How could that be possible? 

The aircraft sent its harness down, and he tightened it around us. In a split second, we were in mid-air as the copter air-lifted us, flying away to an unknown destination. I grabbed my enemy, squeezing my eyes shut. A fall from here would surely be fatal! Why couldn’t they hurry? 

At last, he hauled me into the aircraft and I opened my eyes to see I was still alive. Yes, I was. However, my relief flew out of the window the moment I saw the grim look on my captor’s face. Where was he taking me? Wasn’t he a member of the Whiteridge Pack? I couldn’t think of any other enemy. Did Alpha Oreias send him to get me? He opened the harness, and I scooted to the far end to struggle with the locked door. I wanted to escape the man, but he grabbed me and pulled me nearer. 

“You can’t escape me!” he hissed in my ear as he fixed my seat belt. Despite the deafening sound of the copter blades, I distinctly heard him. 

The helicopter left my little village and soared higher, flying towards some unknown destination. I panicked, realizing what was happening! The enemy had successfully abducted me, away from my family, my friends, my pack, and my village! The realization made me desperate, and I unbuckled the seat belt to scoot near the door on the opposite side. I would rather jump to my death than be at his mercy. 

In the blink of an eye, he grabbed me and pulled me back to his side. “Let me go. I’m not going anywhere with you!” I thrashed desperately, eager to get away, but he held me captive while his burning red eyes glared at me. He took out something from his pocket and injected it into my arm. My head swooned and I could feel myself losing consciousness! 

“No one can escape Felixe Andreadis. It’s payback time, Zephyrus Averoff!” 

Those were the last words I heard before my eyes closed!