Chapter 4

"Sienna, we are out! We are outside, away from that shit hole!" I screamed inwardly to my wolf, running as fast as my legs could carry me, tears of joy splattering over my face as I laughed cheerfully with my wolf, who seemed to be even happier than I was as it leaped and backflipped inside me with howls that had so much joy. 

"Yes!!! Yes!!! Baby! We did it! Just run faster to the village square, over to the forest, woods, rivers, and garden. We have a limited time, but we will enjoy it to the fullest!" She chirped, laughing for the first time, and I was amazed at how sweet I felt seeing her in such joy.

Since she appeared inside me as my mate, life has never been pleasant for us. You know, the day I turned into a vampire was the day she was assigned to me as my wolf. It was a nightmare to her too, as she huddled in the corner, helplessly, watching me become something else instead of taking her form. 

She knew we were doomed for having the vampire gene, and I was really surprised she didn't take her life and leave me wolfless. She decided to actually stand by me and be my only companion, even when it meant I might never be able to shift into her form and let her enjoy life like other wolves like her.

"Sienna, I'm sorry I can't shift to your form." I apologized, pitying her, but it seemed she had gotten really used to her fate and wasn't troubled about that.

"Are you going to lament that forever, including now? You're ruining this amazing moment! No time to cry, baby, we have our mate to find, you know?" She cackled and added more of her strength to my feet so I could run faster. 

Smiles were all over my face. I was grinning from ear to ear. The tears of joy wouldn't just stop as I really realized how lucky I was to have such a wolf who loves and brightens my mood, especially when she calls me baby. Sounds so cheeky and sweet.

"Don't mind me, little wolf. Let's go!!" I chuckled as we both made our ways, every sense heightened to evade the prying eyes of the few bodyguards on the route. It was an emergency path that might not have been used for many years, so it was the least guarded.

The cool breeze of the evening hit my skin and sparked shivers all over my body, sending sensations of warmth throughout my entire being.

This was the moment we were waiting for, dreaming all day and night to experience it in reality. It felt so completely surreal that at some point I thought it wasn't happening for real.

As I bolted my way through with all the speed I had, I began to hear noises and different voices from afar, which simply meant I was close to the village square already.

"We are close..." Sienna breathed, her excitement vivid in every word she spoke, and just in a few minutes, I bumped out into the square, and right in my eyes was the pack I was once counted among. Ranging from children—boys and girls—to the adults, almost all were outside in preparation for the full moon festival.

I could see groups of girls setting up for a run through the woods. The boys were also grouped together to make theirs alongside the ladies. It was fun for both of them—competing to be the fastest and falling in love all along.

When my life was still normal, I had always admired and dreamed of this evening run, enjoying how the males linked up with each of the girls the moment they all speed off at the same time. Friends are made, bonds are created, and mates find themselves in the thrilling sparks of connections with scent and eye contacts.

I looked forward to the day of my first shift when I turned 18, so I could join someday, but here I was, 19 years old, with no idea how it feels to shift into my wolf.

I felt emotional as I saw the happy smiles on everyone's faces. Some ladies speaking with the handsome guys all had their cheeks flushed pink as they laughed and blushed. It was a peaceful and amazing sight, and I could only walk and wonder when I would have that chance to live a normal life of harmony and love again. 

"Hey, don't you have any friend? Are you shy?!" Someone said to me from behind, and I only shook my head without sparing a glance at him. I didn't hear his voice again, so I turned and saw he had already gone back to his group of friends. 

The whistle blew, and the run began. Almost everyone in the square joined, including the mated adults, who do it just to refresh their memories of the past. To avoid suspicion, I dashed into the woods beforehand, running on foot. I had to hide behind a big tree when all the pack of wolves sprinted into the forest with full speed, their howls echoing through the dimly lit, silent environment, with crickets and birds chirping and singing in their own tunes.

They all waved past me, and I stayed hidden till their howls grew quieter and faded. I jumped out of my hiding place and began my own solo run.

"Heyyyy...here we come!" My inner wolf's cheeky voice rang in my ears as I sprinted, jumped, whirled, laid flat on the ground, and strolled in pleasure and enjoyment as the breeze slapped my skin harder.

"Yes, we are free!!" I shouted, taking a full breath of the warm air as they brushed against my skin. I stared up at the sky, which was almost covered with the big branches of trees, and I could see the sun setting, leaving the sky painted with hues of orange and pink.

It was signaling the end of another day and the beginning of the night, which was to be the best moment for every wolf but a dreadful one for me. The sound of crickets and chirping birds filled the air, creating a symphony of natural music.

I took a deep breath, taking in the fresh scent of the blooming flowers that lined among the trees and shrubs, pushing back that scary thought of what I would face at the full moon festival. I shouldn't ruin the moment.

"Let us go to our favorite river. It must be missing us. Remember, no one knows about that particular river. We found it ourselves." My wolf reminded me, and I zoomed in with no hesitation, throwing my head back in unrestrained laughter with my wolf. 

I felt lonely, but made sure I did everything to create my own happiness from nothing. 

After several miles, we finally got there, and my heart sank as I saw a guy sitting in the same spot, which was my favorite position. He was backing me, and both of his legs were dipped inside the rippling water. His eyes were fixed on the gentle flow, and he seemed so lost in its mesmerizing rhythm that he didn't notice my presence.

But what stunned me most was the fact that someone else had found this river too. I never thought of that because it wasn't an easy road to get here. You must get pricked and stung by thorns because the paths are deserted and covered with large shrubs.

"I think we should leave now that he hasn't noticed us. He must be one of our pack members, and once he sees me, he will report immediately." I whispered to Sienna, but I realized she wasn't listening to me. Her eyes were glued to the guy, and something seemed to be brooding inside her.

"Why are you staring at him like that?!" I asked, and the next minute, she pulled my legs closer instead of backwards, causing me to almost fall.

"What are you doing?!" I mouthed.

"He isn't a werwolf." She muttered under her breath, and I gasped loudly, covering my mouth as I realized she wasn't lying after sniffing at him. He doesn't have our scent, but the mild smell he was emitting was very familiar to me.

He pulled out his legs from the water and stood tall in his towering height, his bare back ripped and studded with strong muscles. Just then, while I was still standing there watching him, he suddenly steered to my direction, and like a flash of light, he was already in front of me, close enough to feel his breath as he paused his attack and gave me a quizzical look.

My breath hitched, and I felt my heart skip a beat and begin to race like it was in a marathon race. His eyes were so beautiful—a pair of piercing green eyes that were like rare gems and seemed like they were seeing through me.

He was tall and towered over my small figure with those shirtless broad shoulders and muscular chest that gave him a real domineering and masculine figure. His wet, dark hair was slicked back, with strands clinging to his scalp.

Beads of water hung from the tips of his hair, reflecting light and adding a touch of sheen. His eyebrows were raised, and his eyelashes were damp, making his eyes appear brighter and more vibrant.

I was lost, far from the fear that he initially wanted to instill in me from his sudden attack. I was instead drowning in admiration and the overwhelming feeling of something I couldn't understand. This man was the most handsome man I had ever seen, and his presence around me was taking over my mind and igniting a sudden rush of warmth that spread from my chest to every part of my skin.

My heart was beating, and I knew it was beating for this stranger that I know nothing about. The most shocking part was that he had no mate scent to tell me he was mine, but both of us were just frozen, gazing at each other.

His chiseled jawline looked like it had been carefully sculpted, and his full, pink lips looked like they were waiting to be kissed.

I was completely smitten, and my heart was fluttering in a way it had never done before, especially with the way his hypnotic eyes rested on mine. Gosh!