Chapter 2

The more I thought about it, the more thrilled I became.

By the time I got off the plane, night had already fallen.

To my surprise, a large group of werewolves had gathered under the moonlit sky to celebrate a bonding ceremony.

They danced wildly around the fire, beat drums with feral rhythm, and howled in unison with the wind.

The trees were adorned with glowing moonstones, twinkling like stars in the darkness.

Young pups dashed around the bonfire, their paws thudding against the ground, eyes gleaming with excitement.

They darted between legs and leapt through smoke, shouting and giggling, pleading for candies with eager little howls.

The elder wolves stood by the fire, laughing heartily as they tossed sweets high into the air.

The pups squealed with joy, some laughing so hard they tumbled over each other, others blinking through happy tears as they clutched their prizes close.

The night was wild with warmth, laughter, and the kind of magic only childhood could bring.

While everyone else was basking in the joy of the celebration, I noticed a she-wolf sitting all alone in a dim corner. Her wedding veil hung low over her face, and her head was bowed as silent sobs shook her shoulders.

Her tears had soaked the front of her ceremonial dress, and the fabric clung to her like sorrow itself.

My heart ached at the sight. I quietly walked over and knelt beside her, speaking in a gentle whisper:

"Dear... why are you crying? Being claimed is supposed to be a joyful thing."

But she didn't even glance at me.

I hesitated, then opened the small pouch I carried and fumbled through its contents until I found the little armor charm I had made during the flight.

I held it out to her.

"Here, this is for you. Please... don't cry. I hope it brings you some strength."

But the moment she saw the charm, her sobs grew louder.

"I… I don't want to be his mate," she choked, her voice barely above a whisper.

My breath caught. You don't want to…?

But how could she refuse? How could anyone refuse a claiming?

She wiped her face with trembling fingers, and her voice dropped to a hoarse whisper.

"Let me tell you the truth, dear," she said bitterly. "I'm not the mate Commander Johnson in Texas was supposed to bond with. His true mate… she ran away before the ceremony. So his clan forced me to take her place."

"Maybe you all think I'm the ungrateful one—the she-wolf who didn't thank the Moon Goddess for giving her such a perfect mate.

After all, isn't Commander Johnson the dream of every young she-wolf?

His wolf is strong, fierce, admired by the entire pack.

Everyone says he's destined to become an Alpha one day.

But no one ever asked me—do I already have a mate? Am I waiting to be claimed by the one I truly love?

Of course not. Why would they?"

My wolf sprang up inside me, howling in disbelief:

"No! She must be wrong. Commander Jonson in Texas is my mate! How could she possibly think she's the one meant to bond with him?"

I stood frozen for a moment, the world tilting in silence. Then, as clarity returned, a strange calm washed over me. I let out a slow breath… and smiled.

"You're mistaken," I said gently, but firmly. "I am the one who's meant to be claimed by Commander Jonson. The mate who ran away…

That was me."

The she-wolf stopped sobbing. Her body stiffened, and she stared at me, eyes wide in stunned silence.

I explained everything to her, gently and carefully.

"Our bond was arranged by our clans when I was just nine years old. The reason I ran away… the reason I came all the way here by plane… was because I was afraid.

I was terrified Commander Jonson would see me as nothing but a useless she-wolf with a broken memory.

I thought if I waited quietly in Texas, maybe… maybe he'd come to find me himself.

I loved him. I still do. How could I ever want to run from our bond?"

At my words, the she-wolf burst into laughter in disbelief—and then nodded fiercely, eyes glistening.

"Yes! Yes, it must be you! His mate bond had been arranged when he was merely nine years old."Everyone knew—our governor, Commander Johnson!"

I felt a wave of relief crash over me.

She clutched my hands tightly, tears running down her cheeks as she pressed her wedding dress into my arms.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice trembling, as if she didn't know how to put her gratitude into words.

I took the dress with both hands and slowly slipped on the wedding veil. My wolf stirred wildly inside me, trembling with anticipation and emotion.

"Don't thank me," I murmured with a small smile, trying—and failing—to hide the thrill in my voice.

"If anyone should apologize… it's me. Because I nearly destroyed your chance to be with the mate you truly love."

"So don't cry anymore. Go find your mate—and be happy, truly happy.

When I see Commander Jonson… I'll explain everything to him myself. I'll make sure he tells his clan the truth."

When I sat in the wedding car, I could hear the werewolves honking their horns in unison. Joyful images decorated the car—moons, claws, and symbols of our bond gleaming under the twilight. Their howls and laughter echoed through the vast land of Texas, wild and unrestrained.

My wolf was ecstatic, her heart pounding at the sight of so many pack members dancing and celebrating. The whole place was bustling with energy, a whirlwind of drums, cheers, and swirling moonlight.

"I couldn't help but smile—David had always cared bout me and put his heart into building our bond, hadn't he? Why hadn't I seen it all along?"

"After I got out of the wedding car, I walked through the applauding crowd and stopped right at the center of the ceremony. The lights dimmed to darkness, leaving only a few candles flickering gently in the breeze.

Through the sheer veil, I could barely make out David's figure. Had he grown taller? We hadn't seen each other for just a few days, yet he seemed more distant—and more solemn.

With the crowd cheering all around, he stepped toward me—closer and closer. My hands clutched the edge of my gown, heart pounding with anticipation. But just when he was only a few steps away, a guard burst into the hall, breathless and pale.

'Commander! Bad news—there's a massive fire just outside the territory!'

The message was too urgent to ignore. Without even removing his wedding suit, David turned and rushed out, leaving behind the flickering candles, stunned guests, and me—frozen in place."

After he left the hall, he suddenly paused at the door, as if remembering something.

"I'm sorry, my mate. I just realized… it's our bonding day today." His voice was softer than usual—tired, almost worn down. Working in Texas must have taken a toll on him.

"Please get some rest. You don't have to wait up for me."

I panicked, afraid he might feel guilty. I called out after him, my voice urgent and trembling.

"It's okay! Today doesn't matter… and neither does tomorrow. There's nothing to worry about!"

"I—I'll always wait for you to come back."

My wolf whispered gently inside me, her voice full of quiet devotion: "Of course it doesn't matter, David. I'm used to waiting for you."

I saw him pause again. Then he let out a soft, almost imperceptible laugh.

"Perfect, my dear. I'll come back as soon as I can."

"I was so anxious when I went to tell Commander Johnson the news. I honestly thought you'd be furious... I mean, he left you alone on such an important day."

When I returned to the living room, the nearby guard couldn't help but try to comfort me. He glanced at me, clearly trying to gauge my reaction. Once he realized I wasn't angry, his tense shoulders eased.

"It seems our Commander Johnson has a very understanding mate," he murmured with admiration.

I removed the wedding veil and turned to head upstairs. A servant greeted me nervously, bowing slightly as she offered a gentle apology.

"Please don't be upset, madam. Our commander is truly overwhelmed with responsibilities."

I gave a gentle smile. "How could I possibly be angry with him? Truly—I'm not upset at all."

Inside, my wolf let out a soft, peaceful sigh, her voice calm and warm with understanding.

I waved my hand lightly and added, "If that fire gets out of control, innocent wolves could lose their lives. It's only right he went. I understand."

David didn't come back the entire night. It wasn't until midnight that I heard from the servants—he needed more battle gear, and it was up to me to find them so the guards could deliver them to him in the morning.

When I opened his wardrobe, I was surprised to find that after only a few days apart, David's battle gear was already worn out—many pieces were damaged and hadn't been repaired.

I was wide awake by then, probably because my wolf was still thrilled by the joyous celebration and hadn't calmed down yet.

So, without hesitation, I lit a candle and began repairing the gear in the dim light.

In the past, David often praised my handiwork—said I was quick and precise, and always begged me to make new gear for him.

But ever since his promotion, with so many servants at his disposal, he no longer wore the gear I made.

He didn't even let me touch his equipment anymore.

But now that I was his mate and could finally help him with his duties, a deep happiness welled up from the bottom of my heart.

I carefully mended each piece of the damaged gear, and even tucked a small picture of Pearl inside his helmet—a little blessing to keep him safe.

As dawn began to break and the sky lightened faintly, I fell asleep clutching the gear in my arms.

It felt like someone sat at the edge of my bed while I slept. My vision was hazy, but I sensed a figure watching me quietly.

He didn't wake me. Instead, he gently draped a blanket over me and softly brushed a hand across my forehead.

I heard the door closed gently behind him and caught his low voice as he gave quiet instructions to the servants outside.

"My grandmother will be arriving tomorrow afternoon. You've served her before, so you should be familiar with her habits—and her temper.

Please, speak kindly on Madam's behalf. Don't let Grandma make things difficult for her."