Chapter 1

Ravynna's POV

“I will wait for you.” was the last thing Kael had said to me the day I left the pack and it's been six years since I had last seen him… six years since he made that promise and not a single day has passed without my heart yearning for him.

From the moment we entered Red Moon, my heart just couldn't stop pounding hard against my chest at the thought of how close I was to seeing him.

So many what ifs had tried to infiltrate my thoughts but all the promises we made on the night before I left for the capital, constantly pushed them to the back of my mind.

The Kael that had grown up with me wouldn't promise me forever and break it in six years of not being in contact.

A part of me wished that I wasn't chosen by the Alpha King to be a representative of the all-wolves alliance because that meant I wouldn't be away from him.

But it was an honor for a girl to attend the most powerful center to learn at the cost of not being in contact with anyone.

Oh Goddess, I missed him so much… a smile filled my face at the memories we had created.

I wondered if he would still remember our secret handshake or was six years long enough to make him change?

Call me foolish but I still could remember back when we were puppies that Kael had called me his favorite person.

I stared at my reflection back in the mirror, over the couple of years I had grown in arrears I was lacking at seventeen but never had I considered moving on from my crush.

It also made me wonder how the years had favored him although in my eyes he lacked nothing and had always been perfect.

Back then before I left, my parents had been speaking with the Alpha King’s envoy, and I had been trying to memorize the sight of Kael.

He was tall but lean, with a grin that would always make my heart thump so hard against my chest…he knew how he made me feel.

His hair had been a mess of brown curls, and his eyes were the kind of blue that made you think of rivers and freedom, they were his biggest assets.

We hadn’t talked about the promise but his eyes never left mine while I thought of the words he had whispered to me the previous night while we were sprawled out on the grass strung at the stars.

“Even if you’re not my mate, I'll never choose anyone else because we are made for each other” he’d said that night.

It had been childish, and sweet but I had sworn to do the same without even realizing how much those words would root themselves into me and hence shape every decision I made afterward.

When the time had come to leave, he had pressed a velvet box into my hand and I only got to open it when I got to the school.

Inside was a pair of silver necklace, which he had told me they had belonged to his mother, a gift from his father before they’d even been mated.

“So you don’t forget me,” he’d said with a grin.

I clasped my hands around the necklace, I had worn them nearly every day for six years.

The guards recognized me instantly and swung the gates open before I could say a word.

News had likely already spread that the Alpha's daughter was back from the capital.

No one really approached me or ran into my arms but their smiles and greetings were warm, but I could see the curiosity in their eyes especially when they didn't see any man step out of the car after I did.

Having gained favor in the capital, it was expected that someone had asked for my hand.

At twenty-two, any unmated wolf was a subject of gossip but a twenty-two with no romantic history whatsoever was practically unheard of.

Not that it mattered. I hadn’t wanted anyone else.

My parents were waiting at the door and as soon as the door opened, all I saw was my mother's auburn hair as she pulled me into a hug.

She smelled like home.

My father’s arms came next without hers leaving mine and we stayed there for a while as I soaked in their warmth.

I missed them so much.

“You’ve grown so much, I knew that the Capital can't crush my daughter.” my father said with pride as he took in my appearance.

I laughed softly, boring my lips from telling him that it tried… so many times but I had to stay.

As I ate, they asked about everything from the reception to my training, the council meetings, the alliances forged and tested.

I told them what I could without breaking the Alliance’s confidentiality before inevitably, the question came.

“You didn't bring anyone home? It's no rumor that being the first female in the alliance you were sort after…” Dad started.

But mom interrupted her green eyes twinkling in curiosity, “Or perhaps you haven't found your mate yet?”

I shook my head, my pulse skipping, “No. Not yet.”

They exchanged a glance that made my heart skip.

I knew that look.

“We’ve been considering arranging a marriage,” my father said gently, as though he was trying to soften the blow.

“You’re our only child and a strong bond with the right pack could go a long way.”

I forced myself to breathe slowly, hoping they would call his name as I asked, “Who did you have in mind?”

At that, their faces lit up in a way that made my chest ache, “Well a couple, but we needed your approval first,” my mother said, smiling.

I zoned out, fear slowly crippled into my daydream.

If they hadn't mentioned him then there was something I should know.

I don't know how long I zoned out for but Dad's words brought me back to the present.

“I know you are just as curious about Kael so we'd let you go see for yourself, his Pack needs our support right now more than ever… so I was thinking we start from him”

“Why? What happened?” I interrupted, my voice sharper than I intended for it to be.

My father’s expression darkened.

“About two months ago, there was an attack and they suffered heavy losses, many warriors killed and His father was badly injured.”

My heart twisted at the thought of how Kael was handling the burden alone.

His father had been a very important figure in his life.

“They need a strong pack to stand beside them, and even though we have sent a couple of our warroirs…we still believe with you being there from the capital will favour him” my father continued.

It was everything I had ever wanted.

I was already picturing the reunion and the smile that will I'll his face when he sees me, and the warmth of his arms after mine.

As I retreated to my room, my mother followed me in, shutting the door behind her.

“There’s something you should know before you get your hopes too high.” she whispered.

My smile faltered a bit, “What is it?”

She hesitated, then spoke the words that shattered the imaginations I’d been building in my mind.

“I heard… Kael found his mate about a year ago.”

My breath caught in my throat as the necklace suddenly felt so heavy.

I didn’t know if my heart was breaking, or if it was just bracing for what I could already feel coming.

It’s been six years and he still hasn't left my mind but judging from the way mom spoke, he must have chosen her.

And as she left, I broke down into silent tears.