Chapter 2

Everything that followed seemed to fall into place naturally.

On weekends, I would go watch his sparring matches, marveling at the raw power in his movements, the effortless way he dodged and struck. Even among the most talented young wolves, Alpha Jackson stood out—his instincts razor-sharp, his dominance undeniable.

And out of all the people offering him water after a grueling fight, he would only drink the one I brought.

"Gotta make sure my girl didn’t poison me," he’d joke, flashing a grin before downing it in one gulp.

When the weather turned chilly, he’d drape his jacket over my shoulders without a word, pretending not to notice the teasing whistles from his friends. But I saw the way his ears turned red, and I lived for it.

Alpha Jackson introduced me to his social circle, a mix of future warriors, betas, and carefree nobles who all treated me with surprising warmth. Because of him, I made an effort to be more outgoing, to fit into his world.

And eventually, I did.

But one evening after school, while everyone was hanging out near the training grounds, he suddenly cornered me against a wall, his golden eyes dark with something unfamiliar.

"Nicole, can you stay away from them?" His voice was low, almost a growl.

I blinked. "What?"

"I get really jealous."

For a moment, I was stunned. Then, I couldn’t help but laugh. In that instant, the great Alpha Jackson—strong, untouchable, confident—looked like a sulking little wolf pup.

Seeing me laugh, he sighed dramatically and ruffled my hair, grinning. "You little troublemaker, does it make you that happy to see me jealous?"

I nodded, still giggling, and his lips crashed against mine in response.

A kiss—unexpected but searing, filled with possessiveness that sent heat spiraling down my spine.

My heart pounded like a drum. His scent wrapped around me, leaving no room for anything else.

Jackson always felt like an exuberant pup, radiating warmth, his love pouring onto me like sunshine.

On the night of our 18th birthday ceremony.

Shifting for the first time was brutal. My body burned, bones cracking and reforming as my wolf—dormant for so long—finally emerged in a storm of pain and power.

Then, through the agony, I caught it.

That scent.

Pine and musk.

A voice roared in my head.

"Mate!"

When I lifted my head, panting, Jackson was already in front of me in his wolf form, golden eyes glowing under the full moon. He shifted back effortlessly, as if his body had never known pain, and walked toward me with a smile that made my breath hitch.

He reached out, gently patting my head as I trembled from the aftershocks of my first shift.

"Nicole, We're fated mates. Are you happy?"

I nodded almost dumbly, my wolf still howling with joy in my mind.

Word spread like wildfire. It was as if everyone had expected it all along.

Amidst the congratulations, I clung tightly to Jackson’s waist, still overwhelmed by everything that had happened.

Some teased me. "Nicole, you’ve struck gold."

"Alpha Jackson is famous for how well he treats people."

And I knew they were right. I had struck gold.

Jackson’s care for me was meticulous.

He remembered my cycle and always had warm brown sugar water ready before I even needed it.

He flooded his social media with pictures of me, proudly captioning them with things like "Mine." and "My little Luna."

And whenever I spiraled into self-doubt, he would stand up without hesitation, declaring to anyone who would listen, "Nicole is the most amazing person in the world. End of discussion."

So, when he suggested we move in together, I didn’t even think twice.

"You’re so wonderful," I told him, my heart swelling. "If you were fire, I’d willingly dive into the flames for you."

Later, as I was sorting through our clothes in the new apartment, he suddenly hugged me from behind, pressing his face into my shoulder.

I smiled, assuming he was in a playful mood, and lightly pushed at him—only to feel the dampness on his cheeks.

Stunned, I turned around.

"Jackson?"

His voice was barely above a whisper. "I found out about your parents."

Something in my chest twisted.

That night, he refused to let go of me, his arms locked around me like he could shield me from the past.

It was then that he whispered a promise in my ear, one that sank into my bones like a vow.

"Nicole, I’ll love you with everything I have."

"Including the love your parents would have given you."