CHAPTER 1

NATALIA

I fisted my hair in my hands, feeling the tension building up in my body. My parents, the alpha and the luna of our Vega pack, had been missing for ten days now. Ten fucking days without any word from them. I tried calling their phones and the pack's landline, but none of my calls went through. It was as if they had vanished into thin air.

Sitting beside me on the couch was my boyfriend, Knight Adriatico. We've been together since our first year of university. Knight was the guy with a lot of filthy money from his parents. He was in his final year of Archaeology, but right now, he was my rock, the one person who could calm me down.

"I don't know, Knight," I said, my voice trembling. "I'm so worried about them."

"Hey, hey," Knight said, putting his arm around me. "Calm down, babe. At least let go of your hair or you're gonna get bald."

I took a deep breath and released my hair from my grip. "I'm sorry," I said, feeling embarrassed for my outburst.

"It's okay," Knight said, taking my hand in his. "I'm sure they are fine. It might be something going on in your pack that's why your parents could not get in touch with you for the time being."

I looked at Knight, trying to find solace in his reassuring smile. He slowly opened my fist to let me free my hair and lightly squeezed my hand. His touch was soothing, and for a moment, I felt calm. But the worry was still there, gnawing at me from the inside.

"I hope you're right," I said, leaning into Knight's embrace. "I just can't shake off this feeling that something bad has happened."

"I know," Knight said, pulling me closer to him. "But we'll get through this together. I'll be here for you, no matter what."

I closed my eyes, feeling grateful for Knight's presence in my life. He was my rock, my anchor, and my support system. With him by my side, I knew I could face any challenge that came my way.

I opened my eyes and looked at Knight. He was still holding my hand, his eyes filled with concern. I knew he loved me, and I loved him too. But sometimes, I couldn't help but feel guilty for being with him.

I'm his happiness. And it's not like I doubt his loyalty or anything, but sometimes my heart aches for him, for his feelings for me. It's so real that I sometimes feel like I'm betraying him. Not because I'm becoming a bitch or going home with other boys, ditching him, but because he's a human, and I'm a werewolf.

Being a werewolf meant that I had a life span that was longer than humans. It also meant that I would have to watch Knight grow old and die while I remained young and strong. The thought of losing him one day was unbearable, and it made me question if being with him was worth the heartache.

"Knight," I said, my voice shaking. "Do you ever think about our future? About what's going to happen when I...when I...?"

"When you what?" Knight asked, his brow furrowed.

"When I...when I outlive you," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Knight's expression softened, and he pulled me into his arms. "I don't care about that," he said, his voice firm. "I don't care how long we have together, as long as we're happy in the present. I love you, Natalia, and I want to be with you for as long as I can."

Tears welled up in my eyes, and I hugged him back, feeling grateful for his words. He didn't care that I was a werewolf, and that meant the world to me.

"I love you too," I said, my voice muffled by his chest.

We sat there in silence for a few minutes, just holding each other. I felt safe in his arms, and for a moment, I forgot about my worries. But the thought of my missing parents lingered at the back of my mind, reminding me of the uncertainty of life.

As if sensing my thoughts, Knight squeezed me tighter. "We'll find them, Natalia," he said. "We'll do whatever it takes to bring them back."

I nodded, feeling a sense of determination building up inside me. With Knight by my side, I knew we could face any challenge that came our way. Together, we were unstoppable.

After a few moments, I pulled away from Knight and looked at him. "Knight, I'm planning to set up a meeting for you with my parents," I said, my voice determined.

Knight looked surprised, but his expression quickly turned into a smile. "Really?" he said, his eyes shining with excitement. "I'd love that, Natalia."

I nodded. "I want to give you a fair chance to have a meeting with my parents before they reject you for not being a werewolf," I said, my voice serious.

Knight's smile faltered a little, and I could see the worry in his eyes. "Do you think they'll accept me?" he asked.

I shrugged. "I'm not sure," I said honestly. "But I want to try. My parents love me, and they want me to be happy. I'm sure they'll see that you make me happy, even if you're not a werewolf."

Knight nodded, looking thoughtful. "I'll do my best," he said, his voice determined.

I smiled, feeling a sense of relief. It wasn't going to be easy, but I knew that Knight was the one for me, and I was willing to fight for our relationship.

"I know you will," I said, leaning in to kiss him. "Thank you for being here for me, Knight. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Knight wrapped his arms around me, holding me close. "I'll always be here for you, Natalia," he said, his voice soft. "No matter what happens."

We stayed there, wrapped up in each other's arms, feeling the warmth of our love surrounding us. It was a moment of pure bliss, a moment where nothing else mattered except for the love we shared. I knew that there would be challenges ahead, but as long as we had each other, we could face anything.

Babe, let me bring something to drink, let's lose some stress, look at your face you've got eye bags with worry. You need to calm down." Knight's voice pulled me out of my trance, and I slowly lifted my gaze to meet his concerned eyes. He was always so attentive to my needs, and I couldn't help but feel a rush of love for him.

He got up from the couch and planted a light kiss on my forehead before disappearing into the kitchen to bring me some juice. I could hear him rummaging through the groceries, making me sigh. How could this guy never find anything at the right time? I knew he meant well, but his constant fumbling could be frustrating at times.

As I sat on the couch, I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by the weight of my worries. The past few days had been a rollercoaster ride of emotions, and my mind was racing with thoughts and doubts. The looming deadlines and unfinished projects at work were taking their toll on me, and I could feel the stress slowly creeping in.

I got up lazily and dragged my body to the kitchen. As I reached the threshold, I leaned my body against the wooden frame and watched Knight fidgeting around. He was trying to find the right juice, but the carton seemed to elude him.

I couldn't help but chuckle at his antics. "Let me help you," I said, walking over to him.

He looked up at me and smiled, his eyes softening with affection. "Thanks, babe."

Together, we found the juice, and he poured me a glass. As I took a sip, I felt the cool liquid soothe my throat, and a sense of calm washed over me. Knight was right; I needed to take a break and relax.

"Thank you," I said, looking at him gratefully.

He took my hand and led me back to the couch. "Don't worry, everything will be okay. We'll face it together," he said, pulling me into his arms.

As Knight held me, I could feel my worries slowly dissipating. His calming presence always had a way of putting me at ease. But just then, my phone began to buzz, interrupting our peaceful moment. I reached my hand into my pocket to silence it, but eventually, I took it out and saw it was a call I was desperately waiting for the past few days.

I could feel my heart rate quicken as I answered the call, unsure of what to expect. "Hello?" I said, my voice shaky with anticipation.

The voice on the other end was unfamiliar, but the words they spoke sent a chill down my spine. "We need to talk," they said, their tone ominous.

I could feel the color drain from my face as I listened. My mind raced with possibilities, and I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease.