Chapter 3

Tristan

An exhausted yawn left my lips as I crashed onto my living room sofa, dropping my car keys on the table in front of me. My limbs ached from the long trip. This was my first business visit to the adjacent pack since I was handed the responsibility of Alpha. Our packs didn't have much collaboration until now, under Alpha Zayn's reign.

I wouldn't really say I had the ambition for the position. But as the first son of Alpha Jake—one of the most formidable leaders of the SwainRidge pack during his time. I was expected, as the eldest, to lead after him.

And that was how I became the Alpha, while my brother Henry became my Beta.

A sharp knock sounded on my door, followed by it swinging open. And the devil himself walked in—Beta Henry.

I call him the devil because he always causes trouble for me, despite being outgoing and adored by everyone around him. "If you're here to feed me information about pack affairs, hold it in, because right now all I need is sleep. I'm already exhausted from the long trip," I warned.

But of course, Henry never listens. Even as Beta, he sometimes makes decisions without informing me. And because he grew up doing whatever he wanted, I find it hard to scold him. Henry has a way of getting on your nerves—and twisting things to his advantage.

He sank into the empty couch next to me, leaning back like he owned the place. "Come on, brother. Stop acting like the pack is terrifying."

I threw him a glare. I already had enough on my plate. Letting Henry get on my nerves would only make matters worse, so I chose silence.

"But you know what?" he said. "I have a solution. You need something to distract you and relieve your stress."

"I don't need anything but rest, Beta Henry."

He blinked, lips pressed into a thin line. "You didn't even hear what I was going to propose, Alpha Tristan."

I rolled my eyes, running my fingers over my temple. "I don't need to hear it. You'll just end up causing trouble again."

He grinned. "Trust me, I won't." Then he leaned forward. "There's this party in town. Very organized. All the young generation will be there. I think it's exactly what you need. And who knows? It might be your chance to finally find your mate." He ended with a wink.

I shot him another glare. Mate? I don't think I have any hope left. I'm twenty-five and haven't found her yet. What difference would this party really make?

Henry's voice pulled me from my thoughts. "What do you think? Let's go and enjoy ourselves. Look at some beautiful girls."

"You're a Beta. You're supposed to be thinking about how to protect the pack, not about girls," I scolded.

He didn't even flinch. "Well... I can't chain my life to the pack. I need to explore. You need it too. So let's go to that damn party and explore."

And just like that, I followed Henry. Not because he forced me—but because of the tiny hope in the pit of my stomach that believed his words. Maybe... just maybe.

Half an hour into the club, I was already half-drunk thanks to all the drinks Henry made me take—which wasn't the plan. I'd meant to sip one drink slowly until it was time to leave. But all that flew out the window the moment my eyes locked on a particular figure.

I didn't know her. Or where she came from. But something moved in my chest when I saw her. And when she turned her gaze—eyes scanning the room before landing on mine—I knew I was done for. Everything around me went still. Henry's endless talking, the music, the dancing crowd—all of it faded.

My eyes were locked on hers, the same way hers were locked on mine. And just like that, my body moved on its own, walking toward her. When I stopped in front of her and got a closer look at her eyes, I knew it then—I had found her. And I'd be damned if I didn't make the most of tonight. Just like Henry said.

**

I was wide awake the next morning, staring at the sleeping beauty beside me. A part of her hair covered her face, and the urge to brush it away overtook me. I reached out, gently brushing it to the side. But in the process—trying not to wake her—my hand grazed her skin.

And that's when I felt it. The familiar pull in my chest. The mate bond.

My eyes widened. She was my mate. The same girl who didn't know who I was, yet allowed me to touch her. Damn. 

I'd never felt anything as strong or powerful as I did last night. As soon as I saw her, I was drawn. Maybe the alcohol clouded our senses, making us unable to recognize the mate bond. But the Moon Goddess knew what she was doing.

She brought me to the club to meet my mate.

A smile curved my lips.But the excitement was cut short when my phone buzzed on the nightstand. Seeing the caller's name made me hiss.

I looked at my mate's beautiful face one last time. I just needed to attend to this meeting quickly and get back before she woke up—it was still early. Slipping into my clothes, I left.

I'd expected the meeting to last ten, maybe fifteen minutes. But it dragged on far longer than expected. By the time I returned to the hotel, I found the manager locking the door.

"Why are you locking the door?" I asked.

"No one is inside, sir. I chased her out. These young girls sneaking into men's rooms to steal—"

"Shut it!" I seethed. He didn't know a damn thing about her. How dare he throw her out? I didn't even know her name.

"You should think twice before taking such action again or you'll lose your job before your eyes."

The expression on my face was enough to make him shrink. "I'm sorry, sir. I thought—"

"Shut up and get away from here," I snapped. With a nod, he fled.

Finding a beautiful girl wouldn't be hard, I told myself.

I would find her.

⸻

A month has passed. Yet I haven't found her—or a single clue.

I didn't think it would be this hard to find someone. So I sought help from my brother. Henry knows more people than I do.

One evening, after finishing a meeting with pack members and returning to my room, Henry arrived with news.

"The girl you're looking for I found out she's Alpha Zayn's younger sister."

"Are you sure?" I asked, already planning how to approach the situation.

"You know I don't give false information."

That was all I needed. I waited for the next meeting and confronted Alpha Zayn afterward.

"So, Alpha Zayn... may I ask a personal question?"

He relaxed in his seat, but his expression remained unreadable. "Go on."

"Do you have a sister?"

For a second, he went still. Eyes locked on mine. Something flickered there I saw the way he swallowed before answering.

"No. I don't."

For some reason, I didn't believe him. But I didn't press further.

When I got back home, my father requested my presence. My thoughts were already consumed by her whether I'd ever find her when he cleared his throat.

"Tristan, it's been a couple of months since you were handed the Alpha position. It's time for you to settle down," he said seriously. "You haven't found your mate yet, but that doesn't mean you settle down with a wife. I want you to meet Kayla this weekend. The engagement can take place the following week. I've already spoken with her father."

Kayla's father, Max, and mine have been friends for many years. He wants me to marry Kayla to strengthen our alliance.

What he doesn't know... is that I've already found my Luna. I need to find her. Fast.

"Father, I understand what this means to you and to the pack but I ask that you give me a little time. Let's push the engagement forward a bit." 

I must find her. At all costs.