3.

It was quiet. No, not quiet. Silent. At least at first. Then came the sound of trees as a gentle wind passed through its leaves, teasing, touching. The rush of water as if from a stream. I slowly open my eyes, squinting as the sun shines brightly on my face. Sitting up slowly, I find myself on a bed made of the softest leaves, as if someone had very carefully gathered them together, then placed me there. 

I take in my surroundings, my jaw dropping in awe at the absolute beauty before my eyes. I was sitting beneath what looked like a giant cherry blossom tree, the sun shining beautifully through its leaves. Nearby was the stream I had heard, its water so clear and pure, glistening like liquid silver in the bright sun. Everything looked brighter, more vivid, more beautiful than anything I had ever seen before. Even the bird sound was sharper, clearer. The air was fresh and crisp and carried a note of sweetness, almost a fruity taste. Mangoes, maybe? No, this was different. Everything in this place was different. It was ethereal.

Where the hell am I?

This has to be heaven. Which means that I’m dead.

Getting up, I notice a figure on the other side of the stream watching me, seeing me.

Slowly, carefully, I walk closer to the figure, unable to stop myself. It seemed to call me to it.

When I’m a few feet away, I notice that the figure has a feminine presence. She seems to be floating, her feet not quite touching the ground. Her hair was a pure, luscious river of white, her eyes a soft, piercing gray. She’s wearing some sort of wrap around her like a dress. The cloth is made from a material finer than any silk or satin I had ever seen. Her limbs were long and limber, her hips full and rounded. Her skin was a milky complexion, like the fairest of moon pearls. She looked and felt like the embodiment of a woman, yet her face wasn’t exactly human and not exactly werewolf. She looked…otherworldly.

I can feel waves of warmth and a stillness radiating from her; a quiet power, strength tempered by love. Somehow, I felt…safe? She smiles warmly at me and her eyes look amused. I only then realize that I’ve been staring at her this entire time.

“Who-  who are you?” I croak out, unable to believe what my mind tells me I’m seeing. “What is this place?”

“I am the one you called for, child. You are in the spirit world.” She says, her voice like the sweet music of a river flute.

I gasp as her words wash over me. It can’t be…

“Are you…?” I start, unable to complete the words yet desperately wanting to know.

“Yes, child. I am the moon goddess. The goddess of your parents and their parents before them. Mother of werewolves past and of those to come.” She says in a regal tone and I nearly tremble in awe. 

This is incredible!

“Goddess, I am honored to stand before you.” I say, the words spilling out of my mouth, as I drop to my knees, bowing my head to the ground on my hands, shaped in the circle I was taught to form in worship of the moon goddess.

“Stand up, child. I have decided to grant your request.” She says, her magic pulling me to my feet. I sway from the power of it, yet never look away, entranced by her beauty.

“What?” I whisper, confused as to what she must mean.”

“You shall have a second chance.” She says.

All of a sudden, she disappears in fog and then I’m falling into darkness again, the beautiful world gone in a flash.

***

For what feels like the hundredth time, I wake with a start, my heart pounding in my chest. My eyes jerk open and immediately, my ears adjust, trying to pick up any sound. I sit up in a rush, my eyes scanning my environment. I’m in a very strange room. It has concrete and brick walls. A couch sits in the corner of the room, a lamp here, a coffee table there…and then the bed I’m lying on in the center of the room. It seemed to be decorated very simply yet carried a subtle air of elegance and a modern touch. I was definitely not at home anymore.

I’m still trying to understand where exactly I am and how the hell I got here, blinking to clear the grogginess when I hear some noise in the distance.

“Alpha!” The word thunders through the air, hitting me like a brick.

Zach?!

I need to get out of here! If Zach knows I’m still alive, he might try to kill me again!

Swinging my feet out from under the blanket, I jump to my feet, panic racing through me. My ears stand alert, listening for signs of danger, my eyes scouring the unfamiliar room. 

Suddenly, the door to the room swings open and two hefty looking men come walking in, surprise on their faces. I jump over the bed to the other side, flinging anything and everything at them as panic and fear races pumps through me. One of them dodges a pillow I swing his way and take a step towards me and I scream. 

My eyes searching frantically for some sort of weapon, I lock on a bedside lap and grab it, smashing it against the table so I can use its jagged edges to defend myself.

“Alpha Selene-“  The man says, holding his hand out tentatively. 

Alpha? Selene? What?

I don’t wait for an explanation. Jabbing the lamp at the first man, I catch him by his arm, leaving him with a long gash. I make a run for it, dodging the other man who tries to grab me, I swing past him and smash the lamp on the back of his head, letting out a yelp as he growls in pain, slumping to the ground.

I throw open the door and dash towards what looks like the exit, the adrenaline carrying me swiftly. I barely register the cold marble beneath my feet as I speed through the long hallway, focused on one thing…getting out of here.

I finally get to the end and push the door open. Then I’m falling. 

Someone catches me and I gasp, relief flooding me at what could have been a very swift death had I hit the ground. 

I quickly push off of the person, struggling to regain my balance. I’m disoriented as nothing looks familiar. I wouldn’t know where to run if I tried. The large man standing in front of me wouldn’t have let me anyway. 

He towers over me at almost six feet and five inches. His dark wavy hair walls a little way off his face, framing the sharp edged rugged face. He stares at me with piercing blue eyes and a full, plump limp that’s currently bent into a concerned scowl. 

That’s when I realize he’s still holding me. The large, burly arms are covered in scars and tattoos that show through the light smattering of hair. His large arms hold firmly yet gently onto my arms. Large is an understatement. This man was a giant. His body radiated a warmth that couldn’t have been human. Werewolf. 

But there was something more… This man was powerful. I could feel it. It was a quiet wave of strength that he seemed to keep buried but goddess, was it powerful. Intoxicating.

My eyes finally travel back to his; locking. He was…

That’s when I felt it. The familiar simmering heat in my belly. The tingling sensation where our bodies made contact. The pull deep within me. It couldn’t be.

My wolf stirred again before growling out fiercely…mate.

I shuddered in the man’s arms, gasping as the realization flooded me. 

This man – this man I had never seen before – was my mate.

“What? How- how is this possible?” I whisper in disbelief, my feet giving out from beneath me. The man catches me in time, picking me up bridal style and stalks back through the hallway and into the room that is now a mess thanks to me. I’m too stunned to stop him,

He gently places me on the bed and asks one of the men who I assume are guards to fetch me a glass of water. While we wait, he regards me with quiet concern. Finally, the water comes and I decline…I can’t trust this man, no matter how badly my wolf wants me to.

The man sighs but doesn’t push me. 

“Who are you? Where the hell am i?” I ask, scared, confused.

“You’re safe, Selene. I promise. No one here’s going to hurt you.” He says, sitting in one of the chairs. 

“Selene-” He starts.

“Stop calling me that! Where am I?!” I scream, scurrying back into the bed. “Who are you?” 

“Okay, okay. Just calm down, okay?” He says, standing up to give me space, his hands raised in a gesture of peace. “My name’s Len. I’m your beta and your mate.”