CHAPTER 2: THE IMPOSSIBLE MATE

NOAH’S POV

The words had barely left my lips when my wolf howled. Not a triumphant howl, Not the joyful cry of a wolf that had found his fated mate. It was a howl filled with fear. The sound ripped through Oakridge Forest, silencing the entire village in an instant.

Every wolf froze. Every warrior stiffened. Even the wind seemed to stop. I stood rooted to the ground, my heart pounding violently against my ribs.

Inside me… My wolf trembled. I had never felt him like this before. Not once in my twenty-four years. “What is wrong with you?” I demanded through our mind link. He didn’t answer. Instead, another wave of fear crashed over me. It wasn’t mine. It was his. I clenched my fists. Impossible. My wolf feared nothing. He had faced rogue Alphas twice his size without hesitation. He had fought in battles that left rivers stained with blood. He had stood before creatures spoken of only in legends. Never… Not once… Had he been afraid. Until today, Until her. I lifted my eyes.

The young woman still stood exactly where I’d left her. She looked completely bewildered. Her gray eyes searched my face, silently asking questions I couldn’t answer. Why had I walked straight toward her? Why had I whispered those words? “I’ve been looking for you.” The memory made my chest tighten. I frowned. Looking for her? I had never seen her before today. At least…I didn’t think I had. Then why had those words come so naturally?

It was as if someone else had spoken through me, Or something. A dull ache settled behind my eyes. For the briefest moment, unfamiliar images flashed through my mind.

Moonlight.

Silver flames.

A child’s laughter.

Then they were gone before I could understand them.

“My Prince?” Gideon’s voice pulled me back to reality. Gideon was my best-friend and right hand man, He was staring at me with obvious concern. “Are you alright?” I realized the entire village was watching, Waiting. Expecting me to explain why the future Lycan King had suddenly howled in the middle of a welcoming ceremony.

I couldn’t, Because I didn’t know. “I’m fine,” I answered. The lie tasted bitter. Gideon didn’t look convinced. Neither did the warriors standing behind him. Their expressions were filled with confusion. Then their attention shifted toward the girl. I followed their gaze. The villagers had slowly begun moving away from her.

One step.

Then another.

As though she carried a deadly disease. Whispers spread through the square.

“I told you she was cursed.”

“The Prince’s wolf feared her.”

“She’s brought misfortune to Oakridge Forest.”

“The Hollow Girl…”

The words reached my ears. I saw her shoulders stiffen. She heard every one of them. She lowered her head, pretending not to care. But I caught the hurt in her eyes. She hadn’t done anything. She hadn’t spoken a single word. Yet everyone had already decided she was dangerous. My wolf growled softly. Not at her, but at the fear surrounding her. Then he spoke again, His voice was unusually quiet.

“Leave”. I frowned and asked “Why?” “Because if you stay…” He hesitated. For the first time in my life… My wolf sounded uncertain. “…everything will change”.

Before I could question him further, the connection between us fell silent. No matter how hard I reached for him, he refused to speak again. A strange unease settled over me. I looked at the girl one last time. She was still staring at me, Confused, Frightened. Completely unaware that she had shaken the strongest wolf in the kingdom.

“This cannot be,” I whispered.

The words escaped before I realized I had spoken aloud. “My Prince?” Gideon asked. I forced myself to look away. “We’re leaving.” His eyes widened. “But Your Highness, the welcoming ceremony has only just begun.”

“I said we’re leaving.” The authority in my voice left no room for argument. The royal guards immediately obeyed. Within moments, they formed around me. I mounted my horse without another word. As we rode away from the village, I glanced back once. The girl remained standing alone in the center of the square. No one stood beside her anymore. The distance between her and the villagers seemed to grow with every passing second. Something about that bothered me more than it should have.

The journey back to the capital was unusually quiet.

No one dared speak until Oakridge Forest had disappeared behind us. Finally, Gideon guided his horse closer to mine. “I’ve known you for years,” Gideon said quietly. “I’ve never seen your wolf react like that before.” silence…

“I’ve seen wolves recognize their mates.” he continued “I’ve seen wolves reject enemies.”

“But I’ve never seen a wolf react the way yours did.”

Neither had I. I thought to myself.

He hesitated before asking the question weighing on everyone’s mind. “My Prince… Was that girl your mate?” The question lingered in the evening air. I closed my eyes briefly. If she were my mate… Why had my wolf howled in fear instead of joy?

Nothing about today made sense. “I don’t know,” I admitted. It was the only honest answer I had.

As night settled over the forest, my wolf finally stirred again. Only one sentence echoed inside my mind. “Find her… before they do”. My grip tightened around the reins. “Who?” I asked. “Who’s coming for her?” Silence. My wolf had retreated once more. But this time… He left me with a feeling I couldn’t shake. The girl I’d met today wasn’t the danger. She was the one in danger.