Chapter 5

Sophia's POV

"I love you Sophia."

"Everyone who loves you will abandon you,"

I sat in the dingy dungeon staring at the tiny window above me as those words echoed in my head painfully.

Outside this window was the forest that I had died in such a short time ago at the hands of that conniving little whore.

Who would've thought that even with the help of the Moon Goddess, I would live again but still suffer the very same betrayal! It was he who had convinced me to become his

chosen mate under the watchful eyes of the moon goddess herself!

When I was 18 I told him how I felt. "Let's break up Marcus, there's no way this can work in the long run. We won't be happy together."

Those were the very words I had said to him!

"No Sophia, not a chance! Fuck the mate bond! I will only marry you, Sophia, if I can't do that, then I'll remain alone for eternity."

I had been utterly speechless, capable of only murmuring his name as I hugged him tightly and shed tears of happiness.

I firmly believed that even though we had not been fated for eternity by the Moon Goddess, we would still be able to keep

our vows to each other for the rest of our lives.

What a heap of delusional nonsense.

I wrapped my arms around myself tightly, trying to stop myself from thinking about all of the good times that I had spent with Marcus, but the memories kept flooding into my mind unwanted.

The cold look of the man at the banquet was such a huge contrast from the loving man in my memories that I couldn't help but sob in despair.

"Sophia... please don't cry." my wolf spoke to me gently.

"It's ok Zyra, don't worry…”

"I'm sorry, I failed to protect you."

"Don't say that, I don't blame you at all." I replied, trying my best to reassure her that none of this was her fault.

The only people that could be blamed for all of this fuckery were that stupid whore and her traitorous mate.

That vicious little witch and Marcus with his cold indifference... mark my words, I was not going to spare either of them when I got out of this.

I wiped the tears from my face and stood up, suddenly smelling the faint scent of Cedar as I froze in place, the silence settling around me like a veil with only the rapid beating of my heart to keep me company.

What was happening to me? My heart was beating so fast and Zyra also seemed to be picking up on whatever it was. She was restless, pacing excitedly in my mind.

Then without warning, she screamed excitedly in my head. "MATE! MATE!"

"What do you mean mate? Is this some sort of joke? How can you meet your own mate when I'm stuck here in this embarrassing situation?"

Without caring about my embarrassment, the pulsating feeling seemed to become stronger and stronger, and the aroma of cedar only seemed to become more intense.

The sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the corridors of the dungeon and when I raised my head, the sight of a tall and strong figure appeared outside of the cell window.

The moonlight was reflected on his broad and strong shoulders, leaving half of his face wreathed in shadow which accentuated his chiseled jawline.

Looking up, a pair of brilliant golden eyes were transfixed with my own.

I looked up at the noble man in front of me, my beating heart and Zyra's low whine telling me that this man...he was my fated mate.

I walked towards him without even thinking and through the railing, the man's hand reached through, stroking my cheek

with the palm of his hand as his rough fingers traced the outline of my face gently. "My mate," He whispered almost reverently.

"His wolf... Sophia, this man's power is extraordinary!" Zyra exclaimed excitedly.

"I know... even within our pack, such strength is rare!" I replied, equally as shocked at the appearance of the man who was desperate to reach me.

He leaned closer, his warm breath carrying the scent of cedar along with it as it breezed across my ear.

The feel of his skin against my own was driving me crazy and I suddenly took a step back so that I didn't do something completely out of character.

"Don't be afraid, little mate," his chuckling voice came from above me, "I am Ethan Stormridge, Alpha of the Embermoon Pack."

He paused and his beautiful eyes stared at me seriously. "Are you willing to come with me?"

My mind was all over the place. I had been discarded, abandoned and betrayed only minutes earlier and now, in the blink of an eye, I was mated to the strongest pack in the country, if not the world!

"I..."

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?!"

Before I could even finish my sentence, Marcus's furious voice interrupted me and

He appeared in the corridor leading a large group of people towards me and Ethan.