chapter 3

Tamara

"Wasn't I clear enough?" North growled and snapped at me. "I told you I wasn't taking you with me. You do not belong in my pack. You are weak."

I tightened my grip on the handle of my pink suitcase. "And I told you I am coming."

He looked at me with clear anger. "You don't understand what you're doing."

"I do," I replied, lifting my chin to meet his stare. "We are fated mates. The Moon Goddess paired us together, and you cannot just ignore that. Mates need to be close to each other. Whether you like it or not, I am going with you."

Before he could argue again, I let go of my suitcase. It dropped by his feet with a loud thud. I turned my back on him, walked straight to the heavy door of his black SUV, and climbed into the back seat. I pulled the door shut behind me.Through the tinted window, I watched him.

North stood completely still for a second. Then, he let out a frustrated sound and dragged his hands aggressively through his dark hair.

He reached for the car door handle, but my father stepped forward and placed a firm hand on North’s arm to stop him. I pressed closer to the glass, but the car was soundproof so I could only watch.

They spoke for a few minutes until North finally let out a harsh sigh and nodded in agreement.

The tall Beta picked up my pink box and put it in the trunk. North also got into the passenger seat.

He didn't look at me. "Drive," he ordered.

The SUV pulled away. I looked out the back window and saw my parents and brothers standing on the porch. My mother waved, and I waved back until they were completely out of sight. Reality finally settled in. I had left home for the first time in my life.

The journey lasted most of the day. The further we traveled, the wilder the land became. The clean roads disappeared, replaced by rough dirt paths and dense forests. The trees grew taller and closer together, almost blocking out the sun.

Eventually, massive rusted gates appeared in the distance. Tall walls surrounded the area and everything looked built for war.

"Stop the car," North said suddenly.

The Beta hit the brakes. The SUV rolled to a halt just a few yards away from the gates.

North turned around in his seat to look at me. His expression was completely serious.

"Listen to me very carefully," he said. "My pack is not like your home. My people do not care about fancy parties or soft gestures. They respect raw strength. Do not expect anyone in there to give you a warm welcome."

I swallowed hard, feeling nervous, but I nodded. "If you show weakness, they will treat you like you are weak," he warned. "No one is going to welcome you simply because you are my mate. You will have to stand your ground."

"I understand," I said softly but full of confidence.

He stared at me for a long moment, searching my face. Finally, he turned back to the front.

"Open the gates." The heavy iron doors slowly opened, and the SUV drove into Night Sword territory. I looked out the window in surprise.

Everywhere I looked, people were training. Men and women sparred in the dirt. They were highly muscular, and many had visible scars. Nobody laughed or stood around chatting. Everyone seemed focused on training. But I could see some women and children together playing… maybe this place wasn't that bad…right?

The buildings were made from rough stone and dark wood. They looked practical, not beautiful. At the center of the territory stood the main pack house. It was enormous.

The car stopped near the front doors. North got out, and I quickly followed him, making sure to keep my head held high. I was not about to make a fool out of myself

The moment North entered, all conversations stopped and everyone dropped their heads to show respect to their Alpha.

But when they looked at me, their expressions changed. Their eyes were full of curiosity and harsh judgment. They looked at my neat clothes and my small frame with obvious dislike.

North stood tall in the center of the room and spoke . "Listen Night sword," he announced. "This is Tamara. She is my mate, chosen by the Moon Goddess."

Heavy silence fell over the room. No one cheered and no one smiled. They just stared at me. The hostility in the room was so strong i began to wonder if they had met met me in their past lives.

Then, the crowd parted. A tall woman stepped forward. She had dark red hair and wore tight leather training clothes. She walked directly to my mate and placed a hand on his broad shoulder, completely ignoring my presence.

She leaned close to him with a mocking smile, then finally looked at me. "Alpha," she said, her voice loud and clear for the whole room to hear.

"Please tell me this some kind of sick joke. You actually brought back a pampered little princess? Tell me you're not actually going to let this weak, pathetic thing be our Luna.”