Chapter 2

Ryder walked straight up to me in the middle of the field and started asking, "So where were you last night again, Snow?" Being this curious at this hour was unprecedented for him. I knew he wouldn't just let me off the hook easily.

I decided to start my warm-up stretches and decided to ask him back, rather than answer him, "Isn't it a great day to start the workout rather than just me answering your question? I kept telling you that I was merely out there at the backyard gates, trying to enjoy the chilly air, preparing myself for the full moon. You know how excited I am to meet my mate?"

He began his own series of stretches and then said, "I won't easily be misled, Snow. I know you so well. We looked all around for you, but we couldn't find you anywhere near the back gates."

"You were just not diligent enough in your search for me, but I was there."

"You were definitely not. Soon you'll tell me the truth."

"Want to spar?" I said snarkily as I gestured to the empty space. "If you come out on top, I'll give you the cold, hard facts that you wanted; if you lose, you tell me who that guy was from last night."

Before Ryder could give an answer to my offer, my father approached the training grounds, accompanied by the beta and a bunch of other hefty guys who I later realized were the visitors from last night. And just seeing them bores me to death. Whatever announcement my father has today will just be another list of orders and rules.

Then, the very same guy I collided with walked into the field, and I instantly became as still as I had been during our previous evening's encounter. Because of his domineering posture, I kept thinking about who he might be. He speaks of authority but seems still too young to handle and lead a pack. Eris ruminated in my mind, "He is still here." She adds, "Our mate is here again," and I'm able to sense her pleasure and excitement.

I could not really fully comprehend how Eris could believe that the guy was our mate when all I ever feel when he is close to me is that my heart will beat faster than normal, and there is an indescribable scent that always lingers. But as Eris kept insisting that the man was our mate, I also wanted to believe that he really was, and whatever this is that I am feeling is the mate bond.

As he sniffed the air once more, I noticed him casting a sidelong glance in an apparent attempt to look for something or someone. And then, as soon as our eyes connected, he froze, and I once again experienced that fluttering and tingling sensation in my stomach. All I could do when he fixed his eyes on me was to return his gaze.

I would not have had the resolve to end the staring match if it hadn't been for my father clearing his throat to start his mini speech. The man and I were completely blown away by each other. Everyone seemed to listen as my father continued, "This represents a coalition between our packs. As part of this accord, we will be helping each other solidify our forces. For the next few weeks, Phoenix's squad will be available to aid you and guide you with training."

I lost the thread of what my father said after that, because all I was thinking about was that my supposed mate was here with us for the next few weeks. I would turn twenty by then, followed by the full moon, and I could find my mate surely. Would he still be here by that time? I hoped he would be, in order for me to find out if he really is my mate.

____

"Goodness gracious, Snow! Congratulations on turning twenty! Bestie, you're going to need to find your mate now, and I am so excited for you!" Maddie exclaimed as she entered my room, causing loud squeals that woke me up.

I grudgingly opened my eyes to witness her elation as I told her the words, "I think I've found him already, Mads."

"What?!" She shrieked with excitement once more and hugged me in the process. "Who? What? How? When? Tell me all the details! I've just been gone for a few weeks, and then you found your mate even before you turned twenty?!"

Maddie is my best friend, and the two of us used to hang out constantly, but as I started to join the pack's warriors and she chose to focus on touring the world in order to find her mate, we rarely had these conversations. And due to the divergent routes we chose for ourselves, every time we find time to just bond, she has always been eager to learn about my life, especially about me finding my mate.

"How come you recently found yours and I haven't even discovered mine? I mean, I'm older than you, and I've gone through like three full moons already, and I've never even had the chance to locate him."

"Perhaps you might need to start hanging out with our pack on full moons to find out whether your mate is one of ours," I told her.

She scowled at me, obviously not even slightly amused by the prospect. "I told you it just wasn't possible. I really do not want my mate to be some low-class omega or maybe even a warrior. I honestly believe I'm destined to be a Luna someday." Maddie had always liked to think she would be a Luna, which was the exact opposite of what I really wanted to be.

I tried to talk sense into her, "Mads, you know that you can't go against who the Moon Goddess gave you. The mate bond is something special."

I was stunned to hear her declare, "I can and I will if I need to. We are entitled to also have our chosen mate, Snow. And if I discovered that my fated mate was not an alpha material, I would be forced to reject him and find myself a chosen mate who would someday make me his luna." How is it even possible for her to contemplate such a thing just because of her dream to be a Luna?

At times, I don't even understand exactly how we became friends. "You know that's dangerous, Mads. You may die if either one of the fated mates rejects the other. It is better to accept who the Moon Goddess gave you."

I'm exactly at the other end of the spectrum from Maddie. She is more feminine, whereas I decided to be a little more rugged. She desired to be Luna, whereas I did not. But it's not like I'm unable to understand where she is coming from or why she is aspiring to be something more than what she is. Maddie's parents aren't even close to being at the top of the ranks. And she has to work a little harder on the things she wants to have. But regardless of our differences, even if they are in the middle of the hierarchy, when we first met, we just connected.

"Let us just talk about your mate, though, rather than me today." Then, she strives to deflect the conversation by asking, "Who would be this lucky man then?"

I simply said, "Phoenix," and she looked at me in shock.

"Phoenix?" I nodded in agreement. "You are referring to the visiting pack's lead warrior when you said Phoenix, right?" Another nod from me. "But you just turned twenty and have not been able to witness another full moon yet, so how do you even know that this person is your mate?"

I already knew that, so I don't really want to believe Eris's assertion that he is our mate. I do, however, start to believe it the more Eris insists on it. Our wolves can't be mistaken about something like this, after all. "Eris believes so, but I'm still not sure—at least not until the full moon, of course. But there is really something that is making me think so too."

As she crossed her arms over her chest and peered at me, Maddie frowned. "Are you saying that you believe in Eris then?"

I sighed heavily and then said, "I do. The pull every time I see him is impossible to describe. And I really do want to believe that it is him. But he does not seem to like the idea. I mean, every time I am anywhere around him, aside from his constant sniffing in the air and his continuous glare at me whenever I am near Ryder, he is almost always irritated at me for reasons I don't really know."

Maddie was then so preoccupied with her thoughts that she even tipped her head dramatically, as if attempting to come up with an idea. Then she paused to consider, and then she finally blurted out, "I'll help you."

"What?!"

"I'll help you with wooing your mate over. If he is indeed your mate, he needs to be here on the next full moon, and if he doesn't seem to like you—I mean, doesn't seem to like you yet—we must win him over before the full moon."

"You'd do it for me?"

"Of course, Snow. I'll be content even if I don't find mine as long as you do. After all, we are the best of friends."

—--

I walked into the Alpha's office as soon as Maddie left, inquiring, "You called for me, Alpha?" My mother and father have requested that I come here, but I'm not sure why.

My father gestured to the seat in front of him and said, "Snow, take your seat."

My mother immediately brought into question, "How was your day? Did you have fun, sweetie?" In our pack, turning twenty was not all that extraordinary. It was just like any other day. The only thing that differentiates this for us is that when we reach that age, we will be closer to finding our perfect mate. Well, hopefully a perfect mate who accepts us for who we are. But everything simply goes by just like any other day until we finally meet our fated mate on the next full moon.

I smiled and replied, "Good. Nothing spectacular, but nevertheless nice. It was nice having Maddie around." I sat down and asked them back, "How was your day?"

My mother is as absolutely stunning and ideal as Luna as ever, saying, "Good, sweetie." In nearly every outfit, she radiates regal elegance, something far from what I actually am.

"Is there a reason why I was summoned here, Alpha?" Every time we are in the workplace, I always address my parents by their titles.

It goes without saying that the Alpha always speaks with a certain air of authority. He cast a quick glance at my mother, who appeared to be on the verge of a breakdown over something but still chose to keep still. "We have determined that it is now appropriate for you to assume a new role for the pack because you are of legal age."

I threw a casual glance towards the Alpha and Luna, confused by what they were trying to tell me. But learning that my father has entrusted me with the pack fills me with pride. Does he now regard me as a capable leader? "I'm listening intently to the things you have to say, Alpha, so tell me what you're talking about."

He stated matter-of-factly, "You will be betrothed to the future Alpha of the Sky River pack and become his Luna. Your engagement will be announced on the next full moon."

Without even bothering to think, I shouted, "No! I can't!" My hopes of finding my perfect mate on the next full moon have now been entirely shattered by what my father said. Even though I am aware that I should never have answered him back, I can't just accept something like this. "I will only be married to my fated mate, and I will not marry or be mated to anybody else."

The files were propelled into the air by my father's forceful fist slamming on his table. He roared, "Snow! How dare you defy my commands?" As my mother works to calm him, I can already see his wrath toward me. "You'll follow my orders and do as I say," he added.

"No!" I exclaimed as I hunched over to face my mother. I'm on the edge of tears now. "Luna Sierra, I can't. Please tell him that I can't do that." How do they even feel about me? For crying out loud, I am their daughter and not someone they can just force into doing something that they want. "I will only marry my mate and no one else. Please, Luna, tell the Alpha."

"Don't be too self-centered in thinking only about yourself, Snow, for as I've already said, you are destined to be a Luna who will assist our pack in forging an alliance." Everything my father says makes me want to strike him. Although he may be our pack's leader, he has no power to exercise control over my own life.

"I swear I won't do that. I won't follow you."

"Snow, stop this nonsense. Whether you want it or not, you will become the Sky River Pack's Luna in the future. Additionally, that union will provide a lot of opportunities for our own pack. Do not be selfish. Your engagement will happen on the next full moon, and that is final!"