(Amaia)

The afternoon is transitioning into evening as I enter the forest. I have skipped Saiph’s session.

My dagger is strapped to my leg, just in case, although this part of the forest has been cleared and deemed free for us to wander into. Most of us are werewolf hybrids, we need a safe place to transform and go for night runs.

Where are you, Alnilam?

My feet rapidly move over the fallen leaves of the trees. Autumn is upon us, decorating the forest floor with orange-brown hues.

The breaking of a twig in the distance catches my attention and my eyes swivel in that direction. My chest heaves from how fast my heart is beating.

A flash of something white I catch before it disappears in a flash.

"Alnilam!" I call out, a bit loudly. My feet carry me in the direction of where I saw the disappearing white creature.

Could it be his wolf?

Is his wolf white?

Hardly have I moved a few steps when something effortlessly lands in front of me, making me suddenly halt.

My heart skips a beat at the suddenness of this action and yet no fear climbs down my spine because I know who it is.

It’s a wolf—not some ordinary wolf.

Tall, majestic, it stands apart from any wolf I have ever seen. Even in his wolf form, he is taller than me.

Like fresh falling snow, its coat is purest of the white. A luminous, predatory purity he carries.

Its head is high, shoulders broad enough to command authority. But it is the mark that draws my eyes: a natural crown of fur around its powerful neck. The mark of firstborn Alpha wolves.

Here, the white surrenders to a thick, majestic ruff of pure silver. Each hair catches the weak light, shimmering like a coat of polished silver. It is a crown of his stature as royalty.

My gaze slowly climbs to find his eyes. They are not gold or ice-blue, but pools of liquid obsidian—deep, powerful, and absorbing all light. They hold a fierce, untamed intelligence, a gravity that seems to pull me into its depths.

In those black mirrors, I see my reflection. They are windows into his soul and yet they soften for me.

He is no mere beast. He is a sovereign, a creature of silent power wearing a crown of silver frost. His dark and possessive gaze has made me the absolute centre of his attention.

His silent paws move and he takes a confident step forward. My heart thuds in my chest as his nose reaches down and sniffs my hair with a desperation clinging to him.

A peace erupts in my heart and travels all the way down to my thigh. The slow burn that always remains there has numbed to a tiny prick now.

Only Alnilam remains to accept me. If he does, the curse on me will be broken.

Raising my hands, I thread my fingers in his long, soft fur, holding him to myself.

"Hey! We finally meet."

He lets out a howl of pure joy and satisfaction, and the next thing I know, he is pushing me down to the ground with his paws.

My mouth opens, and a tiny, startled scream leaves me as I land on a pile of fallen leaves. He pads forward and just lowers himself over me.

His soft and yet heavy body blankets me completely. His huge head comes to rest on my chest. I can’t help but smile at his actions. He is like a big fur baby, warm and soft.

The coarse tongue slithers out and licks my face, slobbering it in his saliva. He hungers for me, recognises me as his mate.

"Hey! Buddy, I like you too." My arms hold onto his furry body, softly rubbing him. He continues to lick me, not only my face but his long tongue slithers down and licks my neck, the very spot where a mate’s mark should rest.

Using his paws, he straightens my arms and pins them to the ground. I should be afraid but I am not. He is my mate and he will never hurt me.

He continues licking until I feel his jaw open and his canines pressing into my soft skin.

My body freezes in shock.

Is he going to mark me?

He twitches, his teeth graze along my neck as he drags his jaw. Struggling, trying to fight off an urge.

That has to be Alnilam.

As if to answer my question, the wolf transforms and disappears, instead a butt-naked Alnilam appears on top of me.

His warm body pressed into me, making me feel every muscle, every ridge of his body.

Surprised, embarrassed and most importantly angered, he watches me for a second.

Our gazes connect. The scents merge creating a unique amalgamation that belongs only to the two of us. The shyness I carry, but anger and confusion reflect back at me.

"This can’t be happening," he stiffly mutters, every inch of his face has vexation fixed on it.

My heart drowns seeing him so agitated. I think to reach for him but he pushes himself off me. Putting distance between us and facing away from me.

I lower my gaze. Embarrassment and rejection wash over me like the cold and harsh winds of winter.

Slowly I stand to take off my coat and extend it to him. Quietly he takes it and wraps it around his torso.

"Why are you here?" He demands. His back is to me but his face turns, watching me over his broad shoulders.

I can’t help but notice there are two scars on his shoulder blades, identical and of the same length.

My throat dries. "I came looking for you."

"Why?" He coldly asks and the bond in my chest shivers.

All that progress we have made over time. The hug we shared. The tenderness his eyes had begun to carry. Everything seems to have vanished at that moment.

"You know why. I was worried about you."

Alnilam turns around and fully faces me.

"Just stay away from my affairs, Amaia and stay away from my wolf and me."