During the meeting, his mind was far away. When they finally reached a decision, he lifted his hand to agree even though he had no idea what they had been talking about.
The coming election was drawing close, and he had already made up his mind. He was going to contest for the office of mayor. The Blackwood family had always been one of the strongest families in the area. His cousins held different positions in government, and their name carried weight wherever they walked.
This time, he wanted to go for the mayorship himself.
Alistair Blackwood, as everyone knew him, was the heir to everything the Blackwoods owned… and maybe more than that.
People had no idea he was also the alpha of the crescent moon pack. Humans did not believe in the existence of supernatural beings, so the werewolves stayed quiet. They followed the rules of Mistvale. They blended into the society so well that no one could tell who they truly were. It had to remain that way for as long as possible.
When the meeting ended, he felt nothing but relief. Outside the building, he walked toward the car. One of his guards had already opened the door for him.
He sat down, and a small smile touched his lips. The image of the red haired lady refused to leave his mind no matter how hard he tried. Her green eyes had pulled him in the moment he saw her. It felt like something strong had snapped between them. And the red coil that wrapped around their arms when he touched her… that was the greatest shock of all.
Alistair still could not believe what the moon goddess had done. He had searched for a mate for more than seventy years, and nothing had ever happened. Every connection with women from his pack and others had failed completely.
He had given up four years ago, and today, out of all days, he found her on the busy streets of Mistvale.
Due to the shock, he could not say anything to her until she walked away.
"Are you still thinking about her?" Silas, his Beta, asked as he sat beside him. He knew he had been rude to the lady earlier, but he had not meant to be. She looked like the type of woman who wanted the Blackwood wealth, and he reacted without thinking.
Alistair nodded with a soft smile as he leaned back, lifting his face a little. "She is the most beautiful lady I have ever seen. That red curly hair stands out. No woman comes close."
"O-okay… we rarely see red haired women in Mistvale, but we can still find ladies more beautiful than her," Silas said. "I can arrange a girl for you tonight, but this one… I don't like her vibes."
"You are joking right?" Alistair let out a low chuckle and closed his eyes. "She is my mate."
"That's not true," Silas said at once, shocked. He tapped the driver's arm and the car moved. He turned back to look at his Alpha again. "That is impossible. She is a human. Your mate can't be a human."
"I know exactly what I am saying. She is the one. And I need you to find out everything about her," Alistair said firmly, sitting up. "Everything. Her name, her family, the people she spends time with."
"What if she is engaged or married?" Silas asked in a small voice. He knew the question would upset him, but he needed to ask.
Alistair sat up straight, his brows pulling together, his jaw tight. The smile he had faded away. "We will kill her stupid fiancé or husband and take the bride."
Silas nodded right away as his Alpha's eyes glowed red. He knew he meant every word. So be it. If the red haired lady had a fiancé or a husband… whoever he was, his life was already over.
,******
He was weak by the time he managed to crawl out of the grave. His skin was pale as snow, and the darkness around his eyes made him look as if he had not slept for years. Every step felt heavy, but he forced himself toward the large black object ahead.
He could not tell exactly what it was, but he knew it was no ordinary wagon. Could it be some kind of ship made by humans? The smoke curling from it puzzled him, yet the strong scent of her blood struck his nose with a force that made his head spin. He circled the object, trying to see, trying to understand. Could it belong to her? The one who was said to be the chosen? The one who had pulled him from his long slumber?
A low growl escaped him when he found nothing inside the strange object. Then he heard voices—male and female—coming from nearby. They were holding something that looked like a camera. He pressed himself behind a tree and listened closely.
"An accident happened here," the woman said, scanning the vehicle. She coughed and opened the doors of the black object. "There's no one inside."
"Look here… come see what made that noise," the man urged. He stood not far from a hole, cracks radiating from it. "What do you think happened here?"
"I don't know… we should call someone. The police maybe," the woman said, tapping at her phone.
Then something moved.
A figure shot from the trees toward them, faster than anything they could follow with their eyes. They tried to run, but it was quicker than they imagined.
It caught the man first. The woman turned and saw him screaming, terror ripping through his voice.
"Help me… please…"
But it was already too late. The creature sank its fangs into him. The sharp teeth slid through skin with a wet, sickening sound. He groaned deep in his chest as the fangs pierced his throat. Blood darkened the air around him.
When the creature's eyes met hers, frozen with fear, she knew without doubt that she would be next.