Lucien.
Mate.
My wolf's voice echoed inside my head.
Honestly, I had lost count of how many times it had said that word today—and it was only 7am. At some point, I had simply learned to ignore it.
The new year had begun on a dutiful note. While the rest of the pack gathered in the town square to celebrate, I sat buried behind piles of documents that never seemed to end.
All of this could have been avoided if I hadn't slacked off the night before—or the three nights before that.
Still, I had no regrets.
Every moment I had spent with her had been worth it. Every second with her was an unforgettable experience.
I skimmed through the omegas' proposal on task redistribution, impressed by the meticulous planning they had taken time to do. Without hesitation, I stamped it and pushed it aside.
Then I reached for the next document…And froze.
THE MELAN WOLF.
The bold title made stirred a strange sensation in my chest. I flipped the pamphlet slowly, already recognizing the handwriting.
Mother.
Of course it was.
For the amount of work waiting on my desk, the last thing I should have been doing was reading one of my mother's research findings about ancient wolves—especially when she and my retired Alpha father were traveling from pack to pack, gathering stories instead of helping me shoulder pack duties.
I sighed.
If they had so much time on their hands, they could at least return to Everlone and lessen my workload.
Still…
"Melan Wolf," I murmured.
My wolf awakened abruptly at the words.
Despite feeling as if I shouldn't have, I smothered the guilt of leaving all my work to indulge in such a leisurely activity, then leaned back in my chair and began to read.
———————————————————
The Melan Wolf is an ancient and exceedingly rare wolf that appears once every hundred years.
They are said to possess an uncanny ability to sense looming disasters and, at full maturity, even glimpse fragments of the future. The strength of this ability depends greatly on the host and the bond they share with their wolf.
Because of this power, every recorded Melan Wolf has lived a life surrounded by conflict. Packs have fought to claim them, to use them, to control them. All who discovered that ability became blinded by its power and sought to monopolize it.
Foreseeing such dangers, the Melan Wolf is believed to instinctively choose the strongest possible mate, a powerful pack, and a family capable of protecting them.
——————————————————-
My grip tightened on the paper. Every line sent a strange chill down my spine. All the information I read evoked several emotions in me.
It wasn't just interesting. It was… unsettling.
I exhaled slowly and set the pamphlet down.
In that moment, all my interest in paperwork vanished.
I rose from my chair and moved to the window, staring out at the fading lights of celebration beyond the pack house.
Only one thought occupied my mind at that moment. And that thought was of Her.
Go. My wolf urged. Go to her.
For the first time that day, I didn't resist. I wanted to see her. And there was nothing more I desired to do than that.
I grabbed my coat from the arm of my chair and left the office.
With every step I took, the need to reach her grew stronger.
Stronger—and strangely heavier. There was a eerie foreboding feeling in my chest that I couldn't seem to shake.
I should have been getting closer to her.
Instead, it felt like she was slipping farther and farther away from me.
Unease curled in my stomach.
By the time I reached the town square, most of the crowd had already dispersed. Laughter faded into quiet conversations as I watched families returning to their homes.
That should have been my cue to turn back.
But I didn't.
Rather, I headed straight toward Elder Zora's house when I realized neither she nor her family were anywhere in sight.
Along the way, I was stopped more times than I appreciated.
"Happy New Year, Alpha."
"Would you like to join us for dinner, Alpha?"
I offered polite greetings and brief smiles, growing more impatient with each delay.
Eventually, I bought some of Elder Zora's favorite smoked wild pig—showing up without gifts would only raise questions.
When her large house finally came into view, something cold settled in my chest.
It wasn't anticipation, nor excitement.
It was an entirely foreign feeling that was evoked because I couldn't smell her.
Her scent—soft like dew on blossoms—should have reached me long before I reached the door, or anywhere near their house.
But It didn't.
I picked up my pace and soon arrived in front of their door. Three consecutive knocks and the door soon opened. Alexa stood there, surprise lighting her face.
"Alpha! Goddess—welcome," she exclaimed.
I forced a courteous smile. "Happy New Year."
"And to you." She stepped aside. "Please, come in," she said, and gestured for me to come in.
I entered.
Mate.
My wolf growled, much restless now.
She is not here.
I knew.
Many scents filled up the space, some overwhelming and others mild, but her scent was nowhere in the house.
My eyes swept the room quickly. Elder Zora sat near the hearth. Alexa's mate sat beside her as they shared a hearty conversation, occasionally laughing.
She wasn't with them.
"Where are the others?" I asked, keeping my voice steady.
Alexa blinked. "Oh, Amara and Seraphina went out with the twins. They didn't want to join the rest of the pack for the celebration."
My heartbeat skipped.
"Out where?"
"To a human town a few kilometers from here. They left earlier this morning."
The room seemed to shift in my eyes.
My wolf stirred, almost aggressive now.
Outside pack territory.
Unprotected.
She was outside, where I couldn't protect her if she was in danger.
With the increase and growth of rogues outside Everlone?
The bond between us glitched—it was sharp, panicked,and frantic.
She's in danger. She needs me. Was that the reason why my wolf had been restless all morning? I had ignored it insistence to see her…While our mate had slipped out of my protection?
I didn't say another word.
Instead, I handed the meat to Alexa, turned and left in haste.
The moment I stepped outside the house, I shifted in an instant.
Bone and muscle tore and reformed as my wolf burst free. My large paws slam into the frozen ground heavily.
Then without wasting another second, I sprinted.
Wind brushed past my face as I followed the faintest trace of her scent coming from the road beyond the gates.
It was too faint—nearly faded, and too far away.
Hold on, mate. My wolf growled.
We are coming.
And so I ran faster and faster—to the gate. To my mate.