Chapter 3 Chapter 3

"Francis, you are a true sight for sore eyes - strong, confident, a real fighter," Ken compliments, making me blush. "And though it pains me to say this, the Alphas might be your mates. But given the horrifying tales flying around, I'd rather take an eternal vacation in hell than hand you over to them."

"Stop, just stop," I plead, spinning around to meet his eyes, clouded with worry and concern. "Promise me, promise me you won't do anything reckless if they turn out to be my mates." But my plea seems to fall on deaf ears.

"Francis, you might not be my mate, but I love you. And your brothers and I have figured out an escape plan if the twins end up being your mates."

A flicker of hope ignites within me, quickly doused by the thought of the Alphas' possible retaliation.

"I can't leave; they'd attack the pack." He pivots and wraps me in another soothing embrace.

"They wouldn't dare. Not when they'd risk harming their Luna's family," Ken counters, grinning like he's uncovered the Alphas' Achilles' heel. But the word 'Luna' keeps echoing in my mind. Am I really strong enough to be Luna?

Seeing my troubled expression, he embraces me again.

"No stress, Francis. You've got this under control," he reassures, steering me away from the kitchen towards the couch. He flicks on the TV, settles on a random channel, and plops down next to me, letting me rest my head on his shoulder. Feeling safe and secure for the first time since the dreadful news, I surrender to the inviting embrace of sleep.

The piercing afternoon sunbeams streaming in through the window jolt me awake. Lifting my head, I find Ken's spot cold and vacant; he must've left hours ago. But the sight of the soft blanket he'd draped over me brings a smile to my face. Why couldn't Ken be my mate?

"Because our mate will be better than Ken," Eve chimes in.

"Sure, sure," I mumble, realizing she's decided to speak up only now.

Shrugging off the blanket, I flex my relaxed muscles, deciding it's the perfect time for a run. I step outside, morphing into my wolf form - a stunning, rare white inherited from my mom. With enhanced senses, the world appears more vivid, allowing me to see further into the distance.

"Where are we heading, Francis?" Eve asks, a note of excitement in her voice, as I begin to carve my own path through the forest.

Despite having a solid relationship with Eve, I fear the mate issue might strain our bond. Eve didn't care who our mate was; she just wanted him. As for me, I yearned for more time, another year of freedom and independence would be nice. But I knew deep down that my freedom might be snuffed out sooner than I'd prefer.

Afternoons have always been my favorite time for a sprint, especially when the forest is deserted. My dad, the Alpha, advised all female pack members against venturing out after dark due to potential rogue threats. Thankfully, his advisory wasn't an Alpha command, and the guards weren't stationed until later, meaning the whole forest was my playground during this time - a fact that delighted both Eve and me.

Everyone, including dad, my brothers, and Ken, assumed I'd be at the dining hall, munching away on dinner. The frequent episodes of smuggling food into my room were a small price to pay for the freedom of an empty forest.

As the setting sun splashed its last rays through the trees, I handed control to Eve, who darted in and out of the woodland, pushing herself to the max. She slowed down near a small pond, and I took the reins again, lapping up the cool water to recharge my energy.

Looking up at the sky, now a canvas of twinkling stars, I realized how much time had passed. Although I wanted to continue my run, I knew I had to head back to the pack. My dad and over-protective brothers would have a meltdown if they found out about my evening forest escapades.

When my mom was slain by rogues a few years back, Dad spiraled into depression. He blamed himself for her death and was confined to his room for months. At fourteen, Andy had to shoulder the Alpha's responsibilities while Dad slowly recuperated. Those were some of the darkest months of our lives.

After he pulled himself together, Dad pledged to protect me with all he had. Hence, the guards patrolling the pack's outskirts each night.

Slowly returning, an irresistible scent wafted into my nose - a mixture of vanilla and fresh rain. Drawn to it, I followed the trail leading me away from the pack house and towards a small clearing to the east of the village.

The intoxicating scent grew stronger until it was almost overwhelming. Illuminated by the moon, I scanned the clearing and my gaze fell upon two pitch-black wolves in the distance.