Chapter 5 Five

That realization sparked a fire within me. I would show him, I would show the entire pack, that I was capable of greatness. I would not be held back by their doubts and fears. I shifted into my wolf form and ran into the woods, needing to escape the turmoil that was brewing inside me. The trees blurred together as I ran, my paws pounding against the earth. I was conflicted, torn between my duty as alpha and my desire for true love.

I slowed to a stop, my breath catching in my throat. I shifted back to my human form, feeling the weight of my emotions bearing down on me. As I stood there, I thought of my mother, who had passed away when I was young. She had always told me to follow my heart, to never settle for anything less than true love. And in that moment, I knew that she would never have forced me to choose a stranger as my mate.

The thought broke me, and I fell to my knees, tears streaming down my face. I felt like I was losing myself, like I was being torn apart by my duty and my desire. I wept for my mother, for her guidance and wisdom. I wept for my soulmate, for the love that we could never have. And I wept for myself, for the choice that I had to make.

As I cried, I knew that I couldn't go through with the ceremony. I couldn't choose a stranger as my mate, not when I had a mate out there waiting for me but what would happen if I refused? Would the pack turn against me? Would they see me as weak, as unfit to be alpha?

I wept for what felt like hours, my body shaking with sobs. I was torn apart by my duty and my desire, and I didn't know how to reconcile the two. When I finally began to calm down, I realized that I had a decision to make. I could either go through with the ceremony and choose a stranger as my mate, or I could refuse and risk everything.

Before I made a decision, I decided to do what I loved best. Run.

I shifted back into my wolf form, feeling the familiar sensation of my body changing. My limbs shortened, my senses heightened, and my fur grew thick and soft. I let out a joyful howl, feeling the freedom that came with being in my true form.

I began to run, my paws pounding against the earth. I felt alive, wild, and untamed. I reveled in the feeling, letting go of all my worries and concerns. As I ran, I tried to push aside the thoughts of the pack and the ceremony. I didn't want to think about it, didn't want to worry about what would happen if I refused. I just wanted to be free.

I ran through the woods, feeling the wind in my fur and the sun on my back. I chased after squirrels, my instincts taking over. I was a wolf, and this was what I was meant to do. I felt a sense of joy and liberation that I hadn't felt in a long time. I was finally being true to myself, finally embracing my wild side.

As I ran, I began to feel a sense of peace settle over me. I knew that I had to make the right decision, knew that I couldn't go through with the ceremony. I would follow my heart, no matter what. I would be true to myself, even if it meant going against the pack. I ran for hours, losing myself in the freedom of the woods. I was a wolf, wild and untamed. And I was finally happy. When I finally felt at peace in my heart, I shifted back to my human form, grabbing some unscented clothes that were kept beneath a tree just for situations like this. At least, I wouldn't be walking around naked.

Instead of returning to the pack, I strolled through the woods, I felt a sense of freedom that I hadn't experienced in a long time. The trees towered above me, their leaves rustling in the gentle breeze. The sun cast dappled shadows on the ground, and the scent of wildflowers filled the air. I had been walking for hours, lost in thought. The pack's expectations still weighed heavily on my mind, but I tried to push them aside. I wanted to enjoy this moment, this feeling of being alone and untethered.

The moment I turned a corner, I saw him. He was sitting by a stream, his eyes fixed on me with an unnerving intensity. I slowed to a stop, my instincts on high alert. As I looked into his eyes, I felt a jolt of recognition. It was as if I had seen him before, as if I knew him intimately. He smiled at me, and I felt my heart skip a beat. It was a gentle smile, one that seemed to hold a deep kindness.

"Hello," he said, his voice low and soothing. "Want to join me here?"

I was taken aback by his words. No one had ever spoken to me like that before. The pack was always demanding, always expecting something from me but this stranger seemed different. He seemed to see me, truly see me, for the first time in my life.

I slowly approached him, a sense of calm wash over me. It was as if I had finally found a safe haven, a place where I could be myself. "Hello," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.

He stood up, his eyes never leaving mine. And that's when I saw it, the spark of recognition that I had felt earlier.

"Mate!" My wolf Elsa, who was always quiet in my head, howled in in my mind.

We were soulmates.

I knew it with a certainty that I had never felt before. It was as if our souls had been searching for each other for centuries, and had finally found each other in this moment. The world around us melted away. It was just him and me, connected by an unseen force.