Chapter 5 The Awakening

Jamie's POV

The days that followed that night were a haze of confusion and a helpless attraction that I could not rid myself of. A constant hum vibrating deep inside me grew louder with every ticking second.

I attempted to disregard it initially. I couldn't make sense of the strange sensations I was having, the dreams that were too real, the emotions that would overcome me for no apparent reason. But it was hard to ignore something that felt so. Sure. So real.

It started with dreams. They came to me every night. A forest, dark and wild. The scent of pine, damp earth, and something far more primal lingered in the air. The wolves were there, their howls in the distance. It wasn't just any howl. It was the kind of howl that accelerated my heart, that sent shivers down my spine and made me feel like I was supposed to be there.

And in the middle of all that chaos, there were always the eyes-those piercing blue eyes. Andrew's eyes.

I didn't understand why he continued to appear in my dreams. Or why I was drawn to him in a way I couldn't explain. I'd never felt anything like this before, and I didn't know how to make it stop.

And yet, I couldn't deny it-whatever was happening between us, I was feeling it too. Whenever I saw him, whenever our eyes would lock, it was like something in me stirred.

I tried to focus. I had to. But when I could no longer control the dreams, the thoughts, the pull, I knew that I couldn't pretend anymore.

I was out on the practice fields that morning, the soft morning light unfolding across the ground. It was cold, but it felt as if something else was in the air, too-like everything was about to shift.

I wasn't surprised when I spotted him. Andrew. He was at the edge of the field, his broad back facing me as he looked out into the woods. It was like the weight of the world was on his shoulders, and something about that drew me in.

My feet were walking towards him before I could stop them.

"Andrew," I said, my voice cautious, as if I was groping in the dark.

He turned to me, his face a blank. But I noticed it-the faint tic in his jawline, the narrowing of his eyes, as if he was bracing himself.

"What are you doing here?" His voice was cold and distant, as if he was already attempting to shut me out.

I swallowed hard, fighting the nervousness that twisted in my gut. "I need to talk to you. About everything."

His gaze softened, but only for a moment. "There's nothing to talk about," he said, the words coming out in a low, tight growl. "You don't belong here, Jamie. You're not ready for this."

I flinched at the words, each one cutting through me like a shards of glass. "I don't know," I whispered, barely managing to keep the tremor from my voice. "I feel it, Andrew. I can feel it. Something. And I can't make it go away. I can't make it stop."

Andrew's expression wavered, but only for a second. He moved a step backward, putting distance between us, and his wolf emerged to the forefront in him. I could feel it-a surge of untamed energy flowing from him, potent and overwhelming.

"That's the bond," he said, his voice quieter now, as though he was sharing something too painful to utter out loud. "The Moon Goddess has chosen you for me.".

"But I don't want this!" The words slipped out before I could stop them. I wasn't ready for this life, this world I barely understood. But no sooner had they left my mouth than I knew they were wrong.

Andrew's eyes softened briefly, but he quickly hardened again. "You can't stop the bond. You can't run from it."

I was silent, absorbing his words. "What am I to do, then?" I rasped, my voice hoarse, confusion and horror welling up.

Andrew looked at me, a distant, stormy look on his face. "You'll learn. You'll figure it out."

I did not think so. But I was too weakened to struggle anymore. I had not said another word when a distant howl rent the air, and my heart plummeted into my stomach.

Something was wrong. The howl was too close.

"What the hell was that?" I ordered, horror climbing up my backbone.

Andrew's expression altered. His eyes grew hard. "Stay close to me. We are not alone."

His command allowed no debate. I could feel the pull of my wolf inside me, as though it was urging me to follow him. I didn't know what was happening, but I needed to have faith in Andrew.

The rogue pack couldn't be far.

*******

Andrew's POV

Everything in me screamed at me to run. To get Jamie out of here, away from whatever this bond was starting to become. It was dangerous for him. Dangerous for me.

But the truth was, no matter how hard I tried to deny it, the bond between us was undeniable. And I wasn't sure I could stop it anymore, even if I wanted to.

I had attempted. God, I had tried. The very last thing I needed in my life right now was a mate I wasn't ready for, definitely not a man like Jamie. He didn't belong here. He wasn't ready for this life.

Yet every time I looked at him, my wolf howled in longing. Every time he spoke, I felt my control slipping.

And here we were now, on the edge of the training grounds, the same tension between us, still growing.

"You don't belong here, Jamie," I echoed, the words tumbling from my mouth before I could self-censor.

He flinched, and something inside me shifted. But I couldn't back down. Not now.

The howl ripped through the air, and my heart fist-pounded in my chest. I couldn't ignore it.

"We have to go," I snapped, stepping forward. "Keep close. Do not let anything distract you."

I turned to the forest, trying to slow down my breathing. With every step I took towards the howl, I could feel Jamie at my back. My wolf growled in agitation, needing me to protect him, but I did not know if I could. Not when the danger was still out there, lurking.

The forest was too close. We couldn't stay there. Not with whatever was coming our direction.