The Most Wanted Mate

"I feel we shouldn't go through with this, my goddess," Cancer muttered, his voice thick with emotion. He tore his gaze away from the pond that reflected the scene below-a lone she-wolf lying battered and broken on the muddy ground, clinging to the last fragile threads of life. He had watched countless trials unfold before but this... this was different.

It took all his willpower not to abandon the heavens and intervene directly. Every instinct urged him to save her, but the weight of the Moon Goddess's command anchored him in place.

She lay in a pitiful state, drenched in a mixture of rain, blood, and mud. Sweat clung to her pale skin, and her breathing was ragged, shallow. There were no more tears left in her, not after the ultimate betrayal-a rejection from her mate and the massacre of her family. It was no small tragedy, and in her condition, the odds of her surviving another five minutes were nonexistent.

What the Moon Goddess proposed was unthinkable. If the she-wolf survived this ordeal, she would not emerge unscathed. The power she would inherit could drive her feral, her wolf consuming her humanity. A feral rogue with unchecked strength was a danger to everyone and everything. Her wolf could shift without her consent, hunt without conscience, and destroy entire strongholds if it pleased. It was a fate worse than death.

Cancer clenched his fists. He wanted her to live-desperately-but not like that. His heart wrenched as he looked back at the Moon Goddess. Her expression, as always, was unreadable, a serene mask betraying none of her thoughts. He had spent eons trying to decipher her, to see beyond the veil of her divine composure, but she remained as enigmatic as the stars she ruled.

Her smooth, oval face bore a slight frown, her amethyst eyes-void of any whiteness-narrowed in deep contemplation. Her silken, pale hair flowed around her like liquid light, blending seamlessly with the purple silk gown that clung to her perfect form as if it were part of her being.

"It is not in my place to question you or your decisions, my goddess, but-"

"I know, Cancer," she interrupted gently, her voice like a melody that resonated in his very soul. She tore her gaze from the image in the pond to look at him, and he felt as though a million unseen eyes were boring into him. "I know you. Your compassion sets you apart. These trials clash with your nature, and perhaps I should have summoned Taurus instead. He would have faced this head-on without hesitation."

Cancer's cheeks flushed with shame. "I'm sorry for being a disappointment to you, my goddess," he murmured, lowering his gaze to the grassy plain beneath his feet.

Her laugh was light, like the tinkling of wind chimes. "Oh, you silly thing. I was only jesting. You take yourself far too seriously, Cancer. Perhaps learning to laugh would ease your burdens. You are no disappointment, not to me."

He lifted his gaze hesitantly, meeting her warm smile. "It's just... to place this much power in a mortal soul-it feels reckless. If she survives, who could stop her if she goes rogue?"

"There are always risks," the Moon Goddess replied, her voice steady. "But there are many paths to every outcome. You, of all my guardians, should know that by now."

Cancer nodded reluctantly, though his unease remained. "Are we to help her if she survives? To guide her toward the right path?"

"No." Her answer was firm. "Interference from our realm rarely ends well. I have faith in her. She will rise to greatness, of that I am certain."

Cancer sighed, the sound heavy with resignation. He could no longer argue. Her will was law, and so it would be.

The Moon Goddess extended her hand, a single glowing moonflower petal resting in her palm. "Take this," she said. "Feed it to her, and let us watch the story unfold."

He took the petal, its light as bright as the moon itself. Closing his eyes, he focused on his task. His entire form shimmered, dissolving into radiant energy, and when he opened his eyes again, he was no longer in the celestial realm.

Rain poured around him in the mortal world, the earthy scent of wet soil filling his nostrils. In his lupine form, his rich cream-colored fur glistened under the storm's onslaught. His keen brown eyes scanned the surroundings until they found her-lying crumpled beneath a mahogany tree.

Even with his heightened senses, her heartbeat was faint, barely audible over the rain. He approached cautiously, each step heavy with the weight of his purpose.

She was a heartbreaking sight up close. Her golden-brown hair, once vibrant, was now a jagged, matted mess, stained crimson with her blood. Her torn gown, soaked and sullied, clung to her broken body. She had lost so much blood that her survival seemed impossible.

Cancer dropped the glowing petal onto the ground, nudging it gently toward her mouth with his snout. With a soft growl, he maneuvered it past her lips, ensuring she swallowed it. Then, he stepped back, watching intently.

At first, nothing happened. But then, her body convulsed violently, and she began to cough and choke. Blood poured from her nose, ears, and mouth, pooling around her. Cancer tensed, ready to end her suffering if it became too much, when the Moon Goddess's voice rang sharply in his mind.

"No."

He hesitated, his paws rooted to the ground. Before his eyes, the convulsions stopped, and her pale blue eyes snapped open. For a fleeting moment, they met his gaze-eyes filled with pain and confusion. Then, in a flash, her irises shifted to a brilliant purple, the mark of the Moon Goddess's essence. She gasped, a single tear escaping down her bloodied cheek, and whispered hoarsely, "I should have done something."

And just like that, she fell unconscious again.

Cancer's heart ached as he stood over her fragile form. "I'm rooting for you, little one," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "You're going to win this."

As the rain continued to fall, washing away the blood and grime, Cancer remained by her side, a silent guardian. Somewhere in the heavens, the Moon Goddess watched with a knowing smile, her faith in this broken she-wolf unwavering.

"On my mark, get set-go!"

Before Coach Ron even finishes the word, I launch forward, leaving behind a trail of dried grass and kicked-up sand. The plan is simple but brutal: sprint from the pack's main building to a mahogany tree deep in the forest, retrieve the red cloth tied to its highest branch, and race back to Coach. Victory comes with bragging rights and respect, both of which I need more than anything right now.

The competition is fierce. I can already feel the thundering footsteps of my six opponents-well, five wolves and me. A glance behind confirms it: I'm the only one not in wolf form.

"Seriously?" I mutter under my breath. "One connection with your wolf, and you all abandon humanity? Who does that?"

My golden-brown hair whips around my face as I push myself harder. Beside me, Ken-already shifted into his wolf form-pulls ahead slightly, his dark brown fur sleek and shimmering in the sun. I catch the faint glint of his mischievous brown eyes as he throws me a smug look over his shoulder.

"Not so fast, Ken," I growl, my competitive edge flaring.

Behind me, Kira closes in, her muddy brown fur a blur as she gains ground. She nips at my heels, the hot breath of her wolf brushing against my calves.

"Touch me with those filthy canines of yours, and I'll pluck them out to use as bracelets," I snap, side-stepping her attack without losing momentum.

Kira snorts, clearly dismissing my threat, but I don't care. I've got bigger problems. There are only two wolves capable of beating me in a race: Ken and Kira, the inseparable twins who've been my best friends since childhood. We've done everything together-school, training, even pranking the pack elders. But now, it's every wolf for themselves, and I can't let them win.

The problem? They've already shifted, and I haven't.

By 18, most wolves are fully connected with their inner wolves, able to shift between forms with ease. But me? I'm what they call a late bloomer. My wolf is there-I can feel her growling inside me, her presence simmering just beneath the surface-but I can't shift yet. It's like trying to hold onto water: the harder I try, the more the connection slips away.

"You just need a little push," Damien told me yesterday during training. Easy for him to say; he shifted perfectly on his 18th birthday. I've tried everything-meditation, running drills, even forcing the change during a sparring match-but nothing works.

Today, though, I don't need to shift. I just need to win.

We're nearing the forest now, the towering trees casting long shadows across the trail. This is where my plan comes into play. With a sharp whistle, I set it in motion.

Douglas, a gray wolf who isn't even part of the race, suddenly veers into the path, colliding with David. The pale blue wolf stumbles, slamming headfirst into a tree and dropping out of the race.

One down. A moment later, a golden retriever puppy darts into view, directly in Selena's path. She skids to a halt, whining in distress. Selena loves puppies more than life itself-seriously, she once skipped training to rescue a stray-and can't bring herself to ignore the little furball. Alfred, running too close behind her, doesn't stop in time and crashes into her.

Two more down.

Douglas retreats into the shadows, his role complete. That leaves just me, Ken, and Kira.

'Madeline!' Kira growls through the mind-link, her voice sharp and accusing. 'What did you do to the others?'

I glance her way and catch the piercing glare of her amber eyes. Even in wolf form, her glares are deadly.

'Snookums!' Ken's voice cuts in, lighthearted and teasing. 'You're a genius! That was Douglas, wasn't it? Let me guess: free burgers for a week?'

'Focus on the race, Ken,' I snap, refusing to let his taunts distract me.

Kira reaches the mahogany tree first. As I hoped, the red cloth is tied high on a branch, far out of reach for a wolf. She skids to a stop, her body trembling as she begins the process of shifting back to human form.

Ken arrives seconds later, also attempting the shift. Neither of them has mastered it yet-it's not easy for newly awakened wolves-and their hesitation gives me the opening I need.

With a burst of speed, I leap onto Ken's back, using him as a springboard to launch myself upward. My fingers brush against the cloth, and I yank it free. It rips in two, but that doesn't matter; Coach never said the cloth had to be intact.

Just as I'm about to land, Kira slams into me.

The impact knocks me to the ground, my head slamming against a rock. Pain explodes in my skull, and for a moment, everything is blurry. I hear the faint growls and snarls of the twins fighting for the cloth, but the sound feels distant, like I'm underwater.

And then, something inside me snaps.

A deep, guttural growl erupts from my throat, so raw and primal it silences everything around me. Kira freezes, her ears flattening as she whines and backs away. Her tail tucks between her legs, and she lowers her head in submission. Even Ken hesitates, his human form frozen mid-step.

I don't understand what's happening, but I don't have time to question it. My instincts take over, and I snatch the cloth from Kira's paws. Ignoring the pounding in my head, I push myself to my feet and run.

Ken tries to tackle me, but I dodge him with ease, his naked form a blur in my peripheral vision. The forest blurs around me as I sprint back to the main building, every muscle in my body burning with exertion.

When I reach Coach Liaison, I drop the torn cloth at his feet and collapse onto the ground, panting.

"Why am I not surprised?" he mutters, his brown eyes narrowing as he examines me.

"You said 'by any means necessary,'" I remind him, struggling to catch my breath. As I speak, I feel my wolf retreat, the golden glow of my eyes fading back to their usual pale blue.

Coach sighs, running a hand through his sandy curls. "I suppose I did. And now, you owe Douglas five burgers."

Behind me, Douglas grins like a Cheshire cat. "Cafeteria's that way," I tell him, patting his shoulder and handing him a few dollar notes. "Enjoy your prize."

Selena storms past, cradling the golden retriever. "Evil!" she declares, but the smile tugging at her lips tells me she's not entirely mad.

Ken jogs over, shirtless but grinning. "Snookums, you amaze me. That strategy? Brilliant."

"Yeah, you were not smart enough to see it coming," I tease, shoving him away as he tries to hug me.

He smirks. "Feisty as always. It's what I love about you."

"Idiot," I mutter, rolling my eyes.

The thought of what happened during the competition comes back-the growl. It comes up once in a while and it's a little confusing when it's only been recorded that only alphas possess that trait. Dad thinks it's just my wolf's way of showing her frustration for not being released yet. So I comfort myself with that thought.

As I approach the pack house, a sharp pain shoots through my stomach, doubling me over. I have a tickling sensation between my legs.

Oh no.

Not now.

It's the ninth of September.

"Not you again," I groan, clutching my abdomen as I stagger inside

Before I reach my room, the sharp pain twists in the lower part of my stomach. I crumble to my knees, clutching my belly as waves of agony wash over me.

"Madeline, are you alright?" The voices of two pack maids cut through the haze of my pain. I see them drop their trays and rush to my side. Their worried faces tell me they understand what's happening before I can even muster a reply.

"It's that time of the month," one of them mutters grimly, earning a gasp from the other.

"Oh no!" The second maid shakes her hands frantically, panic seeping into her voice. "I'll get Luna and the clinic staff!" Without waiting for further instruction, she darts off.

I barely register their words. The pain is overwhelming, a fiery grip that refuses to let go. Ever since I hit puberty, my period has been anything but normal. My parents have taken me to every doctor they could find, humans and wolves, but none could explain why my cycle leaves me teetering on the edge of death. The cramps are excruciating, my body feels like it's waging war against itself, and I always end up needing blood transfusions by the end of it.

One doctor suggested that once I connected with my wolf and shifted, the pain would lessen-that my wolf would somehow balance my system. But I'm starting to doubt that theory. Right now, it feels anything but controlled.

Another guttural moan escapes my lips as I claw at my stomach, my nails leaving angry red marks on my skin. The world around me blurs, and then it all fades to black.

When I open my eyes, I'm in the pack clinic. Needles pierce my arm, their sterile sting barely noticeable against the lingering ache in my abdomen. The steady beeping of a monitor fills the room, and I feel the cool touch of an IV in my hand.

The door bursts open with a bang, and my mother strides in like a storm. Her eyes are pitch black, her wolf is fully in control, and her golden hair flows wildly as if caught in an unseen wind.

"Luna, we've administered the necessary treatment," a woman in a white lab coat says, bowing her head respectfully. She's new here; I've never seen her before.

Without sparing the doctor a glance, my mother strides to my side, her wolf's intensity softening as her brown eyes return. "My strong little woman," she murmurs, ruffling my hair in that comforting way only she can. "We're back to that time when you prove how tough you are." Her smile is warm, and despite the pain, it makes me feel safe.

In moments like this, she's not the Luna of the Red Dawn Pack. She's just my mom.

"I assume Dad's busy? Or should I say Alpha?" I croak, my voice weak but teasing.

She sighs. "Don't be like that, my love. We're expecting some impromptu guests tonight, and he has to prepare for their arrival."

My brows knit in confusion. "Guests? From which pack? You don't seem thrilled about it."

"Shadow Moon," she says simply, and the tension in her voice is palpable.

The name sends a shiver down my spine. The Shadow Moon Pack is infamous, a rising power led by a once-rogue alpha. Their rapid growth has made them second only to our pack, but their methods and intentions remain shrouded in mystery. The stories about their alpha-a man who supposedly clawed his way from madness to create an empire-are enough to make anyone wary. His motive, be the alpha king.

"What do they want?"

"No one knows," she replies, her voice tight. "He's requested a meeting with your father and his family." She pauses, her hesitation telling me what's coming next.

"I have to be there too," I say with a sigh, already dreading it.

She nods apologetically. "I'm sorry, love. If it were up to me, you wouldn't have to, but it's tradition. And look on the bright side-Ken, Kira, and your brother Damien will be there. That should count for something, right?"

Her grin is so infectious that I can't help but laugh. It's one of the many things I love about her.

Her expression turns distant for a moment, her eyes glazing over as she connects to the pack's mind-link. When she snaps back, she says, "The Shadow Moon Pack will arrive at seven. It's almost five now. That gives you enough time to rest and get ready."

"What about my cramps?" I ask, wincing as another wave of pain rolls through me.

"You've been given naproxen sodium. It should start working soon." She glances at the doctor, who nods in confirmation.

"Good." She brushes a strand of hair from my face. "I'll have someone fetch enough supplies to get you through the night. Pads, tampons-whatever you need."

"Thanks, Mom."

She squeezes my hand and stands. "Be ready by six-thirty," she commands, her Luna tone returning.

"Yes, Luna," I reply dutifully, bowing my head as she leaves the room.

The doctor helps me remove the IV and other monitors. I manage to stand, but the pain forces me into a hunched position. By the time I reach my room, the medication has dulled the worst of it, and I can finally straighten up.

Just as I'm about to open the door, a scent hits me like a lightning bolt-earthy, rich, and tinged with leather. My wolf stirs violently, snapping to attention.

Cramp pain forgotten, I scan the hallway, my senses on high alert. The scent grows stronger, intoxicating, pulling me in like a siren's call.

"Mate," my wolf whispers in my mind, her voice filled with longing.

"Mate?" I whisper aloud, my heart racing. I sniff the air again, desperate to pinpoint the source. It's close-so close-but when I fling the door open and search my room, I find nothing.

After several frantic minutes, my wolf retreats, frustrated but calm. The pain in my stomach creeps back, reminding me of reality. Exhausted, I collapse onto my bed, hoping a nap will dull both the physical ache and the unanswered questions swirling in my mind.

A cool breeze wafts in through the open window, carrying with it the faintest hint of rain. Heavy clouds loom on the horizon, promising a storm.

I close my eyes and let the wind lull me to sleep, my dreams swirling with thoughts of unfamiliar scents and mysterious alphas. Somewhere in the distance, thunder rumbles.

Tonight, it seems, will bring more than just rain.