Chapter 6

Zachary

The moment Cole informed me about the rogues, I ordered him to assemble the fighters and wait outside. I was about to get ready when the door to my bedroom swung open without warning.

"Zachy, baby... where are you going at this hour?" Britney's voice dripped with seduction as she stepped in, her eyes trailing over me like I was prey.

I clenched my jaw, already irritated. "What do you want, Britney?" My voice was cold, laced with impatience.

She took a step closer, her fingers playing with the strap of her silk dress. "Zachy, let's have some fun together," she whispered, winking.

Disgust curled in my gut. How many times did I have to make it clear? I had no interest in her—never had, never would. Ignoring her, I turned to grab my jacket, but then I felt it—her hands trailing over my back, moving slowly, deliberately.

A growl rumbled from my chest, deep and threatening. My wolf, Xavier, was already on edge after hearing about the rogues, and Britney's unwanted presence only aggravated him further.

"Britney," I warned through gritted teeth.

But she didn’t listen. Her touch became bolder, as if she could break me with her persistence.

Fury surged through me like a storm. In a blink, I turned and yanked her away, my grip firm but controlled. "Don't you ever disrespect your Alpha," I snarled, my voice dripping with menace.

She stumbled back, her eyes wide with fear. "Zach!! You can’t do this to your own mate! Don’t you see? I am the Luna of this pack!" Her voice rose with desperation.

I let out a sharp, humorless laugh. "You are not my mate. And you will never be my Luna. Get that through your thick skull, Britney."

Her lip trembled, but I had no patience for her fake emotions. Without another word, I grabbed her by the arm and shoved her out of my room, slamming the door shut.

Finally.

I exhaled, running a hand through my hair before slipping into my leather jacket. Xavier was restless inside me, demanding we get to the rogues immediately.

Cole and Theo were already waiting for me outside, along with ten of my best warriors. Without a word, we climbed into our vehicles and sped toward the pack's borders.

Blood Moon Pack was vast—too large to cover on foot alone. As we neared the boundary, the patrol leader, Brian, hurried toward me.

"Alpha," he bowed his head in respect.

"Where are they?" I asked, my tone sharp.

"A mile ahead," he reported. "A group of them."

I gave a curt nod. "Let's move."

Shifting into their wolves, my warriors sprinted ahead. I ran behind them in human form, my enhanced speed making it easy to keep up.

But then, I caught a scent.

It hit me like a force of nature—an intoxicating blend of vanilla and something else, something wild.

Xavier stirred instantly, his growl reverberating in my head. Mate.

My heart slammed against my ribs as my gaze locked onto a figure sprinting ahead—chased by rogues.

A girl.

She was fast, unnaturally so. But not faster than me.

I pushed forward, closing the distance between us. Even from behind, I saw she was tall and had curves in all the right places. Her golden-blonde hair whipped behind her like a banner in the wind.

Xavier was going insane, howling inside my head. Go to her. Now!

Then, suddenly—she stopped.

My breath hitched as I realized where she stood.

At the edge of a cliff.

Panic surged through me. I saw the way her body trembled, the way her fists clenched at her sides. She was trapped.

And she was going to jump.

No. Not happening.

With a burst of speed, I lunged forward, grabbing her wrist just as she stepped off the edge.

She let out a sharp gasp as I yanked her back with more force than I intended. Sparks exploded where our skin touched—a shock so intense, it felt like fire searing through my veins.

Her body crashed against mine, her rapid breaths fanning against my chest.

Then she looked up. Everything around me came to a halt. My breath was stuck inside my throat.

Emerald green eyes—striking, hypnotic, and filled with unshed tears—met mine. For the first time in my life, I felt utterly breathless.

She was beautiful. No—she was more than that. She was exquisite, perfection itself.

Everything around us faded—the approaching dawn, the distant howls, the sound of my warriors slaughtering the rogues.

It was just her. And me. I finally found her. I could not believe my eyes and my luck.

so many questions of 'How?' plaguing my mind but I simply didn't want to think about it yet.

"You’re mine," I murmured, my voice raw with certainty.

She gasped, her lips parting slightly, but then—she yanked her hand away from mine.

Xavier growled, furious at the rejection.

She took a shaky step back. "Y-you’re going to kidnap me, aren’t you?" she whispered.

I frowned before chuckling, surprised by her innocence. "Kidnap you?" I echoed, shaking my head. "No, little one. You’re my mate. Why the hell would I need to kidnap you?"

She looked down, her cheeks turning the prettiest shade of pink.

"Alpha." Cole’s voice broke through my haze. I turned to see him approaching, blood splattered across his arms. "We took them down, but one escaped. He seemed like their leader."

My jaw clenched. "We’ll find him."

I turned back to my mate.

"What’s your name, sweetheart?"

She hesitated before answering, her voice barely above a whisper. "...Aurora."

Aurora.

A name as unique as the girl who had just turned my entire existence upside down.

I took a step toward her, my eyes darkening. Every instinct in me screamed to claim her, to mark her, to keep her safe.

"You don’t want to do that, Aurora," I warned, my voice low.

She blinked. "Do what?"

I smirked, my gaze flickering to her lips. "Bite your lip like that."

Her eyes widened, and she quickly let go of her bottom lip, flustered.

Damn, she was adorable.

The sun was rising, casting a golden glow around her. For a moment, I simply admired her—how someone so delicate-looking had survived whatever horrors led her here tonight.

"Are you a rogue?" I finally asked the question my body was itching to. "Why were they after you?"

Aurora tensed, her hands clenching into fists. A storm flickered behind her green eyes.

"I can’t answer that, Alpha," she said, her voice quiet but firm.

I exhaled sharply. Fine. I wouldn’t push For now.

"Then come with me," I told her. "You’re my mate. You belong with me in my pack."

Her entire body went rigid.

And then—"I’m sorry, Alpha." Her voice trembled, but her resolve was steel.

"I can’t stay with you."

Before I could react, she turned and bolted into the woods.

A sharp, unexpected pain struck my chest, as if someone had reached in and ripped something vital from me.

Xavier let out an agonized snarl. Mate is running! But why?

Not for long.

I shifted into my massive, pitch-black wolf, a furious growl ripping from my throat.

She could try to run.

But she would never escape me.

Not now. Not ever.

"I’m coming for you, Aurora," I vowed, before launching into the trees after her.***