Chapter 4

Aurora

This is it. The end.

I closed my eyes, taking slow, trembling steps toward the edge of the cliff. The wind howled around me, the dark abyss below calling my name. My chest ached, my heart a frantic drum against my ribs.

At least this way, I choose my fate. Not Jacob. Not my mother. Me.

The wind howled around me as I took slow, deliberate steps toward the edge of the cliff. The jagged rocks below seemed so far away, yet they were close enough to promise the release I desperately craved. My heart pounded, my chest rising and falling in ragged breaths as I prepared to let go.

No more running. No more pain.

One more step…

Suddenly, strong arms wrapped around my waist, yanking me backward with such force that I let out a startled scream.

"Ahhh!"

My body collided against a broad, solid chest—warm, unyielding, intoxicatingly strong. A wave of electricity surged through me, so intense that my breath hitched.

Sparks.

Sparks everywhere.

An intoxicating scent surrounded me—something rich and masculine, with hints of cedarwood and a touch of something darker. My mind spun, my skin burning where his hands gripped me.

What… is this?

Isabelle, my wolf, gasped inside me before letting out an earth-shattering howl. Her joy was wild, uncontained, euphoric.

"Mate! Mate! Mate!" she chanted like a love-struck fool.

No.

My body stiffened, dread creeping up my spine. My breath came out in short, panicked gasps as my heart warred against the undeniable pull of the mate bond.

"No! I cannot be the mate of a monster!" I spat out, my voice trembling.

Isabelle growled in my head, enraged by my rejection. "He is NOT a monster, Aurora! He is OUR mate! He is perfect!"

I struggled to break free from his hold, but his grip only tightened. A possessive growl rumbled from his chest, sending another involuntary shiver down my spine. I hated the way my body responded to him, to his touch—to the raw dominance radiating from him.

And then… I made the mistake of looking up.

And everything stopped.

A pair of the most piercing, electric blue eyes I had ever seen bore into mine, dark and endless like the ocean during a storm.

My breath caught in my throat.

I had never seen eyes like his before—so fierce, yet filled with something that sent a shockwave through me. The world around us faded, swallowed by the silent pull between us. I could feel the mate bond humming, tugging, demanding, consuming.

"Mine," he growled, his voice like dark velvet, rich and hypnotic. He looked surprised.

The word sent fire straight to my core.

No.

No, no, no!

I jerked away from him as if burned, my heart slamming against my ribs. His grip loosened just enough for me to break free, but the second I moved, his hand shot out, grabbing my wrist.

A low, warning growl rumbled from his chest, sending shockwaves through my body.

Too dark. Too dangerous.

Even in the dim moonlight, I could make out the sharp, sculpted planes of his face—strong jawline, chiseled cheekbones, lips that looked sinfully perfect. He stood at least 6’4, towering over me, his frame exuding sheer dominance.

Isabelle practically melted inside me.

"Stop acting like a lovesick pup, Isabelle!" I snapped. "Can’t you see? He’s dangerous!"

"He is our mate! The Goddess chose him for us!" Isabelle howled in protest. "And LOOK at him! He’s gorgeous!"

I gritted my teeth. I hated that she was right.

"Alpha."

A deep voice cut through the tension.

A man, probably in his twenties, stepped forward and bowed slightly.

"We eliminated four of them, but one got away. We believe he was the leader," the warrior reported.

My stomach twisted.

So… my mate wasn’t with those men? He wasn’t one of them?

Before I could process that, Zachary turned back to me, his piercing gaze unreadable.

"Y-you’re going to kidnap me, aren’t you?" I whispered. Something flickered in his eyes—amusement.

"Why would I kidnap my mate?" he asked, his voice sending a wicked shiver down my spine. My lips parted, but no words came out.

His grip on my wrist softened slightly, his thumb brushing against my skin. The touch sent heat curling through my veins.

"So beautiful," he murmured, almost to himself.

My breath caught.

His eyes roamed over my face, slow and intense, like he was committing every inch of me to memory. My wolf purred in satisfaction, soaking in his admiration.

I swallowed hard, trying to steady my voice. "W-what’s your name?"

His lips curled into the slightest smirk, like he knew exactly what effect he was having on me.

"Zachary," he said, voice deep and laced with something dark and dangerous. "Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack."

My heart stopped.

The Blood Moon Pack. The strongest, most feared pack in the world.

"Zachary," I whispered, testing his name on my lips.

His entire body tensed. His eyes darkened as his wolf surged forward, pushing against his control. He liked that.

"What’s your name, sweetheart?" I nearly choked at the endearment.

"Aurora," I answered, my voice barely above a whisper.

His gaze dropped to my lips, his expression darkening.

"You don’t want to do that, Aurora," he warned, voice husky and thick with restraint. "Bite that lip again, and I won’t be able to control myself."

I sucked in a breath.

My knees felt weak, my body betraying me under his hungry gaze.

The sun slowly began to rise, golden light spilling over the horizon.

And then I saw him clearly.

And dear Goddess, I wish I hadn’t.

Zachary was breathtaking.

Tall, powerful, devastatingly handsome—his muscles were carved like marble, his features so unfairly perfect it should be illegal. His tousled dark hair, his smirk, the sheer dominance exuding from his stance…

I was utterly screwed.

"How is it even possible for someone to look this good AND have such an intoxicating voice?" I muttered under my breath. Forgetting that he has enhanced hearing.

Zachary’s smirk deepened.

I froze.

"I said that out loud, didn’t I?"

"You did."

He chuckled—a deep, sinful sound that sent heat pooling in my stomach. This man was going to be the death of me.

But then his expression turned serious. He looked me with unreadable expression. As if His eyes had so many questions for me.

"Aurora, are you a rogue? Why were those men chasing you?"

I stiffened.

"I… I can’t answer that right now, Alpha."

His jaw clenched, his piercing eyes studying me carefully.

"You’re my mate, Aurora," he said firmly. "You’re coming with me. You’ll live with me." My mate said with such pride.

My stomach dropped.

Jacob would find me. If I went with Zachary, I would put his entire pack in danger. Maybe my fate is doomed from the start.

Tears burned at the back of my eyes.

"I’m sorry, Alpha," I whispered. "But I can’t stay with you. I have to go." I choked out

And with that, I turned around and ran into the forest.