EZEKIEL’S GAZE

Chapter 4

Ezekiel stood in the shadows, watching as Lucia walked away, her form disappearing into the distance. His mind was clouded, consumed by the encounter. There was no denying what he felt—the connection, the pull that gnawed at his very core. She was his mate.

But she was human.

The tension in his chest tightened, and he clenched his fists. The very idea was impossible. The curse. The ancient law. No wolf, especially not a future Alpha like him, could break the most sacred rule of the pack: no mate from a human.

His eyes narrowed as he glared into the night, the city lights flickering beneath him. He could feel the weight of his pack's expectations, their trust in his leadership. His father's eyes were always watching, even when he wasn't there. Ezekiel could almost hear his father's voice in his head, reminding him of the pack's survival, of the tradition that had kept them strong for generations.

"You cannot afford distractions," he muttered to himself, his voice a low growl in the stillness of the night. "She's a human. She's nothing but a fleeting dream. A weakness."

But despite his harsh thoughts, he knew the truth: he couldn't stop thinking about her. Lucia Grand. Her delicate features, the softness in her eyes, the way she stood, fragile yet defiant, as though she didn't belong in the world around her. It made him want to protect her, to shield her from everything, even though he knew he couldn't.

A sharp breeze tugged at his dark hair, but it did nothing to clear the fog in his mind. His instincts screamed at him to go after her, to make sure she was safe, but he had no place in her world. He couldn't afford to be close to her. He was the future Alpha of the pack, and he had a duty to uphold. The pack came first. Always.

He turned away from the city's edge, retreating further into the shadows. He had to focus. The pack needed him.

Later that night, Ezekiel found himself in the pack's meeting hall, his father's presence still looming over him. The tension in the room was thick as the other wolves waited for him to speak, their eyes tracking his every move. They could sense his agitation, but they didn't know why.

Ezekiel's father, Rowan, sat at the head of the table, his eyes steely and sharp. The man's gaze never wavered as he addressed the pack. "We need to prepare for the next full moon. There are whispers of unrest in the human world, and we must be ready."

Ezekiel nodded, his mind only half on the conversation. His father's voice droned on, but Ezekiel's thoughts were miles away—back on Lucia. The image of her walking alone in the streets, the coldness of his own actions in the alleyway, still haunted him.

"Ezekiel," his father's voice cut through his thoughts, sharp and commanding. "Do you hear me?"

Ezekiel snapped his focus back to the room, meeting his father's eyes. "Yes, Father. We will prepare."

Rowan didn't seem to notice the hesitation in his son's voice. He never did. The pack was the only thing that mattered to him, and that was how Ezekiel had been raised. Duty. Strength. Control.

"Good," Rowan said with a nod. "The pack's future is in your hands now. Don't forget it."

Ezekiel's throat tightened as his father's words echoed in his mind. The future of the pack. The future of his people. He couldn't allow any distractions. He couldn't let anything—anyone—get in the way.

But as much as he tried to shake the thoughts, he couldn't escape the memory of Lucia's face. He could still feel the weight of her gaze, the shiver that ran through him when she looked at him. It was dangerous. She was dangerous.

And he was starting to realize that the more he tried to resist the pull, the more it seemed to draw him in.

Ezekiel paced through the pack's territory later that night, his mind still preoccupied. The cold air whipped around him as he walked, but it did nothing to cool the fire that burned inside. He couldn't get her out of his head.

"Alpha," a voice called out from behind him, pulling him from his thoughts.

Ezekiel turned to see one of his closest enforcers, Kaden, approaching. Kaden's dark eyes were sharp, calculating, but there was a flicker of concern in them as he looked at his leader.

"You've been on edge," Kaden observed, his voice low. "Something's bothering you. It's not like you."

Ezekiel didn't answer immediately. Instead, he turned his gaze to the woods, his mind still racing with thoughts of Lucia. "It's nothing," he muttered, his voice rough.

Kaden stepped closer, a knowing look in his eyes. "It's not nothing. You've been distant lately. More so than usual."

Ezekiel's eyes narrowed, the growing tension making his teeth clench. "Stay out of it, Kaden," he warned. "I have everything under control."

Kaden didn't flinch. "If it's her, the human girl, you need to be careful. We both know the rules. And you know what happens if you—"

"I know the rules!" Ezekiel snapped, cutting him off. The words came out harsher than intended, and he saw the flicker of hesitation in Kaden's eyes. "I don't need anyone reminding me of them."

Kaden held up his hands in surrender. "I'm just saying… don't let her become a weakness. You're the future of the pack. You can't afford to be distracted."

Ezekiel's jaw clenched. He knew Kaden was right. He had been raised for this moment, to lead, to protect the pack. He couldn't let a human girl—no matter how deeply his wolf called to her—distract him from his duty.

"I won't forget," Ezekiel said, his voice low and controlled. "But I need to figure this out. One way or another."

Kaden nodded, seemingly satisfied with the answer. "Just be careful. There's more at stake here than you realize."

Ezekiel didn't respond. Instead, he turned and walked away, the weight of his responsibilities settling heavily on his shoulders. He had to make a choice. The pack, or her.

But as the full moon drew closer, Ezekiel knew one thing for certain: the pull of his mate would only grow stronger.