Fateful Pursuit: A Soul Bound Tale

Three hours and thirtytwo minutes had passed since I embarked on this relentless run. My head pulsed with discomfort, vision blurred, but the urgency to escape drove me forward. The pack that once defined my identity had transformed into a hellish trap. Going back would reduce my mother's aspirations for me to smoldering ruins.

Leaves crunched underfoot, and my muscles tightened with each stride. Initially, the pain was bearable, but as the initial surge of adrenaline faded, the ache intensified.

Upon crossing the boundary line, a tug in my chest signified the severing of ties to my pack. I fled from their menacing clutches, breaking free from the agony they had inflicted.

My wolf emitted a pained whimper, yet urged my legs to push harder, escaping my tormentors. Tears streamed down my face, the echo of the pursuing wolves fading into the distance. My newfound wolf was exhausted, unable to endure further.

I slowed my pace, catching the scent of deer nearby, my stomach loudly protesting for sustenance. As I prepared to hunt, a noise from my right made me pause.

A big brown wolf stood in front of me, looking strong and experienced with ugly battle scars. It was way too huge for me to fight it to the ground and I knew that my end would be near if not for some miracle.

My wolf growled loudly surprising me. Rogue. The word registered in my mind and before I had a chance to react, it pounced on me, snarling and biting.

Our wolves circled each other for a while, neither in a position to give up. Him for his pride and I for my survival.

Sometime during the meaningless circling, the ugly, vicious looking and immensely scarred wolf pounced once again, snapping it's powerful jaws.

I felt immense pain on my hind legs where I assumed that the rogue had torn out a chunk of my flesh.

My wolf snapped at my attacker, but I was still tired and worn out, so my snapping had no strength. I felt my consciousness slipping away slowly and the last thing I saw before I drifted off was the face of a greyishblue eyed boy who calmly said, "Rogue."

The journey from the depths of hell to a semblance of heaven had taken roughly four hours, and an entire night passed while I was unconscious. Even though eight years had elapsed since my escape, the haunting memories clung to me as if they were etched into my very soul. The echoes of screams and tears, the sight of blood and the grip of fear, they all continued to race through my heart, leaving my mouth dry.

My mother's words echoed in my mind, a reminder that life's ups and downs are temporary, akin to a rollercoaster ride. In my youth, unfamiliar with rollercoasters, I hadn't fully grasped her wisdom. But today, I understood the essence: life is thrilling, provided you face it without fear.

"Mirrie!" A distant shout interrupted my thoughts. I stood at the same spot where I had begun my new life, gazing into the eyes of the man who had helped me build it.

Back then, he was a tall, lanky boy, with enchanting eyes and a charmingly crooked smile. His hair used to be unruly and long, slicked back with sweat, but now it was neatly cropped, and his body had grown in both height and muscles.

"Hey, stranger," I greeted, a smile spreading across my face as I approached my best friend. He enveloped me in a comforting hug, a gesture that conveyed more than words ever could.

"How long have you been standing here?" he inquired, playfully pinching my sides while refusing to release his hold.

"Not long," I shrugged, but he sensed my deception and held me at arm's length, peering into my eyes.

"Who are you lying to?" he asked, prompting me to bite my lip and look at him sheepishly.

"Two hours."

"Mirrie."

"Sorry, this place just makes me nostalgic," I said, avoiding his gaze as I started walking toward the pack house.

"You have nothing to apologize for," he assured, catching up to me and slinging an arm around my shoulder.

"I know," I smirked, beginning to feel more like my usual self now that we were moving away from the border. "You, on the other hand, do!"

"Why, may I ask?" he playfully entertained.

"Well, you mister, haven't written to me in a long time," I retorted.

"Write to you where? You don't even have a permanent address. I've asked you to come stay with us a million times, but no"

"Oh, shut up, you know I love living the rogue life," I nudged him. "And besides, your pack is not worthy of a person as great as me!"

"My pack is the best pack in the whole wide world," he countered, frowning.

"How old are you again, Mr. Alpha?" I teased. We had reached the pack house, and I saw the members giving me welcoming smiles. I knew that most of them secretly hoped that I was Cayden's mate. There had been a couple of instances where people had mentioned the same to me, but their hopes were shattered when they realized that it was not the case.

"Five, plus twenty," he grinned.

I playfully made a kissy face at him, garnering a chuckle from Cayden.

"By the way, nice clothes," he commented, eyeing my fluorescent pink outfit, a result of his mischievous cousins Felicity and Janine Donavan.

"Need to murder those brats," I muttered to myself.

"Speak of the devil," Cayden said, nodding toward the door as his two sisters, Felicity and Janine, entered the room with bright smiles.

"Miracle!" they exclaimed, practically tackling me and attempting to squeeze the life out of me.

"Girls, off!"

"We missed you!" they chorused. I could easily push them off, but I relished the love they were showering on me through their rowdy hug.

"Alpha Cayden, want to help me out here?" I asked him sweetly. He leaned against the counter, raising his glass of water in acknowledgment.

"Nope," he replied with a playful pop of the 'p.'

"Okay then." I pushed them off me but enveloped them in my own kind of hug once they were upright. They looked at me with expectant smiles.

"Are the two of you mates yet?" Felicity asked me eagerly.

"I told you last time, if he was my mate, I would know by now," I explained to the eager teenagers. Their faces fell momentarily, but hope soon returned.

"Are you here to stay, though?" Janine questioned this time.

"For a month," I nodded. I had injured myself a while back and didn't rest long enough for it to heal as I had a fight with another rogue who had been chasing me relentlessly. It had all started with something as simple as me telling him to "get a life" due to his weird insistence on wanting to be with me. Apparently, his pride took that as an insult, and as a result, I was stuck with him chasing after me for a long time. But Cayden didn't need to know that.

His protectiveness over his socalled 'wild friend,' that is me, was overbearing when it came to men. God forbid if someone from his pack tried to woo me; I would have their head handed to me on a silver platter. It was easy to see why his pack had assumed that I would end up being his mate.

"A month! That's quite long. What happened?" Cayden asked with raised eyebrows.

"I missed you, Cadie!" I mumbled in a baby voice, pretending to be upset. "You didn't miss me too?"

"When you're an Alpha, you don't have time to miss insignificant people," he scoffed haughtily.

"Get yourself a man who calls you insignificant, girls," I teased, slow clapping and giving a pointed look to Felicity and Janine, who were quietly giggling away. "For now, I need sleep. Lots and lots of it, on a warm bed with soft sheets, and maybe a box or two of good chocolate."

"I think you're looking for a hotel, Miracle," Cayden said, his eyes twinkling.

"Nah, I'm looking for a personal slave. Oh wait, look! I found one— you," I said, playfully. "And thus, the Alpha is made into a slave."

"No."

"My decision is final."

"Nahuh."

"The three of you are going, and now that's an order." Felicity and Janine looked down, overpowered by their alpha's command, but I only smirked.

"Still not a part of your pack, Cadie," I sang.

"That's not fair! If we have to go, you do too." Janine frowned, while Cayden nodded with a serious expression.

Currently, I, along with the girls, were being shooed out of the pack due to the arrival of some bigshot alpha who Cayden didn't trust. It would have been cute, but him sending us off would just mean that he didn't trust us to take care of ourselves (or hold our tongue), which was insulting. Even if it was true that I had a tendency to blurt out random things.

I had also overheard him talking to his Beta about how he was worried that one of us could be mates to the socalled ruthless alpha, and that set a momentary fear in my heart too. I wasn't planning to stay here for the visit since Alphas aren't my favorite people to be around, nor was I keen on meeting my mate, but messing around with Cayden and seeing him frustrated was fun.

"I'll let you drive my Ferrari." He negotiated, and I raised my eyebrows. He was incredibly attached to 'Lydia,' his bloodred beauty with a heart of steel, and his willingness to part with it was a surprise. "I would take that offer up if I knew how to drive a car," I shrugged.

"I'll drive it!" Felicity eagerly piped up.

"Too young," Cayden shot his sister a disapproving look. She stuck her tongue out and frowned, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Okay, that's enough. You've got two options: either you go out of the pack or you stay in the dungeons with a guard. Take your pick." He started to walk away from my gaping self. I pursed my smile and tried desperately to hide my amusement, but Cayden's sulky face on his tall, broad frame was hilarious.

"I'm going, I'm going!" I called out to him, but he didn't stop. "Just so you know, I didn't plan on meeting this Alpha anyways."

"I know," he informed me. Of course, he did.

Felicity and Janine looked at me quizzically, as if they had just seen a terribly tough math sum that needed to be solved. I assumed that they both mindlinked each other because the range of expressions on their faces was comically identical. Sad, annoyed, angry, and then excited.

"We are going shopping!" Felicity did a little shimmy, and I groaned.

"Just take my life already," I moaned, letting my face drop into my open palms. Janine was trying to peel my hands off my face when Cayden reentered the scene with a panicked look on his face.

"You three," he pointed at us. "Dungeon, now."

"Not happening. We agreed out of the pack." I argued. Pat and Jules protested at his command.

"The Alpha is already here; the dungeons will keep you safe."

"What is he going to do to us in your territory?" I rolled my eyes at his paranoia.

"He has a reputation. Should any problem arise, I want you all out of harm's way so that I can fight instead of spending time worrying about your wellbeing."

"Maybe you shouldn't have invited someone you didn't trust into the pack land!" As soon as I said it, I knew I had gone too far. Challenging an Alpha's decision or motives could be instant death in some packs. The only reason I wasn't dead already was that Cayden thought of me as family. His eyes flashed a dangerous black color, and I bowed my head in submission, baring my neck only slightly to show that I had backed down this time.

After a second or two, he seemed to have regained control over his wolf and gave a reassuring smile. The dungeon was a cold and uncomfortable place that I had never visited before. Silver Eclipse Pack generally had a happy aura, but this place sent chills down my spine.

Cayden knew that I hated dungeons. They were an unwelcome trigger to memories that I wished to lock in a place so far away that they didn't have a chance of surfacing. But he still left me here. My chest started to tighten uncontrollably, and I felt the sweat beginning to form, dripping down my face.

"I can't sit here," I told the girls who were looking at me concerned.

"You can't leave, Miracle," Jules informed me.

"Yes, I can! I'm not a prisoner. I'm not in this pack. I'm a guest, and a guest should be"

"Travis, open this," I told the guard.

"I can't do that, Miracle. Alpha's orders," he said with an apologetic smile but moved away from the door to give me more breathing space.

"Tell him I need to be let out. Dungeons. Can't"

"He's blocked off. But I could go find him if you want?" Travis asked me, concerned. I couldn't breathe. I just couldn't. Felicity was rubbing my back in a steady rhythm.

"Just open the door, Travis. I'm sure Cayden will understand," Felicity urged him.

"This counts as a life or death situation, right?"

"You have eyes, right?" Janine asked him sarcastically. He rolled his eyes at her and made his way toward the door with the right key in hand. The moment the door unlocked, I pushed it open and fell to the floor.

The day, coupled with the location, was bound to create problems. I ran until I reached the pack house and stealthily sneaked toward Cayden's office. There were surprisingly no guards outside, but I could smell about twenty to thirty male werewolves standing inside the room in close proximity.

Snooping could get me into trouble, but I was curious about which Alpha had riled up Cayden so much. I inched towards the door and placed my palms on it. In a matter of seconds, I felt the door move inwards and found myself stumbling into the room and onto the floor.

Cayden shook his head at my horizontal body.

Oops!

"Hi, Cadie!" I smiled sweetly at my friend, who looked ready to murder me. "Isn't it a fine night?"

A low, but powerful growl echoed off the walls of the huge office, but I didn't turn, not even to see where the delicious aroma of cake was coming from. Cayden helped me up, or rather forced me up when he saw that I wasn't making a move to stand up. He tried to shield me from the person from where the growl emitted, but in vain.

I felt a powerful, tantalizing aura making its way across the room and towards me. All my senses were on high alert, and the fine hair on my arms and unshaven legs had started to rise up due to the electric feel.

He was my mate; he had to be. I had heard stories about the maddening power of the mate bond, and there was no explanation for the way I was feeling. From my peripheral vision, I saw Cayden come to stand in front of me, and along with him, other Silver Eclipse pack members surged forward, causing the male werewolf to growl again.

He certainly had a way with words.

"Let him come," I told Cayden, putting a hand on his shoulder to assure him of my confidence. He reluctantly moved away but didn't go far. My possible mate didn't seem to like my buddybehavior with Cayden and finally uttered a single word.

"Move!" Cayden's eyes flashed black for the second time in a night. The anonymous male's voice was so smooth. There was no other way to describe it. I think Cayden finally caught on to what was happening before him; a mate bond was a dangerous thing to mess with, so he took a careful step aside, still close enough in case he needed to protect me.

The man who finally came within my line of sight with no obstruction was absolutely, heartbreakingly gorgeous. He had dark hair that was similar to my own, perfect lips, and a straight nose that no other male could match (though I think that's the bond's doing). His silvery grey eyes confirmed what I had already guessed; he was my mate, and he was beautiful.

"You're beautiful," he put his hand forward, presumably to tenderly stroke my cheek, or choke me to death for disturbing his meeting, but I put a hand up.

"Don't touch me," I backed away. "Not till I allow it."

"I can't touch what's mine?" He asked me, confused.

"Yours?" It was my turn to be confused.

"You deny the mate bond?" I wasn't great at reading emotions, but I could see that he was angry and a little disappointed at my resistance. If he was looking for an obedient little mate, he was in for a rude awakening.

"I don't. But I'm not an inanimate object," I explained.

"That wasn't my implication," he tilted his head at me curiously, searching for something. But what? "You're a rogue?"

"I am."

"But yet you are living here?" He could probably smell the pack land on me; a strong alpha could usually pick up pack scents well.

"Perhaps we can talk about this in private?" I felt uncomfortable discussing our mate bond in front of the Silver Eclipse pack members and his guards. He gave a look towards a tall man who nodded and walked away with the rest of his people following.

"Cayden?" I asked my friend for a silent favor, and though he still looked worried for me, he knew that mates rarely could harm their significant others.

"I'll be right outside. Harm her, and be rest assured there will be blood spilt," Cayden warned the man in front of me, who gave him a menacing glare. I could see that he was barely controlling his anger towards my best friend, so I nodded quickly and closed the door.

"Don't mind him, he's just protective." The man nodded, his full concentration focused on me.

Once the room was empty, I felt the nervous energy inside me explode. My still nameless mate looked like he was in deep thought, and the awkwardness was starting to rise.

"So what's your name?" I was tired of thinking of my mate as the nameless handsome alpha, so I finally decided to ask him.

"Arden Jackson, Alpha of the Sangre Leikos pack." Oh, no. I felt my eyes widen at the name. Cayden' jittery behavior in the morning and extra careful behavior around his impending arrival now made complete sense, as he was one of the strongest Alphas with a reputation that wasn't the kindest.

I always made sure to steer clear of his pack's boundary lines when out in the wild, as the tales of his ruthlessness and unforgiving behavior were known even by the newest of rogues. He hated us. Absolutely loathed us.

"You hate rogues." I noticed the way his fists clenched together tightly, and then unclenched almost as quickly.

"What's your name?" He asked me instead of replying to my question.

"Miraclemarie."

"That's a pretty name."

"Thanks, I know." I did a playful hair flip before I realized who I was with. "Sorry."

"Don't apologize. A mate tends to show off her best qualities and assets in her mate's presence." I almost laughed at the seriousness with which he said that.

"I'm not trying to impress you." I crossed my arms over my chest.

"It's unconsciously done." He said, and for the first time, I saw him smile. It was barely there, but it was worth catching.

"I'm amazing, I ooze awesomeness, I don't need to explain myself to you." I narrowed my eyes at my mate. I thought mates were supposed to be loving and hopelessly in love!

"Well, you are going to be stuck with me for a long time; I think it's time you start."

"Call me." Felicity had been hugging me, or rather resting her chin on my shoulder for the last five minutes, murmuring instructions into my ear and telling me random things she had heard about my mate. I don't know why because the only thing it did was make me more guarded around him. I did not want to be tied to a tree upside down.

"I will," I said for the hundredth time, rolling my eyes and patting her back sympathetically. Despite multiple goodbyes before, Patty didn't make this one any shorter. Janine had already taken her turn before as she knew Felicity was a time hog.

"No, you won't! You'll be too busy making gorgeous babies with your gorgeous mate in your gorgeous home with fabulous pack mates!" She whined.

"Woah, who said anything about staying there? Aren't you getting a little carried away?" I asked her with a smile.

"He's your mate." She stated the obvious.

"I know that."

"You aren't planning on staying with him?" She looked shocked. Janine, who was picking blades of grass from the ground, stood up and looked at me shaking her head.

"Did you mention that little detail to him?" Janine asked me.

"I don't see the need to." I shrugged. "I'll check out the scene, maybe stay a month till my leg heals and go out again."

"But he's your mate and haven't you heard? Your home is where your heart is!" Patty exclaimed.

"This is my home." I pointed out to her. "I love you, Jules, and Cayden more than anyone in this world, but that doesn't mean I stay here, do I?"

"I'm afraid that's not how a mate bond works, Miracle." Jules interrupted. "I know how much you want to preserve your wild spirit, but he's your mate, and an Alpha, nonetheless. He won't let you out of his sight for long."

I pondered over that for a short while, simultaneously thinking about how little Jules and Patty really knew about me. Cayden and his parents were the only ones who knew my true reasons for continuing to stay a rogue despite their readiness at accepting me as a part of their loving pack.

A mate bond was strong, but surely Alpha Jackson would understand my reasons. If not, then too bad. I made a mental note to remind myself to bring up this topic as soon as possible, as being on the receiving end of a wellknown temper wasn't a part of my bucket list.

"We'll see," I replied, pursing my lips. From my peripheral vision, I could see Alpha Jackson standing close enough to see me, but far enough to give me enough privacy to say my goodbyes.

His rigid posture and flickering eyes made a small smile slide onto my face. He probably felt my state, for at the exact moment that I looked at his face, his eyes met mine. He nodded once and started to make his way towards me.

Jules and Felicity were still talking about me, so I quietly murmured "Alpha alert" under my breath, which caused them to shut up instantaneously.

"Are you ready to leave?" He asked in a gruff voice. I was tempted to pull his cheeks and coo at him, but I had a feeling that he wouldn't appreciate the gesture. Instead, I patted his arm awkwardly.

"Just a minute. Where is Cayden?" I asked Jules. She was about to reply, but I heard Cayden running up to me with sweat dripping down his face.

"Sorry I was late, there were a few things I had to do," he said, smiling.

"What's more important than telling me goodbye?" I asked him with a pout.

"Getting you this." He waved a dusty box in the air that looked pretty old.

"What's that?" I asked curiously while ideas popped into my head, some of them normal and others rather absurd.

"Something that Dad told me to give you when you found your mate." I felt tears well up in my eyes when I heard Cayden talk about his father, who I came to love as my own despite the rarity with which I met him.

Last year, in a rogue attack, Henry passed away, and his wife died of depression a few weeks later. That's when I truly felt like an orphan. Henry and Margo had hearts of gold, and when I received the news, it was too late as they had already been buried and I couldn't say goodbye.

I took the box in my hand gingerly and opened it to see the contents inside.

There was a white gold necklace and a letter. I kept the letter in my jacket pocket to read later privately and removed the necklace.

It was a locket, and when I opened the pendant, there was a picture of Henry, Margo, Cayden, Pat, Jules, and I on one side, all of us laughing. It was clicked a year before they died, and I wasn't sure how they actually got so many people to fit in such a tiny frame. The other side was empty.

I held it out to Cayden, who placed it on my neck. I heard low growls coming from my mate, but I ignored it and hugged Cayden tightly.

Arden came to my side and gave another, more forceful growl, and Cayden reluctantly let go of me.

"Take care."

"I love all of you!" I said one last time. I rolled my eyes at my own theatrics; it wasn't like it was the last time I was seeing them, but it sure felt like it.

"We love you too." Arden growled again.

"Oh, shut up!" I told him annoyed and made my way towards the black Prado that was parked a little distance from where we were standing. I opened the back door and got in, waiting for Arden to get in, but I was surprised to see him holding open the door for someone who I was presuming was supposed to be me.

"Sorry." I sheepishly rubbed my neck. "I don't think people do that anymore."

"First impressions matter, Little Rogue." He smirked and got into the car finally. The door closed, and we started our journey towards his pack, a place I could finally strike off my list.

"Hey!" I shouted, my anger bubbling at the surface, ready to unleash its fiery torrent. Arden abruptly pulled away from the girl, who seemed visibly shocked and bewildered by the sudden outburst. He turned to me with a tense expression, his eyes filled with a mixture of guilt and unease.

"Miraclemarie," he began, but I held up a hand to silence him. The hurt and anger that had swelled within me demanded expression, and I was in no mood to listen to his explanations just yet.

"You're telling me this is your best friend or sister? Is this how you greet family? In front of your mate?" My voice was sharp with indignation, a burning anger lacing every word I spoke. I couldn't believe what I had just witnessed, and I was determined to make both of them understand the gravity of their actions.

He looked torn, caught between the need to explain and the pressure to maintain appearances. I didn't give him a chance to speak, though. My temper flared, and I turned to the girl, my eyes ablaze with fury.

"And you! Who do you think you are, wrapping yourself around my mate and kissing him like you own him?" My voice was dripping with a seething rage that I couldn't control. The crowd surrounding us had fallen into stunned silence, their attention now fully focused on the unfolding drama.

The tension in the air was palpable, and Arden finally stepped between us, his face reflecting the internal conflict he was grappling with. "Miracle, let's not make a scene."

"A scene? You think this is about making a scene?" I shot back, my anger unabated. "This is about respect and boundaries." I could feel my wolf pushing to the surface, her growls echoing in my mind, ready to defend her territory.

The girl, realizing the gravity of her mistake, backed away, stammering an apology. "II'm sorry, I thought... I mean, we've been close for a long time."

"That's not the point," I snapped, my patience wearing thin. "He's my mate, and you should show some respect." My words were a fierce reminder of the boundaries that had been crossed, and I wasn't about to let it slide.

Arden sighed, still clearly torn between his responsibilities as a pack leader and the situation at hand. "I understand. Let's go inside and discuss this privately."

I followed him into the pack house, my anger simmering just beneath the surface. This was not the introduction to pack life I had expected, and Arden had some explaining to do. I was in no mood to be lenient, especially considering the consequences of their thoughtless actions.

As we entered the pack house, I couldn't help but notice the eyes of everyone in the room shifting from their alpha and his lover to me. Some of them widened in realization, realizing the gravity of the situation.

The room fell into stunned silence once more as they witnessed the sheer strength and force of my anger. My eyes bore into the girl's, my grip on her neck unforgiving, as I contemplated the consequences of her actions.

Arden's voice, laced with urgency and concern, finally broke through the tense atmosphere. "Miracle, let her go."

My gaze remained locked with the girl's, my fingers tightening around her throat, a wordless warning of the consequences of crossing the boundaries that should never have been tested.

Arden's tone grew more urgent. "Miracle, please, she's just a friend, and I should have been more clear. Let her go."

The girl's face had turned a shade of pale fear as she struggled to breathe, her eyes wide with terror. I had made my point, and my wolf had exacted the vengeance she sought. With great reluctance, I released my grip on the girl's neck, allowing her to crumple to the ground, gasping for air. My anger still pulsed through me, but I had made my point clear.

Arden rushed to the girl's side, helping her to her feet and ensuring she was alright. His expression was a mix of relief and gratitude as he turned to me. "Thank you for letting her go. I'll explain everything, I promise."

I took a step back, my anger slowly receding, replaced by a deep sense of unease and confusion. I had reacted with a level of aggression I had never before exhibited, and it left me shaken. My wolf, however, remained unapologetic, her instincts having guided our actions.

As the tension in the room began to ease, Arden motioned for everyone to disperse, and the onlookers gradually left the area, leaving us alone. We retreated to a more private space within the pack house, where Arden finally began to explain.

"Miracle, I should have been clearer with my boundaries. Alaina is a friend from our past, and I should have made it known that our relationship is strictly platonic now. I didn't expect her to react that way, and I deeply regret the pain she's caused you."

My anger had subsided, but I still felt the sting of betrayal. "Arden, you know how important our bond is to me. I need to know that you're committed to this relationship and that you won't let anyone jeopardize it."

He nodded, his expression sincere. "I am committed to you, Miracle, and I'll do whatever it takes to make things right. Alaina won't be a problem anymore. I promise."

We spent the next several hours discussing the situation and working through our feelings. Arden assured me that he would set clear boundaries with Alaina and that he understood the importance of maintaining the integrity of our relationship.

As time passed, the initial fury and shock of the incident began to wane. While I couldn't deny that the situation had revealed a vulnerability in our relationship, it also served as a catalyst for open communication and a deeper understanding of our needs and expectations.

In the days that followed, Arden followed through on his promise, taking the necessary steps to ensure that Alaina understood the boundaries of their friendship and the sanctity of our bond. It was a challenging process, but it brought us closer as a couple, and it forced us to confront any potential threats to our relationship headon.

Ultimately, our bond grew stronger, and we emerged from the ordeal with a renewed commitment to each other. The incident had served as a powerful reminder that, in the world of the pack, trust, communication, and respect were the cornerstones of a successful and lasting mate bond.

Over time, Alaina, too, came to understand the gravity of her actions and the impact they had on our relationship. She took steps to make amends, both with Arden and me, and we gradually allowed her back into our lives.

Walking through the pack house was a wonderful experience. People were staring at me, pointing and whispering, glaring and sharing the story of what I did. I growled at the ones who looked around my age to make them look anywhere but my annoyed face and it worked like a charm. They tried with great enthusiasm to get away from the rabid wolf.

"Just ignore them." Castile whispered into my ears. "They are nice people but they do enjoy gossiping."

"I wonder if they'll enjoy gossiping so much if I rip their tongues out." I mumbled.

"Your violent personality shocks me my Luna." Castile grinned, awfully at ease at the thought of me harming his pack members.

"You don't seem worried, do you think I won't be able to do it?" I narrowed my eyes.

"That's not it my Luna, you seem highly capable, but you are clearly joking, aren't you?" He asked cautiously. I put my hand on his cheek and smirked.

"Ofcourse I am Castile." I gasped and dramatically put my hand over my heart. I sent another glare towards a young couple who was looking at me and Castile stopped walking.

"This is Miracle and she is to stay here for quite some time, I therefore hope that you all treat her respectfully." While his voice was cheerful, there was a clear warning in his eyes to everyone. My heart swelled at his kindness.

"Why? Its not like she treated our Luna respectfully!" A young pack member called out and 'yeahs' and 'yes's' echoed across the kitchen. Luna? What the hell was going on in this crazy pack.

"Well, then consider it an order from your Beta." Castile said with finality in his tone and everyone bowed their heads.

He took me to a room that had no window's and a plain creme and beige colour scheme. "This is your room."

"Room?" I asked him with raised eyebrows. He gave me an apologetic smile and continued.

"You will have guards stationed outside your room so do not try to run. And when I say that I mean it, do not run under any circumstances. Unless of course there is a fire, or an attack or other obvious reasons like that." He smiled sheepishly. "You are also not allowed to go anywhere without a guard."

"So I am a prisoner now?"

"Technically, yes." I growled.

"Why don't you all leave me free and keep your Luna however you want to." I sighed.

"You know that's not true." He said referring to the bitch.

"Everyone calls her Luna, everyone treats her as their Luna and everyone hates their real Luna, so why not free me from the damn pain I will get from staying here!" I exclaimed through gritted teeth.

"I'm sorry Miracle, alpha's orders. If you need anything don't hesitate to ask the guards to call me, I'll be here as soon as possible." He gave me an apologetic smile and walked out of the room.

The room was bare and there was nothing l could throw around in my fit of anger.

The door creaked open and a girl walked in slowly, cautiously. She was a gorgeous blonde with deep brown eyes and she was wearing a short white summer dress that suited her perfectly. She looked familiar but I could not recollect who she was. She kept something on the corner table and slumped on the chair next to it.

"So you're the future Luna!"she said examining me closely.

"Apparently I'm not."

"Yeah, right." She scoffed, "I saw the way Arden looked at you. Also if anyone else had tried that on Rianne they would be dead by now." Rianne, the kisser, the root of my current problems.

"A wolf is not supposed to hurt their mate, no matter what. The mate bond can make you attracted towards someone, it can't force you to love that person. If you're here to tell me to stay away from him because he is yours then by all means take him." I spat out the words. I clearly sounded like a jealous shewolf and I hated it.

She laughed. She actually laughed. "Oh! Calm your wolf." She said between laughs. "Arden and I will never be a thing."

I narrowed my eyes at her.

"Then why are you here?" I asked her suspiciously.

"Just wanted to see my brother's mate."

Brother? I just didn't see it.

"Well, he is my brother from another mother, literally. You see, his father, the alpha, cheated on his mate with a human and I was a product of the extra marital affair." She sounded awfully normal about the predicament. An alpha who cheated on his mate wasn't common, as theoretically the stronger the ranking of a couple, the more powerful is their mate bond.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I don't consider the former alpha as my father, but he did give me a wonderful brother. Also Arden's girlfriend Rianne is my best friend." I stiffened. The matching piece of jewellery around her ring finger suddenly made more sense.

"Then its a good thing I don't want him." I said pretending to yawn. "I don't want to seem rude, but I am really tired, so I am going to sleep now."

She looked at me for a moment and then walked outside the door.

Arden hadn't come to visit me after the incident in the morning and I was disappointed, even though I didn't understand why I expected a lot from him. If someone could hurt their mate physically and choose another shewolf over her it shouldn't be too flabbergasting that he hadn't come to apologise.

I picked up all the bed sheets, blankets and pillows and threw them on the floor, kicking them near the wall.

I laid my body on the cold hard floor that reminded me of the jungle ground and curled up against the wall, hoping to see the stars.