I was supposed to be with Nate, but instead I was stuck at the meeting point with my pack.

The forest stretched out before me, shrouded in darkness. Shadows swirled beneath the pine trees, and the leaves whispered as a breeze blew through.

The full moon floated in the beautiful night sky, spreading a silvery light across the forest. It stirred my wolf from his slumber. He was ready to stretch his legs and run. Run to the arms of his mate.

But I was miles away from the cabin. And as the moon almost reached its peak, the more I felt uneasy. I needed to know if Nate made it to the cabin.

I had to find a way to sneak off. And as the minutes passed, my impatience grew.

Every time I tried to make my escape, Xavier appeared. And with a threatening smile, he nodded his head at Cara. A silent command but loud enough for me to understand. I had no choice but to run with Cara tonight or risk revealing my past.

Frustration gnawed at me as I struggled to find a way out. I clawed the nearest tree leaving deep scars in its bark. My instincts screamed that something was wrong with Nate. My wolf needed to be with him.

"Isabella!" m     y voice boomed through the clearing silencing the other wolves.

My sister was in the middle of yelling at a group of teenagers about to shift for the first time. The tensions were high and fights kept breaking out.

The sound of my alpha's voice made the group stop bickering and they stood still to attention as I approached my sister.

Isabella looked up and smiled, but hissed back over her shoulder when one of the omegas sniggered behind her. They instantly fell silent as her glare threatened to rip them to pieces.

"I need to ask you a favor." I asked, while looking down at the group who were staring at me in awe. "Leave!" I hissed and they scattered.

"There was no need for that!" Isabella frowned as she crossed her arms. "I know you're feeling on edge, but you need to keep a cool head."

I was frustrated physically, mentally and sexually. I don't know how much longer I could last not knowing about Nate. I was about ready to tear Xavier limb from limb for taking me away from him.

All I wanted was to hold Nate in my arms. I had so much to tell him about myself, my background, and my family. I was anxious. Afraid he'd flee if he heard the truth. But as Isabella had said the day before, Nate needed to learn the truth, and he needed to learn it from me.

"Please could you go to the cabin and check on Nate." I turned to look at Xavier. "I can't have Xavier exposing who my father is, so I have to stay with Cara tonight."

Isabella's brow furrowed in concern. "Are you sure?"

I forced a reassuring smile, masking how I truly felt. "I'll meet up with you later. Just make sure Nate's safe."

"Okay, I'll call you when I get there."

"Thank you."

I watched as she left with Rafael.

Trying to put out my racing thoughts, I turned to meet with Cara. She appeared out of place as she stood by herself in the middle of the clearing. Her arms were clasped across her delicate waist as the omegas teased and mocked her. But she stood her ground and hissed back at them.

"That's no way to treat our guest,     " I hissed at the omegas with a nasty stare.

They muttered, "Sorry," and took off running.

As I approached Cara, I saw the determination in her brown eyes, ready to prove she was a strong wolf.

"Your pack has no manners." She raised her brow as she looked at me.

"Are you always this rude?" I scoffed at her.

She shrugged.

"Aren't you getting changed? You'll rip your nice clothes."

Cara was wearing a white vest and black sports shorts instead of her green dress from earlier.

During the full moon, it was common to wear worn or ragged clothing. Some chose to undress down to their underwear, while others went completely naked right before transitioning.

Nudity was unavoidable during the full moon, and there was no reason to feel embarrassed. It was a natural part of the transformation into a wolf. But tonight it didn't sit right with me, considering the circumstances.

"They're just clothes." I shrugged and dismissed her comment. But really I felt uncomfortable at the idea of being half naked next to her.

The air between us suddenly felt awkward, and the rest of the pack abandoned us to enjoy some privacy. But there was nothing to enjoy. The tension surrounding Cara made it clear that she didn't want to be here, and neither did I.

We wandered around the woods for several minutes without saying anything. Every time one of us attempted to speak, our words vanished before we could make a sound.

Eventually, Cara broke the silence. "Why did you agree to marry me when you clearly don't want to be with me?"

I took a deep breath, trying to find the right words to explain my decision. As I began to speak, I realized that honesty was the only way to address the situation.

"Xavier has threatened to expose my past if I don't marry you."

Cara's eyes widened in shock as she processed my words. "I know you're originally from the city, but is your past really that bad?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"My past is something I don't like to talk about."

"That bad."

I nodded.

"I'm sorry." I squeezed my eyes shut, exhaling a deep breath. "Xavier backed me into a corner, and unfortunately, you've become entangled in our power struggle."

"I see."

Cara's expression softened as she considered my words.

"But you have to understand. This arranged marriage goes beyond just us," she said. "Such an alliance would benefit both our packs. You must see that?"

I nodded.

"Then what is the problem?"

"Because I love another wolf and I want to be with them."

Cara's eyes widened at my blunt admission and a flicker of hurt crossed her face.

"I understand," she replied softly, her tone tinged with disappointment. "But you invited me to the ball as your date. You even growled over me. I don't understand. I thought you liked me."

"I was using you to hide my true feelings from this wolf."

"Using me?" Her voice grew with agitation.

"At the ball," I explained. "That growl had been aimed at someone else. They were standing behind you."

Cara's eyes narrowed; her expression a mix of confusion and hurt. "Who were you growling at?"

I hesitated before finally admitting, "I was growling at my fated mate, who was teasing me which set off my wolf."

Nate was going to be the death of me with his fucking teasing. But I would have my fun and get him back for it.

"Oh?" Cara looked taken aback and a little embarrassed. "You've found your fated mate. You should have said something sooner. I'm sure your pack and the Elders would be delighted. There hasn't been any fated mates in Havenwood for centuries."

"It's not something I can talk about."

"Why not?"

"It's complicated. What about you?" I changed the topic. "Why did you say yes to this arrangement when I sense you don't want me either?"

"Sometimes what's right for the pack is more important than personal feelings," Cara replied, avoiding eye contact. "We have to put the pack first."

"But what do you want?" I asked, standing still.

"I want to finish med school; that's my dream," Cara finally admitted.

"You're a doctor?" I sounded surprised, though I shouldn't be. Cara was a very clever wolf.

"Almost. I'm in my final year."

"Your father doesn't want you to finish school?"

"He does," Cara sighed, rubbing her face when tears welled her eyes. "After my mother died, my father hasn't been dealing with it very well and has been very protective of me. So for now, the pack needs me. I can always finish school later."

"I was sorry to hear about your mother's passing."

"It's not your fault." Cara's lip trembled.

My throat went dry from feeling her pain, and I found it difficult to say anything that might comfort her.

After our conversation ended, we walked in silence. With each step I became more agitated, wanting nothing more than to be with Nate. It was driving me insane, and I knew deep down that something terrible had happened. I could feel it through our shared bond.

But what could I do?

Xavier had put me in a chokehold I couldn't escape from. I couldn't risk exposing my past. I had to believe Nate was strong enough to look after himself until I found a way to ditch my pack and reach him. At least I had Isabella looking for him in the meantime.

A raked a hand through my hair. Feeling more nervous than before.

The sound of my phone ringing broke the awkward tension. A sigh of relief washed over me when I saw my sister's name flash across the screen. She must have found Nate.

"Lucius." Isabella's voice was panicked. "Nate never made it to the cabin."

"What?" My voice spiked with fear. It was everything I'd feared.

"I'm sorry, Nate's not here. I sent Rafael in search of him but he's nowhere to be found."

My heart raced with dread as my entire world fell apart. What happened? Where was he? Why didn't he get to the cabin? I sensed something wasn't right, but I ignored my wolf. What if he died?

"I'm going to look for him." I attempted to maintain a cool voice, but panic was building in the back of my throat, threatening to reveal my true emotions. This was not the moment to break down. I had to find Nate immediately before something awful happened to him.

"Okay, I'll be waiting at the cabin if you need me," Isabella said.

I ended the call and turned to Cara, who was frowning with concern. "Is everything okay?"

"My mate, they're in trouble." My voice trembled. "I have to go."

Cara's eyes widened in understanding as she nodded in support. "Yes, of course. Go, you should be with them."

I looked up, surprised. "Are you sure?"

She nodded with a smile. "Go, I will deal with Xavier."

"Thank you, and I'm sorry about everything. I promise I'll sort things out and try to find another way for our packs to be aligned."

She nodded in understanding with a kind smile, but I could see a hint of sadness behind her eyes. She urged me to go, and I dashed off.

As the full moon reached its peak, I jumped into the air and shifted. It was instantaneous. No pain or bones cracking. It was a smooth transition, veiled in mist and steam, that had taken years of practice to master.

The sensation of fur sprouting from my skin was exhilarating, and the power that surged through my veins was intoxicating. As I landed on all fours, I let out a howl that echoed through the night, embracing my true nature as a werewolf.

I instantly dashed between the trees in search of Nate. Using the mated bond that connected us to find him. The closer I got to him, the more I could feel his pain and suffering.

He was nearing death.

"I'm coming, Nate."