The masquerade ball had left me emotionally and mentally drained, and I longed for a moment of rest from the thoughts swirling in my mind. I was still sweating from my encounter with Lucius.

My chest was burning, and hot to the touch, but it wasn't a bad feeling. The heat sent delightful shivers throughout my body, images of our almost kiss flashing through my mind. I shook my head from the thoughts, reminding myself I hated Lucius, he was my rival.

The neon open sign flashed above the entrance to Selina's Bar. The lights were still on inside despite it being one o'clock in the morning. Which didn't at all surprise me.

Selina, a lone wolf like me, had a motivation to open past her liquor license, and always attracted the most unusual of patrons.

Selina's was neutral ground for the werewolves regardless of their background, and she took the neutrality of her bar very seriously. Politics between packs was never discussed and fights were not permitted.

Selina's was a place to drown yourself in your sorrows and have fun, and the occasional hook up. And I'd had many memorable hook ups.

Upon entering the bar, I was greeted by a lively spirit which was too much for this time of night.

"Hi Nate!" she beamed in her British accent. "How was the Elders' Ball?"

She happily smiled, her long wine red hair bounced around her golden freckled face, as she wiped down the bar.

I didn't answer as I gazed around the bar, the last of the customers were either passed out on the tables or sprawled across the floor hugging their half-empty glasses and some couples were still slowly dancing in the corner to a soft melody. As usual Selina had held quite the party.

"You missed it!"

I always seemed to miss the best nights at Selina's.

"The place was heaving." Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she launched into one of her bizarre stories about the night's events at the bar.

I tried to feign interest, but the encounter with Lucius had left my thoughts preoccupied, making it difficult to focus on anything else but him.

"Selina, I'd love to hear more about your story, but I'm really tired," I interrupted her gently, "It's been a strange and long night and I want to sleep."

"Okay." she smiled gently, recognizing the exhaustion in my eyes. "But don't think I won't pester you for details about the Elders' Ball tomorrow."

I managed a half-hearted smile before I trudged up the creaky staircase that led to the small apartment I shared with her above the bar. Stepping into the apartment, I leaned back against the door, the weight of the night's events pressed down upon me.

Almost dying at my brother's hands, Lucius coming to save me. The mated bond with Lucius, the realization of being fated mates with my pack's rival—it was all too much to process.

Walking further into the dimly lit apartment, I let out a sigh of relief. This place, above Selina's Bar, had become my sanctuary after my banishment.

Selina, originally from London who had moved to Seattle and then wound up in Heavenwood not too far from the city, had offered me both a job at the bar and a place to stay when I was at my lowest.

She had been a true friend when I needed one the most.

I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts of the night. I could deal with the Lucius situation tomorrow.

Tonight, I just wanted to find some semblance of peace.

However, that tranquility was short-lived. As I entered my bedroom, I found my cousin making out with some random girl on my bed. Both of them still wearing their formal outfits from the ball.

"Chase!" I exclaimed, my voice a mix of disbelief and frustration. "What are you doing here?"

Chase unlatched from the woman, his face flushed and a mischievous glint in his silver eyes. "Don't ruin the fun, things were just getting good."

"Get out! Now!"

My frustration boiled over as I growled at the woman, my patience reaching its breaking point. My sharp tone hinted at the irritation simmering beneath the surface, and I made it clear through my assertive demeanor that I wanted her gone.

I watched as the woman visibly flinched under my gaze. Sensing the charged atmosphere, the girl hurriedly fled the room.

My frustration bubbled up as I confronted Chase, my jaw clenching with irritation.

"My spare key is for emergencies!" I asserted, my voice edged with annoyance. "I've had enough of you bringing a different girl back to my room every other night. You have your own place."

"I needed to get away from the Pack House."

"Why?" I asked, crossing my arms.

"Urgh." He groaned and dramatically sighed. "Grandpa keeps forcing me to practice using my future sight, but all I keep seeing is the same nightmare." He sat up and shrugged his blazer back on. "It was becoming too much."

"What've you been seeing?"

"A sacrificial knife. An altar. Death."

Chase's eyes went wide with horror, betraying the haunting imagery that flashed through his mind. His complexion was drained of color, leaving him looking ashen with a stark fear that gripped him.

With a sharp, instinctive movement, he vigorously shook his head, as though attempting to dispel the harrowing visions that threatened to consume him.

My face twisted into a grimace as I felt a brief flash of discomfort ripple through the air. A subtle signal of the unease stirring within Chase. At that moment, I was glad I didn't possess the sight.

Chase tried to hide his discomfort. And I watched as he stretched his arms high above his head and smiled. Assuring me that everything was fine. Yet, beneath his surface, I sensed a deeper struggle.

It was evident he was wrestling with a heavy burden. He viewed his sight not as a gift, but as a curse. Clearly reflected in his recent behavior. Relying more often on alcohol and a revolving door of different women.

Chase's demeanor suddenly shifted as he inhaled my scent. His expression transformed into a mischievous grin accompanied by a knowing twinkle in his silver eyes.

He forcefully grabbed my hand and his pupils blew wide, as he activated his sight and delved into the depths of my wolf's spirit.

"Congratulations!" Chase sniggered and I snatched my hand back. "So, when are we going shopping for wedding dresses?"

"Fuck-off," I retorted, giving him a playful middle finger before hopping onto the bed. With a sigh of relief, I finally removed the mask and began massaging my aching face.

"The Lunar Goddess has worked wonders on you tonight."

"Tell The Lunar Goddess, she's made a mistake."

"The Lunar Goddess doesn't make mistakes."

"The Lunar Goddess can eat shit."

"I'm a spirit wolf," Chase explained as he crossed his arms. "It's my job to recognize and follow the signs of fated mates. I wouldn't deny the bond if I were you; it will have repercussions."

"Go home, before Grandpa comes looking for you," I glowered at him, "I don't want to be on his bad side any more than I am. He caught me at the ball."

"Great." Chase sighed, "he's going to be in a bad mood tonight. Why don't you just take up his offer and join Dark Moon?"

I bit back the words that threatened to spill out, the truth burning at the tip of my tongue. "Because he'll make me the alpha when your father retires and I can't take that away from you," I wanted to say.

But I held back, knowing all too well how much Chase wanted to lead Dark Moon. It was his dream, and I couldn't bear to snatch it away from him. He would hate me and losing Chase was a prospect I couldn't fathom.

He was more than just my cousin; he was one of the only friends I had left. Chase stood by me when no one else did. He believed me when I recounted the events of that fateful night when Hayley died.

Chase threw up his hands, conceding defeat in his attempt to elicit a response from me. With a resigned shake of his head, he turned on his heel and marched towards the door and slammed it shut behind him, the sound reverberating through the room.

"Dramatic much!"

I fell back against my pillow, completely exhausted as I kicked off my shoes.

My body ached, and my mind raced with thoughts of Lucius. My heart still burned, a constant reminder of the connection we shared. The forbidden feelings swirling inside me were a mix of desire and confusion, and I didn't know how to handle them.

In a fit of frustration and pent-up tension, I found myself seeking relief in the most primal way possible. My hands hurriedly unbuckled my belt and zipper and I reached down my pants.

My thoughts wandered to Lucius—his strong body, the tantalizing scent that clung to him, and the captivating aura that surrounded him. I thought of his lips against my neck, his hands roaming my body and the idea of him inside me, our bodies entwined as one.

It was all too much, and my body responded to the fantasies. My back arching as I came thinking of Lucius.

As I lay there, spent and vulnerable, the guilt washed over me. Cursing at myself.

I had never felt this way about anyone, let alone someone from a rival pack.

It was too much, and the burning sensation in my heart only served as a reminder of the impossible situation I had found myself in.

After cleaning myself off with a quick, cold shower, I eventually went back to bed, and with a heavy heart, I drifted into a restless sleep.