Sebastian waited, his gaze locked on mine, silently urging me to respond. All I needed to say was, "I don't want to be your mate," and I'd be free of him. But something deep within me held back.

I tried to speak, but the words wouldn't come. My mouth closed, leaving me speechless.

A flicker of triumph flashed in Sebastian's eyes, his intense expression softening as a slow smile formed on his lips. "You can't do it," he murmured, sounding almost relieved.

I inwardly cursed myself. What was I thinking? Why hadn't I followed through?

Before I could gather my thoughts, a knock echoed through the room. Sebastian hesitated, then turned to answer the door.

Lachlan stood there, looking worn out. "Claudia slipped out of her room this morning," he reported, his voice strained.

Sebastian sighed, the tension between us evaporating. "Find her and bring her back. I don't want her out there, playing vigilante with those rogues," he instructed.

Lachlan nodded but then noticed me standing behind Sebastian. His eyes brightened as he looked between us. "I guess I should leave you two alone," he remarked, giving Sebastian a knowing glance.

"It's fine—I'll go. We're done here," I quickly said, attempting to slip past them.

Sebastian shifted, blocking my path. "Hold on, there's something else we need to discuss," he said.

"What is it?" I asked, bracing myself.

He crossed his arms, his tone more serious. "It's about your stubborn choice to live in that poorly insulated, freezing trailer."

After another bitterly cold night, I was beginning to regret my decision.

"I can't let you stay there, knowing you could get sick or worse. I understand you're not thrilled about the guest suites, but—"

"I'll move into the guest suite," I interrupted quietly.

Sebastian paused, as if to make sure he'd heard me correctly. "You'll move into the guest suite?" he repeated.

"Yes—the trailer is unbearably cold and smells terrible," I admitted, almost embarrassed.

A satisfied look crossed Sebastian's face as he glanced at Lachlan. "Lachlan, could you arrange for Mabel's belongings to be moved to the suite next to mine?" he asked.

Lachlan smirked. "Sure thing, boss."

That afternoon, I turned my focus back to the rogues. While Lachlan and the others moved my things out of the trailer, I headed for a walk in the West Wood.

I was eager to start tracking the rogues, observing their movements, and finding a chance to reclaim Selene's medallion.

I followed the snowy paths to my usual hiding spot near the sawmill. Fresh snow began to fall, covering my tracks from any rogue or pack guard that might pass by.

I settled into a hiding place behind an old oil drum, putting my phone on do not disturb mode.

An hour or two passed without any sign of the rogues. The cold might have driven them indoors, though I saw no sign of a fire.

My thoughts drifted back to my conversation with Sebastian that morning and what he'd said about the never wolves. There had been four never wolves like me—born to wolf parents who couldn't shift but had unusual abilities. I wondered if Sebastian was right—had my transformation failed because I touched the wrong item?

I recalled the night of my failed transformation. The ritual was simple. We approached the altars dedicated to our chosen Moon Goddess, touched their sacred relics, and gained the ability to shift into a wolf.

Selene's relic was the Crescent Moon Medallion, a blend of gold and silver moons. Artemis' was an obsidian hunting dagger etched with stars, both exuding an otherworldly allure.

Amber, eager and excited, approached Selene's altar first. She touched the medallion, and her eyes instantly changed from dark brown to glowing silver—Selene had accepted her. She shifted into a sleek white wolf, her howl echoing through the cave in pure exhilaration.

Then it was my turn.

Standing before the altars, I felt nothing—no instinct, no pull. The high priestess gestured for me to choose. Wanting to follow Amber, I reached for Selene's medallion, but it remained cold and unresponsive.

Disheartened, I turned to Artemis' dagger, hoping for a sign, but there was none.

The high priestess gave me a look that said it all—I was a never wolf, unchosen by either Moon Goddess.

As I left the cave, Amber, now a striking white wolf, waited for me. Her tail, which had been wagging in excitement, stilled when she saw that I hadn't transformed. The joy in her silver eyes faded to disappointment.

We both knew Hector would never accept a never wolf into his pack.

The next day, I was cast out, forced to fend for myself. I shivered as memories of those first few weeks crept back into my mind—the cold, the uncertainty—still so vivid.

A sudden snap of a twig behind me broke my thoughts. I shifted uneasily, turning to see Claudia standing about twenty feet away, her gaze fixed on me.

Our eyes locked, and for a brief moment, a silent understanding passed between us—I won't tell if you don't.

Without a word, she turned away. Her form shifted into a large grey wolf, and she disappeared into the falling snow.

I checked the time on my phone. It was getting late, and daylight was fading fast.

The sawmill door creaked open. I held my breath as Devon stepped out into the cold. Dark circles framed his eyes, and I noticed dried blood and fur crusted around his lips.

Rogues were different from other wolves. They lacked self-control, driven by an insatiable hunger for flesh—animal or human. Devon stretched in the cold air, his belly bloated from a night of feasting.

He dipped his hand into his pocket, and for a split second, I thought he might pull out Selene's medallion. But instead, he retrieved a cellphone.

The phone vibrated in his hand, and he swiped across the screen to answer it.

"Hey, Sammi," he crooned, his voice sickly sweet. "No, I'm not mad about last night anymore."

He paused, letting Sammi speak. His expression grew bored, and at one point, he even lowered the phone from his ear to let out a long, irritated sigh.

"Sammi," he said, interrupting her. "I need you to bring me what I asked for—it's the only way we're ever going to be together."

He was probably asking her for more money, trying to extort what little she had left.

"Listen, baby. The Winter Moon Festival is next week," he said. "Me and the boys are planning to make an appearance in town. Think you can get me what I need by then?"

My ears pricked up at the mention of the Winter Moon Festival—I had completely forgotten about it.

The festival was a long-cherished tradition in Cedar Falls, its origins deeply rooted in rituals that once honoured the coming of winter. However, much of its religious significance had faded, leaving behind a lively Christmas market and funfair.

Stalls lined the streets, offering everything from handcrafted ornaments to warm mulled cider,

while the scent of roasted chestnuts and sweet pastries filled the crisp winter air. The town square transformed into a glittering wonderland, with twinkling lights strung across every tree and lamppost.

I had many fond memories of the festival, but over the years, my feelings toward it had turned bittersweet. It was a reminder of everything I had lost and everything I could never be a part of.

If Devon was going to the Winter Moon Festival, then I had a chance to sneak into the sawmill and steal the medallion back.

I listened carefully to his conversation.

"Look, I'm heading to the festival around 8 p.m.," he said, picking at the crust around his mouth.

"Think you can get what I need by then?"

Whatever Sammi said must have pleased him, as he grinned and replied, "Love you too, babe."

He ended the call and headed back inside the sawmill.

I rocked back on my haunches.

This was it—the opportunity I had been waiting for.

While Devon and the rogues were at the festival, I could sneak in and retrieve the medallion.

Amber would be saved, and I would finally be free to return home and forget this wretched place ever existed.

Strangely, this thought didn't bring me much happiness. Instead, I felt a yawning emptiness at the idea of leaving Sebastian.

"This feeling isn't real," I quietly reminded myself. "It's just the mating bond."

Carefully, I rose from my hiding spot and made my way out of the woods.

By the time I reached the main track leading up to the house, night had settled in. As I approached the steps, I saw Sebastian hurrying down, his dark coat flapping as he moved. His usual composure was gone, replaced with clear worry.

"Are you okay?" I asked, noting the tension in his face.

"Why didn't you answer your phone?" he snapped, grabbing my elbow and steering me toward the front doors.

I suddenly remembered I'd turned my phone to 'do not disturb' while staking out the sawmill.

"A blizzard's coming in from the mountains," he said, his voice tight with concern. "I've had my men searching for you for hours."

"I'm sorry, I didn't check my phone," I replied, guilt creeping in.

"You have no idea how many years you've taken off my life," he muttered.

Lachlan appeared behind him, his hair damp from running through the snow in wolf form.

"You're hard to track, moonbeam—dare I say it, harder than Claudia," he said, panting slightly.

Sebastian ran a hand down his face, exhaling sharply. "It's because she doesn't smell like one of us. Or any human. One of her many mysterious talents."

I couldn't tell if that was meant as a compliment or an insult.

Inside the house, I stomped the snow off my boots.

Sebastian touched my cheek, his hand warm against my cold skin.

"You're freezing," he muttered. "Can someone bring a blanket and hot tea?"

Moments later, someone handed me a warm blanket and a steaming cup of tea.

"I lost track of time," I said, trying to downplay how long I'd been gone.

"What were you doing?" His tone carried a hint of accusation.

I scrambled for an excuse. "I was birdwatching."

He stared at me, clearly unsure whether to believe me.

"I've noticed the juncos are back," I said, recalling a recent nature documentary I'd seen. "And the chickadees are busy storing seeds under bark and in cracks. I got caught up in—the beauty of nature."

I cringed at my own words but hoped that Sebastian would believe me.

Sebastian looked genuinely surprised. "I never knew you were such a keen ornithologist," he said.

A moment passed, and he seemed to relax.

"I'm sorry if I seemed angry—I was just terrified that you might get caught out in the storm," he said softly.

I pulled the blanket tightly around my shoulders, thankful I wasn't spending another night in the trailer. Outside, all seemed peaceful, but the snow was falling heavier by the moment.

Sebastian peered out a nearby window into the darkness. "Is there still no sign of Claudia?" he asked.

"No," Lachlan sighed.

"She'll be sheltering in one of her boltholes," Sebastian groaned.

My mind flicked back to earlier when I had seen Claudia outside the sawmill. I wondered if she was still there, watching the rogues.

Sebastian shook his head. "Call everyone in. No one is to go out until the storm passes. It looks like we will be holed up in here for a few days."