Chapter 40 Is He My Mate?
A broken howl tore from my throat as I ran faster, pouring every ounce of pain into my legs. My chest burned, my breath coming out ragged, but I didn’t slow down. Slowly, my strength faded, my limbs growing heavy until my steps faltered and I stumbled hard to the ground. The moment my knees hit the forest floor, I shifted back, my body shaking as grief crashed into me all at once. A scream ripped out of my chest, raw and uncontrollable, echoing through the woods as I curled into myself, clutching my arms tightly while sobs wracked my body.
“Why, Moon Goddess,” I whispered through my tears. “Why do I keep suffering like this?”
The woods answered me with silence.
Then leaves rustled behind me, soft but close, and my heart jumped violently in my chest. I lifted my head sharply as footsteps followed, steady and calm, nothing like the rushed steps of someone sneaking.
“You know the Moon Goddess is not mainly responsible for decisions you make yourself,” a voice said from behind me, deep and unreadable. “And it’s not very safe to be out here crying and shouting, especially in times like this.”
I turned quickly, fear rushing through me as I scrambled back on instinct. A young man stood a short distance away, tall and broad, dressed in black. The shadows clung to him like he belonged to the night itself. His face was handsome in a quiet way, sharp and calm, and his eyes—cold gray—watched me with curiosity instead of threat, which somehow made it worse.
“Who are you?” I asked, my voice trembling as my wolf stirred uneasily inside me, unsure whether this stranger was danger or something far more complicated.
He clicked his tongue slowly. “It’s not technically necessary that I give my identity to you,” he said, his tone flat. “But you’re in my territory.”
I scrambled up to my feet and glanced around quickly. I was sure I was still in Moon Light territory, but I didn’t argue. My body felt weak, exposed. I wrapped my arms tightly over my chest when I remembered I was naked, my clothes torn apart when I shifted.
His gaze lingered on me for a moment, those cold gray eyes piercing straight through me before drifting down my body. Heat rushed up my face, and I took a step back. Without saying a word, he pulled off his jacket and stepped closer, but I moved away immediately, panic tightening my chest.
I didn’t know who he was, and I couldn’t let him come close. It could be a trick—lure me in, then kill me when I least expected it.
A smirk tugged at his lips. “Relax,” he said coolly. “I don’t kill pretty ladies, especially pregnant ones.” His eyes flicked briefly to my stomach before he dropped the jacket on the ground. “You should wear that, unless you plan on walking bare all the way home.”
He stepped back and leaned against one of the trees, arms crossed, watching me with the same cold, amused stare that made my skin crawl. I hesitated for a moment, my wolf uneasy, before walking over quickly to snatch the jacket from the ground and wrap it tightly around my body. The warmth of it made my shoulders relax despite myself.
I stayed alert, watching him carefully. The way he looked at me made my skin prickle, like he was studying prey, not in hunger for flesh, but something deeper, something I didn’t understand. Still, I was grateful for the jacket, for the small bit of decency he’d shown.
“This is my hunting area,” he said after a moment, breaking the silence. His voice was calm, almost bored. “Unlike most wolves, I don’t hunt much at night. I do most of my work during the day. I set traps, scout the land, secure ambush spots. Nighttime is for watching.”
I didn’t respond.
“I’m Aiden,” he added. “From the Wolfclaw pack.”
My body tensed at the mention of another pack. I kept my guard up, saying nothing.
He tilted his head slightly. “And you are?”
“I don’t give information to strangers,” I said quietly, tightening the jacket around myself.
A slow smile crossed his face, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “That’s fine.”
I didn’t like him, not one bit. Everything about him screamed danger. Whatever reason he had for being here, I didn’t want to be part of it. My body was tired, my wolf weak, and all I wanted was to get to Cora’s place and rest.
I turned to leave.
“It seems your stepsister hurt you a lot,” he said suddenly. “Took something that belongs to you.”
My steps froze.
I turned back sharply, my heart racing. “What did you say?” I demanded.
He didn’t repeat himself. Instead, he pushed off the tree and shrugged lightly. “I tend to know things about people when I look at them.”
“That doesn’t make sense,” I snapped.
“You’re hurting,” he continued calmly. “Deeply. And whatever she took wasn’t small.”
I stared at him, my chest tight, wondering what kind of person he was. There was no warmth in his voice, no pity, just truth spoken like it meant nothing to him. My wolf shifted restlessly, uneasy, warning me.
This had to be a trap.
He was trying to keep me here, trying to get close, and I refused to let that happen. I had to leave now. I was exhausted, weak, and I didn’t trust him. I turned away again and started walking, forcing my legs to move.
“Stop,” he shouted behind me.
I ignored him.
Before I could understand what was happening, the world spun. He moved so fast I didn’t even see him coming. Strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me sharply back against his body. A loud snap echoed beside us, and my heart raced wildly, not just from fear but from how close he suddenly was.
My head rested against his chest.
Warm. Steady. Safe.
The feeling hit me so hard it stole my breath. Comfort flooded through me, deep and strange, wrapping around my heart in a way I had never felt before. My body relaxed without permission, my wolf stirring softly, urging me closer. I hated it. I hated how natural it felt.
I looked up at him slowly, my eyes burning with tears as his gaze locked onto mine. His face was still cold, still unreadable, but something flickered in his eyes.
My voice came out broken. “Are you… my mate?”
The question hung between us, heavy and dangerous, as the woods fell silent around us.