67

67


Vishal

All my life, I had searched for my mate. Every full moon, every pack gathering, and every journey to neighboring territories, I hoped that this time would be different.

I hoped I would finally feel that magical connection everyone talked about, the instant recognition that would bring peace to my restless soul.

But my searching seemed hopeless. Year after year passed, and I found no one. Eventually, I started to believe that the moon goddess had not blessed me with a mate. Maybe I was meant to be alone forever.

My parents never gave up hope. They were sure that I would find her someday. They strongly believed she was out there somewhere, waiting for me. They wanted me to do whatever it took to find her, even if I had to search in other packs, other territories, and other countries.

The pressure got worse when my sister Ella found her mate and brought him home. I was happy for her, truly, but it made me feel even more alone. Everyone around me was finding their other half, and I was still searching.

Flashback: The Day Everything Went Wrong

I was coming back to the pack with Scott after a week-long patrol. As we approached our territory, something felt wrong. The air was thick with sadness and fear.

“What’s going on?” Scott asked, looking around nervously. “Why does everything feel so cold and quiet? This isn’t normal.”

He was right. It wasn’t normal at all. Our pack was usually full of life and energy. The only time it felt like this was when one of our members had died. My heart started racing. Who had we lost while we were away?

“I don’t know,” I replied, quickening my pace. “We need to get inside and see what happened.”

“Good idea,” Scott said, jogging to keep up with me. “Let’s go.”

We hurried to the pack house and found Alpha Tommy and his Luna, and my father waiting for us in the main hall. They all looked devastated, like someone had died.

I looked around the room - chairs were overturned, papers were scattered on the floor, and there were claw marks on the walls. It looked as if a terrible fight had taken place.

“Can someone please tell us what happened here?” Scott demanded. “What’s going on, Father?”

I searched their faces for answers, but no one would meet our eyes. The silence was killing me. Then I noticed my sister Ella standing with Amira, the Alpha’s daughter. But someone was missing - someone who should have been with them.

“Where is she?” I asked Ella, a cold feeling spreading through my chest. “Where’s Jane?”

When I looked closely at my sister, I could see that her eyes were red and swollen from crying. Her whole body was shaking. A terrible fear gripped my heart.

“Ella, why are you crying?” I demanded, walking toward her. “Answer me! Where is Jane? What happened here?”

“Stop yelling at her,” my father finally spoke up, his voice tired and defeated. “I’ll tell you what happened. The Alpha King took Jane away.”

“What?!” I shouted, unable to believe what I was hearing. “And you just let him take her? How could you? Why didn’t you stop him?”

I turned to face Alpha Tommy, anger boiling in my chest. “You’re supposed to be our leader! How could you let him just walk in here and take her? Why didn’t any of you protect her?”

I had so many questions racing through my mind, so much anger and confusion.

“That’s enough, son!” my father yelled back. “You don’t speak to your Alpha like that! Show some respect!”

“Father, I know he’s my Alpha,” I muttered, my voice getting dangerously low. “But he’s so weak that he couldn’t protect one innocent girl from that monster. How can he protect the rest of us? He’s not worthy to be called an Alpha. Not anymore.”

I shook my head in disgust. “I’m going to kill that bastard King.”

“How dare you—” my father started to say, pointing an angry finger at me.

“Stop, Beta,” Alpha Tommy interrupted quietly. “Vishal is right. What he’s saying is completely true. I am weak. I wasn’t strong enough to protect Jane when she needed me most.”

His voice cracked with emotion. “You were all here when Alpha King Richard came storming in. He took her right in front of me, and I didn’t even try to fight him. I don’t deserve to be called an Alpha anymore. Scott will take over as leader. I’m too ashamed of myself to continue.”

The room erupted in surprised whispers. Everyone looked shocked by this sudden announcement.

“Alpha, what are you saying?” my father asked, his anger forgotten. “Why are you suddenly deciding to step down? This isn’t right. Please think about this more carefully.”

“My decision is final,” Alpha Tommy said firmly. “I’m not doing this because of what Vishal said. I’m doing this because I feel useless and ashamed.”

His voice broke completely. “I should have fought harder to protect Jane. She trusted us to keep her safe, and we failed her. I’ll regret that for the rest of my life.”

I didn’t care about his regrets. He was a coward, and because of his weakness, Jane was now trapped with the most dangerous Alpha in our world. If I had been here, she never would have been taken. I would have protected her with my life if necessary.

I tried dozens of times to break into the Alpha King’s territory to rescue her, but it was impossible. His security was too tight, his walls too high, and his guards were too many. I kept trying until the day we heard the news that she had disappeared from his pack entirely.

For years, I searched for her everywhere. I never gave up hope that she was alive somewhere, and waiting to be found.

And then, like a miracle, I found her working in a human bar. Not only was she alive and safe, but she turned out to be my fated mate - the one I had been searching for my entire life.

What a blessing from the moon goddess.



Present day

Now, just hearing Jane’s sweet voice over the phone made my heart race with happiness. After all these years of searching, of longing, of wondering if I would ever find my other half - here she was. We no longer had to keep looking. The search was finally over.

I couldn’t wait to introduce her to my parents and my pack members as my mate, and my future Beta. She had promised to come see me at my hotel room after her shift at the bar ended. I was so excited I could barely sit still.

I picked up my phone to call her and hear her voice again, but she didn’t answer. I tried again. Still nothing. A third time, a fourth time - but Jane wasn’t picking up.

My wolf started to panic inside my head. Why isn’t she answering? Something’s wrong. I can feel it.

“Maybe she’s just busy,” I said out loud, trying to calm both myself and my wolf. “The bar is probably crowded tonight.”

‘Or maybe she’s angry with us,’ my wolf continued anxiously. ‘Maybe she’s upset because we only kissed her and didn’t do more. Maybe she thinks we don’t want her.’

“Can you please let me think straight?” I said, holding my head in my hands. “Stop jumping to conclusions! Jane loves me, and I love her. She’s my woman, my fated mate. We’re meant for each other. She wouldn’t reject me over something so small. Have some faith in our mate.”

But even as I said the words, doubt was creeping into my mind. I picked up my phone and dialed her number again. Straight to voicemail. Again. And again.

Something was definitely wrong.

I jumped up from the hotel bed and quickly got dressed. I had to go to the bar and find her. Maybe her phone had died, or maybe she was in some kind of trouble. Whatever was happening, I needed to see her with my own eyes.

I rushed out of the hotel and grabbed the first taxi I could find.

“The Blue Moon Bar on 5th Street,” I told the driver. “And please hurry.”

The drive felt like it took forever, even though it was only fifteen minutes. When we finally arrived, I threw some money at the driver and ran toward the entrance before walking in.

“Hello there, handsome!” a young waitress said, appearing in front of me with a bright smile. “What can I get you to drink?”

“I don’t need anything,” I said impatiently, barely glancing at her. “Where is Jane?”

“Jane?” The girl looked confused. “I’m sorry, sir, but no one here has that name. Are you sure you have the right place?”