Chapter 1 - In search of a mate
The first rays of sunlight tinged the horizon with gentle shades, bathing the landscape in a serene morning light. The fresh morning air carried with it the earthy scent of the forest, mixed with the sweetness of wildflowers.
I tried to avoid the passersby as they walked past me, their gazes avoiding mine. I moved carefully, slipping through the pack's passages. I didn't want any confrontations so early.
My parents were deserters, defying the king's will. They ignored the consequences that would fall upon me, their daughter, and my future.
I was raised by those who took pity on my situation, until I could forge my own path.
In my childhood, I faced unimaginable hardships. I was the target of physical and psychological abuse by those who believed I should pay for my parents' sins. As I grew, the hostility around me intensified. The crown no longer extended its protection over me, and the wolves, fearing any retaliation, kept their distance.
I was left with the refuge of shadows, subsisting on the scraps life provided me. I became a hunter with limited skills, struggling to survive on the fringes of society.
At the age of 20, the weight of expectations rested on my shoulders. I was expected to possess the indispensable qualities for a marriage that would bring pride to my mate. However, such a fate would never come to pass.
I saw myself as undernourished; my fur had never received the care needed to appear beautiful to others, and no wolf showed lasting interest in me. I received countless fleeting proposals, a night of pleasure, but a marriage proposal was an unattainable dream.
"What if I left?" I thought, sitting by the stream, away from the pack. "It wouldn't be a radical change in my solitude, but perhaps I could find another pack that didn't know the marks of my past." I lay down on my paws, allowing my mind to wander, believing that somewhere, someone would be able to see beyond the scars that marked my essence.
"There you are!" I heard the growl behind me, and I already knew who it was. "Did you forget your responsibility to take care of the carcasses that piled up in the pack after the last hunt?" Sebastian's penetrating gaze instilled fear in my being. He was the Beta of the realm, holding his position with authority and roughness.
"I was waiting for everyone to finish." I stood up, keeping my head low, as I had been taught since the earliest days of my existence.
"You don't need to wait; you need to wake up earlier if you don't want to be seen." He approached, making me tremble involuntarily. "You're getting too comfortable, Rachel Evergreen."
My surname was a curse, and just its mention felt like a piercing blow to my heart.
"I'll do what you asked, Darkwood. I'll clean the carcasses right away." I tried to move away, but he blocked my path and looked at me differently.
"This is an isolated place, don't you think?" My breath stopped. It wasn't the first time he had cornered me like this. "What were you doing in such a remote place like this?" A hiss of satisfaction escaped his lips, and my legs began to tremble.
"Just waiting, sir, waiting until everyone finishes their tasks so I can do mine."
"How about giving me what I want right now? I can ease your burden and ask the newcomers to do the work for you." He moved closer, brushing his muzzle against my ear. "I can make your life much easier in here."
I backed away and ran desperately, leaving him laughing behind me. I didn't want to submit to anyone; I just wanted to belong to someone, to be cared for and loved. I wanted to be protected, to never feel fear of the world around me again.
I headed to the pile of rubbish next to the pack and began dragging carcass after carcass to the pit I had dug the day before to bury them. Cleaning up the debris and food scraps was always my task. It was the only job Sebastian assigned to me, as I didn't want to get involved in any favors with him.
I spent the morning and most of the afternoon cleaning, under Sebastian's malicious gaze.
He watched me closely, waiting for the moment when I would give up, but that would never happen. I would never give in to him that way.
I crawled back to my corner, with a sore body and a weak jaw. The day's effort took its toll, and there was nothing more to do than accept my fate.
"Luna, my powerful mother, hear my plea..." I cried for everything I hadn't cried in the past few weeks. "If it's your will for me to suffer like this, I'll understand, but if not, give me a way out, give me a mate. Someone who sees beyond my past, who accepts me as I am." Sobs echoed around me, blending with the sounds of the forest. "I can't just be this, just a remnant of a lineage." I buried my face in my paws. "Please, my beloved Luna, tell me what to do. I can't do it alone anymore!"
I stood up and returned to the stream's edge, hiding among the bushes to avoid being surprised by Sebastian again.
I gazed at the moon approaching the stream, looking directly at me, conveying all the despair that resided in my chest. My eyes closed gradually, waiting for redemption for everything I had gone through that day.
"Daughter, beloved and dear. I am here! I heard your plea and took pity on your suffering. I will assign a strong and brave male to take care of you and drive away all your fear."
That voice echoed in my heart, and a breath of life coursed through my veins.
"Who is he, my Luna? Who is it?" I stood up, happy to know that I wouldn't be lonely in that pack anymore.
"In the heart of the pack, destiny conspires for a fateful encounter. A strong male will cross your path, and you will recognize him instantly. Deep down, you will feel the connection that reveals you belong to him."
I thought about who it could be, and I was sure that a promise from the Moon would not be made in vain and that everything around me would change once I laid eyes on my mate.
I returned to the pack, gathering all the last reserves of strength left in my body. Despite the day's great efforts, I needed to find out who my destined wolf was.