Chapter 1

Faye’s pov

Tonight is going to be the best night of my life.

I have dreamed of this night since I was a child. The night where I will finally find my mate. The night where the person destined to love me will complete me in ways no one ever could.

I had always known who it would be — Young Alpha Blake, the man I had loved in silence as long as I can remember. The one whose name I had written in my diary. He's the man I had always prayed to the Moon Goddess for, in hopes that, no, believing that on the day of the Mating Ceremony he would choose me. That he would be mine.

And it was today.

Music, laughter, and chatter filled the air. The golden decorative lanterns swayed from the tree branches, casting low glow over the sea of faces in the crowd.

The night was thick with excitement as the pack gathered under the full moon.

Everywhere I looked, couples were finding each other, happy and glad that they had found each other.

It was the last selection. I was next.

I walked to the center of the ballroom and stood there quietly l, my heart pounding so hard, iI hears it echo in my ears.

The clock struck midnight and the bell tolled. A surge of energy washed all over me, electrifying every nerve in my body.

My soul reached out, searching,

And then I found what I was waiting for.

I felt what I was searching for – the mating bond!

It snapped into place like a tether, a pull so strong it nearly knocked the air out of my lungs.

I closed my eyes to feel the warmth of pure longing. My mate was here. He was searching for me too —Blake was here for me.

I threw my eyes open, my eyes locking onto my mate.

But it wasn't him.

It wasn't young Alpha Blake.

It was someone else.

My blood chilled as I stared at him. No, it couldn't be.

He was someone I knew just as well. Someone those name had been a constant in my life. Someone whose face was so familiar it was like looking into a mirror.

My stomach twisted. My breath hitched.

No. No.

“Killian,” I whispered, taking a step back as if distance could undo what the Goddess had done.

Killian, too, was stunned. His green eyes widened in shock as he stared at me. His dark brows furrowed and his lips slightly parted. I wasn't near him but I could feel the same tension rattling through my body on his.

For a minute, neither of us spoke.

The world around us disappeared like a mist — The music, the laughter, the pack. Everything faded into nothing and it was just only him and only me. Only this impossible truth.

Hebhave averted his gaze for a moment before he turned to me and finally said, his voice strined. “... Faye.”

I shook my head, holding up a hand. “No! This is wrong! This is to be some sort of mistake…”

“Faye…”

“No!” I shook my head violently and if it would stop me from seeing what I was. My pulse races so fast I felt like I might pass out any second. The truth was unbearable.

The Goddess made a wrong choice. All my life I'd prayed to her for my mate. Turns out she wasn't even listening at all.

My mate isn't supposed to be Killian!

It was never supposed to be him!

Because Killian wasn't just a anyone. He wasn't some random pack member.

He was my brother!

Not by blood, no but he had been my brother in everyway that matters.

We had grown up together, lived under the same roof, and shared the same last name.

Killian taught me fishing, how to throw a punch, and how to stand up for myself. He carried me on his back when I sprained my ankle, teased me about my first crush and threatened to murder the boy who broke my heart.

He was my bestfriend.

He had always been the overprotective big brother — my safe place when our parents were away.

And now, he's my mate?

No way!

I staggered back, pressing my hand to my chest and muttering repeatedly to myself. “It’s not real. This isn't real.”

Who was I kidding?

Everything was real.

The same bond that had pulled wolves together for centuries. The same bond meant to being love and not this twisted nightmare; thrummed between us

The connection was strong and undeniable. The bond was there. I could feel it.

Killian exhaled softly and ran his hand through his blond hair. “Faye, I… I don't know what to say.”

“Then don't!” I yelled. It was the first time I was ever doing that to him. And when I did, I expected him to throw a fit or even yell back but his face was too unreadable.

He spoke again, this time the tremble in his voice was vivid.

“Faye, look, I don't know what I'm going to say. I'm as confused as you are.”

“If you don't know what else to say then tell me this is a joke. Say the Moon Goddess made a mistake!” My voice cracked. “P - please, Killian. Tell me none of this is real.”

He looked like he wanted to but he didn't.

No, he couldn't.

My shoulder shook and I began to sob. I waited 18 years for my dreams only for it to be shattered.

“Come on –” Killian tok a step towards me and instinctively, I took a step back.

“Don't. Just don't.” I said with a glare.

I couldn't do this but there was no way out of it either.

The people were beginning to stare at us but I didn't care. I turned on my heels and walked away, shoving past the crowd. I desperately needed to get away.

I pressed my hands to my temples, sucking in shaky breaths.

This couldn't be happening.

It couldn't be…

Tears burnt my eyes as I sobbed. Why? Why would the Moon Goddess do this to me?

In that same moment, a voice shattered my thoughts.

“Faye…”

I stiffened, daring not to turn around.

“Faye…” He repeated. I knew his voice better than I did my own. It was Killian.

“You shouldn't be here!” I yelled.

“I know … but you ran away and I… I couldn't just… I had to make sure you were okay.”

I turned to face him. “Well, I'm not! I'm not okay! I might never be okay!”

My sobs we're beginning to become louder. “I don't know how to do this, Killian. I don't even know how to look at you and not we my brother.”

He replied. “I don't know either.”

I heaved a sigh, still pressing my fingers against my temples.

“But the bond is real,” he said, leaving me too stunned for words. “And we cannot change that.”

“We can!” I raised my voice.”I don't want you! I don't want any of this.”

Despite my denial,

Despite every part of me that rejected this fate,

The bond was real

And I hated it.