Chapter 2

Grace's POV

Some people spend their entire lives searching for their purpose. I've had mine drilled into me since before I could form complete sentences.

As James and I walked away from William's forest tryst, my father's stern voice echoed in my head: "Grace, you were born into this world to protect the Alpha. That is your purpose. That is your destiny."

Jackson and Scarlett—my parents—were the most powerful Guardians our pack had ever seen. Their fates were inextricably linked to our leader, Alpha Carter.

They lived for him, and they died for him.

I could hardly imagine that after I turned eighteen, I would be following in their footsteps, pledging my life to protect a womanizer like William.

When I was five years old, a neighboring pack launched an attack, foolishly believing they could defeat our Alpha and seize control.

It was during that assault that I lost my mother. She sacrificed herself protecting Luna Mia and her son William.

During that same battle, my father faced five of the eight attackers alone to shield Alpha Carter. Both my parents held their ground until reinforcements arrived.

The moment my mother died, my father felt their soul connection snap. In that split second of distraction, one wolf leaped onto his back, trying to take him down. When that failed, the wolf sank its teeth into my father's spine and broke it.

Werewolves can heal from many injuries—cuts, bruises, even minor fractures—but spinal damage that causes paralysis is beyond our regenerative abilities.

My father was left wheelchair-bound, initially retreating into the shadows of our dark, damp home. Most wolves follow their fated mates into death shortly after losing them. But my father endured. He stayed alive for one reason only: to raise me.

My family had already sacrificed everything for our pack.

For what? For William to inherit the position of Alpha?

I shook off James's restraining grip, fury rising in my chest.

"If I was truly born into this world for a man like that," I snarled, "I might as well go end my life's purpose with my own hands right now!"

James tried to stop me, but it was too late. I'd already broken free and was charging forward.

William had emerged from the trees, clothes straightened, looking every bit the respectable student leader.

He held what looked like an invitation card, his face still flushed with the afterglow of sex.

Though I was reluctant to admit it, his handsome appearance was definitely his capital for seducing women. His midnight-black hair fell to his shoulders. His beard was trimmed to perfection. And those eyes—glacier blue and striking against his tanned skin.

His broad, muscular shoulders and arms complemented his tall frame perfectly, narrowing to a defined V-shape at his waist, leading to narrow hips and powerful, muscular legs that even his jeans couldn't hide.

Every eligible unmated female in our pack and the surrounding packs hoped for a chance to become our future Luna. If not Luna, then at least to be his girlfriend, possibly a chosen mate. That explained his harem.

I deliberately crashed into William's chest, sending the books in his hands scattering across the ground. Confusion filled his eyes as he looked at me.

Clearly, as our future Alpha, he didn't even recognize the daughter of the man and woman who had saved his entire family! The humiliation burned through me like wildfire.

I raised my leg and aimed a kick at his face. William reacted quickly, blocking my attack.

Good. At least those women's moans hadn't slowed his reflexes.

After all, I had no interest in protecting a weakling.

Sensing my challenge, William switched from defense to offense, pinning both my wrists in just a few swift moves.

I glared directly into his ice-blue eyes, seething with rage.

Suddenly, I felt an electric current run through my entire body. His glacier-blue gaze seemed to pierce straight through to my soul.

What the hell was that? I felt Seraphina rumbling in my mind.

Seraphina? What the fuck?

"I honestly don't know," she responded. "Maybe it's because he's the Alpha heir?"

Impossible!

My father had clearly told me that our Guardian bloodline was immune to Alpha dominance.

"It's instinctual," Seraphina whined. "I can't control it."

I blocked her out, forcing my gaze away from William's magnetic pull just as James rushed over to smooth things over.

"Hey! Sorry about that, William," James said with an awkward laugh. "I was just bragging about your combat skills, and she couldn't resist coming over to test them out herself. Really sorry!"

William's expression darkened with displeasure. "James, control your friend. Make sure she doesn't cause trouble in our pack."

Before James could explain anything, William stalked off. I let out a cold laugh.

"So he really doesn't know I'm part of his pack. What a worthless Alpha heir!"

James tried to comfort me, but I was too agitated.

I could feel Seraphina restless inside me—something had been off with her since that moment our eyes locked with William's.

I ran from the school grounds, quickly shifting into my wolf form once I was out of sight.

My wolf was large and brown, with gold flashing in her eyes.

I plunged into the forest, heading toward the pack's territory border and the direction of home.

"This can't be happening," I thought as I ran, paws pounding against the forest floor.

Not him. Not William fucking Davis.

But deep down, I knew.

The electric current. Seraphina's unusual reaction. My wolf's restlessness.

These were all the signs my father had warned me about—the indicators of finding a fated mate.