Chapter 1
1241 Words
Sophia
“Where are you taking me?” A wide smile spread across my lips as Eli, my mate and other half, guided me through the woods, his hand covering my eyes.
“If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise.”
Today marked our anniversary. It had been three years since I met my mate at the age of eighteen—a charming alpha from the Hixon pack. Despite being an orphan with a low omega status and no wolf, Eli had accepted me as his mate and opened his heart to me.
By chance, I had become the Luna of the pack, and despite my lack of power, I was a well-respected member. With Eli by my side, nothing could bring me down. He had been my rock, wiping my tears when the pack doctor told me it would be difficult for me to conceive pups. Even then, he had been patient with me.
Rumors abounded. Some said it was because my wolf refused to show herself, while others claimed Eli must have manipulated our unions to avoid weak offsprings. But I knew the truth, and that was enough for me.
“We’re here.” Eli carefully removed his hand from my eyes and wrapped his arms around my waist, resting his chin in the crook of my neck.
In front of me was a wooden table decorated with roses and candles. “Wow, Eli!” I gasped at the sight. “This is…way too much.”
Eli pressed his soft lips to my cheek. “Nothing will ever be too much for my Luna,” he said, intertwining his hand with mine. He led me to the table and pulled out a chair. “Come on, beautiful.”
“I feel a bit underdressed.” I pursed my lips, looking down at my ripped jeans and sneakers. “You should have told me it was going to be a date-date.”
“Don’t say that.” Eli grinned. “You’re beautiful, and you know it.”
I flushed. He knew I couldn’t take compliments well. “Did you make all of this?” I changed the subject. “It looks delicious.”
“Yes—and it’s all your favorites.”
He could barely finish his sentence before tears began rolling down my cheeks. No one had ever made me feel this special, and Eli never missed an opportunity. All the love I had lacked at the orphanage, he had given to me in these five years. Anniversaries, Valentine's days, birthdays—he celebrated them all.
“Hey!” Eli grabbed my hand across the table. I stared into his comforting ice-blue eyes. “You know I don’t like to see you in tears.”
“I know—I just never thought I could ever experience a love like this. I’m just so grateful.” My voice caught in my throat. “Before I met you, I didn’t have a family.”
Eli rubbed my hand, shaking his head. He knew I didn’t like talking about the family I had never met, and he hated seeing me like this.
“Let’s eat,” he said, eyeing the food. “I can’t stand seeing you cry any longer.”
I shot him a charming smile, resting my chin on my hand. “I agree.”
~
We emptied every dish on the table, talking about the smallest, silliest things. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that Eli seemed out of it. If only I could read his thoughts.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“Yes.”
Liar.
There was a time when Eli and I told each other everything, but lately, he had been acting more and more suspicious. It wasn’t something to fight over because I trusted him, and I knew he wanted to protect me from all evil.
Due to my weak powers, there were certain things beyond my control that he preferred discussing with his beta and best friend, Jake, and I respected that.
“Things have been so good lately.” I tried to cheer him up. “Who knows, maybe the Moon Goddess will soon bless us with pups.”
My words didn’t get through to him. His eyes widened, and his breathing quickened. I recognized that look. It was the look of fear.
Everything happened so fast. One moment he was seated, the next he had dropped to his knees, screaming and holding his head.
“Eli!” I ran to his side, kneeling beside him, completely helpless.
“Jake!” he cried out, his face turning red. “No, Jake!”
“Eli, what’s wrong?”
Eli’s breath hitched. “H-He’s g-gone.”
“What do you mean he’s gone?” My voice trembled. “Is he d-dead?” I was confused, and I didn’t know what was going on.
All I knew was that Eli yanked me from the floor, carrying a tight expression. “Sophia, we’re under attack!”
“Under attack? By who? I can’t smell anything—“
“I need you to listen to me. You need to go to the hideout—now!” His grip on my shoulders was firm, shaking me. “We don’t have much time.”
“Eli, you’re scaring me!”
“Go to the hideout, lock yourself in the basement as we’ve discussed in case of danger, and wait until I come for you,” he instructed. “If I don’t come for you…”
“No, I’m not leaving you!” I yelled, looking around frantically. He couldn’t just tell me Jake was gone, or whatever that meant, and then order me to go to the hideout without him. “Who’s attacking us?”
“Run,” Eli demanded. “Run and don’t look back.”
“Eli,” I whispered his name. “I’m sorry.” The only way for me to run was on my own two legs. I couldn’t shift and was only a burden—an unfit Luna who couldn’t even fight alongside her Alpha.
Eli pressed his forehead against mine, cupping my cheeks with his hands as I melted into his touch. “I’m not leaving you.”
“Sophia, in case you won’t see me again—“
“What are you talking about, and where are the others?” I panicked. “Why can’t I feel anything—“
“They’re dead!” he said softly, breathing heavily. “He killed them all…they’re all dead!”
The pack?
Impossible.
“W-Who’s h-he?” I shivered at the news. You couldn’t possibly tell me one wolf single-handedly managed to kill off one of the most powerful packs.
“Do you trust me?”
“Yes.”
“Then go and don’t question me. I’m not asking—it’s my request as your Alpha.”
“Sophia, I need you to know that I love you so much, and I’m so sorry about everything.” He pressed his lips to my forehead and pulled me into his embrace. “No matter what anyone tells you, you are my mate—and I love you so much.”
“Eli, what do you mean?”
“We have no time!”
Unaware of when I would see him again, I tightened my grip around him and took in his sweet scent. “I love you too.”
“Now go.”
- Writer
