Dear Mate, You're Mine！

Can you believe this?

LEON'S POV

My hatred for the Gerard pack ran deeper than anything else.

My Pack, the Golden Crown pack, once thrived on a vast territory deep in the forest. I spent my childhood in a wooden cabin there, surrounded by ancient trees and the sounds of nature. Those memories were vibrant and alive, filled with laughter, adventure, and the warmth of family. But they were reduced to ashes by the Gerard pack, forcing us to flee to a strange land with bizarre conditions. That loss was a wound that could never truly heal. In fact, God knew how we even survived.

My father was a strong and proud Alpha, who had to rebuild our business empire from scratch. I remembered him hunched over his desk through the night, strategizing and making deals. He would never forget the shame of losing our land and the lives of our kin, and neither would I. The place we relocated to was a different world, one we had to adapt to and survive in, but it was never truly home.

On his deathbed, Father looked at me with pain-filled eyes.

"Leon," he called to me in an uncharacteristically weak yet authoritative voice that brought tears to my eyes, "never forget the shame of having our territory destroyed. You will take back what is ours. You will make them pay for what they did to us."

Those words had been my guiding light, my driving force. Even now, as I stood on the precipice of a new battle, I could still hear Father's voice urging me forward. The hatred for the Gerard pack ran deeper than anything.

Nowadays, the Gerard pack's Alpha Matthew was a coward who never attended gatherings I was present at, yet enjoyed mocking me at the ones I missed. The gentle music played in my ears as I scanned the room, unsurprised to not find Matthew's presence - it was bound to be a dull night.

Suddenly, my wolf Rion stirred within me.

"Buddy," he whispered excitedly. My heart skipped a beat. I began scanning the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of this sudden revelation.

Then I saw her.

Among the elegantly dressed guests, she stood out like a beacon. The world around her seemed to blur and fade, leaving only her in sharp focus. Waves of curiosity and undeniable attraction washed over me. She was utterly captivating, her mere silhouette commanding my full attention.

Rion urged me forward.

"Go to her," he insisted. "She's ours," Rion growled softly, brimming with possessiveness.

In those three short seconds, I considered a million pickup lines, all of which turned to stunned silence when I saw my mate's face.

The Moon Goddess had a cruel sense of humor - my mate was the Luna of my sworn enemy?

Irene turned and strode towards me. My breathing grew rapid, my pulse quickening. The closer she got, the more I could smell her scent - a heady blend of sweetness and warmth, with notes of fresh greenery that filled me with both calm and longing.

She was now just feet away, and it felt like the entire room had disappeared, leaving just the two of us. Our eyes met, and I saw a familiar flicker in her gaze. Did she feel it too? That bond tying us together, that magnetic pull?

"Merry Christmas," I said, my voice calm despite the storm of emotions within.

"Merry Christmas," she replied, her tone soft yet steady. Her eyes were a deep blue, filled with curiosity and caution. What brought her here?

"I'm Leon," I introduced myself, extending a hand.

"Irene," she answered, taking my hand.

Her touch sent a jolt through me, I could even feel my groin stir, my mind flashing with sparks from just my mate's touch. Rion growled in my mind, and it seemed like the only word I could form was f**k.

But I doubted any woman would appreciate a man saying that upon first meeting.

"Were you enjoying the party?" I asked, more to break the silence than out of genuine curiosity. Besides that matter, I had nothing else to say to her. How strange!

"It was...lively," she replied, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "But I'm not much for these kinds of events."

I nodded in understanding. "Neither was I. Too ostentatious, lacking in substance."

Her smile brightened, and I felt an odd sense of pride at being able to make her smile.

"Indeed," she agreed. "I prefer quieter settings."

The conversation flowed smoothly, and I found myself growing more intrigued by her. She was intelligent, kind, with a quiet strength that captivated me. But our realities loomed over us. She was part of Matthew's pack - I needed to learn more about her situation.

"So what was an enemy Luna doing here unguarded?" I boldly asked. Time to get down to business.

"I suppose it did take you a while to ask that pertinent question," she replied, her eyes filled with genuine interest. "But I am no longer Matthew's mate, nor his Luna."

The Goddess! Thank you for this gift. I had to work to suppress the upturned corners of my mouth - from any angle, this was a development of the highest delight. I tried to cough to cover my elation, feigning nonchalance as I inquired, "That is indeed a sad turn of events. So what brought you to the gathering?"

I could see she was deeply uncomfortable now, seeming filled with fear and tension, and it tugged at my heart. I wished she would unburden herself to me, and I would comfort her, then take her to my bed to help her through this painful night -

"I hope you can believe what I'm about to say," Irene said, biting her lip, the friction making it appear even redder as I couldn't help but swallow hard, listening intently.

"Matthew betrayed me. That's why I left the pack. And I need your help to carry out my plan for revenge."

Good! She blurted it out quickly.

Her candor hung in the air, and at the thought of Matthew's impending downfall, a flicker of glee passed through me before being replaced by fury. How dare he treat her like that? My mate? Rage rose within me, coupled with an intense desire to protect her, to comfort her in any way I could. But I knew I must tread carefully. I didn't want to scare her off. I also hadn't verified the veracity of her claims.

She seemed to sense my doubt but pressed on undeterred. "The information I have can destroy Matthew. Will you help me?"

I looked at her, searching for her gaze, then slowly extended my hand. She placed a small USB drive in my palm, our fingers brushing briefly. The jolt between us was palpable. I gripped the drive, feeling its weight as I pondered what could be stored inside. Could this be a trap by Matthew? Irene's reputation in the pack may have even exceeded Matthew's - a renowned human Luna whose love story with Matthew was even featured in magazines. I steadied myself - this also concerned my pack.

"Why should I help you?" I asked coolly.

She met my gaze, her eyes filled with desperation and resolve.

"Because Matthew is a threat to us both," she began. "He's not just my personal enemy. He's a threat to anyone who opposes him. You've seen his behavior, his callousness. If he's allowed to continue operating his way, it won't just be my life he destroys. It could be yours. Your pack's."

Her words resonated deeply. For years, Matthew's ambition and lack of ethics had been a thorn in my side. But hearing Irene voice it, knowing the personal cost she had paid, made it feel more visceral.

"He betrayed me in the worst way," Irene continued, her voice wavering slightly. "He cheated on me with my own sister, and now he's cast me out, saying I'm unfit to be his Luna. I have to make him pay for what he's done to me."

I grit my teeth, fury rising within me at the thought of how Matthew treated Irene.

We discussed further the specifics of the information she had, and how we could use it to take down Matthew. From the way she spoke, I could tell Irene was highly intelligent and cunning - I admired the strength she displayed in the face of such betrayal.

"I have to go, I can't let Matthew find out I came to see you," she said softly. "You can take the time to verify if my actions are genuine."

I watched her lithe form disappear from my sight, and a heaviness settled within me. What kind of woman was Irene? A human, yet possessing a resilience rivaling werewolves. Her reputation alone proved she was an exceptional Luna. She gave up everything to join the pack, only for Matthew to put her through hell in the end.

But she hadn't been beaten down - instead, she chose to fight back. She was an undeniable force to be reckoned with. Now that she had been confirmed as my mate, was the time finally ripe to exact revenge on Matthew?