Midnight Mate

Falcon POV **Trigger Warning Assault** I stood on the blood-soaked battleground beneath a full blood moon, the crimson sky casting an eerie glow upon us. Surrounding me were my kingdom's loyal warriors, all transformed into wolves. The air was heavy with the scent of blood, tainted by the fallen Rogues who dared to trespass into our territory. Tilting my head towards the moon, I let out a haunting howl, its sound carrying far and wide. I was Falcon, the wolf king's son, and I stood strong, prepared to annihilate any enemy foolish enough to cross our borders. As we prepared to leave, my gaze caught a glimpse of a small, red glint deep within the forest, just outside our territory. "Vampires," I growled, my instincts urging me to pursue. With a fast motion, I took off running in that direction, signaling my warriors to join me with another resounding howl. No enemy would escape my grasp. I raced through the forest, my speed unmatched by any other wolf in our domain. Every corner, every tree, was etched into my memory, allowing me to navigate with the precision of a master. The wind whipped against my fur as I weaved through the trees, my senses honed in on finding and obliterating the enemy. I was a master hunter, a predator with no mercy. And there he was, attempting to flee. But my speed matched his, and with a powerful leap, I seized the vampire, slamming him against a tree with bone-shaking force. A snarl escaped my lips as he struggled to break free from my vice-like grip. I was moments away from tearing him apart when a piercing sound disrupted my focus. "NO, STOP!" a female voice screamed, but it resounded within my mind. It was unfamiliar, yet it halted my actions. I reluctantly released the vampire, watching as he disappeared into the darkness. I took off once again, my warriors closing in on the fleeing enemy. But then, the voice echoed in my mind again, pleading, "Please stop, you're hurting me." My wolf whimpered, responding to the voice's plea. "It's our mate," he insisted, but there was no physical presence, only a voice that seemed to exist solely within my thoughts. I sprinted through the dense forest, my eyes fixed on the sight of my warriors obliterating the vampire. The voice echoed in my mind, causing a low growl to rumble in my throat. "Don't touch me." My wolf whimpered, urging me to find her, our mate. As we followed a faint scent, there was no mistaking it - her scent. I ran towards it, but instead of growing stronger, it seemed to fade away. "Falcon, where are you going?" Nate, my friend and one of our finest warriors, asked through our telepathic link. "My mate. I sense her. Return to the kingdom with the warriors, and I will join you once I find her," I ordered him. "Understood," he responded. I continued my sprint, hearing ragged breaths in my mind. I couldn't comprehend how or why I could hear her, but one thing was clear - she needed me, and I wouldn't let her down. I ran until I finally spotted a strange light shimmering between two trees. Her scent grew stronger, but as I charged forward, an invisible barrier halted me. A voice, one with no scent but one I knew too well, spoke. It was Sora, a witch who stood between friend and foe. "I've been expecting you," she said calmly as my snarl escaped. "Let me through," I demanded, shifting into my human form. She materialized before me, her voice carrying a melodic chant as the air crackled with energy. Clothing manifested on my body, but I could only respond with a low growl. "Remove your barrier," I demanded, my voice filled with authority. She simply laughed. "Foolish prince, this is no mere barrier," she spoke, her words tinged with an enigmatic tone. "Nor am I responsible. This is the product of fate, the manifestation of your unwavering will to save your mate." Her words puzzled me. "You make no sense," I responded, my voice laced with confusion. "This wolf prince is a tear, a fragile gateway into another world," she explained, her voice carrying a hint of mystery. "A world where your kind is nothing more than a fairy tale to most, a world where humans thrive while some, like us, hide in the shadows. We have been cast away from this world, and it seems that your mate is subconsciously calling to you, forging a bond strong enough to create this tear and unite you both from different worlds." "Then let me through," I demanded. "I can help you enter, but be warned, all magic comes at a cost beyond my control," she cautioned. "Are you willing to pay the price to save a mate you have never met? Are you prepared to sacrifice for this stranger?" Compelled by an unseen force, I took a step forward and peered into the tear. A vivid image materialized before me, revealing a girl with flowing brown hair and tattered clothing. Blood stained her lips, and fear trembled in her eyes as a foreign hand gripped her throat. The image vanished, but the growl of my wolf echoed in my mind, urging me to save her. "Tell me how to enter, and I will pay any price," I declared, my voice resolute. "She is my mate, and I cannot allow her to suffer." A small smile graced her lips, a sight I had never witnessed before. "Is it truly your wish to leave this world, wolf prince? Is a bond worth such sacrifice?" she inquired, her voice filled with curiosity. "She is my destined one, chosen by the moon goddess," I asserted. "I will never turn my back on my fate.” "If you cross over, Prince, you will only be able to shift into your human form at the stroke of midnight each new day. As the sun rises, you will once again take on the form of your wolf until your destined one's heart recognizes its love for you. But I warn you, wolf, she is human. She cannot sense the bond as you do. She will fear you, for a wolf to her is nothing more than a predator. This is the price to pay to enter. Time moves at a different pace there, for one day here, a month passes there. You have one month for her to accept you, and if you fail, you will return to this world, stripped from finding her again. The voice and vision you see of her is the future, one she lives the moment you are to enter. Be warned, once you return to this tear in that realm with her, a new price must be paid to return with her, one you will be left blind to until the time comes. Will you make this sacrifice?" she asks me. "I will pay the price. All I ask is you alert my kingdom that I will return," I said to her. "Very well, wolf. You may now enter the world of the humans. Your body will shift as you enter, and the clothing I've gifted you with will transform with you," she said. As I took a step forward, no longer blocked, I did not care if she was human. For she was my mate, and she needed me. I would save her, protect her, and find a way to win her heart so she can return with me, for she is the future queen of the wolves, chosen by the moon goddess herself. My body shifted back into my wolf form as I passed through the light, entering a forest almost identical, yet different at the same time. Her scent was now overwhelming, filling my nostrils with its sweet allure. "Don't do this, please," I heard a girl pleading, but this time it was not in my head. "I've been patient with you for months. You want this just as badly as I do. Just relax for me, I promise it won't hurt much," a man spoke. As I followed her scent, they were still a good distance from me, but my senses were heightened. "I said NO, don't touch me!" she yelled. As I picked up my pace, my heart pounding in my chest, I finally spotted them. A man holding her on the forest floor, his body hovering over hers. My mate's clothing torn to almost shreds, leaving portions of her body exposed. I snarled, my teeth bared, startling the man. His face contorted in terror as he scrambled to lift my mate off the ground. I stood a small distance away, my muscles tense. "Run, Kat," he said, his voice filled with urgency. It seemed as though this creep was now trying to protect her. I made a swift move to attack the man, but to my surprise, my mate blocked him. "Trevor, watch out!" she screamed, her voice filled with fear. I paused, confused. Was she protecting him? It had seemed like he was about to harm her just moments ago. The events unfolded rapidly. She tried to grab the man's hand, but in the process, she tripped and fell to the ground. The scent of her blood reached my nostrils instantly, causing a low growl to escape my throat. The man, now free, took off running without even glancing back at her. Every instinct in me yearned to chase him down and tear him apart, but my mate lay there, unconscious and injured. I took cautious steps towards her, my heart pounding. The witch had warned me that she would be afraid, and now I could see the truth of those words. As I approached, I felt my body shifting, transforming back into my human form. She was unconscious, a small trickle of blood marking the back of her head. The wound didn't appear severe, but it still stirred anger within me. I knelt down beside her, carefully examining her fragile form. Even in her current state, she was breathtakingly beautiful. Scratches marred her body, evidence of her desperate escape, and a bruise formed on her neck from that despicable man. Her torn clothing revealed glimpses of her undergarments, and her brown hair stuck to her face, matted with blood. As I looked at her, I realized I was completely unfamiliar with this world, unsure of where to bring her for safety. But I knew I had to move her from this place, in case the man returned with others. I lifted her into my arms. She felt so light, yet every fiber of my being reacted to the simple touch of her skin. The bond between us was undeniably strong. I sprinted with her in my arms, the wind rushing past us as we covered a considerable distance. Eventually, she stirred, transitioning from complete unconsciousness to full alertness. "DOWN, PUT ME DOWN!" she urgently commanded. Obeying her plea, I gently lowered her to the ground. Trembling, she stammered, "W-who are you?" Her eyes darted around, filled with fear. "You were injured, and I was only trying to help," I replied, striving to maintain a calm tone. Startled, she took a step backward. "No one helps," she whispered, her voice laced with dread. "I do not intend to harm you. I am here to protect."I reassured her. Another step back, and I could sense her contemplation of escape through her hesitant movements. In my mind, my wolf whimpered, longing for her to sense his presence. I shared his desire, captivated by her unique scent – a blend of crisp apples on a fall day, with a subtle hint of spice. "P-Please, I am just an orphan. I have no money. I am of no use to you," she pleaded, her body quivering. I yearned to embrace her, to claim her as my own, but I knew I had to win her trust first. I was a stranger who terrified her right now. This would be a challenging task.