NASIR
Pathetic.
How could the moon goddess punish me this way? How could she give me a mate as weak and pathetic as this one?
I paced through the forest; Ren's paws pounded against the damp earth. The moon above, once a symbol of guidance, now taunted me with its serene glow. My heart seethed with anger, my mind racing with the injustice.
Why had the moon goddess chosen a human as my mate? A fragile, vulnerable creature unsuited for the demands of our world. I, Nasir, one of the future alphas of the Crimson Moon pack, required strength and resilience by my side. Not some delicate, breakable thing.
I could not stay back at the palace. I had to get some fresh air. I had to get my mind off this rather heart-wrenching discovery. And there were very few things capable of doing that: hunting.
As I ran, the wind whipped through Ren's fur, carrying the scents of the forest. He was not happy to be getting so far away from our mate; he wanted to be around her, he wanted to play with her, watch her, and get to know her. I, on the other hand, had seen more than enough of her.
All I wanted to do was get as far away from everything and everyone as possible.
Ren knew better than to defy me during this time. He knew my mood was non-negotiable.
I breathed deeply, letting the primal aroma calm my rage. My pack's future depended on my ability to lead, to protect, and to provide. A human mate would be a liability, a weakness.
Whenever I envisioned my mate, I would always picture a strong, beautiful woman. One with wit, intelligence, and compassion. I always envisioned a woman that emanated the moon goddess herself. A powerful wolf, one that I could call my equal.
My mate.
But yet I get a human.
And on top of that, I have to share her with my brothers? Oh Goddess, just kill me now.
At this point, I would prefer getting married to Maia. Even though the bitch was annoying and a gold-digging whore, I could at least call her mine. I often heard rumors of twins and sometimes even triplets sharing the same mate. But never in my life did I think it was actually true. I always thought they were stories, myths.
This is wrong on so many levels.
I burst through the underbrush, my eyes scanning the clearing. A doe grazed peacefully, oblivious to my presence. My stomach growled, and I crouched low, preparing to strike. The hunt would clear my mind, allowing me to focus on the dilemma at hand.
I have always loved hunting ever since I was a child. It took my mind off all the royal responsibilities and my life in total. It was my escape, my peace.
With lightning speed, I sprang forward, jaws wide. The doe's eyes widened, and she bounded away. I chased, my paws pounding the earth. The thrill of the hunt consumed me, momentarily distracting me from my fury.
As I closed in for the kill, a vision flashed before me—a petite, blonde-haired woman, her eyes sparkling with a mix of fear and defiance. My mate. The moon goddess' choice.
Trinity Ender.
My feet came to a halt, and the doe escaped, vanishing into the trees. I stood panting, my anger reignited. Why had the goddess done this to me?
It felt like my rage had multiplied by a thousandfold. Was the moon goddess toying with me? This had to be a punishment for a sin I committed a long time ago. There has to be another way; I must have another mate. This could all just be some mistake.
As I stood there, the forest grew quiet around me. The moon cast an eerie glow, illuminating my turmoil. I knew I couldn't deny the mating bond, but I couldn't accept a weak mate either. The crimson Moon pack demanded strength, and I would not compromise.
But then suddenly, Trinity's face flashed within my mind. Her dark green eyes held me captive in ways that they never have before. Back when we were kids, I never even looked at her once. She disgusted me, actually.
But now she... enchanted me. Was it the effect of the mate bond? It had to be.
On a normal day I would never even look at a woman like Trinity. She was not the type of woman I would go for. This bond was a big slap from the moon goddess if I was being honest.
With a growl, I turned back toward my pack's territory. I would confront any witch in order to get to the moon goddess; I demand answers. This was not the destiny I had envisioned.
My father's words linger in my mind.
"You all have one month to come to a decision. You either accept Trinity Ender as your mate or reject her and have her banished from the Crimson Moon Pack. Forever."
I should have done it. I should have rejected her.
One month is too much; I should have rejected her within a heartbeat.
But at that moment I could have sworn that I... I just couldn't.
The feeling I got wasn't from my wolf. It was from me.
Indeed, there was a part of me that did not want to reject Trinity.
And I fear that part of me would be my downfall.