Chapter 1 Echoes of a Mate

"I don't want this!" I cried out into the deep silence of the forest, my voice shattering the stillness, echoing through the trees as I knelt on the damp ground, cold seeping into my bones. "I want to be loved, to have the choice to choose, to decide what I truly desire." I whispered.

I felt shattered, broken into pieces I couldn't glue back together. I didn't want this... but I didn't have a choice. A dull ache throbbed in my heart like an open wound refusing to heal. It hurt so much I felt like I was dying inside – dying to the dreams of being with the one I was destined for. But that dream was snatched away from me. Why? It was the one thing that could've made me happy... despite everything. Yet they didn't even give me a chance.

As I knelt, memories of the celebration flooded my mind – the inevitable night that sealed my fate like a shackle around my wrist. I recalled the question that sliced through me like a knife: "Davina Bryson, daughter of Alpha Bryson of the Crescent Moon pack, would you accept to be my chosen mate?" I stood there, frozen, lost in a sea of faces. The sound of laughter swirled around me, the rustle of silk whispered secrets, and the weight of expectant gazes crushed me. My parents' eyes– demanding, wanting me to accept – burned into my soul.

I felt suffocating pressure, like the forest's trees closing in around me, leaving no escape. I was a pawn in a game I didn't want to play, with no choice but to obey my parents' moves. The trees loomed over me, their branches like skeletal fingers reaching out to snuff out my last spark of hope.

I reflected on my situation "I truly don't want to be Prince Jayden's mate. Since childhood, expectations have weighed heavily on me. I was conditioned to believe that my fate was to become Jayden's mate, for my parents' plan to be successful. Their vision for my future was meticulously crafted, with no room for my own hopes and dreams to flourish. I was taught to conceal my emotions, to wear a mask of restraint. Each lesson felt like a thread binding me tighter to a life predetermined for me."

"My dreams, aspirations – what I desire means nothing, why? Why was it that I couldn't be with my own destined mate when it seemed others were blessed with such unions? Perhaps my parents were to blame."

"All I genuinely longed for was the freedom to do what I want, live the life I desire, and be with the person who was meant for me – the person my heart and soul belong to, rather than mating with the prince, whom I could only ever regard as a dear brother, like Amelia. I knew he had feelings for me, but his affection for me was a quiet storm, a force I could sense but could never reciprocate."

"Deep down, I understood why I was unable to reciprocate his feelings. My heart, mind, and soul belonged irrevocably to my true mate, who awaited me out there, hidden beneath the expansive tapestry of the night sky, waiting for the day our paths would finally cross. It was a longing that intertwined with my very essence, a hope that one day, love would find a way to break through the confines of expectation and reveal the truth of my heart."

In our world, werewolves and the secluded Lycans, are gifted by the moon goddess with a soulmate bestowed upon us and one connected to us since birth, linked to our soul and wolf. The bond between destined mates is sacred. Though it's possible for two destined soulmates to reject each other, doing so brings immense emotional turmoil and physical agony. Many who lack the strength to withstand this pain face dire consequences, including the risk of death. Because of this, actual rejections are rare in our society. Only those with exceptional strength could reject their mate without another chance at a fated bond unless they form a bond with a chosen mate. Over time, a chosen mate can develop a strong connection, similar to a fated bond but not as strong.

But the moon goddess gifted the king the chance to select a chosen mate who would have the same connection a fated mate would have after mating, even without having a destined mate since birth. This ensured a queen who could stand as a true partner beside the king-a union of equals"

Ever since my first transformation at age fifteen, when I fully shifted into Selena, my wolf, I knew that I was different. My wolf's fur is a stunning azure blue, a rare color that glistens under the moonlight with an ethereal glow at night. While blue wolves like me are rare, I know that their scarcity doesn't automatically signify specialness. However, my wolf is distinct; my true distinction lies in my deep connection to nature itself.

I often find solace among the trees and rivers, feeling the world around me vibrate with life. It's as if I'm one with nature, attuned to its rhythms and pulse. The rustling of leaves, chirping of birds, and the gentle flow of water all resonate with me, creating harmony and balance.

In my dreams, I frequently hear a soft voice whispering to me, telling me I'm destined for something greater and that my powers will awaken when the time is right to fulfill my destiny. The voice is gentle yet insistent, urging me to trust in myselves, not to give up and have faith in the path ahead. Both Selena and I feel this deep connection, sensing we're meant for something significant.

I've kept these dreams and feelings buried deep within me, a secret I share with no one. Selena has always insisted we should find our destined mate, and he would be someone truly extraordinary, meant only for us. She hasn't said a word and has blocked our connection since I accepted to be Jayden's chosen mate. I knew she felt hurt, I understand she wasn't angry with me or blaming me, she just wanted to be alone.

Every night, I'm visited by a recurring dream-an ethereal vision of a man whose identity remains a mystery. In my dream, I see only his back, an impressive silhouette emanating a powerful and ancient aura that captivates me. His broad, muscular shoulders are tantalizing, his physique captivating in the moonlight, leaving me both awed and intimidated. I always feel an undeniable connection to the person in my dream, as if I'm drawn to him on a deep, primal level.

This connection makes me feel almost complete, a sense that lingers even after I wake up to reality. Despite having only glimpsed him from behind, the yearning inside me to know him grows stronger with every passing night. I ache to see his face, to know his name, and to understand the secrets behind his captivating presence. I think he's my mate, and Selena shares this intuition wholeheartedly.

I think my craving and longing for a mate partly come from the dream, but I really do want my destined mate. I couldn't help but think about today's occasion and suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed from behind.