Chapter 3 Chapter 2

The ferry swayed violently against the rising tide, the scent of saltwater mingling with the damp earth beneath my feet. My heart hammered in my chest as I clutched my embroidered bundle, my fingers trembling with each shift of the boat.

As the boat drifted closer to shore, wedding music drifted through the air, full of joy and celebration. This is where I belong, I whispered to myself. This is where I belong.

The ferry bumped against the dock with a low groan, balloons soaring into the air . The scene before me was beautiful-too beautiful. But then, my gaze shifted to the far end of the ferry, where a bride sat hunched in sorrow, her face hidden behind a veil.

I approached her quietly, whispering, "Sister, why do you cry on such a joyous day?"

The bride wiped her eyes, but didn't respond. Her shoulders shook as she wept, her sobs muffled by the veil.

I reached into my bundle, pulling out a small doll. "Here," I said softly, offering it to her. "Take this. Don't cry anymore."

But instead of calming, the bride's sobs deepened. She looked up at me, her eyes wild with desperation. "I don't want to marry him!" she cried.

My breath caught. "What do you mean?" I asked, my voice tight with confusion.

She gasped, struggling to speak through her tears. "I'm not his true mate. Alpha 's real mate ran away. The clan leader forced me to take her place."

My stomach dropped. "No... That's not true! Alpha is mine! He's always been mine!"

The bride blinked, her tears halting. Her gaze softened. "Then... you're the one he's meant to be with?"

I nodded, a fire igniting within me. "I've been promised to him since we were children. I'm going to find him. No one can take my place."

Her face broke into a bittersweet smile. "Go. You must go. Don't let anyone stand in your way."

Days later, the ferry finally reached the shore. And there, standing tall and proud, was Alpha -his scent thick in the air, rich with the power of his Alpha aura. My heart raced, beating in time with the rush of emotions that flooded me.

As I stepped off the ferry, my veil fluttered in the wind, and I saw him. Taller now, his muscles rippling beneath his clothes, his eyes locked on me. His gaze was fierce, and a growl rumbled low in his throat.

A growl rumbled in his throat, low and guttural.

"My Alpha!" I called out. But before he could speak, a voice shouted from behind us.

"Alpha! The outcasts are at the border! They're trying to cross into our territory!"

"Stay here," he ordered, his voice rough with authority. "Don't move. Go to the pack house. Lock the doors."

"But Alpha-" I protested, vailing under the vail.

His gaze softened just a moment, but the urgency was undeniable. "I'll return soon. I promise you that."

I watched him turn, his powerful strides taking him toward the pack's heart. The Alpha was needed. His pack needed him. And I... I was left standing at the edge of his world, powerless.

I whispered to the empty night, my voice carrying on the wind, "I'll wait for you, Liam. I'll always wait."

The hours stretched endlessly, the moon rising high in the sky, its silver light casting shadows across the land. Still no sign of him.

His Beta sent word that Alpha was still engaged in the fight. My heart clenched. The pack was under siege, and there was nothing I could do to help.

Alone in the small room, I stared at the firelight flickering and the chest of old clothes. My fingers traced the worn fabric-garments that had once been full of his strength, now faded, their seams frayed.

I had to do something. I couldn't be the helpless mate, waiting forever. He needed me. I would show him I was more than just a promise. I would be his Luna, in every sense of the word.

I took a needle and thread, beginning to mend his clothes. Each stitch was a vow to him-quiet, but powerful. I will stand beside you, Liam. Always.

The needle pressed through the fabric until the sky began to lighten, and I finally drifted into sleep, clutching the mended clothes.

In the haze between dreams and wakefulness, I felt him-sitting beside me, his gaze burning through the quiet darkness.

He moved quietly, tucking the blanket around my shoulders with care, brushing my hair gently, a touch that said more than words ever could.

I heard the creak of the door as he stepped out, his boots barely making a sound. His voice, commanding yet soft, reached me from the hallway.

"Grandmother arrives tomorrow. Remember her temper. Keep things smooth, for her sake."

I closed my eyes, feeling the ache of him already gone. My heart pounded. Every moment he was away, the pack was at risk. The rogue wolves-always circling, waiting for weakness.

I wanted him beside me, to not leave, even if just for a moment. But the pack needed him. He was Alpha.