The Pull Of Fate
1188 Words
Amelia couldn't stop staring toward the horizon.
The feeling lingered long after it appeared.
Warm.
Powerful.
Unshakable.
Like an invisible thread had wrapped itself around her heart and pulled.
Not painfully.
Not forcefully.
Just enough to remind her it was there.
Waiting.
Watching.
Calling.
Beside her, Owen nudged her shoulder.
"You've been staring at the same mountain for ten minutes."
Amelia blinked.
"What?"
"The mountain."
He pointed.
"Either you're planning to fight it or marry it."
Amelia rolled her eyes.
"Those aren't the only options."
Owen thought for a moment.
"No, I'm pretty sure they are."
One of the warriors snorted.
Amelia fought a smile.
Despite everything happening around them, Owen somehow remained impossible.
The group continued traveling throughout the afternoon.
By sunset they reached a clearing beside a rushing stream.
Garrett signaled for camp.
The warriors immediately got to work.
Years of training made everything efficient.
Tents were raised.
A fire was built.
Perimeter patrols assigned.
Dinner prepared.
Amelia found herself sitting beside the stream.
The water reflected the moonlight like liquid silver.
Her mother's necklace rested against her chest.
Every time she touched it, she felt something.
Not power.
Comfort.
As if a piece of someone she'd never met remained close.
Footsteps approached.
Garrett.
The Alpha sat beside her.
For a while neither spoke.
The stream filled the silence.
Finally Amelia broke it.
"You know my father."
Garrett nodded.
"Yes."
"What kind of man is he?"
The question seemed to surprise him.
He considered carefully before answering.
"Complicated."
Amelia groaned.
"That's not helpful."
"It wasn't meant to be."
She laughed.
Garrett smiled.
Then his expression softened.
"Your father is one of the strongest Alphas I've ever met."
Amelia listened.
"He's respected."
A pause.
"Feared."
Another pause.
"But more than anything..."
Garrett looked toward the stars.
"...he loves his family."
Something tightened in Amelia's chest.
"If he loves me so much..."
Her voice cracked slightly.
"...why didn't he come get me?"
Garrett sighed.
The sound carried years of regret.
"Because sometimes protecting someone means staying away."
Amelia hated that answer.
Mostly because she suspected it was true.
Later that night, the camp settled into silence.
Most warriors slept.
A few remained on patrol.
Amelia tossed and turned inside her tent.
Sleep refused to come.
Eventually she gave up.
Sliding outside, she walked toward the edge of camp.
The forest felt different tonight.
Alive.
The moon hung full overhead.
Beautiful and bright.
Amelia closed her eyes.
Taking a deep breath.
Immediately she felt it again.
The pull.
Stronger this time.
Much stronger.
Her eyes snapped open.
"What is that?"
Nyx emerged beside her.
The massive black wolf padded through her mind.
It's him.
"Stop saying that."
It's true.
"I don't even know who he is."
Nyx looked entirely unimpressed.
We do.
"We absolutely do not."
The wolf yawned.
Mate.
Amelia groaned.
"There has to be another explanation."
Nyx's silver eyes gleamed.
You're in denial.
Miles away, Kieran Nightfall wasn't sleeping either.
He stood on a balcony overlooking Nightfall Estate.
Below him, preparations continued.
The Coming of Age Ball would begin tomorrow evening.
Pack members rushed around carrying decorations.
Musicians arrived.
Guests continued pouring through the gates.
None of it held Kieran's attention.
His focus remained fixed on the distant mountains.
The same mountains Amelia had been staring at.
His mother stepped onto the balcony.
"Still awake?"
Kieran nodded.
"You feel it too."
It wasn't a question.
Luna Celeste smiled knowingly.
"Your mate."
Kieran glanced at her.
"Maybe."
She laughed.
"Maybe?"
His wolf practically growled.
Celeste shook her head.
"Your father was exactly the same."
"That's terrifying."
"It was."
She smiled fondly.
Then her expression became serious.
"You need to be careful."
Kieran frowned.
"Why?"
The Luna crossed her arms.
"There are powerful Alphas attending this gathering."
"So?"
"So not all of them are trustworthy."
His expression darkened.
"Bloodfang."
Celeste nodded.
The name carried weight.
Danger.
History.
"Victor didn't travel all this way for a dance."
Kieran looked toward the horizon again.
"No."
His wolf stirred.
Protective.
Possessive.
Ready.
Whatever was coming...
It involved her.
The next morning arrived with unexpected chaos.
One of the scouts returned at full speed.
His wolf shifted the moment he entered camp.
"Alpha!"
Garrett stood instantly.
"What happened?"
The scout looked shaken.
"We found them."
The entire camp went quiet.
"Found who?" Owen asked.
The scout swallowed.
"The riders from yesterday."
Amelia felt her stomach tighten.
The spy hunters.
Garrett's face hardened.
"How many?"
"Eight."
The number made several warriors curse.
The scout continued.
"They've set up camp less than two miles away."
Silence followed.
Dangerous silence.
Then Amelia spoke.
"They're tracking us."
Garrett nodded.
"Yes."
"Then we keep moving."
The Alpha frowned.
"They'll follow."
Amelia's hazel eyes sharpened.
"Then we make them regret it."
Several warriors immediately grinned.
Garrett pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Why do I feel like I'm about to hate this plan?"
Owen laughed.
"Because you've met her."
One hour later, Amelia crouched behind a rocky ridge overlooking the hunters' camp.
Beside her sat Owen.
Across from them waited three warriors.
The hunters below looked relaxed.
Comfortable.
Certain.
Amelia smiled.
A dangerous smile.
Owen sighed.
"There it is."
"What?"
"The smile."
"What smile?"
"The one that usually ends with somebody getting thrown into a river."
One warrior nodded.
"Or a tree."
Another added,
"Remember the mud pit incident?"
Owen shuddered.
"We don't talk about the mud pit."
Amelia ignored them.
Her focus remained on the camp below.
Eight hunters.
Armed.
Experienced.
And entirely too confident.
Perfect.
She pointed.
"See those horses?"
The group nodded.
"Good."
Owen immediately looked alarmed.
"No."
Amelia blinked.
"No?"
"I know that look."
She smiled sweetly.
"Do you?"
"Unfortunately."
The grin widened.
"We're stealing their horses."
Silence.
Then Owen groaned.
"Of course we are."
Thirty minutes later chaos erupted.
Eight furious hunters chased terrified horses through the forest.
One warrior had released every animal.
Another had stolen supplies.
A third had filled a tent with angry raccoons.
Amelia sprinted through the trees laughing.
Behind her, Owen nearly fell over.
"How are you having fun right now?"
"Because this is hilarious."
The hunters shouted angrily behind them.
One tripped into a stream.
Another got tangled in a rope trap.
A third somehow ended up hanging upside down from a tree.
Amelia stopped long enough to admire the scene.
"That's impressive."
Owen stared.
"You are absolutely your father's daughter."
The words slipped out accidentally.
The laughter vanished.
Amelia froze.
Owen's face immediately turned pale.
"Oh no."
"What did you mean?"
"Nothing."
"Owen."
He looked toward the heavens.
"Moon Goddess help me."
"What. Did. You. Mean?"
The warrior sighed dramatically.
"Your father."
Amelia stepped closer.
"What about him?"
Owen looked defeated.
"Alpha Alexander once filled an enemy Alpha's tent with bees."
Silence.
Amelia blinked.
"What?"
"He won."
"What?"
"The war."
"What?"
Owen pointed accusingly.
"That's exactly what your face is doing."
For the first time, Amelia laughed.
A real laugh.
Bright.
Unrestrained.
And somewhere far away...
A man she'd never met suddenly smiled for no reason at all.
Because fate was drawing closer.
And before another sunrise passed...
The Hidden Heir and her mate would finally meet.
- Writer
