Her dream Mate

SHIANN’S POV) I’ve been dreaming about him for weeks. Always the same. Always just out of reach. The forest is quiet. Too quiet. Golden light filters through the trees, catching in the leaves, turning everything soft… almost unreal. A creek runs somewhere nearby, the sound gentle, steady. But I don’t look at the light. Or the water. Or anything else. Because he’s there. Standing in front of me. Tall. Broad shoulders. Dark hair brushing his collar, moving slightly with the breeze. And his eyes… They aren’t amber. They aren’t gold. They’re something in between—something deeper. Something that makes my chest tighten like I already belong to him. I don’t know who he is . I don’t know why I’m here. But I know one thing. I’m supposed to go to him. He lifts his hand. Slowly. Like he already knows I’ll take it. Like he’s been waiting for me to. My heart starts pounding. I shouldn’t trust him. I don’t even know him. But my body moves anyway. Step by step. Closer. Closer— My fingers brush his . And everything— “Beep. Beep. Beep.” I bolt upright in bed, gasping. My alarm screams beside me, dragging me out of it—out of him. Out of that feeling. I slap it off, my chest still rising too fast. Too hard. Too… empty. “Again,” I whisper. Same dream. Same man. Every single night since I moved to Wolf’s Creek. I swing my legs over the side of the bed, running a hand through my hair as I try to shake it off. It doesn’t work. It never does. Because it doesn’t feel like a dream. It feels like… a memory The cabin creaks softly around me as I stand, the early morning light just starting to seep through the windows. It’s small. Quiet. Mine. My aunt and uncle left it to me when they moved away. Said I needed a fresh start. Said it like that would fix everything. I head to the bathroom, turning the shower on and waiting for the water to warm up. It takes forever. Everything in this place does. I lean against the counter, staring at my reflection. Green eyes. Dark hair. Faint shadows under both. “You’re fine,” I tell myself. I’ve been worse. A lot worse. My wolf stirs faintly inside me. Restless. Uneasy. Like she feels it too. The dream. The pull. Him. I shake my head and step into the shower, letting the hot water wash over me. For a few minutes, I can pretend. Pretend I’m just a normal girl in a small town. Pretend I didn’t run. Pretend no one is looking for me. Pretend I’m safe. By the time I’m dressed and in the kitchen, the sky has started to lighten. I grab a quick coffee, barely tasting it as I glance at the time. And freeze. “Shit.” I’m late. I grab my keys and purse, rushing out the door without even bothering with a jacket. The early summer air is warm against my skin as I take off down the street. Houses blur past. Birds chirp. Cars pass. I don’t notice any of it. All I can think about is not getting yelled at again. Mr. Law doesn’t like me. Hasn’t since day one. And he makes sure I know it. I push harder, running faster as the diner comes into view. I yank the door open— and nearly slam straight into it. I catch myself just in time, stumbling inside. “You’re lucky.” I freeze. Mr. Law stands near the counter, arms crossed, eyes sharp as they flick to the clock… then back to me. “Y-Yes, Mr. Law,” I mumble, already moving past him. A low growl echoes in my mind. I stiffen. “Easy,” I whisper under my breath. My wolf doesn’t like him. She never has. And honestly? Neither do I. I force myself to focus, throwing myself into the morning routine as the rest of the staff starts trickling in. Dishes. Prep. Coffee. Anything to keep my mind off— “Shiann!” I glance up as Kyra grins at me, sliding in beside me. “You should have come out with us last night. There were so many hot guys.” I snort softly. “Yeah, I’m sure.” She bumps my shoulder. “Seriously. You need to get out more.” I just smile faintly and shake my head. She doesn’t get it. None of them do . Going out means being seen. Being seen means being found. And that’s the one thing I can’t risk.