Chapter 3: The Awakening
790 Words
Selene had never felt more out of place.
The Blackfang Pack’s territory was unlike anything she had ever known—vast, wild, and brimming with untamed energy. Their village blended seamlessly into the forest, the structures made of dark wood and stone, built to endure. Fires crackled in open pits, the scent of roasting meat thick in the air. Wolves moved effortlessly between their human and animal forms, their presence both intimidating and strangely familiar.
Selene hugged herself as she stood near one of the larger fires, feeling exposed beneath the watchful gazes of the pack. She had spent her life among humans, suppressing the part of her that longed for something more. And now that she was here—surrounded by her own kind—it was as if that buried part of her was clawing to the surface.
A warmth curled in her chest, spreading to her limbs, making her skin prickle.
Her wolf.
She could feel it, stirring, awakening after years of dormancy. And she knew the cause.
Ronan.
Selene’s gaze drifted toward him. He stood near the largest cabin, speaking in low tones with two other men, but even as he spoke, his attention never truly left her.
Tall and broad-shouldered, his presence commanded attention. His tanned skin bore the marks of past battles, scars that only enhanced the raw power he exuded. His dark hair was slightly disheveled, but it was his eyes that unnerved her most—deep, intense green, sharp enough to strip away any defenses she had left.
She should have been afraid.
But instead, she felt drawn to him.
Her pulse quickened, her wolf responding to his presence with an urgency that both thrilled and terrified her.
“You should sit before you fall over.”
Selene turned at the sound of a woman’s voice.
A striking woman stood beside her, arms crossed. Her golden-brown hair was tied back in a loose braid, and her amber eyes studied Selene with interest. She had the air of someone who had seen her fair share of battles yet carried herself with effortless grace.
“I’m Mira,” she said. “You’re the outsider that’s got everyone whispering.”
Selene hesitated before answering. “I guess I am.”
Mira’s lips curved into a smirk. “Come. Sit.” She gestured to a log by the fire. “You’ll need your strength for what’s coming.”
Selene frowned but obeyed, lowering herself onto the rough wood. The warmth of the fire did little to ease the strange energy coursing through her.
Mira sat beside her, studying her closely. “It’s waking up, isn’t it? Your wolf.”
Selene inhaled sharply. “I… I don’t know.”
Mira chuckled. “I do. I can feel it.”
Selene shivered. That was the problem—she could feel it, too. A restless, humming energy, pressing against her insides, like something ancient and powerful clawing its way to the surface.
“It’s because of him,” Mira continued, nodding toward Ronan. “Being near your mate is triggering the change.”
Selene’s pulse jumped.
Mate.
The word felt foreign on her tongue. Ronan had claimed she was his mate, but how could that be possible? She barely knew him. And yet, her body responded to him in ways she couldn’t control.
Mira leaned in, lowering her voice. “You have questions. Ask.”
Selene swallowed hard. “How did he know?”
Mira tilted her head. “That you were his mate?”
Selene nodded.
Mira’s expression softened. “He caught your scent.”
Selene frowned.
Mira chuckled. “It’s not as simple as it sounds. A mate’s scent isn’t just something you smell—it’s something you feel. It pulls at you. Drives you insane until you find them.”
Selene’s breath hitched.
She remembered that night—how he had stepped from the shadows, how he had looked at her like she was something he had never expected to find.
“How did he find me?” she whispered.
Mira’s expression darkened. “Three nights ago, he caught your scent on the wind. He followed it for miles, through the trees, until he found you standing at the edge of the forest.”
Selene shuddered.
“You don’t know what you are,” Mira continued, her voice quieter now. “You don’t understand what it means that you’re here. But Ronan does.”
Selene turned back toward him, her heart hammering against her ribs.
Ronan was no longer speaking with the other warriors.
He was watching her.
And in that moment, she understood—he had always been watching.
Because she was his.
And ready or not, there was no escaping the bond between them.
- Writer
