**Beneath the Full Moon: A Werewolf’s Second Chance**

Chapter.4

--The full moon lights the night sky; its bright light casts an appeal that is silver over the forest. The constant rustle of leaves was the only sound in the cool evening. Adolf was moving with the stealth of a predator. The shadows revealed his imposing silhouette. He has been thinking of Valeria since he rejected her as his mate. It has been weeks now since that fateful night.

He was now running away from her. He fled at the very thought of her. His instincts have been urging him to return to her, so he can claim her as his own.

Valeria, even though her name is etched in his heart, it would not be possible for both of them to be together.

He fully engaged himself with his pack activities, plus he occasionally explored the calm environment of the woods, all with the intention of erasing her from his memory, but it was futile. From time to time, his mind will wander back to her.

The members of his pack had noticed the distraction in him. They were worried about how he constantly visited the forest shadows whenever there was a full moon during the night. They did not know that Adolf was battling with his instincts.

Adolf made a low growl as he slowly walked through the woods, the cold wind was cracking his skin. The wolf in him was agitated, his mind was restless as he desired to break free from his inner turmoil.

He first has to free Valeria, but he can not let go of her because she is his destiny. Though he rejected her, she was always in his heart.

—

Meanwhile, Valeria was in her cave at that moment. She was feeling disconnected from herself, her mind and her heart were in complete disorder. Some weeks have passed since Adolf rejected her, and rescued her from that dreadful creature of a wolf. It had made her question her worth.

She stood up where she sat and walked to where she gazed at the sky. The moon was very bright tonight that she felt a sting on the inside of her. It looked exactly like the full moon on the night Adolf rejected her. The wolf within her was restless after Adolf rejected her. Her world has become quieter and desolate. She pretended to be fine, but his absence from her life felt like he had betrayed a very important part of their life.

She dedicated her time to work, training with her pack, and spending time with her friends all in the bid to fill the hole in her heart, but all this could not replace the space.

She could not imagine what Adolf was doing at that particular time. Has he moved on, not giving the bond that holds them a chance? She cleaved her fists tightly, she felt a sharp pain in her chest which threatened to consume her. There were questions that had not been answered which tormented her, and she was in a confused state.

—

By the next full moon, Valeria has experienced so much emotional torture that she has to share the cause of her problems with her friend Hilda, a wolf from her pack.

Valeria paced back and forth in a clearing inside the forest, her claws dug deep into the earth as she walked. Inside her heart, she felt like she had been torn open from there, and even the cold air could not sooth the burning sensation that she feels again and again from within. Hilda was sitting nearby. She watched her with a probing gaze. She was calm but she felt concerned about Valeria.

Valeria (Her voice shook with frustration) Adolf rejected me, Hilda. He rejected our destiny together. How can he do that? He can not just… turn his back on everything we are?

Hilda (She sighed softly, her gaze upon Valeria was intent) I know how it hurts, Val. I wish I could take away the pain from you, but you need to know that at a point in time, mates can also be afraid. They are not always sure of what to do with their bond. It is powerful, it is old, so it may overwhelm them.

Valeria (She stops pacing about, her eyes are wide open in disbelief) Afraid? Who is it me? Is it possible? He is my mate, Hilda. We were made for each other right from the beginning. I have been unable to breathe without him. Yet he simply walks away. Like it is not important.

Her voice broke, as she kept her head down. She fought back the tears that were forming in her eyes.

Hilda (She spoke to her softly, in a comforting tone) I don’t think it is about you, Val. It is the bond. It is not an easy thing to handle for certain people. It has great power and intensity. All these can frighten some people so much that they will make the wrong decisions.

Valeria (She shook her head in disagreement). "I don't believe this is fear Hilda," he said. He doesn't feel anything about the bond now. He said that the bond had faded. I can feel it so strongly now. Why would it fade with him?

Hilda (leans forward with a serious expression) It is right for you to feel it. The bond can not just fade. But there exists things, forces, values that we can not fully understand. There are dark things which in some cases tamper with the bond.

This made Valeria freeze in shock. She looked intently at Hilda. Her heart beat was rapid. She has not considered this angle of the bond.

Valeria (Her voice was almost a whisper) what do you mean by tampered with? Is it possible to interfere with the bond?

Hilda (She nods her head slowly, her eyes are dark) it is possible. Certain older packs who are not bound by our rules, use older magic to weaken or manipulate bond, or in some cases they sever it completely.

Valeria (She steps back a bit to reply in a panicked tone)

But who would do something like that to Adolf and me? What have we done to deserve it?

Hilda (grimaced). I have no idea, Val, but I have heard stories, some people feel threatened whenever there is a strong bond between a couple. "If they can control you or Adolf through the bond, they might be willing to go to any length."

Valeria (Her pulse quickened, there was fear in her heart) No. We are destined to be one, the bond can not be changed insane.

Hilda (stood up, her voice was firm). I know it is not an easy thing to believe Val, but you have to find out if someone is behind Adolf's strange behavior. If someone is responsible, you need to know the person, why they are doing it, then you must tackle it.

Valeria(staring into the night, her voice was very low). I have to find out the truth. I need to know what is really happening to us.

There was a faint rustle in the trees behind them. Valeria instinctively turned toward the sound. She noticed a familiar shape that quickened the movement of her heart.

Valeria's breath got caught in her throat) Adolf?

The full moonlight reflected the stranger’s face and Valeria's breath ceased for a moment when she saw the face clearly. It was not Adolf.

This is a face she recognized very well.