ECHOES HITCHED

02

Knox stood at the center of the grand hall, his imposing figure cloaked in the weight of leadership, echoing the legacy of his father, Alpha Thor. The flickering candlelight cast a warm glow across the ornate stone walls adorned with banners representing the hollow moon pack, yet the atmosphere felt anything but inviting. It had been just over a year since his father had passed, leaving him to bear the mantle of Alpha in his early twenties, a task he felt woefully unprepared for.

As he glanced around the room filled with pack members, he felt a nagging emptiness in his heart. Despite the camaraderie and loyalty that surrounded him, an integral piece of his life was still missing—his mate. The thought gnawed at him, amplified by the incessant impatience of his mother, the dowager Luna. She hovered over him like a hawk, her piercing gaze scrutinizing every move he made. Driven by a desperate longing for the stability of a strong union, she had pressed him relentlessly to seek out his mate.

Now, with time rapidly running out, she had given him a stark ultimatum: within two weeks, he had to find his mate, or she would take matters into her own hands and select a bride for him. Two weeks had come and gone faster than he’d anticipated, like the fleeting moments in a wolf’s sprint under a full moon, and he was painfully aware that today marked the deadline.

Knox had initially brushed off his mother’s insistence to find his mate with an idealistic belief that such connections should blossom naturally—unforced, organic, and beyond the constraints of time. Yet, as he stood there, witnessing his mother's relentless determination in action, he could see her true intentions unfolding before him.

In the middle of the hall, a young woman stood, poised yet visibly anxious. She appeared to be around his age, with auburn curls cascading over her shoulders in soft waves, and striking sapphire eyes that sparkled like the sea on a bright summer's day. Freckles were sprinkled gracefully across her cheeks, giving her an air of delicate beauty. Knox could see that she was trying hard to prove her worth as a future bride—an act of desperation masked by polite smiles and practiced grace.

Although undeniably beautiful, Knox felt an insurmountable barrier between them. He was not repulsed; rather, he felt an indifferent weight settling on his chest, as if his heart had entered a comatose state in response to the situation. The tension in the air felt thick and palpable, and despite being surrounded by his pack, it felt as if he was trapped in a vast, empty cavern.

As his mother beamed with pride at her latest choice, Knox’s thoughts drifted into a vague, dreamlike state. He found himself zoning out.

**********************************************************

"You know the most important part of coming of age?" Raven asked, her fingers brushing over the surface of an old, framed childhood photo. It captured a moment of pure joy, the two of them—wide smiles on their faces, sun-drenched skin, and the carefree laughter of that afternoon still echoing in her memory. They were at the park, a sanctuary of innocence before the complexities of adulthood began to unravel.

"Finding a mate," Lyric chimed in, her voice harmonizing perfectly with Raven’s. She knew the words as if they were a mantra, echoing in the corners of her mind: 'Find a mate, find a mate, find a mate.' It was a phrase that had been ingrained in her since childhood, replaying on repeat like a well-worn record. But deep down, she felt an unsettling sense of doubt. Ready or not, she never believed she was quite prepared for that leap into a bond that felt so permanent. Of course, in their world, choice was a luxury, not a given.

Raven leaned closer, her eyes sparkling with conviction. "I'm telling you," she insisted, every syllable laced with urgency. "It's way better to find your mate early in life. It creates an inseparable bond, something profound that would have enriched our childhood experiences if it had happened sooner. You can share everything together—dreams, fears, adventures. There’s something undeniably special about forming that connection earlier."

Lyric couldn't help but roll her eyes, her patience wearing thin. Raven’s earnestness was palpable, and it was clear she was speaking from a place of deep regret, longing for the days she could have shared with her mate instead of waiting. Raven didn't want Lyric to live through the same feelings of longing and missed opportunities that she did.

"Anyways," Lyric interjected, her tone becoming more assertive, "I’d better go prepare for my performance." The stage awaited her, and she felt a surge of determination replace the unease. It was her moment to shine, to carve out her identity beyond the echoing themes of mates and bonds—just for today, she wanted to focus on what she loved most: the music, the applause, and the freedom of expression.

As she turned to leave the room, she couldn’t shake the conversation. The weight of expectation on her shoulders felt heavy, but in that moment, Lyric resolved to find her own path—one that may or may not involve the notion of finding a mate. Today was about her. Today, she would be herself.

**********************************************************

Knox leaned back in his chair, the weight of his mother’s request hanging heavy in the air. He had never been one to argue against her wishes, especially when it came to matters as delicate as marriage. In the world they inhabited, the complexities of choosing a mate ran deeper than mere romantic notions. It was a blend of duty, tradition, and, for him, a fleeting obligation to select a bride—with the full knowledge that as soon as he found his true mate, he would leave her behind.

In his mind, he had already settled on his choice, the fiery spirit of the girl he had dubbed Auburn Girl, though her real name was Aurora. She possessed a warmth and vibrancy that drew him in, and he appreciated her unyielding spirit. There was a sense of comfort in knowing he could share his life, even if temporarily, with someone as radiant as she.

Aurora, with her chestnut hair that shimmered like burnished copper in the sunlight, seemed to embody everything he admired. To his surprise, she accepted his unconventional proposal with an enthusiasm that made his heart swell—a reaction not every woman would have in the face of such an unusual arrangement. In the eyes of many, marrying the Alpha of the Hollow Moon Pack was the culmination of every dream. The status, the recognition, and the sense of belonging it offered were irresistible to most.

And while Knox knew that for Aurora, this was a moment of fairy-tale desire, he could not shake the feeling of melancholy that accompanied it. After all, he was merely providing a brief chapter in her story; not her forever. This realization gnawed at him, yet he couldn’t deny the thrill that coursed through him at the thought of their union, however temporary it might be. Perhaps in the blossoming of their time together, he could help her craft a memory worth keeping—and, in doing so, maybe he could find a glimpse of the connection he yearned for himself.