The Fated Mate almost Missed

Chapter One Lyra The shadows of the forest felt heavier as Lyra walked through the woods. She’d been dealing with pack affairs all day, paperwork that weighed on her shoulders like an iron mantle. It wasn’t the kind of work that invigorated her; it drained her, reminding her of the many responsibilities she had inherited with her father’s death. But tonight, there was something in the air—an unusual stillness that tugged at her senses, pulling her from the study. It felt off. Lyra wasn’t one to ignore her instincts. "Guard, what’s going on out there?" she asked, her tone sharp as she dismissed the stack of papers on her desk. The guard’s face was tense as he spoke, barely able to keep his composure. "There’s been some unusual activity near the edge of the forest. We were going to send Chloe, but she’s busy preparing for the marking ceremony, Alpha. We thought you should know." Lyra’s lip curled into a small frown. The marking ceremony, of course. She had been avoiding the topic of her impending engagement to Brain, her betrothed. Her mind wandered for a moment—was it time to confront the reality of her situation? But then, the silence of the forest pierced through her thoughts. Something was wrong. The pack might be full of distractions, but Lyra trusted her instincts above all else. She made her decision in an instant. "I’ll go," she said, standing from her desk and adjusting her leather jacket. Her wolf stirred inside her, eager for the shift. She could feel the tension rising in her bones, the undeniable pull of something hidden. The guard hesitated but nodded. "I’ll come with you." "No," she interrupted, her eyes sharp. "Stay here. I’ll handle it." Without waiting for another word, Lyra turned and made her way out of the Alpha’s quarters, walking briskly toward the edge of the pack’s land. The air felt colder here, the trees towering like silent witnesses. As she neared the forest’s edge, Lyra slowed, sensing that something wasn’t right. The usual hum of wildlife was absent. The calm before the storm, perhaps. She was about to turn back when a rustle of leaves caught her attention. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as she spotted figures moving toward her. A group—no, a gang—of thugs, stepping out from the shadows, encircling her in an instant. Her heart raced, but her mind went calm. Lyra’s wolf was already pushing forward, instinctively alert. The figures were not from her pack. Her eyes narrowed, calculating the distance, the number of them, their weapons. One of them stepped forward, a smug grin on his face. "Well, well, what have we here? The Shadow Pack’s precious Alpha out for a walk?" Lyra’s lips twitched, her eyes glinting with a mix of annoyance and danger. She wasn’t here for a fight, but if these thugs wanted one, they would get it. Without warning, she shifted, her body breaking into the familiar fluidity of her wolf form. Black fur rippled down her back as she crouched low, ready to spring. The thugs hesitated, but only for a moment. They closed in, trying to corner her. Lyra darted forward, her fangs flashing as she slashed through the nearest attacker with a deadly swipe. The others recoiled, trying to regroup, but it was too late. Her wolf was fast, a blur of fury and strength. But the odds were stacked against her. They kept coming, too many of them for her to handle alone. She could feel the pressure building as more injuries piled up. Her vision blurred for a split second before a sudden new scent reached her—a sharp, intoxicating mix of pine and earth that hit her like a thunderclap. A figure emerged from the shadows, moving with precision and speed. The air shifted as the new arrival joined the fray, his form a powerful, lithe blur of motion. He struck with deadly accuracy, taking down the remaining thugs in a matter of seconds. Lyra froze, mid-fight, as she caught a glimpse of him. He was tall, muscular, with sharp features and a commanding presence. His eyes—piercing blue—locked with hers as he dispatched the last of the thugs with ease. Her wolf inside her stirred, the bond sparking between them. Her mate. The man turned toward her, his eyes scanning her form. He was bleeding from a gash across his side, but there was a calmness to him, a control in his every movement. "You’re safe now," he said, his voice low, barely above a whisper. Lyra’s pulse quickened. Her wolf was restless, yearning to close the distance between them. She struggled to keep her composure, realizing the truth in that moment: he was her mate. "Thank you," she said, her voice strained, still processing the surge of emotions running through her. "I owe you." He nodded, his gaze intense, as though seeing straight through her. "I’m Gavin. I overheard them plotting the attack. They were after you." Before Lyra could respond, a familiar voice called from behind her. "Lyra!" Brain's voice, full of concern and annoyance, broke the moment. He rushed forward, his gaze darting between Lyra and the stranger. "Are you hurt? What’s going on here?" Lyra tensed at his approach, unwilling to let his presence overshadow the chaos she had just escaped. She gave him a tight smile, though it didn’t reach her eyes. "I’m fine, Brain. Just a little shaken up." Gavin watched them both, his expression unreadable. "I’ll leave now," he said, stepping back as Elena, a young girl standing quietly behind him, came forward. "My sister will help with the bandages." Elena smiled at Lyra, her voice warm. "I’m Elena. I’m sorry about this mess. We’ll leave as soon as we can, but my brother... he insisted on helping." Before Lyra could say more, Brain took her arm, pulling her toward him. "We need to get back to the pack, now. Who are these people, Lyra?" His tone was sharp, possessive. Gavin glanced at him, his eyes cold, before replying. "We’re just passing through. I’m Lyra’s mate." Lyra’s heart skipped, the words hanging between them. Brain’s face paled, but he didn’t argue, though Lyra could see the panic rising behind his eyes. "I’ll take them back to the pack," Lyra said firmly, pulling away from Brain’s grip. "They’ll stay until they recover." Brain’s eyes flashed with anger, his jaw clenched. "I don’t think that’s wise, Lyra." But Lyra was already turning, leading Gavin and Elena back to the pack’s territory, her mind whirling with the sudden, inexplicable pull she felt toward him. This man, this stranger, was no longer just a passerby—he was her mate. And everything had just changed.