In the Moonlight
1166 Words
Kyle’s POV
I woke up in the middle of the night.
Again.
For the third time that week, I found myself staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep.
And I knew exactly why.
Her.
My mate.
The Alpha.
I still couldn’t believe it.
Just thinking about her sent a strange warmth through my body, and Leo had been absolutely unbearable ever since we met her.
He wasn’t just restless.
He was obsessed.
Go back.
I groaned and pulled the blanket over my head.
“Not tonight.”
Go back.
“No.”
She is waiting.
“How do you know?”
Because she’s our mate.
I rolled onto my side.
“That isn’t an answer.”
Leo growled.
You are thinking about her too.
I froze.
“I am not.”
Liar.
I sighed.
Fine.
Maybe I was.
I’d tried not to think about her.
I’d tried to convince myself that leaving her behind was the right thing.
But every night, I remembered those ember-colored eyes.
Her silver fur beneath the moonlight.
The feeling that had taken over my entire body when our eyes met.
I couldn’t explain it.
I’d never experienced anything like it.
And apparently, neither had Leo.
Because he had spent two weeks complaining about my decision to run.
We should have stayed.
“We already talked about this.”
We should have stayed.
“Leo.”
She is our mate.
“I know!”
I sat up in bed.
“Do you think I don’t know that?”
Leo went quiet.
I rubbed my face.
“I’m just…”
I stopped.
Scared.
That was the word I couldn’t bring myself to say.
What if she rejected me?
What if she decided that a Lonewolf wasn’t worthy of being her mate?
What if I wasn’t enough?
I had spent my entire life depending on myself.
I didn’t know how to belong to someone.
I didn’t know how to belong to a pack.
And I definitely didn’t know how to be the mate of an Alpha.
She won’t reject us.
“You don’t know that.”
I felt her wolf.
I looked down.
“That doesn’t mean she wants me.”
She does.
I shook my head.
“You are impossible.”
Leo growled.
And you’re afraid.
“Maybe.”
The admission came out quietly.
For a moment, there was silence.
Then Leo spoke again.
Then stop running.
I closed my eyes.
I knew he was right.
That didn’t mean I liked it.
“What am I supposed to do?”
Go to her.
“That’s your brilliant plan?”
Yes.
I laughed bitterly.
“You’re terrible at giving advice.”
Yet you always listen eventually.
I sighed.
“Unfortunately.”
I threw the blanket aside and stood.
Leo immediately became excited.
Finally!
“Don’t celebrate yet.”
I pulled on my clothes.
“I’m going there to talk.”
Of course.
“Nothing else.”
Of course.
I narrowed my eyes.
“Why do I feel like you’re lying?”
Leo said nothing.
I grabbed my jacket.
“I like my freedom.”
And?
“She’s an Alpha.”
And?
“We don’t know anything about her.”
Then learn.
I stopped.
For once, I couldn’t argue with him.
So I left.
The forest was quiet when I arrived.
The moon was high above the trees, casting silver light across the ground.
I moved carefully through the familiar path.
My heart beat faster with every step.
What would I say?
Hello, I’m Kyle.
Too simple.
I’m your mate.
Too direct.
Sorry I ran away from you.
Probably accurate.
I shook my head.
“This is ridiculous.”
Then I smelled her.
Raspberry.
Apple.
My entire body froze.
Leo went silent.
I slowly lifted my head.
There she was.
Standing in the moonlight.
She wasn’t a wolf this time.
She was human.
And I forgot how to breathe.
Long silver hair flowed down her back, glowing beneath the moon.
She wore a red dress that moved gently with the night breeze.
She stood completely still, surrounded by the silver light of the forest.
She looked like she belonged to the night.
Like the moon itself had created her.
My heart slammed against my chest.
Mate.
Leo whispered the word inside my mind.
For once…
He sounded completely stunned.
I took one step forward.
She slowly turned.
Our eyes met.
Ember met blue.
Everything stopped.
The forest disappeared.
The sounds of the night faded.
There was only her.
And me.
My heart pounded so hard I thought she must be able to hear it.
She stared at me.
I stared back.
If I’d thought she was beautiful in her wolf form, I’d been wrong.
This was different.
She was breathtaking.
Not because she was an Alpha.
Not because she was powerful.
But because something inside me recognized her.
Something older than reason.
Older than fear.
The bond between us seemed to tighten.
My chest burned.
I swallowed.
Leo didn’t say a word.
For the first time since I’d known him…
He was completely silent.
I almost laughed.
“You’re quiet.”
Nothing.
I looked at Jail again.
She took a small step toward me.
My body immediately reacted to the bond.
I wanted to run.
I wanted to stay.
I wanted to disappear.
And yet my feet wouldn’t move.
She stopped a few steps away.
Neither of us spoke.
Then she smiled.
It was small.
Almost nervous.
That surprised me.
She was an Alpha.
She had commanded an entire pack.
Yet right now…
She looked almost as uncertain as I felt.
“You’re real,” she whispered.
I frowned.
“What?”
Her smile grew slightly.
“I wasn’t sure I’d ever see you again.”
My heart tightened.
“You were looking for me?”
“Every night.”
I didn’t know what to say.
She had been searching for me.
For two weeks.
While I’d been running from her.
Guilt settled heavily in my chest.
“I’m sorry.”
Her eyes softened.
“For leaving?”
I nodded.
She looked at me for a long moment.
Then she took another step closer.
“You came back.”
I looked into her ember-colored eyes.
“Yeah.”
My voice was barely audible.
“I came back.”
For the first time in my life, I realized something terrifying.
Maybe I didn’t want to run anymore.
Maybe…
I had finally found somewhere I wanted to stay.
Jail extended her hand toward me.
I stared at it.
Then at her.
“What’s your name?” she asked softly.
I hesitated.
“Kyle.”
Her smile returned.
“Hello, Kyle.”
Something inside my chest seemed to break open.
I had heard my name thousands of times.
But coming from her…
It sounded different.
Like it belonged to her.
“And you?”
She smiled.
“Jail.”
I repeated it quietly.
“Jail.”
The bond between us pulsed.
And this time, neither of us ran.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD