Chapter 2
1025 Words
Thane had never had an instant attraction to a woman like he had at the moment. He found
himself occasionally glancing at the blonde haired beauty called Faye.
“I think she's already gotten the message, Thane,” his friend Axel said.
He snapped his attention to him, confused. "What?”
The other man gave him a look after taking a big bite out of his burger. He took his time to
swallow before giving his friend an answer.
"Thane,” he began, leaning forward. "I think she already knows that you're interested. Maybe
you should call down a bit before you put her off with your thirstiness.”
Thane rolled his eyes, taking a sip of his drink. “She's pretty."
“Only pretty?" Axel asked, surprised. “With the way you've been staring, there's no way you
think she's just pretty."
Thane laughed. “I don't know, I just don't want to do anything I'd regret." He paused before
continuing. “She's gorgeous, but you know I already mentioned that I felt like I couldn't just be
with anyone like usual."
"You're talking about the mate thing.” Axel gave him a look of disbelief. "Nobody's saying you
should marry her. I bet your mate that you're waiting for is probably with some guy now, having
fun. While you're here thinking about what they'd say.”
Thane sighed. "You're right.”
He was an adult, and his mate was going to be an adult too. It was rare for werewolves to
meet at a young age, so they usually experienced life before finding the one they're meant to be
with.
The problem was that Thane always wanted to find his mate as quickly as possible. He'd tried
to not end up in relationships, but it was a bit impossible since he was curious. Now, he wanted
to stop and wait. And just focus on pack activities.
But this girl… this woman was just so alluring. With her smile and movements. He didn't know
if what he was feeling was just lust or something else.
He chose not to pursue the conversation further, deciding not to look towards Faye's direction
again.
Back home, Thane walked into the pack's common room, his friend Axel chatting amiably with
everyone he saw, beside him. Their alpha, Thane's father, was waiting for them, his expression
serious. "Thane, Axel, I need a word," he said, his voice low and commanding.
Thane nodded, following his father to his study. Axel took a seat inside, but didn't say
anything. Whenever the two alphas of the pack spoke, interruption wasn't accepted. Thane's
father closed the door behind them, his eyes locked on his son's.
"The werewolf hunters are getting bolder, Thane. We've had reports of them attacking packs
in the next territory over. And last night, there was another brutal attack here. I want you to work
with Axel to increase our patrols and make sure our borders are secure."
Thane nodded, his mind already racing with strategies. "I'll get right on it, Dad. But do you
think it's just random attacks?"
His father's expression turned grim. "I don't think anything is random when it comes to these
hunters. They're getting organized and much better at killing, and I think they'll come for us next.
I want you to be prepared."
Axel raised a hand, and was allowed to speak. "Do we at least have an idea on individuals?”
The alpha frowned. “Recently, reports have been going on about a group of three. Two women
and one man. They shouldn't be able to take so many werewolves down, but I heard they're
brutal."
“We're going to have to kill them at some point," Thane muttered.
“Yes," his father agreed. “But first, we need our territory protected."
Thane nodded, his jaw clenched. He would do whatever it took to protect his pack.
After their brief meeting, Thane made his way to the Oracle's den. The pack's Oracle, an
elderly woman with eyes that seemed to see right through him, smiled as he approached her
seated outside crocheting. Her name was Eve, and she'd honestly been alive for so long that
nobody knew how old she was.
Thane had always had a soft spot for her though. She was so sweet, and she was practically
his second mother. He tried to visit her as many times as he possibly could.
She turned to him, while her hands kept busy. "Thane, what brings you to me today?"
"Just checking in, Oracle," Thane replied, taking a seat beside her. "My father is worried about
the hunters. He thinks we might get attacked, and I wanted to know what you thought. You
haven't given any predictions so yeah."
The Oracle's expression turned serious. "Yes, I've seen darkness on the horizon, but it's not
been too clear. Sometimes it's bright, other times it's not. I don't have a definitive answer yet.
But that's not only why you're here, is it? You're thinking about your mate."
Thane's eyes widened in surprise. "How did you know?"
The Oracle chuckled. "I am the Oracle, remember? Let me tell you this, Thane- you're likely to
meet your mate soon, if you haven't already. And when you do, you'll know it. Just be prepared
for the unexpected."
Thane's mind was reeling as he left the Oracle's den. Soon? So he was right to have backed
off from that girl at the diner.
Then he remembered. “What do you mean by ‘just be prepared for the unexpected?’"
She shrugged. “Your ideal mate in your head might be very different from what she truly is. It
is your job to accept her. Not like you have a choice anyway.”
Thane didn't know what to say about that, confused.
"Is she that bad?” he asked.
Eve sighed. "You're asking way too many questions, child.” She added, "I'm not going to give
you everything I know about her- it's not much anyway- but she is really someone that'd cause a
lot of confusion in this pack. And you will have to stand by her side.”
- Writer
