The Alpha's Frozen Heart

As we wandered deeper into the forest, putting more distance between ourselves and our houses to ensure no one could overhear our conversation, Selena suddenly broke the silence. "When do you think I’ll find my mate?" she asked, her voice tinged with a mix of longing and curiosity. The question hung in the air between us, carried on the soft rustling of leaves as we walked further into the woods. "You’re asking me like I’m the Goddess of Wolves or something. I have no idea when you’ll find your mate," I reply, glancing up at the night sky, which is scattered with countless stars. "Don’t you want to find your mate?" Selena presses, her tone curious as she studies my face. “I do, but I’m not in a hurry,” I answer with a smile, confident in the belief that I’ll meet my mate when the time and place are right. “Who do you think your mate will be? A Beta?” Selena asks, her curiosity evident. I chuckle softly. “Just because I’m a Beta doesn’t mean my mate will be one too. He could be a wolf without a rank.” After all, I’m the Beta of my pack, the Night Guardians, but that doesn’t dictate who my destined partner will be. My father was the Beta of this pack, but when he was killed in battle, the responsibility of the position fell to me. There was no male in our family to take up the mantle, so I had to step in. Many in the pack coveted the Beta position, and they fiercely opposed the idea of a female taking the role. They argued that having a woman as Beta would make the pack appear weak, questioning whether I could truly lead and protect them as my father had. But Mr. Dawn, the former Alpha, had complete faith in me. Even when I doubted myself, he assured me that I was more than capable of being the perfect Beta for our pack. Determined to prove that I deserved the role, I threw myself into intense training. Under Mr. Dawn’s guidance, I honed my skills and pushed myself beyond my limits. I was determined to show the pack that I was not just a weak female wolf, but a force to be reckoned with. In time, I proved to be stronger than many who had questioned my ability. Now, I’m proud of myself and all that I’ve accomplished. I earned my place as Beta, not just by inheriting the title, but by proving that I was worthy of it. Selena and I come to a halt at the boundary of our pack’s territory. Just beyond this line lies another state and the land belonging to the strongest werewolf pack in the world, The moonlight Depths. It’s said that any werewolf who isn’t part of their pack and dares to step onto their territory is killed without question. I notice Selena staring across the boundary, her gaze fixed on the ominous expanse of land ahead. “Do you think it’s possible that my mate belongs to the moonlight Depths Pack?” she asks, a mix of hope and fear in her voice. “It may be possible,” I reply, the thought unsettling yet not impossible. “Eve, I want to go there,” she says suddenly, using my nickname as she turns to me with determination in her eyes. “If you really want to go there, you’ll need to ask Alpha Raven to inform the Alpha of the moonlight Depths Pack that you want to search for your mate on their land,” I explain, knowing the importance of respecting their territory. “Can we talk to Alpha Raven about it tomorrow morning?” she asks, her eagerness clear. “So eager,” I tease, nudging her elbow playfully. She shoves me back, but I can see the blush creeping over her cheeks. I burst out laughing, the sound echoing through the quiet forest. As we turn around and head back to our houses, I’m still laughing, and Selena is doing her best to shush me, her own embarrassment only fueling my amusement. "Can you stop laughing? People will hear us and then scold us for being near the boundary in the middle of the night," Selena whispers urgently, bringing her hand up to cover my mouth. I push her hand away, still chuckling. I gesture toward the empty forest around us. "Selena, no one will hear us. We’re too far from the pack houses. It’s just us out here," I reassure her, my voice light. I’m about to say more when suddenly, a sharp pain strikes the back of my head. It feels like I’ve been hit with something heavy. I hear Selena scream my name as I collapse to the ground, my vision quickly blurring. Desperately, I focus on her as she rushes to my side, her face a mix of fear and panic. Selena shakes me violently, desperately trying to keep me conscious. As I struggle to focus, a man steps into view, a wicked smirk plastered across his face. That smirk... it's unsettlingly familiar. I squint, trying to clear my vision, and then it hits me—Tim. The same guy I once beat for trying to force himself on my best friend, she tried to help me stand, but Tim yanks her away from me, his grip tight and unyielding. I watch, fury and helplessness coursing through me, as she struggles against him. My blood boils at the sight of his filthy hands on her. Then, with a sneer, Tim tosses the branch aside and begins dragging Selena toward the boundary, her terrified eyes locking onto mine. Before slipping into unconsciousness, I saw them crossing the boundary. When I finally open my eyes, I find myself lying on the ground. Dirt clogs my throat as I cough and struggle to sit up. My head feels heavy, and there's still a dull ache at the back of it. Rubbing the spot, I notice a nearby tree branch stained with blood—my blood. I look at my hands and see no traces of it, indicating that my wound must have healed. Suddenly, I feel a surprising sense of normalcy, as if nothing had happened. A gust of wind carries Selena’s scent toward me. The fact that I can still smell her means I haven’t been unconscious for long. I focus on Selena’s scent, using it to guide me as I push through the nausea caused by Tim’s lingering stench. I quickly get to my feet and begin running toward the scent, which leads me into the territory of The moonlight Depths Pack. I consider shifting into my werewolf form for speed but decide against it, knowing I’d be left without clothes if I needed to revert. Instead, I rely on my speed, being the second-fastest runner in my pack, after Alpha Raven. As I follow Selena’s scent, I come to an abrupt stop when five men emerge from the trees. They must have picked up my scent. Their imposing presence serves as a stark reminder that I’m no longer on my own land but in their territory, where they could kill me on a whim. Clad only in shorts, their muscular frames are formidable, but as a Beta, I possess my own strength and power. Despite their intimidating appearance, I stand my ground, unafraid of the challenge they represent. “Stay where you are,” commands the man in the center, his aura brimming with authority. As he approaches, it becomes clear that he must be the Beta. I stand still as the other four men form a circle around me. “I’m Beta Evelyn from The Night Guardians, the pack next to yours,” I begin, trying to stay composed despite my fear. “A rogue named Tim has brought my friend, Selena, into your territory against her will. He’s intent on forcing her into mating. I need to rescue her,” I explain calmly, though inside I’m anxious and worried for Selena’s safety. I hope she’s unharmed and okay. A look of recognition crosses the Beta’s face. Could he know Tim? The wind picks up, whipping around us with such force that I feel like I might be carried away. Tonight’s wind is particularly fierce. Dirt and dry leaves swirl through the air, and I shield my eyes from the debris. When the wind finally subsides, I lower my hand. Ahead, a figure emerges from the haze. Although he is still some distance away, I can feel the powerful aura emanating from him. It’s clear to me now—he is the Alpha. As he draws nearer, my heart pounds faster with each step. His brown hair is tousled by the wind, and I can see his muscles flex as he walks. He comes to a halt directly in front of me, his expression impassive and unreadable. But when I gaze into his blue eyes, I sense a deep, unspoken connection between our wolves. In that moment, it becomes clear—he is my mate.