When The Wolf Ran

Chapter 5 - New Beginings

Rosalie — POV

Finally, the day came.

My eighteenth birthday.

I woke up to the sound of singing.

“Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you!”

I opened my eyes, and there she was.

Zyphorah stood at the foot of my bed with a few of the other omegas. She was holding a small chocolate cake with eighteen tiny candles on it.

I smiled.

“Where did you get that?” I asked, sitting up quickly. “Luna will freak out if she sees us.”

“Shhh... it's okay. She won't know. Today is about you.”

Zyphorah smiled as she carefully placed the cake on the small table beside my bed.

It wasn't much.

But to me, it felt like the biggest celebration in the world.

The other omegas gathered around me, laughing and wishing me a happy birthday.

“Come on, sweetheart. Make a wish,” Zyphorah said.

I looked at the candles.

I didn't need to think about it.

“Moon Goddess... I just want to live a normal life,” I whispered.

I closed my eyes and blew out the candles.

Everyone clapped.

Zyphorah then reached behind her and pulled out a small brown pouch.

“We have a little gift for you. From all of us.”

I looked at her suspiciously.

“Zee... what is this?”

“Open it.”

I slowly untied the pouch and pulled out a beautiful white dress.

My mouth fell open.

The dress was long and simple, with delicate lace sleeves. It was easily the prettiest thing I had ever owned.

“Zee... what is this? I can't. It's too expensive.”

“Oh yes, you can, young lady!” Clara said.

Clara was one of the older omegas in the pack, and she had always been kind to me.

“Now go try it on!”

I smiled and hurried into the bathroom.

When I slipped the dress over my head, I couldn't believe what I saw in the mirror.

The white fabric sat perfectly against my slim frame, and the lace sleeves made me feel like a different person.

When I walked back into the room, the ladies erupted into cheers.

“Oh, honey...” Zyphorah said, her eyes filling with tears.

“You are beautiful,” Clara said.

I had never felt beautiful before.

I had always been an omega.

But today, for just a few minutes, I felt like something more.

The celebrations continued upstairs, as the ball went on.

We could hear music, laughter and people moving around the pack house.

It was the biggest ball the Moon Pack had hosted in years, and hundreds of wolves had travelled from different packs to attend.

But none of that mattered to us.

We were confined to our rooms.

As evening approached, Zyphorah helped me braid my long blonde hair.

“Honey, you need to sneak out just before midnight. Your wolf is going to come.”

I nodded.

I had heard stories about first shifts.

Some wolves said it was painful.

Others said it was freeing.

I had no idea what to expect.

“Do you think Alpha Sean will finally be mated tonight?” I asked.

“I hope so, honey...” Zyphorah hesitated.

“Hopefully that will stop him from...”

She suddenly stopped talking.

“From what?” I asked.

“Never mind.”

Just then, Clara and Tina walked into the room and sat down beside us.

“Stop him from what?” I asked again.

Tina looked extremely uncomfortable.

“Tell her, Zyphorah. She's old enough to know now,” Clara said softly.

Zyphorah sighed.

“Rose... the men in this pack don't respect us very much. They have a tendency of using omegas for their entertainment.”

She paused.

“Their s****l entertainment.”

My stomach twisted.

I immediately thought about what had happened in the locker room.

I hadn't told anyone all the details, but Zyphorah already knew enough.

“You need to be careful, my love,” she said.

I turned around to look at her.

“Now that you're eighteen, you'll need to take extra care of yourself.”

I didn't like the sound of that at all.

I wondered if all omegas were doomed to live this kind of life.

The evening went by slowly, and eventually, it was time for me to leave.

I looked at the clock.

22:15.

I carefully slipped out of my room and made my way towards the back staircase.

“Remember,” Clara whispered behind me. “Go as deep into the forest as you can.”

I nodded.

“Be careful, Rose,” Zyphorah called softly.

I smiled at her one last time before slipping outside.

The wind was cold against my skin.

I pulled my arms around myself and started running.

I ran and ran and ran.

The further I went, the quieter everything became.

I had never been this deep into the forest before.

The trees were much taller here, their branches stretching over me and blocking out most of the moonlight.

For the first time all day, I felt completely alone.

I found a small clearing surrounded by trees.

I looked around before carefully removing my dress and placing it beside me.

Then I sat down on the soft grass.

My heart was pounding.

Something was happening inside me.

My entire body suddenly felt hot.

I started sweating despite the cool breeze.

Then I smelled something.

Mint.

The most beautiful, intoxicating minty scent I had ever experienced.

My heart raced.

“What is happening?”

Suddenly, a strange voice echoed inside my head.

Finally!

I gasped.

“Who are you?”

I'm Jazz.

My eyes widened.

“Jazz?”

Your wolf.

There was so much excitement in her voice.

Then the pain started.

It ripped through my entire body.

I cried out as my bones shifted and changed.

I fell onto my hands and knees as fur began spreading across my skin.

It felt like every bone in my body was breaking and putting itself back together.

I clenched my teeth and tried to breathe through it.

The pain was unbearable.

But then, just as suddenly as it had started, it stopped.

I opened my eyes.

I was no longer human.

I looked down.

Paws.

I had paws.

I couldn't help but laugh.

I was finally a wolf.

I was finally complete.

Jazz immediately took over, and we took off through the forest.

She ran faster than I had ever imagined possible.

She jumped over fallen branches, splashed through muddy puddles and chased rabbits through the trees.

For the first time in my entire life, I felt free.

I had never been allowed to train.

I had never been allowed to run.

I had never been allowed to experience what it was like to be a wolf.

And now I understood what I had been missing.

Jazz suddenly stopped.

Her ears lifted.

“What is it?”

She sniffed the air.

Then her entire body became alert.

Someone is here.

I looked around.

The forest was dark.

“Who?”

Jazz didn't answer.

Instead, she started following a scent.

And then I smelled it too.

It was the most incredible scent I had ever experienced.

It made my entire body tingle.

Suddenly, a huge black wolf stepped out from the shadows.

He was enormous.

Much bigger than Jazz.

I froze.

I didn't recognise him.

He definitely wasn't Alpha Sean or Beta Luka.

I was about to run when Jazz screamed inside my head.

MATE!

“What?”

MATE! MATE!

Before I could process what she was saying, Jazz took control.

She ran straight towards him.

I expected the huge wolf to attack us.

Instead, he lowered his head and sniffed her.

Jazz immediately became playful.

She ran around him, and he followed her.

Soon, the two wolves were racing through the forest together.

They chased each other between the trees, jumping over fallen branches and playfully nudging each other.

I couldn't believe it.

I had a mate.

After everything I had said about never needing one, the Moon Goddess had given me exactly what I had always claimed I didn't want.

For the first time, I felt safe.

Eventually, exhaustion took over.

Jazz slowed down, and I felt my body beginning to shift again.

The pain wasn't as bad this time.

When it was over, I sat in the clearing trying to catch my breath.

I heard movement behind me.

I quickly grabbed my dress and pulled it around myself.

A few feet away, the black wolf was shifting back too.

I turned my face away, embarrassed.

When I finally looked up, I saw him standing there.

He was tall.

Very tall.

He had dark brown hair and the greenest eyes I had ever seen.

He looked at me for a moment before quickly looking away and giving me some space.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

His voice was deep and raspy.

I nodded.

“Yes.”

There was an awkward silence between us.

“What is your name?” he asked.

I swallowed.

“Rosalie.”

I hesitated.

“Rosalie Winters.”

He looked at me again.

Something changed in his eyes.

His wolf was obviously close to the surface.

“My name is Alex.”

I nodded.

“Alex.”

Even saying his name made my stomach flutter.

He smiled slightly.

“You're beautiful, Rosalie.”

My cheeks immediately turned red.

I looked down at my dress.

“Thank you.”

His scent was overwhelming.

It was warm and comforting, and somehow it made me feel safe.

I felt my eyelids becoming heavy.

I had never felt so tired in my life.

The last thing I remember was Alex helping me sit down before everything went black.

---

Alexander — POV

She was my mate.

I couldn't believe it.

After spending years wondering if my fated mate would ever come, I had finally found her.

And she was here.

In the middle of the Moon Pack forest.

Chase was going crazy inside my head.

Mate! Mate! Mate!

I had never felt him this excited before.

I looked at her as she lay sleeping peacefully.

She was gorgeous.

Her long blonde hair fell around her face, and even though she was exhausted, there was something incredibly peaceful about her.

Her scent was intoxicating.

Chase practically purred.

Jazz.

I smiled.

“Yes, Chase. Jazz.”

Our mate.

I knew he was right.

There was no denying it.

The mate bond was too strong.

But then reality hit me.

Lena.

I had just agreed to give Lena a chance.

Just hours ago, I had been telling myself that maybe I could build a life with her.

I had made a promise to myself to try.

And now I had found my mate.

I looked back at Rosalie.

I couldn't leave her here.

But I also couldn't pretend that nothing had happened.

I had to go back.

I had to tell Lena the truth.

And I had no idea how I was going to do it.

I carefully stood up.

Before I left, I looked at Rosalie one more time.

“I'm sorry,” I whispered.

Then I turned and walked back towards the pack house.

Chase growled in protest.

Don't leave our mate.

“I have to.”

No.

“I'll come back.”

Chase went quiet, but I could still feel his anger.

I took one last look towards the clearing before disappearing into the darkness.

I had spent years wondering if my fated mate would ever come.

Now that I had finally found her...

I had no idea what I was going to do.