Skye’s POV

“Leon, I… I didn’t mean to,” I stammered, taking a step toward him, hands outstretched in a helpless gesture. “I was so scared of the bear…”

He regarded me with those piercing blue eyes. His expression remained unreadable as he said flatly, “It’s fine. We should head back.”

Without another word, he gathered some nearby vines and wove them into a makeshift rope with practiced skill.

I stepped forward, reaching out to help him.

“Let me—” I started.

“Don’t,” Leon said, his voice cool as he pushed my hands away. “Just take care of yourself. That’s enough.”

I stepped back, feeling the sting of his rejection. My cheeks burned with embarrassment as I watched him secure the rope around the grizzly’s massive carcass and begin dragging the impressive trophy through the snow.

Guilt gnawed at my insides. Was he angry with me?

It had to be because I had shot him. I wanted to apologize again, but the words stuck in my throat as I watched his rigid back moving away from me.

I followed silently behind Leon, the only sounds in the wilderness being our footsteps and the soft scraping of the bear’s body across the snow.

That unique scent continued to plague my senses.

Questions burned in my mind, threatening to consume me from within. Finally, I gathered my courage.

“You showing up here wasn’t a coincidence, was it? Did you… did you sense me too? Are we… are we mates?”

Leon halted so suddenly I crashed into his solid frame, my body pressing against the hard planes of his chest.

The impact sent a jolt through me, but it was the unmistakable hardness pressing against my thigh that made my breath catch.

His cock, rigid and unyielding, sent a flush of heat coursing through me, pooling low in my belly.

His breath, warm and ragged, carried the scent of pine, blood, and raw masculinity. My heart pounded.

He’s my mate.

The thought seared through me, undeniable, intoxicating.

I tried to step back, nerves sparking, but Leon’s hand shot out, gripping my waist with possessive strength, pulling me closer.

My pulse thundered as his fingers slipped beneath the waistband of my pants, delving into the sensitive heat between my thighs. A shiver raced through me, my body arching instinctively into his touch. I closed my eyes, a soft moan escaping as his fingers explored, teasing the edges of my desire.

In that moment, I was his, ready to give in to his desires, longing for things I couldn’t name.

But then, nothing.

His hand withdrew abruptly, and he shoved me back.

“Mate?” His voice was a low, guttural growl, dripping with disdain. “You could never be my mate.”

I staggered backward, my boots sinking into the snow as a searing pain tore through my chest. It felt as though something essential was being ripped from my soul, leaving behind a raw, gaping wound.

I’d always had a crush on Leon. What girl in the pack hadn’t?

He was the Alpha’s son. With his golden hair and ice-blue eyes, he looked like prince from a fairy tale.

Yet my feelings for him had only ever been admiration, maybe attraction—certainly not love or obsession. So why did this hurt so deeply?

“It’s getting late,” Leon said, his voice devoid of emotion. “We need to get back to the pack. The competition is almost over.”

Without waiting for my response, he turned away and resumed dragging the massive grizzly through the snow.

I stood frozen for a moment, trying to catch my breath as the pain continued to pulse through me in dizzying waves.

Forcing myself to move, I followed after Leon, nearly running to keep up with his long strides.

By the time we reached the Frostshadow Pack’s campground, most hunters had already returned.

The massive bonfire at the center of the clearing illuminated an impressive display of the night’s hunt—rabbits, deer, and even a few elk arranged to showcase each wolf’s prowess.

Leon unceremoniously dropped the grizzly near the fire, the massive carcass landing with a heavy thud that drew all eyes in our direction. Murmurs of awe rippled through the gathered wolves as they took in the size of the bear.

Without a word, Leon stalked away toward the supply tents, presumably to find clothes.

I lingered near the periphery, unsure where to place myself in this celebration.

The rifle hung heavy in my hands, a reminder of my failure—not only had I failed to bring down prey of my own, but I’d shot the pack’s future Alpha.

“What did you catch, Skye?” Maya’s voice dripped with false sweetness as she approached, dragging a decent-sized elk behind her. “Don’t tell me you came back empty-handed.”

I clenched my fists, the pain in my chest momentarily overshadowed by a flare of anger. “Mind your own business.”

“You shouldn’t even be in this competition. A person without a wolf participating in the Hunt Festival is like a blind person entering an archery contest. It’s just pathetic.”

The words struck a nerve, and I felt my eyes begin to burn with unshed tears. Before I could respond, an arm dropped around my shoulders.

“Say another word about my sister,” My brother Ethan growled, “and Leon and I won’t be taking you joyriding anymore.”

Maya’s smile faltered. She stuck out her tongue childishly, but retreated with her elk, throwing one last smug look over her shoulder.

“Thanks,” I murmured, leaning into my brother’s warmth.

Ethan squeezed my shoulder. “Don’t let her get to you. Maya’s just jealous because you’ve always been smarter than her.”

I tried to smile, but the pain in my chest had returned, a dull, persistent ache that made it hard to focus on anything else.

Leon returned to the bonfire, now dressed in dark hunting clothes, his hair slightly damp as though he’d hastily washed away the blood from the hunt. My eyes followed him involuntarily, drawn to him despite the agony his words had caused me.

Alpha James began his inspection of the night’s bounty, moving methodically from one kill to the next with appraising eyes.

Finally, he stood beside the massive grizzly, placing one hand on its thick fur.

“The champion of this year’s Hunt Festival,” he announced, his voice ringing through the clearing, “is my son, Leon!”

Cheers erupted around us. Some wolves even threw back their heads in celebratory howls.

Ethan stepped forward to clap Leon on the back.

“Where did you find such a beast?” my brother asked, admiration clear in his voice. “You’ve got the luck of the Ancestors this year!”

Leon didn’t respond to Ethan. Instead, his gaze traveled over the crowd until it found me standing at the edge.

After a moment of charged silence, Leon turned to his father. “Alpha,” he said, his voice carrying across the now-quieting crowd, “I have something to announce.”

The clearing fell silent, all attention riveted on the Alpha’s son.

My heart began to race, a sense of foreboding washing over me like the first chill wind before a blizzard.

Skye’s POV

“Tonight in the forest,” Leon announced, his voice carrying across the now-silent clearing, “I discovered that Skye is my mate.”

Gasps and excited murmurs spread through the gathered wolves. Shock registered on every face, some delighted, others confused, and a few clearly displeased. Elder wolves exchanged knowing glances while young girls whispered furiously.

For a fleeting moment, hope fluttered in my chest.

Had Leon changed his mind since our encounter in the forest? That punishing pain that had been radiating through my body since his first rejection eased slightly, allowing me to breathe.

Then Leon raised his hand, silencing the growing tide of congratulations and surprised exclamations.

“But,” he continued, his voice dropping lower, heavier, “I cannot accept this mate bond.”

The words fell like an avalanche, burying that brief spark of hope. The clearing went deathly quiet. Even the crackling bonfire seemed to hush.

“Skye has no wolf,” Leon said, his ice-blue eyes now fixed directly on mine, his tone clinical and detached. “And during tonight’s hunt, she shot me with the rifle Alpha lent her.”

More gasps rippled through the crowd. Some turned to look at me with fresh horror, as though I’d committed some terrible crime. The weight of their stares pressed down on me from all sides.

“As future Alpha,” Leon continued, unwavering, “I need a strong Luna, someone who can protect our pack and produce powerful offspring. Our pack hasn’t produced an Alpha King in twenty-eight years.”

He looked around, meeting the eyes of the older pack members who nodded in solemn agreement.

“The next Alpha King election, I must give everything I have. For the good of our pack, I must reject this mate bond.”

Every word was a fresh cut, deeper than the last. I felt my body grow cold, then hot, then numb. The blood in my veins seemed to freeze, making it difficult to even draw breath. If Ethan hadn’t returned to my side, I might have collapsed under the weight of Leon’s public rejection.

Around me, the pack’s reaction was immediate and mixed. Whispers spread like wildfire. Some nodded in approval of Leon’s pragmatic decision, while others looked uncomfortable, stealing pitying glances in my direction.

Maya’s voice rose above the murmurs, clear and triumphant. “He’s right! A Luna without a wolf would make us the laughingstock of all packs. How could she possibly lead us?”

Several others nodded, emboldened by Maya’s outspoken support.

This can’t be happening. Not like this. Not in front of everyone.

Alpha James stepped forward, his expression grave. He placed a heavy hand on Leon’s shoulder, his eyes searching his son’s face.

“Leon, are you certain this is what you want?” he asked, “Perhaps we should wait. Skye might yet develop her wolf. It could be just a matter of time.”

Leon shook his head, resolute. “I can’t take that risk, Father. I won’t make a decision that could harm our pack’s future.” His expression softened slightly as he glanced toward me. “Skye is a good person. I never wanted to hurt her. I’ll always protect her like a sister.”

Like a sister.

The words twisted the knife deeper. I didn’t want his protection. I wanted…

Ethan looked torn, his gaze shifting between Leon and me. After a moment of visible internal struggle, he squeezed my shoulder gently.

“I should talk to him,” he muttered. “This is… this is too sudden.”

Before I could respond, Ethan had crossed to Leon’s side. They exchanged quiet words before walking away from the fire together, heads bent in serious conversation.

The sound of shattering pottery cut through the whispers. My mother stood at the edge of the clearing, a plate of freshly baked cookies now scattered across the snow at her feet. Her face had gone pale, eyes wide with shock and dismay. But no one paid attention to the broken plate or the wasted cookies—all eyes remained fixed on the unfolding drama.

My parents rushed to my side. Mom wrapped her arms around me, pulling me close against her chest as though I were still a child. Dad stood rigid beside us, his jaw clenched and eyes burning with barely contained fury.

“How dare he,” he hissed, his voice low and dangerous. “How dare he do this to you, publicly, without warning.”

Through the haze of tears that had begun to blur my vision, I caught sight of Maya in the crowd. Her lips were curved in a satisfied smirk, eyes gleaming with vindictive pleasure at my public humiliation. She leaned toward her friends, whispering something that made them laugh, their eyes darting toward me.

The pain in my chest transformed, crystallizing into something harder, sharper. A resolve, cold and unyielding as Alaskan ice.

If Leon didn’t want me, fine. If the pack thought me weak because I had no wolf, fine. I would show them all exactly what Skye Anderson was made of—with or without a wolf.

But first, I needed to escape the pitying stares and malicious whispers. I needed to breathe air that wasn’t heavy with the scent of pine and snow and wilderness—his scent.

I gently extracted myself from my mother’s embrace, wiping away tears with the back of my hand.

“I need to be alone,” I whispered, my voice surprisingly steady despite the storm raging inside me.

Mom nodded, understanding in her eyes. Dad looked ready to argue, but a look from Mom silenced him.

With as much dignity as I could muster, I turned and walked away from the bonfire, away from the celebration that had become my public shaming. I forced myself to keep my head high, my back straight.

I am more than their judgment. I am more than his rejection. I am more than the wolf I don’t have.

The mantra repeated in my mind as I disappeared into the shadows of our pack’s territory, leaving behind the firelight and the eyes that had witnessed my greatest humiliation.

Behind me, I could still hear Maya’s laughter, carried on the wind like the distant howl of a wolf.