Lucien.
I stiffened when I heard her say my name.
It should not have been anything special. It was just a single utterance, spoken softly, without any intention. And yet it struck me deeper than I could have ever imagined.
Had hearing my name ever agitated me like this before?
No.
That realization resolved my thoughts with quiet certainty. It was not joy nor confusion. Just recognition.
Amara was my mate.
Every fiber of my being screamed at me to approach her—to get closer.
Instead I remained in the shadows beyond the hall, watching her stand beside Elder Zora. Snow clung to my fur while the cold bit through to my muscle and bone, yet I did not move. My attention was fixed entirely on her.
Earlier, I had underestimated our bond.
I had allowed myself to draw too close, to stand within her reach without any preparation. And that mistake had nearly cost me the control I had over my wolf. It had surged violently beneath my skin, clawing against my sanity, demanding release with a force I had not felt in years.
My wolf was not reckless by nature. It was disciplined, watchful, restrained, and loyal to my will.
But in her presence…
It was restless, alert, and almost narrow-minded. A low growl rumbled in my chest before I suppressed it as I steadied myself in the cold.
Not yet.
She was not ready.
And neither was my close-minded pack.
So I stayed where I was, unseen, letting the forest shield my presence while I watched over her the only way I could. I would not claim her. I would not approach her. And I would not let my wolf answer the call that it so clearly recognized.
I continued to watch until Elder Zora placed her hand across Amara's back and guided her towards the path leading away from the hall.
Only then did I allow myself to move from my spot.
My paws sank soundlessly into the snow as I drifted deeper into the forest. The night was sharp with scents—pine sap, frost, smoke, ash—but beneath it all was her scent. Warm. Distinct. Defiant.
Before I realized, my wolf had tracked her and was following from a close distance.
Protect.
The command was instinctive, old, and absolute.
But I forced it down once again.
She was under the care of her grandmother. She was within the pack borders. She was safe, at least for now. Acting on the bond too soon would not protect her. It would expose her. Her origin as a hybrid was enough weight without an Alpha's claim sparking speculation and division.
The pack members only saw what they wished to see.
A traitor's bloodline.
A human-bred weakness.
An unwanted addition to the pack.
My wolf snarled, rebuking even me for daring to bear such thoughts about our mate. I could only imagine how feral it would become if anyone dared to say such things to its face.
When they reached their house, I lowered myself into the snow. Briefly, light flared through the open windows before eventually settling into a soft glow. Her busy silhouette paced the room for some time before finally retiring for the night.
We will watch over her.
My wolf obeyed. My muscles felt stiff from the cold, yet I didn't move. All I did was fixed my gaze on the room in which she slept.
I felt the bond tugged again, insistent this time around, questioning why I refused to answer.
Not yet. I told it.
She did not know what she was.
She did not know what I was to her.
And until she discovered that, I would not be the one to force the truth upon her.
The night stretched on.
When her scent finally dulled, her breathing slowed, and her movement ceased, I rose to leave. After glancing at her window one last time, I turned away.
"Tailing people remains a habit of yours, I see."
I halted.
The voice came from the right. Calm. Amused. Entirely unafraid.
Elder Zora stood a few paces away, half-shadowed by the trees. Snow sat on her shoulders, her posture was relaxed but alert, as if she'd been aware of me long before I knew.
Impressive.
I inclined my head slightly to acknowledge her. "Old instincts," I confessed through our mind link.
She stepped closer, her eyes sharp as they lingered on my form. "You were never the best at hiding your concern."
That earned a small huff from my chest.
I shifted then, the movements smooth and adept. My bones folded underneath my skin as my fur receded rapidly. The cold bit harshly as I straightened into my human form.
Before I could completely get to my feet, Zora was already there.
She draped a thick robe over my shoulders with the same efficiency she once used to lead the patrol squad. No hesitation. No timidity.
Still prepared, I realized…Still formidable.
"Walk with me," she said after adjusting my robe.
We moved along the forest path at an unhurried pace, the snow crunching softly beneath our feet. For some time, none of us said anything.
"Amara…is she your mate?" Zora broke the silence.
"Yes."
She nodded once. "I figured as much."
I paused, then asked, "How did you know?"
"Instincts sharpened by age, I guess."
I didn't argue.
"She doesn't know," I said. "Not yet."
"She knows something," Zora replied. "She knows enough to be frightened."
The truth of that settled heavily between us.
"She has no control," I continued. "Her wolf is inexperienced. Unnamed. Almost feral. Every instinct she feels has no context."
"Well, that is to be expected," Zora added gently. "She was raised human. Everything she was familiar with crumpled in a matter of weeks."
I exhaled slowly. "And now this."
"And now you," she said plainly. Speaking the truth I dared not admit.
We stopped near a large pine tree. Zora turned to face me fully, wearing a stern expression, laced with worry and anxiety.
"The poor girl lost her father," she began. "She left her mother. Came here to Everlone, hoping to belong. However, before she could even settle in properly, the pack judged and rejected her." Her gaze slightly hardened. "If you rush this bond, you will break her."
"I know."
"And if you deny it entirely," she added, softer now, "you will break yourself."
I frowned. Everything she uttered was nothing but the truth.
"I can wait," I said at last.
Zora studied me for a moment, then nodded.
"Good. Because what she needs right now is security…and time."
"She will have both," I responded.
Her expression eased, before a soft smile graced her aged face. "I trust that she will."
We resumed walking, each of us lost in our own thoughts. When we reached the point where our paths diverged, Zora stopped.
"I will do my best to make her feel at home," she muttered. " But there is only so much I can do for her." She hesitated, then met my gaze. "When my strength fails…can I trust you to have her back?"
"Without question," I replied immediately. "I will watch over her."
Zora smiled and inclined her head in brief bow. "Thank you."
Afterwards, she turned and headed towards her home, her figure soon disappeared under the darkness of the forest.
I remained where I was, surrounded by the night and snow. And in that absolute silence, I made a promise to myself.
I would protect Amara.
From the pack.
And from herself.