UNBOUND :A MATE'S BETRAYAL

he sun had just begun its ascent, casting a warm golden hue over the Pack's territory. In this tranquil landscape, a y

l her tales of their own love, a bond so unbreakable it could withstand anything the world threw at them. Those stories had been t

the glowing embers of the bonfire. It was the eve of Nyx's 18th full moon, a night she'd been anticipating with a mix of

the local Packs around, a chance to find mates and just mingle with other wolfkin. The warm glow illuminated the

As the song swelled, wolves around began to shift, embracing their majestic forms in the hue

ed mate. Her heart practically danced in anticipation, even when she couldn't feel any pull. Yet, as the others paired off,

e grappled with mounting pressure. Panic welled up within her replacing the excitement of finding her wolf, and her mate, breaths growing sh

early half the Pack dispersed into th

s remained silent, a gesture that filled her with an unspoken dread. Her father all but looked at her with disappointment, he did not need to be in his human form for her to read his fac

e afraid, I'll love you no matter what." But a deep sense of foreboding lingered. Why would her wolf be scared? Was sh

ng in her chest, she had to remain hopeful, her

sperate to wake her sleeping wolf. By now most of the wolves had moved away, some still lingered an

for now. " Her mother had shifte

yx begged her mother, her voice beginning to s

sure there word of this somewhere, just get up for now...we will-" th

Pleaseeee! Just wake up!" Nyx was now frantic, alternatively cha

s booming voice practically shook her to

"Dad please." She continued to beg even as she was practically dragged by her fathers strong grip. It w

e had been standing with her Pack, eyes scanning the crowd for that one wolf who would complete her

wol

m

hts spent frolicking and dancing, and an endless supply of food and drinks. There was no celebration for Nyx, no one offered congratulations or shared tales of th

room. She turned her face towards the door and sighed when she could smell the food her

n her mother's eyes had faded, replaced by a sorrowful expression, as if she was grieving a loss. Her

heard her parents talk downstairs, in some sort of painful reality, her hearing was still topnotch, as w

ow you are there." she had somehow talked herself out of her self pity, or ha

earts st