THE ALPHA'S BLIND MATE

once-bright eyes were now dull, lost in the shadows cast by the encroaching flames. She had saved me that night, sacrificed everything. I had sworn she would be my mate, v

o the bone as I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. Years had passed, yet the memory still sent shivers down my spine. My father's cruelty knew no bounds, and the thought of my mother-frail and terrified-paying the price for my desires crushed me. I had no choice but to leave Ariana behind, and the guilt gnawed at me like a relentless disease. With a groan, I threw off the covers, running a hand through my damp hair. My bare chest gleamed with sweat, muscles tense as I pulled on my robe. I walked over to the mirror, peeling the fabric from my back to reveal the faint scar stretching across my shoulder blades-an old reminder of the fire that had nearly claimed me, the fire that Ariana had saved me from. A deep sigh escaped my lips as I stared at the scar. "Will I ever see her again?" I whispered, the question heavy on my heart. My inner wolf stirred restlessly within me. "We will find her," my wolf growled, always certain, always yearning for our true mate. "We've been searching for years. She's out there." "But what if she's..." I began, but my wolf interrupted me, fierce and unwavering. "Don't finish that thought. She's alive. I can feel it." I closed my eyes, trying to push away the hopelessness. A decade had passed in search of her, but every lead had ended in disappointment. The wilderness was vast, and without my father's support, my resources were limited. But time was running out. My father had laid down the law: I couldn't take over as Alpha unless I found my mate. And I didn't want anyone but Ariana. She was the only one I had ever wanted, the only one who had ever truly understood me. I stepped into the bathroom, letting the cold water run over my body in an attempt to wash away the ten