Chapter 7

His movements were swift, but as an uncommon female wolf, I was able to keep pace with him. I had been trailing him for some time now. This wasn’t the first time I had followed him, but this time he was aware of my presence.

I must admit, if I were just an ordinary wolf, I might have struggled to keep up with his speed. He was incredibly fast, and it was not to be underestimated.

“Come on, honey,” he taunted and sped up the run. I matched his speed, desperate to get him.

“Just wait until I catch you! You’re in trouble!” I threatened, but he only chuckled in response.

Hearing him laugh for the first time caught me off guard, but I quickly refocused and continued the chase.

It wasn’t until we crossed the boundary of the Dark Crescent Pack that I realized we were heading towards Salem. In just a few minutes, we had a view of the homes in Salem. I assumed he was heading there, but he suddenly turned right.

He led us into the Dark Forest, and I couldn’t help but stop and furrow my brow. It was a dangerous place, teeming with wild animals.

Why would he go there? He was as stubborn as they come!

I quickened my pace, feeling anxious about his safety. It was my duty to protect him at all costs.

As I reached the middle of the forest, I stopped when I could no longer sense or smell him. The foul odor of dead animals nearby overpowered the coffee mint scent he usually carried.

“Where are you, you jerk?!” I shouted, the sound echoing through the forest. Didn’t he realize how dangerous it was here?

He might be strong and capable, but that didn’t mean he should be reckless. That’s why he needed protectors – to reign in his impulsiveness.

I sensed a presence behind me and instinctively turned, kicking out whoever it was. He nudged my foot, causing me to spin in the air. He caught me with his arms before I hit the ground, and as soon as I recovered from the shock, I glared at him and smacked his arm.

“Are you out of your mind?! You know it’s dangerous here!” I thundered at him.

He pressed his lips together and shrugged his shoulders. I tried to get down from his lift, but he didn’t let me and instead tightened his grip on me.

“Where are we going? Let’s get out of here,” I urged, noticing he wasn’t heading towards the exit but deeper into the forest. “Hey!”

He remained silent, which only fueled my anger. He shot me a cold look before turning his attention forward. I had warned him countless times, but he never listened. For a pack leader, he was certainly stubborn.

“Damien!”

“I want to show you something. Don’t move,” he instructed.

I felt like a submissive dog obeying her master. But then, I remembered he was carrying me, so all I could do was stay still because I didn’t want to fall.

“What do I need to see?” I asked out of curiosity, but he never opened his mouth to answer me again.

Were his words too precious to share?

I scowled. He didn’t want to waste his words as if they were as precious as gold. I snorted and raised an eyebrow before turning my attention ahead.

I couldn’t help but feel puzzled, but I kept quiet and made myself look around. I blinked in surprise when he lowered his back and set me down.

“What now?” I asked, standing before him with my hands on my hips.

He gently guided my shoulders and directed me forward. I was about to make a fuss because it seemed like we had been having a lot of physical contact lately, but I was unable to bring it up because the mesmerizing sight of the waterfalls nestled between the two high mountains in front of me took my breath away. It emitted a soft purple glow.

“That’s the Moon Falls…”

My jaw dropped and my lips twitched in awe. With a stunned expression on my face, I turned to face him.

“The Moon Falls?!” I blurted out. “But I thought it was just a legend?”

I had always believed that these waterfalls were nothing more than a myth. It was said that you could ask for whatever you desired most in this place, and it would be granted.

“You can see it with your own eyes. It does exist.”

“Does the Royal Family know about this? Considering that everyone thought it was just a legend,” I asked, bewildered.

He shook his head. “Only the two of us know about it.”

“Why? Do you come here often?”

He nodded, causing me to frown and start overthinking.

Why was I unaware of his visits when I was always keeping track of him?

He let out a contemptuous chortle, a sneer playing at the corner of his lips. I bit my tongue and released a frustrated sigh. This Alpha King was really getting on my nerves! Once again, he seemed to read my mind.

“You won’t know because I come here at midnight. I know I have a protector, that’s why I sneak away every night when you’re asleep.”

I pinched him on the shoulder. “What?! You’ve gone crazy!”

He chuckled and patted the space beside him, motioning for me to sit down, which I did, feeling exhausted and numb from walking and standing for so long.

“What are you doing here every night?”

He looked into my eyes. “I’m wishing for the Moon Goddess to give me a Luna.”

“I’m not your second mate?!” I exclaimed in surprise.

I was left speechless as I stared at him for a whole minute. It seemed impossible that he hadn’t found a mate by the age of twenty-one. While there were cases where some wolves had to wait a long time after reaching the supposed age to find their mate, the wolf spirits always found a way to bring two together, no matter how far apart they were.

“How is that possible?” I mused aloud.

He responded with a shrug. I shuddered when he leaned on me, but I didn’t push him away. My mind, at least, convinced me not to.

“Do you know what it feels like to grow old alone?”

His question left me silent for the following few seconds. This time, I tried to stop him from analyzing me.

Yes, and it was because of you.

“I’ve been desperately wanting to have a mate, that’s why I came to this hidden paradise,” he continued.

“So you grew tired of waiting? Because Commander Iris told me you’d choose a mate on your birthday.” I wasn’t sure if I managed to conceal my bitterness, but whatever.

“I made myself believe the idea that it was my fate to not have a mate. But my pack needs a Luna, and we can’t afford to wait another century.”

A hundred years? Was Masha right that the Moon Goddess was only waiting for me to give up on Axel? If so, I had wasted a lot of time.

“I’m sorry…” I apologized.

He sat up and glanced over at me. “Why?”

“It’s my fault. You’re not my first mate.”

I saw the surprise flash through his eyes, but it also vanished immediately.

“Who is he?” he murmured, but my keen hearing picked up the question.

I peered at the waterfalls to avoid his gaze, feeling guilty. Truthfully, it wasn’t easy to forget the past. It wasn’t easy to forget everything despite trying.

“It’s your cousin.”

“Do you mean Axel?” he guessed, and I nodded in confirmation. “I thought his mate was Wilson’s firstborn?”

At this moment, I met his gaze and fought it. I wanted to let him see my pain, my grief, and my rage.

“He chose power over me. He valued it more than his mate.”

His brow furrowed in confusion. “Why? He’s already a powerful man.”

“Perhaps he wants to be even more powerful?” I speculated, as that was the only reason I could think of. Until now, I still didn’t understand him.

Damien was silent for a matter of seconds before composing himself and deciding to continue speaking.

“So, are you still hung up on him? Haven’t you moved on yet? Are you going to reject me?” he asked, his voice barely concealing his coldness.

I was admiring the view when I caught him stealing a glance at me. It took me a while to notice, but when I did, I felt a strange feeling. For a moment or two, there was silence. I zoned out and everything blurred except his face. We made intense eye contact and no one broke it, as if we were playing a game of who would blink first. I swallowed hard and finally found the courage to speak.

“Do you want me to?” I asked.

“If I say no, would you do it regardless?”

“Just say it.”

“No,” he replied. “I don’t want you to turn me down.”

I smiled at him. “Then, I won’t…”