1 CHAPTER 1: FIRST MEET.

DAMIEN.

"You will never find your mate…, I'm so sorry."

Those were the last words my mother had said to me on her deathbed.

At the behest of my father's enemy, I had been cursed by a witch, to never find my mate.

No one had taken it seriously until my mother noticed a strange pattern on my wrist.

A five petaled tattoo.

It was a mark, showing that the curse had settled in.

Several attempts to remove it had proved futile, and so I had grown up, resigned to the fate of never meeting my true mate.

Which is why I am now standing facing the mirror, preparing to be bound to Maya.

My best friend and strongest female pack warrior.

She had lost her mate during one of the several rogue attacks when we were younger, so there was no risk of her leaving me.

We were both half souls hoping to find some comfort in each other.

Today, we bind ourselves together and she will become the Luna of my pack.

There is no point holding on to a pipe dream and it is the best thing to do for the pack.

They need a mother figure, someone they can approach when I am not around.

And with unrest building among the other Alphas, I have no other choice.

When I had taken the mantle of Alpha after my father had died, I had sealed off our pack.

No one was allowed to leave or come in.

Not until we were strong enough to get our revenge on those who had hurt us.

Our enemies.

For five years, we trained. Day and night, until everyone in the pack could confidently hold their own against three other wolves.

And when we were ready, we unleashed our fury on those who called themselves our allies but joined in trying to destroy us.

We destroyed them first.

Paid every blood debt. Avenged my father.

The only one we could not find was the witch who had cursed me herself.

It is just a matter of time.

I will find her.

"Well, don't you look dashing," I hear from behind me.

I turn to see him leaning against the door, dressed in the required attire for the ceremony.

Lucas, as my trusted beta, had been right beside me, cutting down all our enemies.

He, I and Maya have been friends since we were kids.

They are the ones I trust most in the world.

"Don't start, I am not in the mood for your teasing," I say as I turn back to the mirror, trying to knot the stupid sash.

"It is a good day, you punk, you are getting bonded finally," he retorts as he comes up to help me tie the sash. "Smile."

I roll my eyes at him and put my hands down, letting him do his thing.

Once done, we both examine ourselves in the mirror.

"Wow," he remarks with a smirk. "Such handsome wolves."

"How are you still this vain?" I mutter as I walk away from him.

He is interrupted before he can reply by the door bursting open.

"Alpha," the man says. "There is a she-wolf on the ground, dying. She is asking for you."

"Me?"

"She asked for you by name."

"By name?" Lucas demands.

"Yes."

We both exchange a look before I turn back to the guard.

"Lead the way," I order the guard.

We hurry past the bustling preparations for the ceremony, the excitement was potent in the air. As we pass by, I receive a series of greetings as well as delighted smiles.

It is clear they are happy that I am finally getting bonded, I am too.

But still…

I can't help it, the small part of me that still wants my mate.

"Damien," I hear from my side.

I look over and see Maya, jogging over to me. She is dressed in a

"Hey," I say. "What are you doing here? You should be getting ready for the ceremony."

"Right back at you. I heard a rogue was found on the grounds," she remarked as she fell in step with me.

"Hmm, so I am told."

"They said she asked for you by name. Why would a rogue ask for you by name? Do they have a death wish?" She wonders out loud.

"Intriguing isn't it?"

"Hello to you Maya," Lucas snarks from behind me.

"Oh Lucas, didn't see you there. Did you lose height?" She snarks back.

"Oh screw you."

"Watch it," I growl out. "That is your future Luna you are talking to."

"My apologies. Screw you, Luna."

I shake my head at their banter. It is what you get with having your most important pack members as close friends.

Eventually, we arrive at the edge of the territory where a few wolves are gathered. They are surrounding a huddling bundle on the ground, probably in an attempt to prevent her from escaping.

As we all walk up to them, they part ways for me with bowed heads and greetings of Alpha, allowing me to see clearly what is going on.

As I approach the figure, I can feel my wolf stirring in me.

Angsty.

It is strange. You see, my wolf is very calm, unlike most alpha wolves. He never loses his head, very detailed and composed.

Nothing ever fazes him. So why is he on edge all of a sudden?

Before I reach the woman, I see her move, trying to adjust herself to look at me. And when she finally does…

My wolf loses it. I can feel him twisting and itching to get out and I don't understand why.

What is wrong? I demand from him.

I don't know. He growls. Closer. I want to see her, get closer.

I oblige and move closer to her, squatting down beside her to get a closer look.

She is beautiful.

Her is a wavy curled mass of brunette hair and her eyes…

Her eyes are stunning.

Hazel eyes.

Her irises reflect the rays of light which causes them to switch colors from green to gray.

It is stunning.

I am so lost in them that I don't register what she says at first.

I am only alerted to the fact that she said something by the gasps that sound around me.

Mate.

That is what she said.

I rear back from her as if I was scorched with fire.

"What?!" I demand as I stare at her in shock, silently daring her to repeat it.

She doesn't.

Instead, she gives me a weak smile and passes out.

How convenient.