“I just wanted to say goodbye in private once more,” he explained.

"Do you really want to do this, love?” he inquired with a straight face. “We could become chosen mates. Your fated may not be alive anymore or might already be committed to some other girl. Pursuing him would simply lead you down the path of being a homewrecker, then."

"We can make it work, hon," he almost begged as he tenderly took my hand.

Johnston is two years younger than me and has not found his mate either. To be precise, he never made any effort to look for her. For as long as I can recall, he only had eyes for me, and all of his emotional investments were in our relationship. We bumped into each other in kindergarten, and after that encounter, he never left my side. When I took a tumble and scraped my knees, he helped me up with care before planting a gentle kiss on them and cleaned my dirty hands like a real gentleman. At the age of four, he had already decided to make me his mate and made sure everyone was aware of this fact. His father held an important position within our pack as Gamma, which only added fuel to the speculation regarding the possibility of us becoming mates one day.

Negative.

“Johnston,” I sighed, eyeing him displeased. “We’ve already been there and done this. You're aware of that."

I am tempted to succumb to his pleas, believe me. Nothing is more certain than that accepting this man would lead me to a safe and fulfilling life. But this is not about me only; I have to consider my fated when making a radical decision like this.

“I really love you, babe. But it's hard for me to overlook the possibility that there could be someone out there who is meant just for me and waiting patiently. Additionally, consider the trouble we would face if he shows up in the future, after we have completed the mating process,” I reminded him. "It would cause immense pain for all three of us."

However, there is no sign of resignation on his face.

“Or your own mate may appear. Don’t forget that you also haven’t yet found your other half. What if...” I attempted to illustrate to him all the potential risks associated with defying our traditions and making choices on behalf of ourselves.

Similar cases had occurred frequently in other packs before. Werewolves who couldn’t wait any longer gave up on finding their fated mates. Once they went through the mating ritual with another partner of their choice, destiny intervened and presented them with the long-awaited true mate. Although rejecting your fated is an option and may seem like a viable choice, it is easier said than done. When the bond between fated mates is potent or one party is not willing to accept the rejection, that is when trouble in paradise starts. The chosen one will have to keep a distance, watching the pull go all out and accept being the third wheel in the relationship. Such catastrophes could result in suicide on the side of the one left behind or even pack wars.

In my case with Johnston, no drama is expected as we are from the same pack and no one has shown up yet to claim one of us. Moreover, our age is close to the point where werewolves believe that one had better accept they will never find their fated mate anymore.

“I have to do this, Johnston. Please don't make this difficult for me," I pleaded earnestly. “Since he hasn’t shown up, I feel obligated to go out looking for him. He may be detained or stressed out wondering why I haven't reached out to him.” I tried to make sense. “I’m on my own. It is me who has to step out of my comfort zone since he seems not to be able to come to me. Please understand.”

As we maintained eye contact, I discerned the thoughts racing through his mind. Johnston is an amazing person; we began our official relationship when I turned eighteen, while he was only sixteen. It was passionate kisses and eager touches, and I know his body like no other. But we kept drawing the line there, wanting to keep our relationship pure until our mating ceremony.

When I turned eighteen and didn't experience the same emotions Ezra described, I already knew it was hopeless. Johnston and I were not fated, all the plans we had for our future would have to involve other people. Nonetheless, there was one last glimmer of hope, so we stubbornly continued the relationship until he turned eighteen himself two years later.

It came as no surprise to me when even with him, the mate bond did not activate. Not with me, nor with any other she-wolf. This provided a small consolation since it only delayed the inevitable outcome. We were very attached, and saying goodbye and going our separate ways was not an option. As a result, we continued with our relationship. But now, two years later, I realize that something needs to be done. We cannot keep burying our heads in the sand and ignoring the situation.

Last night we said our goodbyes; I wanted to shield him from having a total breakdown when he saw me leave. But this stubborn guy persisted and even trailed after me.

My heart is now hammering against my ribs. What if I really do meet my destined mate in one of these packs and Johnston has to witness him running up to me, kissing and holding me against his body? My desire is to spare him from such agony, the ache and devastation that comes with losing me forever.

But this scenario also applies to me. Johnston may find his own other half, and I could be left empty-handed. A sudden sharp sting at the thought of that cuts off my breath. Johnston with another woman!

No, that's not possible!

Johnston’s Point of View

She means the world to me; she is my everything!

The love of my life, the very purpose of my existence. I am not sure if she comprehends the extent of my emotions towards her. It has been eighteen years and my love for her has never diminished a bit. As I stand here in the woods, watching the distance between us grow larger, my heart just can't stop screaming, "I love you, Erica."

I have nothing in hand and cannot do anything to prevent her from leaving. It is beyond my control. It would be the end of me if I never saw her again. That is why I offered the Alpha to be her undercover protector. He knows that I would give my life to keep her safe, and being close to her means that I would always get a whiff of her delicious scent.

I love this girl, and I am one hundred percent sure she is my fated mate. However, the Moon Goddess has not yet revealed this to us through a mate bond; she has her own divine timing and plans for us; there's no doubt about that. Until then, all I can do is practice patience and keep my cool.

I sprinted towards a nearby tree to undress and turn into my wolf. In wolf speed, I will be able to stay in sync with her rapid driving pace. This young woman definitely has a need for speed, and I can vouch that the car is well-maintained as I inspected it myself. My wolf, Tax, eagerly desires to remain by his mate Era's side at all times. Yes, Tax adores Era. They are inseparable best friends, although neither has fully acknowledged that they are true mates. Tax has warned me several times to take it easy and wait for The Sign. He has not yet experienced the bond that comes with finding a mate.

‘Don’t go ahead of yourself,’ he growls at me once again, feeling my eagerness to be with Erica, never losing sight of her. From afar, I can hear her voice belting out the next track on her car CD. Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald's song "On My Own" reflects my current state of loneliness. Ironically, while the lyrics describe their personal struggles with solitude, I also find myself in a similar situation as my beloved started her journey through life without me by her side. As I listen to her celestial voice, I follow stealthily along at a rapid pace through the forest. I could listen to her singing my whole life.

‘So many promises never to be spoken’

‘Now I know what loving you costs,’ she cried out the words of my own broken heart.

These lyrics throw me back to memories of the past six years. When I was only sixteen, while Erica was already eighteen, I made my first romantic advances toward her. This happened during the grand ball held in celebration of her birthday, which represented a significant point in any werewolf's life as they may find their mate at that age. As she was used to my touch, scent, and presence, she agreed to let me gently grasp her jaw between my fingers and pull her lips towards mine. It was just the two of us on the balcony in the backyard, surrounded by scents of beautiful roses.

Confidence was key, as I had been taught the art of deep, sensual kissing by none other than Stella, a highly skilled member of our pack known for her promiscuity. That first mind-blowing kiss with Erica made the expensive investment worthwhile as Stella’s fee was not small. ‘Even loose girls do consultancy,’ I thought to myself with a disgusted smirk on my face.

Erica and I shared a passionate kiss as if it were our last moment on earth. We totally lost all our senses as we enjoyed that crazy feeling of intimacy, only breaking apart to catch our breath. Her taste was addictive, and it seemed like she felt the same for me.

Later that night, she even allowed me to unzip her dress and bare all of her sexy curves to my eyes. I removed her bra so I could worship her boobs to my content. What an amazing feeling it was! At that precise moment, I pledged to myself never ever in my life to touch any other female like this again. All my passionate caresses belong solely to Erica!

That was not the last time we enjoyed these explosive emotions for each other. It was mutual, and we agreed to embrace our intense sexual chemistry. The only condition was to refrain from touching that one most sensitive part. This boundary was crucial in preventing us from losing control at some point and destroying all the traditions we believe in. Until we received a definite indication that we were destined mates, we decided to hold off.

Believe me, dry-fucking for so many years was not easy at all. Overcoming her lustful moans and feeling her beneath me was quite challenging.

"Johnston, Johnston," she used to softly call my name, pulling me closer until I teetered on the brink of madness. Many times, I couldn't endure any longer and released myself right then and there, wasting my pants. But no regrets, it was all for my baby.

Yet, the sparks of the mate bond were not there, that scent which would drive my wolf crazy, burn our bodies with an unbearable desire, was nowhere to be found. Yes, I felt an attraction to her, strongly, but I could sense that something important was missing.

Now, after driving for two hours, my beloved pulled into a rest stop that offered both takeout food and gas station amenities. I changed to my human form and chose to wait for her outside. As she came out of the shop carrying an order consisting of a medium pizza, fried chicken smothered in barbecue sauce, and a large cherry lemonade drink, I leaned against her vehicle, carefully observing every detail.

As she saw me standing there, a sunny smile lit up her face. Standing close to me, she pecked my lips.

“Share?” she offered.

“Certainly,” I replied.

Werewolves are always hungry. We are high energy burners and need to refill frequently. We never say no to food.

After taking our seats in the car, we used the food bridge to place the food. I waited for her to pick out all of her favorites, admiring how gracefully she used her slender fingers to pop a slice of pizza between her lush lips.

“Erica,” I started. “I want to make a deal with you.”

She lifted her head in confusion. “A deal? Why? What's it about, Johnston?” she asked hesitantly.

“Please, babe, don’t instantly dismiss what I’m about to suggest now. Take some time to consider it before reaching a decision," I pleaded.

“Johnston, what is it? Get to the point! You’re killing me with that stern look on your face,” Erica pressed.

“Erica, I want you to promise me that at the end of this expedition, if you don’t find the mate you’re looking for, you will come back to me,” I pleaded with her. “We will officially accept and claim each other, mark and marry, and build our own little family. I can assure you that I am capable of keeping you happy and being a good mate as well as a father to our pups. I swear on that, Erica.”

My breathing hitched as I waited for her answer. She maintained a steady gaze on me, never breaking eye contact.

“Erica, I can be everything you've ever wished for in a mate. You won’t even notice that we are chosen mates. There will be no difference in our relationship,” I urged, yet with lots of tenderness.

Her eyebrows furrowed, displaying a range of emotions playing out on her face. I still wasn't breathing. Pressure was building inside my chest where my heart resides.

‘Moon Goddess, please……,’ I started praying in silence.

After what seemed like an eternity, she finally broke her silence.

“Johnston, from the beginning, my plans were all clear to you. I never hid my intentions for this trip from you, nor my feelings for you.”

"I do love you a lot, Johnston. Never think for one moment that I didn't take our relationship into consideration when deciding to start this search for my mate. In fact, it was a significant factor in my decision," Erica explained. "This is just something I need to do."

"But don't wait for me. Start your own search for your fated mate, Johnston. Open yourself up and embrace the idea of meeting and accepting her into your life. Only then will I agree to this arrangement. And if I return still single while you haven't found yours yet, we'll be together forever."

"Agreed?" I inquired, my face beaming with pride after this small victory.

Erica: "Deal!"

Erica’s Point of View

So, back to business.

Johnston left, feeling exceedingly glad, yet the reason behind his elation remains a mystery to me. The accord we have reached holds so much uncertainty for the two of us. But as long as he can live with it, it is okay with me, though.

I retrieved the map to ensure that I was still on track. The Blue Moon pack is first in line to visit.

From what the Head Warrior told me, the Blue Moons are friendly but can quickly become merciless if even a hint of danger is directed towards their pack members. Caution is advised when establishing first contact with any wolf from this pack.

They are the second largest pack in the werewolf community. Equipped with a massive, fearsome army capable of defending their territory at all costs and bolstered by state-of-the-art security systems developed by humans, they spare no expense in safeguarding their territory. Their impressive collection of resources includes an array of high-tech gadgets, such as helicopters and private jets for swift travel across vast distances, water scooters, yachts along with motorbikes offering flexibility on land or sea.

They also use cutting-edge long-range CCTV technology complete with advanced facial recognition software coupled with audio recording capabilities, allowing them unparalleled surveillance capacity over any probable threats within range. This pack is evidently financially loaded.

Alpha Zane is highly regarded as an esteemed broker in the Canadian Stock market, holding a prestigious position thanks to his impressive track record. He possesses small yet lucrative industries that include casinos and hotels situated on idyllic islands across both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean.

In addition, members of his pack are authorized to operate their own small businesses within the largest mall located on the Blue Moon property. Every surrounding pack visits this mall because of its exemplary compliance with the latest Vogue fashions. Travel agents provide attractive vacation destinations, and digital stores display modern computing devices among other enticing offerings. Finding my mate in this pack wouldn’t be out of my range.

Alpha Florian has put together an extensive dowry package for me, amounting to a staggering one million dollars, in case I mate with a wealthy family. It’s a matter of prestige; I am an Alpha female and my pack won’t send me out broke and dependent. My mate wouldn't be bothered by having to feed and clothe me every day.

Wedding gifts from parents are not part of werewolf culture.

But given our recent interactions with humans and our blending of certain aspects of their customs into our own societal norms, this behavior has somewhat integrated. Marriage is also not a werewolf thing. We accept, mate, mark and stay together forever. This arrangement personally suits me just fine.

So, with a sharp turn, I moved my spanking new model of Chevy Tahoe into the side road heading to the Blue Moon pack. There was no doubt in my mind that they had already spotted me through their surveillance cameras from afar.

It was such a welcoming atmosphere. With more speed, I stopped at the towering metallic gates. An intricate mechanical limb jutted out from one of its poles and began measuring my body temperature as it scanned my face. On a small screen, I was prompted to present my identification card for verification purposes, which was also scanned. After some digital peeping and ticking, I heard a cranky voice, informing me that clearance had been granted.

‘Greetings, Miss Erica! We extend our warmest welcome to the Blue Moon Pack. Alpha Zane is expecting you. Please strictly follow all traffic signs during your stay with us. Wishing you an enjoyable stay.’

Massive! This remarkable demonstration of hospitality is something I must share when I go back home. Blue Moon is truly making a splash with its stylish approach. Driving in at the mandatory speed limit of thirty kilometers per hour, I cannot help but admire the lush greenery surrounding me on all sides.

‘Yeah, here feels like home,’ I whispered cheerfully to myself.

Here is where it dawned on me that Era has been dead silent for a long time. ‘Era, on leave? Or strike?’ I lightly bantered with her. In response to my jesting remark, she scoffed and rolled her eyes before lazily stretching out her paws. ‘Some need to rest a bit. Don’t feel too homey here, okay?’

'Excuse me, Era,' I interjected with a furrowed brow. ‘Is this a subtle hint? Is our mate not here? Please, be clear about that so we don’t waste our precious time!!’ I demanded clarity.

‘How am I supposed to know?’ it sounded grumpy up there.

‘Attitude, Era? Complaints should be coming from my side, considering you've left me feeling lonely for these past three hours,' I accused her.

‘Yeah. And that gave you every right to seal a love deal without seeking my opinion first, huh?’ she sneered back. Goodness, there I go. She has a valid point.

Mate business is not something for me to decide on my own. Practically speaking, it's more of an instinct my wolf needs to figure out. She is the one who possesses the ability to instantly recognize our fated at first, feel the bond, and strengthen the relationship. In my haste to clarify everything with Johnston, I totally forgot the emotional procedures.

‘How can I make it up to you, dear?’ I tried to smooth her mood.

‘When the time is there, you will get a hint,’ she replied secretively.

The packhouse of Blue Moon comes into sight. A breathtaking scene unfolds before my eyes.

‘Exquisite,’ was the first word that came to mind while watching this architectural wonder. Grey granite stones are blended in the high pillars of this five-story building, matched with beige-colored tiles. As I cast a more discerning gaze outward, my attention was drawn to the presence of several wolves posted on the expansive and classy veranda.

Parking my car at the side, an attractive middle-aged man with a beautiful young, well-shaped lady by his side walked towards me...