NATALIE

“ I am going to die. ” I deadpan.

My wide eyes glare at the mark on my neck. For once, I rub it as hard as I can to get rid of it idiotically even when I know that this mark is engraved not into my neck, but my soul now.

“ You are not going to die. ” Giana rolls her eyes, sighing.

“ NO! That man was not my mate and he had marked me…which means I am going to die. ” I gulp.

Tears well up in my eyes after I imagine my life ending because of this one mistake.

I have heard about this a lot. If someone who is not your mate, marks you without your consent, then you die in twenty four hours. It happens suddenly and you don’t even get the time to think about anything before you are gone, forever.

“ You are not getting sick or anything. You don’t look like you are dying either. ” Anne inspects me before coming to her own conclusion.

“ Are you two not worried even the slightest bit for me? What if your speculations turn out to be fucking wrong and I really die after twenty four hours pass? ” Tears start flowing out of my eyes, tracing my cheeks and dropping down from my chin.

Anne and Giana exchange a worried glance. Opening the doors, they both step out and come in the back seat to hug me from both sides.

“ You are not going to die. I won’t let you. ” Anne whispers in my ear, consoling me.

“ What the hell am I supposed to tell — tell Enzo now? That I slept with a random stranger and he marked me and I am going t—to die? ” I sniff, placing both my hands on Anne’s arm which is placed around my shoulders.

“ You don’t need to tell him anything yet. We have to figure this out first. ” Giana heaves a heavy breath, saying in a strange irritated tone.

“ Who was this man? You really don’t know? ” Anne pulls away, gazing at my tears stricken face.

I take in a shaky breath, recalling his face, his tattooed body, the power he oozed. Everything was…memorable about him. I gulp at my weird thoughts and shake my head.

Giana wipes my tears with her fingertips, giving me a concerned look.

“ He gave off an Alpha’s aura. And he was old — much older than us. ” I reveal.

Giana’s jaw hangs low and Anne mirrors her surprised expressions.

“ You are mated to an Alpha? ” Anne squeals in awe.

“ I am not mated to him. I am going to die. ” I shriek, beginning to sob again.

“ I don’t want to die. Not before getting my wolf at least. All my life, I have waited to have my wolf and now, I am going to die? This seems so unfair to me. ” I place my hands over my face, crying out in annoyance.

“ Why are you so sure that he is not your mate? ” Giana sighs heavily.

“ Because I am ENZO’S MATE! ” My voice grows in volume.

“ Why don’t you both ever believe this? Why do you hate Enzo so much? ” I hiss, wiping my cheeks.

Anne and Giana exchange one of their famous mysterious glance once again.

“ Stop looking at each other and tell me the reason please! ” I plead.

“ Natalie. ” Anne exhales softly. “ Enzo believes you are his mate. He can be mistaken. You shouldn’t believe him unless you feel the bond yourself. ”

“ Have you ever even felt attracted to him? Have you ever felt any kind of sparks? I am sure it’s possible to feel the connection even if you don’t have a wolf. ” Giana adds in a shrilly tone.

I rake my fingers through my tangled hair, thinking back to every moment that I have spent with Enzo.

“ It’s true that I have never felt any kind of connection with him but he said…I am his mate and he sure as hell was not lying to me. ” I reject the idea of Enzo deceiving me.

“ We are not saying he was lying. We are saying that he might be mistaken. ” Anne and Giana exchange that sneaky glance again.

I glare at both of them, one—by—one. “ How do you get mistaken about being someone’s mate? ”

The question renders Giana and Anne speechless. We all look at each other in complete silence.

“ I feel like you two are hiding something from me. ” I mumble, forgetting about everything else for a moment.

“ What did this Alpha look like? ” Anne changes the topic, opening the car’s door and getting out.

“ You haven’t answered my question. ” I point out.

Giana follows Anne and they both go back to the passenger and driver seat silently.

“ We need to find this mate of yours. ” Giana nods her head in determination.

“ He is not my mate. ” I mention, frustrated out of my mind.

“ I would like to see you denying this when you don’t die tonight. ” Anne rolls her eyes, starting the engine.

“ But what if I die tonight? ” I rest my head against the seat and stare ahead.

I am going to die. I know. That man…His eyes flash before my eyes as I think about him…He was not my mate. He can never be.

Giana and Anne don’t answer me and ignore my existence for the rest of the way back home.

Our pack — the North Forest Pack is situated on the outskirts of the city. It’s a small town…It won’t be wrong if I say this. We keep away from the humans usually, because we don’t want them to know about our existence. It’s the same for all packs, but ours if the second strongest pack in the world of werewolves while the strongest pack is the Night Walkers Pack.

Anne parks the car outside my double storey house. It’s painted white, inside out, making it look elegant but bland.

I step out of the car, looking around to see if anyone is around. It’s the usual time for pack training and for school so I don’t really see anyone.

“ Let’s go in before someone sees you. ” Anne grabs my arm, pulling me towards the main door.

Giana brings out the keys from my purse without even asking and unlocks the door.

My heart skips a beat while my palms begin to sweat.

Please, please, please Moon Goddess…Don’t make me run into Mom or Dad or Emilie.

I step inside the house and instantly walk towards the stairs to disappear down my room before any member of my family catches me.

“ NATALIE WHITMAN! ” Mom shouts from the kitchen.

My soul departs from my body and my feet freeze on the first stair. Shivers start running up and down my body.

Unconsciously, I lift my hand and raise the collar of the shirt to hide the mark on my neck. She will kill me if she finds out I got marked by a random stranger.

“ WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN FOR THE WHOLE NIGHT?! DID I NOT SAY YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO GO OUT?! ” She comes out of the kitchen, screaming at me all the way.

“ Mrs. Whitman. We took her with us. It’s not her fault. ”Anne tries to defend me.

“ Anne and Giana, Darling. ” Her tone softens. “ I am talking to my imbecile daughter. I would suggest you two head back home after this long night. ”

My face heats up in embarrassment. My fingers tighten around the railing as tears threaten to spill out of my eyes.

“ Right, Mrs Whitman. ” Giana mutters in disappointment.

I can hear both of them rushing to the door because my mother asked them to get the fuck out, too politely. The main door opens and closes.

“ If disgracing us with your birth and your presence was not enough…now you are going out and sleeping with random men? ” Her voice sounds closer than before.

Of course. She sensed the unrecognisable scent on me. I gulp the lump in my throat and turn around, only to find her right behind me.

“ I…”

A harsh slap which lands on my left cheek, shuts me up from saying anything further. I place my hand over my cheek, casting my eyes down.

“ Emilie always said you were a slut! I should have believed her sooner. ” She barks in my face, fisting my hair and pulling my face closer to her.

I close my eyes, inhaling a deep breath. It’s normal, it’s okay. I want to tell myself these words as always, but all I can do right now is to pray that she doesn’t see the mark over my neck.

“ You don’t have a wolf and everyone already wants you gone from here. Now you want them to find out that you are sleeping with men who are not even from this pack. Are you so eager to get us all kicked out of this pack?! ” She leaves my hair with a jerk, hissing at me.

“ I am sorry, Mom. ” Tears begin to slide down my cheeks.

“ Get the hell out of my face and don’t come down for the rest of the day. I don’t want to see you! ” She yells at me.

I don’t waste a moment in climbing up the stairs and running straight for my room, crying.

Dying tonight…doesn’t seem like a bad idea anymore. If Mom tells Dad, he will kill me with his own hands.

NATALIE

I have been moving to and fro in my room after taking a shower and staring at the mate mark over my neck for a whole hour.

At first, I tried to cover the mark by wearing a high neck but when I realised that it was the middle of the summer and I was only going to make everyone suspicious by wearing it, I removed it and covered the mark with many layers of concealer.

I like to believe that I can keep it a secret but my mind is about to explode with anxiety.

For one, I have to find out who that man was.

For two, I am scared that I am going to die tonight.

For three, if I don’t die, my Dad will kill me with his own hands after finding out that I slept with a man who was an outsider.

All of this is weighing me down and there is nothing positive I can think about right now.

“ Natalie. ” The door to my room opens and Emilie strolls inside without permission.

I gulp my saliva and question. “ What do you want? ”

Although I try to appear fearless and unbothered, I know she can see right through me.

“ Is what Mom saying true? ” She flutters her eyelashes innocently.

Mom must be listening in. That’s why she is talking so sweetly.

I purse my lips, choosing to remain silent.

“ I believed that you will change but you…you had to get caught and hurt Mom like this. ” Her voice has all the sympathy and hurt she can muster up.

And all I can do is to watch her lips displaying a smug smirk and her words turning sweeter so Mom can hear how good she is to me.

“ Why do you always do this? Mom and Dad are already disappointed in you. ” She sniffs, pretending to cry when no tears flow down her eyes at all.

“ Emilie…Please leave me alone. ” I whisper, wanting for her to get the fuck out of my room.

“ But I…I am here for you. Please talk to me. Please tell me why you can’t just wait for your mate? ” Her voice remains sympathetic but her smirk only widens.

She is provoking me. She is…I close my eyes, taking a deep breath to calm myself down but it’s impossible.

A lava is cooking inside me which is ready to explode like always.

“ Natalie…Dad will be… ” She starts and sniffs.

My eyes snap open, burning to the point I feel as if blood is about to come out of them.

“ GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY ROOM! ” I end up yelling at her.

The door flies open once again and this time, the person who steps inside scares the living shit out of me.

“ Dad…I can…” I stutter over my words, stumbling back.

“ Why are you shouting at your sister? ” Dad asks calmly for once.

Although, his usual black eyes are flashing Golden due to rage, he is trying to ask politely.

“ Dad…I just tried to make her understand that what she is doing is wrong but she doesn’t want to listen to me. ” Emilie doesn’t waste a second and runs into his arms, complaining and crying at the same time.

My gaze switches between Emilie and my Dad’s figure in disbelief.

“ What did she do wrong? ” Dad asks the dreaded question.

I walk backward, shaking my head.

“ Dad I can explain…I swear. ” I try to make his heart change.

“ She slept with a stranger yesterday night. ” Mom delivers the news from outside my room.

My blood freezes in my veins. Emilie looks at me and smirks hidden to my parents eyes.

“ I…It…it was a m—mistake. ” That’s all I can say to him.

“ Natalie…” Dad’s voice drops a few octaves.

His eyes disappear into those familiar burning golden eyes of his wolf’s. I stumble back once more, shaking my head from left to right.

“ I am sorry. I am sorry, Dad. I will never do it again. ” I cry out the moment he pushes Emilie aside and walks to me threateningly.

Before I even get the chance to defend myself, Dad’s hand reaches out to my neck. He squeezes it so hard that my eyes bulge out.

Despite the pain which makes me thrash, my mind goes to the mark which is on my neck. It burns bright. My soul departs from my body at the thought of anyone finding out about it.

I claw at my Dad’s hand while my body flaps uncontrollably.

“ You have decided to drag my reputation in mud. I will not allow this to happen! ” He sneers close to my face.

Tears well in my eyes as it becomes impossible for me to breath.

“ I will kill you! ” He tightens his hold around my neck and yells.

My head hits the wall behind me and black dots start to appear in my sight.

“ Nile! Leave her. She will really die. ” Mom rushes in, grabbing my father’s arms to pry him off me.

My mind begins to lose focus on everything due to lack of oxygen. My hold around Dad’s hands loosens.

“ Dad. I will make her understand. She won’t do it again. Leave her please. ” Emilie doesn’t remain behind and comes to my aid so she can see it happening again and again.

They don’t let me live but they won’t allow me to die either.

My hands drop by my side, my eyes rolling back in my head.

Before I lose consciousness, Dad releases my neck from his death grip. I fall to the floor, coughing and wheezing for air.

My lungs hurt, my eyes burn, my head pounds. All the energy has left my body, leaving me with only agony and the burning sensation of the mate mark.

“ If I find out you have done something like this again…I will kill you, Natalie. I will kill you before anyone else finds out about your shameful actions. ” Dad threatens me before he stomps out of my room, followed by Mom.

Emilie takes this chance to lock the door and come to me. I open my eyes and look up at her after regaining my breath.

“ Don’t — Don’t tell Enzo. ” I plead.

My teary eyes beg her silently, while she hums staring down at me maliciously.

“ Why not? ” Her lips morph into a grin.

“ I…” I push myself on my weak knees.

“ I will do anything. ” I tell her.

“ Anything? ” She tilts her head, still grinning.

My breath hitches in my throat, understanding what she wants this time.

“ Give it to me, Natalie. I really need it. ” She lets out in a sugary tone.

“ Emilie I… ” I choke on my breath.

“ Are you refusing me? ” Her grin changes into a deep frown.

My heart skips a beat and I shake my head right away. “ I will give you the painting. You can use it however you want but please…please don’t…don’t tell Enzo. ”

“ How can I do it? You are my twin sister, after all. ” The poisonous grin returns on her lips.

Emilie turns around to leave and I can only watch her with my hate and tears filled eyes.

“ Drop it in my room. ” She directs me, stopping beside the door.

Opening the door, she turns to me again.

“ Oh My Goddess, Natalie. Your head is bleeding. Please get it bandaged from the pack doctor. ” Her tone is back to sympathetic and worried because she knows Mom and Dad can hear her now.

“ You know…you can’t heal like us so please get yourself treated. And make sure to not tell Doctor Yoona how his happened. ” She has to add it, to remind my parents that I am a disappointment.

I lower my eyes to the floor and exhale a heavy breath.

My fingers touch the burning mark over my neck. At least, they didn’t find out about it.

I have to get rid of this mark before anyone stumbles upon this secret and reveals it to Enzo. I can not take it — I can not live without Enzo. He is the only one who understands me and loves me despite my shortcomings.

NATALIE

“ Okay! I agree with you two. Please help me find this man. ” I tell Anne and Giana who are both sitting on Giana’s bed.

Worry and anxiety is clear in their eyes along with suppressed pity. I got my head bandaged earlier and as usual, Doctor Yoona insisted that I admit someone was abusing me but…I lied to her and told her that I had fallen off the stairs like I always do. This excuse is becoming ridiculous at this point, but no one in this pack gives a damn to what happens to a wolf less daughter of the Beta. For all they care, I should die soon.

Instead of going home after getting my head bandaged, I came to Giana’s house. As expected, she and Anne were waiting for me to come. It’s like a routine. Every time I get scolded, I come here for comfort. Anne and Giana’s parents allow me to be in their house because they are the only one’s except Enzo who care about me.

“ So you believe he is your mate now. ” Anne excitedly makes a statement.

“ No. There is some error in this situation. ” I tell them without blinking my eyes.

“ Are you kidding us? It’s past midnight and you haven’t died. This only means one thing. That man is your mate and he rightfully claimed you. ” Giana bursts out at me.

I shake my head. “ I refuse to believe this. ”

“ You can’t deny this, Natalie. Please try to understand…Enzo is not your mate. ” Anne grabs my hands in hers and asserts.

I shake my head once more. “ he said he is my mate and there is nothing and no one I trust more than him. Enzo is my mate, Anne. ”

Anne’s eyes dull down and she shares a brief glance with Giana who looks equally frustrated.

“ You two know something. ” I mumble.

“ We need to find this man. He can make you understand this better. ” Giana intervenes.

I nod my head. Yes, that man with ocean eyes can make me understand why I am not dead even after he marked me unrightfully.

“ Perhaps…I consented to it while I was drunk. ” All of a sudden, a thought occurs to me.

Anne heaves a heavy breath and leaves my hands.

“ I knew you will be coming to us so I gathered the pictures of all the Alphas. ” Anne tells me.

Giana yelps enthusiastically and jumps closer to us. I don’t understand why my two best friends desperately want Enzo to be not my mate. Enzo too is our childhood friend yet something has changed between us four. For one, I am his mate but why does it affect Giana and Anne so much? I am sure I will figure it out soon.

“ See. ” Anne pushes her phone’s screen close to my face so I can take a look at the picture.

“ Is this him? ” Giana asks hopefully.

I shake my head. Anne shows me the next picture and then the next and another one. We see a lot of pictures, but he doesn’t turn out to be anyone of them.

“ Are you sure he was an Alpha? I have shown you pictures of all the Alphas already. ” Anne throws the phone aside and lies down on the bed, irritated.

“ I can’t be too sure Anne. I think he was an Alpha because he seemed powerful like one. But my senses don’t work as better as yours so I can’t really be sure. ” I shrug my shoulders.

Giana facepalms herself and lies down beside Anne to sulk. I join them instantly and we three stare at the ceiling silently for a while.

“ How was he even? ” Giana whispers after a while.

My heart oddly skips a dangerous beat when I recall his touch, his strong strokes, his penetrating gaze. The dominance he oozed was something out of this world. The way he claimed me feels like the part of a forbidden fantasy.

“ He was an asshole. ” I mutter under my breath.

“ Your heart doesn’t agree. You always forget we can hear your heartbeat. ” Giana chuckles lowly.

“ I bet you were thinking about yesterday night right now. ” Anne teases.

I purse my lips before closing my eyes. My head is beginning to hurt again. The effect of the painkiller is wearing off.

“ Don’t remind me something I am dying to erase from my mind. ” The words fall out of my mouth without any control.

Silence falls between us again. All of a sudden, my phone rings. I sit up in the bed and grab the phone from the side table.

Seeing Enzo’s name lightening up the screen, I find myself holding my breath.

“ Don’t tell him anything. Not until you have figured it out yourself. ” Anne is quick to warn me.

I pick up the call and place the phone beside my ear.

“ H — Hello… ” My voice breaks.

Tears pool in my eyes, my hold tightening around the phone.

“ Goddess! Where have you been? I want to see you right now! ” Enzo sighs right away.

My eyes move towards Anne’s warning gaze.

“ I — I am at Giana’s house. ” I tell him, guilt eating away at my guts.

“ Wait there. I am coming to get you. We need to talk. ” Enzo hangs up the call after instructing me.

“ Does he know? Did he find out? ” I begin to hyperventilate instantly.

“ No. He doesn’t know. ” Giana gets up and rubs my back.

“ Calm down Natalie. He just wants to see you. ” Anne tries to assure me.

But I can’t breath. Enzo will never see me after today. This thought is enough to make my heart bleed.

“ It’s all my fault. I should have never gone there. ” I throw my head into my hands.

“ Come on, Natalie. Don’t beat yourself over it. What’s done is done. We will fix this. I promise. ” Giana runs her fingers down my hair softly while convincing me.

I shake my head and take a deep breath. “ I messed up big time. ”

*****

Like Enzo said, he came to pick me up from Giana’s house in half an hour. Mrs. Norman — Giana’s Mom came to inform me in Giana’s room.

“ Don’t make more mistakes, Natalie. ” Anne holds my hand and stops me beside the main door.

Giana rushes close to us and grabs my other hand. “ Make the right decision. You have to. ”

I don’t know what they are asking me but I still nod my head before stepping out of Giana’s house.

Enzo is standing on the other side of the street, his back resting against the tree and his eyes taking me in. I shiver and unconsciously fix the neckline of my top.

The man before me is the example of perfection. His tousled brown hair and brown eyes compliment each other. He is not cold as the one who has marked me against my will. He is understanding, polite and kind. Anything a woman wants in their mate, in their boyfriends or husbands.

I walk towards him with a heavy heart.

“ Hey. ” My voice is small.

“ Hey. ” He replies with a soft smile.

“ Walk with me. ” He tells me next.

I nod my head and follow his order without a second thought. We walk on the street, side by side.

“ What happened yesterday night? ” He asks the most dreaded question.

My head snaps in his direction. I find him already looking at me, his brown eyes looking black in the dim lightening.

Does he know? I should have known Emilie will tell him right away. Tears well in my eyes.

“ I…” I suck in a shaky breath.

“ I was worried when Giana and Anne mind—linked me and said you were missing. You got drunk and slept on the roadside. Do you think it’s safe? ” He rants, his voice growing in volume with each passing moment.

I release a relieved breath and nod my head. “ I am sorry. ”

He doesn’t know.

“ Did I not say that you shouldn’t go to places like those? It’s not safe right now. ” He huffs, folding his arms over his chest.

“ I am sorry. I really am. ” I apologise again.

“ And if you do this again? ” He questions, lifting his perfectly carved thick left eyebrow.

“ I won’t. I promise. ” I mumble.

Although he is talking about going clubbing, I am talking about something entirely different.

“ You better stick to your words. ” He warns in a stern voice.

I nod my head subtly.

Enzo unfolds his arms from over his chest and takes my hand in his before we start strolling down the street again.

A lump forms in my throat when I realise that he hasn’t even bothered to ask me why my head is bandaged or what happened to me.

My hold tightens over his hand as the thought pops in my mind.

Enzo knows what’s the problem with me and how everyone treats me. Maybe, that’s why he doesn’t want to ask because he is afraid he might make me feel uncomfortable. I convince my mind and then my heart in absolute silence.

But, it doesn’t soothe the ache in my stupid heart.

We continue to walk and stop when the Alpha — Enzo’s house comes into view. My eyes take in a familiar face, the beta of the Night Walkers Pack.

I stare at him and so does Enzo.

Alpha Wilson and the Beta is now shaking hands. There are grim smiles on their lips which are as fake as their temporary deal, no matter what it is.

There is bad blood between Night Walkers Pack and the whole werewolf community. We all hate them and more than anyone, we hate their Alpha, Ryker Ambrose.

Why? One must ask. Of course, he kills people and is ruthless and he forces people into doing what he wants but are not all Alphas like this? Then why do we all hate Ryker Ambrose so much?

That’s because no one can defeat him. He is unmatched in terms of strength, power and wealth. That’s why we all hate him, I think. We can’t get rid of him even if he is pain in everyone’s ass.

The beta turns around to walk towards his slick BMW when his eyes land on me.

Oh my fucking Goddess! He will recognise me!

I suck in a sharp breath when he narrows his eyes and moves them down to my hand held in Enzo’s bigger one.

A strange emotion passes between his eyes when his gaze snaps back to mine once again. The emotion is so strange and strong that I snatch my hand out of Enzo’s grip and stumble back on my feet.

The beta throws me a meaningful smile and sits down in the back seat of his car.

“ Do you know him? ” Enzo questions.

“ No. ” I lie without hesitation.

“ Why was he smiling at you then? ” Enzo’s tones becomes grave.

I shrug my shoulders. “ I don’t know. ”

The car disappears from sight but my trance doesn’t break. What just happened?

“ You are not lying to me, are you? ” Enzo comes in front of me and snaps me out of my trance.

“ I can never… ” lie to you.

I can’t say this to Enzo anymore.

“ Please take me home. ” I gulp the lump which forms in my throat and demand.

Enzo glares at me, long and hard. Then, gives in with a sigh.

We walk down the empty streets in the middle of the nights in an awkward silence.

Stopping outside my house, Enzo turns to me and cups my face. He dives in, his lips almost capturing mine.

A wave of shock passes over me when I push him back and stumble away myself.

“ WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU?! ” He yells.

My heart skips a beat, in fear that someone is going to come out from my house.

“ I am sorry. I am really sorry Enzo but I — I am not feeling well. Forgive me! ” I blurt, making a run for my house.

Enzo doesn’t call me out from behind and I only halt to breath when I have locked the main door from inside.

“ What an interesting sight! ” Emilie yawns from the living room but doesn’t bother to wake up Mom and Dad this time.

“ I dropped the painting to your room. ” I mumble before vanishing up the stairs.

Everyone in my family lives on the ground floor and I am the only one whose room is on the first floor. It has something to do with the fact that it’s all my family could do to isolate me.

Shaking my head, I stop outside my door and place my forehead against it.

What am I doing?

Make the right decision. Giana has asked me.

Was it the right decision to not let Enzo kiss me when I knew I am marked by someone else? How can I be so loyal to someone I don’t even know when I was not even loyal to the man who claims to be mate?

What am I doing? I don’t know anymore.

I thought everything will be fine as long as I find that man but I have failed in that too. He is not one of the Alphas and I don’t know where to find him now.

Sighing, I push the door to my room open. A horrified gasp leaves my lips when I see the very familiar figure sitting over my bed like he owns it.