Chapter Two
Tyler
The pack gathered beneath the vast, starry expanse of night. The shimmering constellations seemed to wink and nod in approval. This was a moment I had long envisioned—the forging of a future with a luna at my side.
Linda looked enchanting in her flowing gown, intricately woven with threads of giak, one of the Silver Moon Pack’s most precious ores. Ancient folktales whispered that these crystals had belonged to Igaluk’s handmaidens, cast off as they’d visited our earthly realm. Linda’s honey-blonde hair cascaded down her back in perfect curls, framing her heart-shaped face, looking as if she could be part of that celestial court. She smiled at me with pure admiration, yet something lodged like a stone in my stomach.
I brushed aside the feeling, casting my attention out to the pack. The whole pack was gathered except for the two wolves on guard duty. After the Black Moon Pack’s invasion four years ago, only twenty hardened warriors remained. We were always on the alert, guarding our home against potential threats. Linda and I had only announced our mate ceremony this morning, a strategic choice to prevent external packs from taking advantage of our lowered guard.
I took in the familiar faces of our warriors and other packmates. I scanned the crowd, searching faces but only truly seeing one—Seffy, standing at the edge in her midnight blue dress shimmering like the night sky. My heart skipped. My mind whispered that I needed to focus on the ceremony. But I knew that she was hurt by what I was about to do, and I was conflicted with how I’d always strove to protect her.
Ever since Seffy’s nineteenth birthday three weeks ago, my heart had been behaving treacherously. More than anything, I wished I could take that night back. Until then, I had felt a deep sense of familial love for her—an affection that came from knowing her like the back of my hand. But that birthday awakened a connection that thrummed like a live wire, igniting a passion I had never felt before and which had resulted in the best night of sex I’d ever had.
Remorse and shame prickled over me. That never should have happened. I thought of the moment reason had returned to me and how Seffy had thought our intimacy meant that we were meant to be together. But I’d been unable to honor that bond, and I’d had to tell Seffy we could never be. Her parents’ betrayal meant that she could never hold our pack’s trust. I’d told Seffy this morning that I would always hold her as my family, and I promised her she would always have a place in my home. In time, Seffy would understand the path I had chosen. Regardless of the wounding truth, I knew the affection we shared was unbreakable, no matter what.
My eyes found Linda across from me, her poised figure the embodiment of all I needed my mate to be. She was someone the pack respected and followed.
I fortified the walls around my heart, telling myself that that night should never have happened. It was just a chemical reaction fueled by pheromones and shared memories.
Our packmates erupted into cheers, showering us with Igaluk’s blessings. Their joyous shouts struck a chord with me, a reminder of the joy our pack had lost and needed to reclaim. I shared a look with Linda again, seeing the woman across from me as a bridge to a stronger future. I had a duty to strengthen our pack’s leadership. Too many young and brilliant Silver Moons had fallen during the invasion, their names forever etched on my heart. They had given their lives defending our home, and now it was my duty to strengthen our pack.
Linda squeezed my arm, her eyes sparkling with understanding. As a skilled healer and warrior and the daughter of Elder Darius, she was an excellent choice for my luna. She was a respected member of our pack, and her presence by my side would bring stability and balance to our community.
In truth, I should have forged this bond years ago. The pack needed strong leadership in the aftermath of the invasion. But I’d held back, believing Seffy needed stability after her parents’ deaths. Little Seffy was a lively child, filled with spirit. Liam, my beta and best friend, was her father. Betrayed by him, I’d believed I’d never trust anyone again.
Yet, the bright girl I had taken under my wing had needed me more than ever. Some packmates had thought me mad for taking her in, given her parents’ betrayal. But as alpha of my pack, I couldn’t turn my back on an innocent packmate. She’d still been a teenager back then and needed a guardian. Without hesitation, I’d been her protector. Undoubtedly, Seffy had needed my support, but I’d needed hers, too. In many ways, we had healed each other through the pain of betrayal and loss.
A familiar ache coursed through me at the thought of the tragedy she’d endured. Seffy had faced more at such a young age than anyone should. I had shielded her as best I could from the judgment of our pack, but I knew their resentful whispers had weighed down her adolescence. I replayed the nights when I sat with her, whispering words of comfort, reminding her that love existed even amidst the darkest of times—assuring her that her parents had loved her despite their destructive choices.
Through the shadows, I had watched her bloom from a kind-hearted child into an even more remarkable woman. A mix of pride and protectiveness surged within me. Seffy was now a university student, a young adult, making my decision to proceed with Linda feel right. It was time for me to cement our leadership and ensure the future of our pack.
“Tyler?” Elder Darius’s voice jolted me from the haze of reflection.
“What?” I started, meeting the elder’s frown.
A gentle ripple of laughter stirred from nearby packmates, cutting the tension that hung in the night air.
“Your vows, Alpha Tyler. You must repeat them if you are to join with my daughter.” Darius’s authoritative words jolted me back into the present, making my heart race and pulse quicken, adrenaline spiking through my veins.
I nodded, shifting my gaze to Linda, whose smile wobbled, a quizzical look knitting her brow.
“Of course,” I said, my voice lower than I intended, laced with sudden gravity. I forced a reassuring smile for Linda and then focused on the elder’s dark brown eyes. Dressed in a black tunic and trousers, he’d have been lost to the night if it weren’t for the giak thread glimmering in intricate patterns—runes bearing the blessings of the Moon goddess.
“I, Alpha Tyler Tremblay, take you, Linda Martin.”
“I, Alpha Tyler Tremblay, take you, Linda Martin.” The words left my mouth steadily, and I looked out over the pack, telling myself that I wanted to look at the whole pack as I made this commitment, even as my gaze stole to the rear of the pack.
Familiar faces gazed up at me. Valerie and Logan were the farthest packmates. My heart thumped. Where was Seffy? Protectiveness stole through me. Logan had always picked on Seffy as a young teen. I frowned, wondering if he’d said something that had caused her to move.
“I vow to honor and protect you,” Darius urged.
I repeated the words, my gaze reluctantly returning to Linda, where it was meant to be, even as the guardian in me worried about Seraphina. I assured myself that I’d find her after the ceremony and check that she was okay.
“I promise to—” Darius began.
But pain flared in my chest. My wolf roared within. I struggled to focus on the solid wood beneath my feet. I gasped, a deep flare of pain echoing through me. My breath caught in my lungs, the bite there feeling like winter’s deepest chill, pulling me down to my knees.
As I hit the dais hard, my knees smarted, but the freezing pain in my chest was far more excruciating. Agony shot through me: Was this dark magic? Had the Black Moon Pack chosen this very night to invade despite all our precautions? Then, instinct struck. The coldness emanated through the mate bond in my chest, just below my heart.
In my attempts to shield myself from the bond, I’d failed to recognize that something was wrong with it. Now, its powerful thrum was dissipating like smoke in the wind. No… it had gone . Panic fired through me. The tether that had blossomed into existence three weeks ago had vanished completely.
“Tyler?” Elder Darius’s voice pierced through the turmoil, his concern tightening the knot in my gut. Linda’s hands gripped my arms, but all I could see was the gathering assembly. Their faces were twisted in confusion as the laughter and joy evaporated, leaving only a heavy silence.
Darkness surged upon me. The ceremony that was supposed to forge our future crumbled beneath the knowing silence that enveloped my heart. Again and again, I reached out for the bond that had ignited so recently, but like a mine cleared of its ores, it was barren.
My wolf roared within, panicked at the sense of losing our connection with our mate. What had happened to our bond? Suddenly, the knowledge that Seffy and I were destined for each other flooded through me. Ironically, without the mate bond tethering my heart, I had never been more keenly aware of it. Its absence was everything. I’d never expected to find myself bound to Seffy as a fated mate. And yet, there it was—an undeniable connection that transcended a guardian’s duty, a bond that nestled deep within my very soul. She wasn’t just under my care. She was an integral part of me.
My mind spiraled back to Seraphina. Memories of us together whirled through my thoughts like leaves caught in a restless wind. I considered the countless days spent side by side, the laughter, the tears, the quiet understanding we shared. But among all those moments, one memory shimmered into focus—the one-year anniversary of her parents’ death.
The sun hung low on the horizon as Seffy and I ascended Pivak Pass on the mountain, the air thick with unspoken words and our shared heartache enveloping us like the heavy blanket of snow beneath our feet.
A year had passed since Liam and Cordelia, Seffy’s parents, had committed suicide. Now, Seffy kneeled in the snow, gently laying down bright yellow pomenta flowers. “They were her favorite,” she murmured, her voice thick with emotion. “Whenever Dad brought her flowers, it was always pomenta—something to brighten her day.”
The grief in her voice struck deep, magnifying the ache in my chest until I felt as weighty as the mountain itself.
But then, something flickered in her eyes, and she took a steadying breath. “You know, Dad always said Pivak Point was where he made you eat dust.” Her tone carried a rush of fondness, though I could see the way her bottom lip trembled.
A chuckle bubbled up inside me, surprising me with its suddenness. “Your dad was a good runner,” I replied, envisioning Liam’s strong face, his mouth curving into a grin just before he’d tease me mercilessly, as only my best friend and beta could. However, that smile faded almost instantly, crushed by the cold shadow of betrayal that still lingered, even one year later.
Seffy stood up, her gaze steady but her hands quivering against her thighs. “I… I can’t help… loving them, even after… what they did,” she admitted, her voice stronger than I knew she felt. The questioning look in her eyes spoke volumes, the pain lurking just beneath the surface.
Seffy had voiced exactly what I was struggling with. Despite the betrayal of my best friend and his wife, a part of me would always love them. As I recalled the warmth of our friendship, small moments poured over me like a warm tide, easing the weight of sorrow but leaving echoes of love. I realized I hadn’t truly allowed myself to remember the good times either.
I turned to her, feeling a swell of gratitude amidst our grief. “They’re part of you,” I said, my voice thickening. “You’ll always love them. We’ll always love them.”
Seffy’s eyes glistened as she came to me, and I wrapped an arm around her. For a quiet moment, we stood together, looking down at the bright pomenta flowers against the snow.
“Now we need to do something special for Dad,” she said, her tone lightening. “It’s time to make you eat my dust.”
With that, Seffy flung off her coat. A smile broke free on my lips, a laugh escaping me as I turned my back to her, following suit, shedding my own coat and shirt, ready to shift. My chest felt too full, swelling with everything I felt for my friends and for their amazing daughter, who was not just their child but my family now, too.
As I shifted into my wolf, chasing after Seffy’s lithe, silvery wolf, who would have given her father a run for his money, love washed over me.
As I took a deep breath, wrestling with new emotions, I realized that my feelings for Seffy had grown into something soul-deep. It wasn’t a matter of right or wrong. Just as Seffy loved her parents despite their betrayal, my love for her existed in its own right. It wasn’t judged by circumstances. It simply was. I loved her utterly and completely, just as she was—an indelible part of my life and heart.
I could hear the world around me fading back into my awareness—a distant hum. The anticipation hung thick in the air as the pack waited, faces expectant and concerned.
“Tyler?” Linda called to me, finally succeeding at wrenching me back into the present. Turmoil roiled beneath my skin, and Linda’s presence beside me felt like an accusation, making bile rise in my throat. The knot in my gut tightened. What was meant to be a ceremony to fortify our pack now seemed utterly farcical. The terrible ache gnawing at my heart whispered that having a partner who I didn’t love beside me would be utterly hollow.
Determination surged within me, igniting a fire. Suddenly, I swept forward, speaking more with my heart than my head, the words erupting with force. “The ceremony is off!”
The declaration rang out, clear and resolute, the strength of my conviction silencing the crowd into disbelief. Every eye settled on me, confusion and shock flickering across their faces.
“Go home,” I ordered, every word laden with the finality of the rupture ringing through my chest. Guilt bit at me as the murmurs swelled into a cacophony of confusion, but I ignored it all, the clarity that surged within fueling me forward.
I had been a fool to think I could continue on this path. Bound by duty, I had all but imprisoned myself, neglecting the undeniable truth brewing in my heart. The realization of what I truly desired blazed within me. I needed to find Seraphina. She was my fated mate, like a wildflower blooming amid the snow—her thrumming magic and powerful wolf called to me like no other ever could.
“Tyler. What’s going on?” Linda implored sharp and crystalline. Disbelief twisted her features, but I couldn’t linger any longer. I’d neglected Seraphina too long.
“I’m sorry,” I said, the weight of my conviction unwavering as determination filled me. Swiftly, I dashed toward the edge of the gathering, pushing through the throng of packmates. Confusion rippled through the pack, their inquiries and surprised exclamations fading behind me as I tore past.
“Tyler!” Linda’s voice rose again, a desperate plea, but I wouldn’t stop. Nothing could deter me from finding Seraphina and reclaiming what was rightfully mine. She needed to know, needed to feel that I recognized the power of our bond—that it wasn’t too late for us. It couldn’t be.
My focus sharpened as I allowed my wolf to break free, shedding my expensive suit and shoes like debris. My beast ran as if his life depended on it, his giant strides eating up the path as we descended the mountain. With each pounding step, images of Seraphina filled my mind—her laughter ringing like music, her radiant smile lighting up the darkest moments of the past. Just as we’d baked together, measuring our ingredients, laughter and flour spilling forth, all of those shared moments had been an alchemy of our sorrow transforming into something sweeter: love.
The ache in my chest burned intensely. I finally understood. I had shielded myself from her, convinced that our relationship had to stay the same as it had always been. Yet, my denial might have caused me to lose her forever.
The branches of evergreens to my right swayed gently in the breeze, the faint scent of honey filling my nose: Seraphina .
Hunger and need coursed through my veins as I followed the scent. My heart hammered with relief as I took in footprints, too. But panic clawed at me as, instead of getting stronger, her scent grew weaker.
My wolf’s howl pierced the night, echoing in the stillness as desperation clawed at my throat. I needed to tell her that I’d made a mistake. I had to make her understand the depth of my feelings. In that moment, the weight of my indecision mocked me as I skidded out into a clearing.
Shock washed over me as my wolfish eyes took in a chilling sight: a magic circle. Crystals lay scattered amidst runes. A growl rumbled in my throat, my fur bristling as my wolf recognized the sense of loss ringing through the crystals. They had been leached of their magic and seemed to rest in the snow like a picked-over carcass—a hollowness that mirrored the barrenness in my chest. Then I noticed Seraphina’s clothes, shoes, and purse abandoned beside the circle.
In a flash of insight, the realization crashed over me that Seraphina had done away with our mate bond. She was as remarkable a witch as her mother, Cordelia, and I knew she possessed the magic required to bring our connection to an end, especially after witnessing me on the cusp of committing to another woman. Agony shot through me, my wolf’s howl piercing the air with rage and grief. She’d rejected me.
But even with the knowledge that Seraphina had severed our bond, we charged downward, following the faint tracks left by our mate. Every fiber of our being pulsed with an unyielding resolve—we would find her.