Five Years Ago

"Find Selina."

It was the first time my inner wolf had ever spoken so clearly, his voice resonating in my mind with urgent clarity. Usually, his worry manifested as a nagging feeling, a sixth sense whispering warnings from the shadows of my mind.

But this—this was entirely different. This was a command, and I ignored him.

"Find Selina." My wolf's voice was louder this time, reverberating through my mind with a deep ferocity.

His angered growls left me with a splitting headache. The kind I knew had nothing to do with the alcohol. I pressed my fingers to my temples, trying to massage away the pain, and forced a reassuring smile when Sebastian glanced over, looking worried.

"Are you feeling okay?" He placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Don't let him touch you!" My wolf snarled.

The headache intensified, and I winced. Then, for a second, my wolf seized control of my body, and I flinched back from Sebastian's touch. He jerked away, his eyes wide with shock as he lifted his hands in surrender, making it clear he wasn't touching me anymore.

"I'm sorry, my wolf is acting out," I explained, my voice strained.

"Don't worry about it. Our wolves find it hard to trust new people," he reassured me gently. "It happens."

I squeezed my eyes shut, wrestling with my wolf. It took all my willpower to push him back. He clawed at my soul, crying and whimpering, begging me to run. I ignored his warnings, but his persistence was relentless.

"Find Selina!"

I shook my head, pushing my inner wolf back into the confines of my soul where he belonged. How could I stay away when Sebastian was so intriguing? A literal prince, and he was talking to me.

As I gazed at Sebastian's sharp jawline, shadowed with dark stubble, my eyes lingered on his pink lips—plump and kissable. His skin was flawless, fair and unmarred, like that of a newly transitioned vampire. Otherworldly and beautiful. But unlike a vampire, he wasn't hostile or bloodthirsty. He was kind and welcoming. I wanted him.

"He's bad. Stay away. Find Selina."

"Enough!" I snapped, taking a sharp tone with my wolf through our shared mind link.

With a heavy heart, I pushed him to the deepest, darkest part of my soul, leashing him up and locking him away.

"Please don't do this," he whimpered, but he fell silent as I finished securing him, his protests fading into the background.

Silence. I opened my eyes. It was nice not to have my inner wolf constantly pestering me and intruding on my thoughts. I breathed a sigh of relief as the headache subsided.

I refocused my attention on the beautiful man sitting opposite me. Almost immediately, I lost myself in Sebastian's obsidian eyes, which swirled with mesmerizing flecks of purple.

"Sebastian Drake." His name didn't quite roll off the tongue, but I still liked the sound of it.

"That would be me." He poured me another drink.

"Are you really from the royal werewolf family, the Drakes?" I asked, curiosity piqued.

"Yes." He smiled confidently. "I'm the second son of Michael Drake, the Chief Alpha of our family."

"What are you doing here?" I frowned. "You're far from England."

Sebastian smiled, clearly charmed by my interest. He grabbed his glass, the muscles in his arms rippling beneath his shirt as he swung his arm back and gulped down his drink in one deep swallow. My stomach pooled with heat as I watched his throat, captivated by the slow movement of his larynx.

He smacked his lips and sighed in satisfaction, placing the glass back down on the table with a soft clink.

"I'm currently visiting Seattle on business with my pack."

I didn't ask what kind of business. I had a feeling he wouldn't tell me, and he seemed to appreciate my silence. A quiet understanding passed between us.

The music pulsed loudly, isolating us from the rest of the club. Our booth felt like a private room, just him and me. The charged energy between us crackled, the atmosphere growing warmer.

I rubbed my neck nervously, feeling a giddy excitement when Sebastian flashed me another one of his smiles. His large hands curled around the glass bottle as he poured us another drink, then another, until the room began to blur and I found it difficult to focus.

I blinked through the haze of alcohol, my gaze once again drawn to his large hands.

The things he could do to me with those hands had my toes curling. The thoughts sent my heart racing and my cheeks burning. As though he had read my mind, he laughed—a hearty sound that sent pleasant shivers through my body.

Then I felt it—an intense pulse in my heart, urging me to turn around. My gaze landed on the VIP room across the club from where we sat. My smile faded, replaced by a frown as dread churned within me.

My heart thudded slowly, each beat carrying an intense feeling I couldn't interpret. A powerful energy emanated from behind the frosted glass windows.

A strong wolf was currently residing within the VIP room. I swallowed hard as nerves crept up my throat. Even without my wolf, my senses were alarmed by the powerful aura.

I couldn't tell if he was good or bad, but his presence felt entrapping, almost hypnotic, as his aura smothered me in a warm embrace. I felt a sudden, overwhelming desire to stand up and make my way into the VIP room—

"Nathaniel."

I snapped my head back to Sebastian. "Are you okay?"

"I'm good."

The intense feeling had vanished. What was that? I leaned back against the soft leather booth, taking a couple of deep breaths to calm my racing heart.

I shook my head, blaming the sensation on too much alcohol and my own imagination. Here I was, in the presence of royalty, and I was acting drunk.

It hit me again—I was talking to a literal prince.

"Earlier," I said, "what did you mean when you said I was a special wolf? And why won't you let the Novaks have me?" I could hear the nervousness in my voice. "And what is the Princess doing here?"

"The Novaks." Sebastian wetted his lips and exhaled a long sigh. "They're a dangerous and bloodthirsty family. If they found out that a silver-eyed wolf had entered their city, they wouldn't hesitate to kill you. They despise your kind, having hunted down silver-eyes for centuries. They fear your strength and power. It's why the last of the silver-eyes can only be found in Havenwood. You're protected there. But you seem to have forgotten your history."

I gulped as fear gripped me. What history?

"Don't worry." He waved me off. "The Novaks can't harm you if I claim you as mine. It would break the peace treaty between the royal packs if they attacked you under my protection."

He placed his hand over mine, a warm jolt of energy passing through me. I smiled, knowing I was safe with Sebastian.

"You would do that for me?" My heart thudded. "But you barely know me."

"You're a good wolf, Nathaniel."

He withdrew his hand to light a freshly rolled cigarette, and I felt a chill without his touch.

"As for the Princess," he continued, "she is a figurehead these days, still trying to grasp onto what little power she has left by preaching about the prophecy."

"And what is the prophecy?"

Sebastian puffed out a plume of purple smoke, the scent of blueberries filling the air between us. The smell was intoxicating and addictive, making me want to try... what had he called it... nightmoss.

Sebastian's eyes darkened as silence fell between us. His cigarette slowly burned away, and he stubbed it out when it reached its end.

"The prophecy speaks of a coming Alpha Prime—"

He stopped, his body stiffening as his head twitched to the right. His sharp eyes scanned the dance floor, finally settling on the frosted windows of the VIP room.

He felt it too. The intense feeling from before had returned.

A shadow appeared behind the frosted glass that sent a shiver through my core. My heart quickened with the beat of the music. It wasn't like before, when the feeling had been warm. This time, it was different. From across the room, I could feel the werewolf's intensity emanating from behind the glass.

It felt both thrilling and frightening, and I didn't know how to react. I had never felt such raw, empowering energy in my life.

Goosebumps pricked my skin. Even with my wolf giving me the silent treatment, every fiber of my being sensed danger, yet I remained seated.

The hostile impulse wasn't aimed at me. The threatening aura was a warning to Sebastian to back off.

My new friend didn't seem bothered. He reclined back into the soft leather seat of the booth. A teasing display that he wasn't going anywhere. He smirked, tilting his head to the side, taunting the individual behind the frosted glass.

"Who is that?" My voice was shaking.

"That is the heir to the Novak family."

"What?" My heart leapt to my throat as the shadow disappeared.

"We should go." Sebastian grabbed my hand. "He will kill you if he sees your silver-eyes."

"W–What?" I sucked in a sharp breath. "But I haven't done anything wrong!"

"He doesn't care. You're a silver-eye, which makes you his enemy." Sebastian gestured around the room. "Look around and tell me you haven't noticed them staring at you since your arrival."

I stopped and took in my surroundings, staring at each individual. My heart thudded faster, and I swallowed nervously when I made eye contact with a group who had stopped dancing to take a second glance at me. Their stares were so intense I could feel their eyes burning into my soul.

But they weren't the only ones. Everywhere I looked, eyes were staring, penetrating me with cold, narrow gazes.

Already, they'd accused me of doing something wrong. The club suddenly felt hostile, their hatred palpable. I could hear them muttering and whispering.

"What's a silver-eye doing here?"

I felt uncomfortable, fidgeting in my seat, sensing there was more to silver-eyes than Sebastian was letting on.

"We can't stay here. It's not safe for you anymore."

Sebastian helped me out of the booth, and we pushed our way through the dance floor.

It was packed, bodies pressed against one another. It was impossible to pass through, let alone dance. My hand slipped from Sebastian's, and I lost him as he was swallowed by a group of dancers.

"Shit!" I cursed, my voice cutting through the pulsating music.

All eyes turned toward me, staring at my eyes. I hated the feeling of being scrutinized, the weight of their stares making my skin crawl. I wanted nothing more than to go home and forget this night ever happened.

Desperation clawed at me as I tried to catch Sebastian's scent, inhaling sharply, but all I could smell was sweat and alcohol. It hit me then—I hadn't been able to smell him since we met. Was it because of the nightmoss?

I shoved through the crowd, panic tightening my chest as I failed to spot Sebastian. What if the Novak heir found me first? I wasn't a fighter—I barely knew how to throw a punch. If they caught me, I was dead.

My pulse quickened as the reality set in. I was alone, vulnerable, and surrounded by hostile wolves. I needed to find Sebastian.

My breaths came short and fast—I was hyperventilating. The strobing lights around the room worsened my vision and intensified my pounding headache.

The room was spinning.

I crouched down, scrunching my eyes shut. Grabbing my hood, I yanked it over my eyes and covered my ears, shaking my head, trying to make it all go away.

This is all a dream. I'm back home in bed.

"Hey, are you okay?" A stranger asked.

When I looked up, the stranger recoiled at the sight of my eyes. I pushed past them and bolted through the exit. A blast of fresh air hit me like an avalanche, smothering me. I inhaled sharply, the cool evening air filling my lungs.

The panic ebbed away as I focused on my breathing. Each inhale and exhale slow and steady.

The rain drizzled down, soaking through my shirt, but it was refreshing, washing away the remnants of my headache now that I was out of earshot of the pounding music.

All I could hear was the faint vibration from the other side of the door. I took in my surroundings, finding myself in a dark alleyway behind the club.

At one end, I caught the low chatter of wolves queuing to get inside. At the other, a streetlight cast a warm glow, leading toward downtown.

"I want to go home," I whispered to my wolf, but he remained silent, ignoring me. I couldn't blame him after leashing him up.

A shadow moved and my heart stammered as I heard the low growl of a beast. Taking slow, cautious steps, I turned around, almost tripping when my eyes met those of a full-bodied wolf snarling at me.

I dropped my phone and it smashed as it clattered across the floor.

He was enormous. But not scary. His fur was a mix of black and tan, with one black ear flopped over, making him look slightly less intimidating. Almost... cute.

Sensing my ease, he snarled at me, reminding me he wasn't as cute as he appeared.

I froze, petrified by the size of his dominating presence as he prowled out of the darkness and into the streetlight. His tapered snout reached my eye level.

Fear clamped my feet to the ground, too scared to move as the wolf advanced. Each step he took intensified my terror until I was shaking.

The wolf crouched to my height. Just when he was about to snap his massive jaws around my throat, he stopped. His nostrils flared as he sniffed me, taking in my scent. His wet nose on my cheek sent shivers through my body, and his warm breath made my hair fly around my face.

I dared not move.

The wolf pressed his nose into my hair and snorted, inhaling my scent more sharply this time. He backed up, his amber eyes widening in recognition, though I couldn't understand what he found so familiar about me.

Was it because he sensed I wasn't a threat?

His hostility melted away. I could see it in his big, warm eyes—this wolf was a softie at heart.

Slowly, I unclenched my hands from my sides and hesitantly reached up to pet the wolf behind his floppy ear. He flinched at first, but then he leaned into the scratches, nuzzling into my hand. He was so soft, his fur smooth and glossy.

"You're beautiful." I smiled. "Who are you?"

Seeing wolves was a part of my life. But seeing a wolf tonight felt impossible.

"How have you turned into your wolf?"

I glanced up at the sky, needing reassurance that I wasn't going mad. A crescent moon stared back at me, bathing the street in silvery light.

"But it's not the full moon. It's not possible."

He huffed as if to say he was different. His warm breath hit my face and sent my hair flying again.

I cautiously reached out to pet him again, but the wolf suddenly growled, sending me whirling back in fright.

His growl was vicious—a terrifying snarl that sent slobber flying from his mouth. My heart shuddered with fear. A moment later, a trash can toppled over, and a vampire swooshed out from the dark alley next to us and sped off.

I hadn't even sensed the vampire lurking in the shadows. If the wolf hadn't been here to scare them off, I would be dead.

"Y-you saved me."

Before I could pet him or thank him, the back door of the club burst open, and Sebastian rushed out.

"Nathaniel," he breathed, relief flooding his face. "I thought I lost you for a moment. Don't go wandering off by yourself. It's not safe in the city at night."

He quickly scanned the alley, his gaze landing on my broken phone. Bending down, he picked it up.

"I'll get this fixed for you," he promised, slipping it into his pocket. "Let me take you home?"

"What shall we do about this wolf?"

I turned to introduce Sebastian to my new friend, but he was gone. Only the dark alleyway remained, empty and silent.

Sebastian's worried gaze met mine. "There are no wolves tonight."

"But I—" I stammered, frowning as I clamped my lips shut.

Where did he go? Sadness filled my heart.

I was certain I'd seen a wolf. But after multiple shots of bourbon, maybe the alcohol had clouded my mind and I'd imagined the whole thing.

"Come on," Sebastian said, placing his arm over my shoulder and guiding me away. "Let's go, and take this." He handed me his cigarette as we walked down the alley together. "Nightmoss will help hide your scent from the Novaks. We wouldn't want them catching you now, would we?"

I gazed into Sebastian's eyes. They no longer held the warmth I had seen before; now they appeared cold and distant. They lacked the comforting warmth of the wolf's amber eyes.

Despite my better judgment, I took the nightmoss from Sebastian and inhaled its sweet, intoxicating scent. Instantly, I felt my nerves melt away, a calming ease flooding over me.

Sebastian's smile widened into a grin, one that felt anything but friendly.

"I warned you." Those would be the last words I heard my wolf say for a very long time.