Skye's POV

She is the one. The most feared that I had often heard about and I had no idea she was in the crescent pack.

Her beauty was no denial and way more exquisite than I have heard.

The raindrops on her clothes clung to every contour of her body.

When my wolf had taken charge, I knew I was in trouble.

"Mate." he echoed in my head.

Unwillingly, I found myself lowering my sword. My wolf didn't want to go heads with her, he wanted her close.

But she felt different. She swung her sword sharply but I was able to averse from the cut in a nick of time.

She fought well but wasn't making proper calculations of her moves. Having scolded and kept my wolf in check, I had control of myself again and could tell her next move.

She had this fire to kill in her. Something raw was driving her to that point.

In an attempt to behead me, I flung her sword aside and trapped her to a tree, both hands held tightly in mine and my sword placed underneath her jawline.

"Let go of me." her voice came out coarse but still soft in the ears of my wolf as he leaped in my head in excitement.

"Just this one time, "I said close enough to her ear.

With a howl, I made a signal for the pack to retreat.

Ava's POV

"Just this one time." It came to me like a soft caress that tingled my senses.

In all my years of fighting and living with men, I had forgotten I was a woman and tonight I was reminded of that.

I was reminded I was weak, my emotions were weak, and getting the better part of me tonight, in a battle I'd been waiting for, I felt truly disgusted at myself.

I was in my room when uncle Phil came in.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

I pressed my hair smoothly behind my head and nodded.

"I saw you fighting the alpha of the blood moon pack," he said.

I stared into an open space. He was an alpha?! he fought very well and was no weakling like other alphas I've slayed.

I shrugged. "What does it matter? I've fought alphas before."

Uncle Phil stared at me, long enough for me to avert my eyes.

"Did he say something to you?" he asked.

I looked at him and then away. How could I tell him?

So uncle, the alpha of the blood moon pack is my mate and I am his. What a glorious union right?

I shook my head. "No, he did not."

He patted my shoulder and had a relieved look on his face.

"I'll leave you to rest," he said and I nodded watching him leave.

Sooner than he left, Fernandez walked in.

"How are the people doing?"I asked. I was worried about my people. Many were badly hurt.

"We've lost two of the warriors already alongside those who fell at the hands of the archers. We've lost a total of ten today." he said.

I shook my head in remorse. If only there was a way to make us stronger than ever.

If this continues, we'll be outnumbered in no time.

In a few weeks to come, I was to be ordained as Queen of the pack. I hoped to have a better judgment of my people and their interests at heart.

"You're bleeding," Fernandez said drawing my attention to my hand.

I shrugged it off. "It's just a scratch."

He walked to the cabinet searching for the first aid kit.

"It's not just a scratch, Ava, it could get an infection," he said.

"It will heal,"I assured him. He disagreed with me despite knowing we could heal ourselves.

He found the kit and reached for my hand.

"It's fine," I said rather impatiently, I wanted to be alone.

"No." he insisted taking my hand forcefully.

"It's fine!"I said more loudly than I wanted. He let go of my hand.

"I was only trying to help," he said walking away.

I sighed in regret. I didn't mean to hurt his feelings. He was only trying to be a good friend.

"Fernandez, "I called after him.

He turned and smiled. "Goodnight my Queen."and with that, he was gone. He addressed me so formally and I felt terrible.

I have never yelled at him before, I groaned and fell on the bed hoping this night could fade away but all I could think and see were a pair of hazelnut eyes.

Skye's POV

I had heard tales of her conquest but I didn't imagine her being from the crescent pack.

I wasn't about to let the tale of her slaying my people to reach any inferior pack.

Robin stood in front of me disapproving of my actions of letting her go.

"You should have killed her Skye, this will put the crescent and other packs in their place!" he vents out.

I ignored him hoping he would go away.

I didn't have a reasonable explanation to give him about sparing the enemy's life. I couldn't possibly tell him she's my mate.

"You're becoming weak!" he yelled out which annoyed me and in a flash without him noticing, I flung the pocket knife that lay on the table at him, aiming above his head.

He stared at me in shock.

"That's to let you know who still remains the alpha," I said in a condescending tone.

"I'm sorry." he bowed slightly and walked away.

I was angry at myself, angry at the fact that I couldn't stop recalling the events of earlier on in my head.

I was also very angry at the universe for making her, my mate. It was just the other day, when I said I didn't want to have anything to do with a crescent, and now, the ancestors have decided to punish me by granting a wish I didn't ask for.

I could reject her, of course, I was going to reject her. I wasn't and wouldn't be the first or last to do so, but my wolf screamed no!

He wanted her more badly than I did.

"She's the enemy," I said to him.

"I don't care. I want her." he lashed out at me.

I groaned. I hoped and pray I didn't have to meet her again but I spoke too soon.

••••• ••••• ••••• ••••• •••••

Ava's POV

I searched the training field for Fernandez but I couldn't find him. I asked my uncle and a few warriors about him but no one had seen him.

I blamed myself. Maybe I was too harsh on him that's why he skipped training.

I walked towards the river giving up hope of seeing him for the rest of the day, till I saw him throwing rocks into the river.

"Fernandez, "I called out hurrying towards him. "Fernandez," I called him again.

He turned in my direction. "At your service my queen," he said so formally and I hated myself more.

I punched him lightly on his arm. "Why the formality?"I asked. He looked away.

"Nothing," he said.

"C'mon Fernandez, I'm sorry." I apologized.

He shook his head. "You shouldn't apologize, you're the queen and have every right to yell at someone inconveniencing your space."

"Stop that Fernandez, what I did was wrong. You've been my best friend for so long and I shouldn't have reacted that way to you. I'm just so tensed up."I said and shrugged at the last part.

"Maybe you should take a break from the men's world. You know, the training, fighting, and war," he suggested.

I raised a brow. "And do what?"

"Be the queen, Ava. The queen you ought to be," he said.

"Smiling gracefully and barking orders? letting my people fight and die for the pack while I sit in the protective walls of my chambers?" I scoffed. "A fat chance of that happening."

He smiled. "You really are an enigma, Ava and an inspiration to all," he said.

I smiled wondering what good I had done in my life to get such a friend.

"Forgiven?"I asked.

He held my hand in his. "I never held a grudge,"he said.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I found uncle Phil handing a piece of paper to Daniel, the messenger of the pack.

"What are you giving to him uncle?"I asked.

He turned to me. "Oh, Ava, we've run out of supplies and he's going to get them," he said.

"I'll accompany him,"I said. There was no need to hide here anymore since the blood moon now knew where we were.

"No," he replied sternly.

"Why?"I raised my brow in question.

"You're to stay right here where you'll be protected," he answered.

"I'm no longer a child that needs protection uncle. I cannot stay confined anymore to this forest."I argued.

"Yes you can handle situations but in a few weeks you'll be the alpha of this pack and if anything happens to you, it will be on my neck," he explained.

I understood his point of view but he should understand mine. I should have been dead long ago on the battlefield if really it was my time to.

"If you don't allow me to take decisions while I'm not yet alpha, there's no guarantee you'll let me take one when I become the leader," I said and I hit a spot on him.

"But," he still wanted to protest. I kissed his cheek. "I love you uncle." and with that, I was gone.

Daniel drove us to the store in uncle's old pickup truck and we engaged in little conversations, especially about the weather.

Every now and then, color rose to his cheek and I had this thought he felt delighted being in the same truck as me.

We arrived at the store and I inhaled the air and felt peaceful as a mixture of cinnamon, cilantro and onions waft into my nose.

People were walking down the streets going about their business like nothing was happening. Like there was no supernatural amongst them.

It felt good to be in the midst of humans again. It made me forget momentarily the beastly environment I grew up in.

Not that I didn't love them, I love my pack with everything I own, they were the only family I know.

Daniel and I walked into the store. One of the two stores in town he told me, that knew wolves lived among them.

"Hey Daniel," the storekeeper greeted. Daniel flashed a smile and went over to him. "Who's the young lady with you?" he asked as Daniel handed over the paper to him.

"Oh," Daniel looked in my direction. "She's the alpha of our pack," he said.

The man looked amazed. "Wow, a female alpha?"

I flashed a smile, surprise surprise.

Daniel nodded. "Yeah, long story. Could you get those stuff for me, I'm in a hurry," he said.

"I'll do so immediately," he said walking away.

Daniel stood waiting for him while I wandered off from the counter into the display area.

My eyes caught hold of a teddy bear that was placed on the shelf, which reminded me of the one my mother got for me on my fifth birthday.

My eyes watered as the memories came flooding in.

"Permit me to ask, who do you wanna get that for?"

I heard an awful yet husky familiar voice behind me. The silky, masculine voice made the hairs at the back of my neck stand to a still.

Skye's POV

I was at the other end of the store when I noticed her walking toward the display area. I totally ignored her but my wolf took control.

I had no way of taming him when he likes something badly especially since this one thing is his mate.

I couldn't hold myself anymore from walking towards her. I told my wolf countless of times she was an enemy but he wouldn't listen.

A descendant from the lineage of the crescent, an enemy for over a century but he disagreed.

I did not want to be nice, in fact, I wanted to be the most hostile man she has ever met, but my wolf took the better part of me.

She stared at me with those silvery eyes of hers before narrowing them at me.

"And if a thought crosses your mind that it is you then wake up from that thought." she fired at me.

I smirked. "I wasn't thinking of me but of you. It's nice and cuddly," I said touching the bear. "I could get it for you if you want it."

Her defiance that I've come to love, builds up again.

"And what makes you think I'll accept anything that comes from those bloody hands of yours?"

"Because you'll have no choice in the matter," I said.

She eyed me with disdain and turned to walk away. I held her back grabbing her arm.

"Let go of me," she said through clenched teeth.

"I recall clearly telling you, I was letting go of you that one time,"I said.

She turned to jab me in the chest but I caught her in time forcing her to lay back on me. With her perfumed hair under my chin, I was forced not to bury my face in the silkiness of her hair.

"Let go of me you vulgar barbarian, you have no rights over me," she said struggling.

"I believe I have a few over you."

"What?!" she sounded shocked.

"You're mine," I said with my wolf finally having total control of me.

Her struggling ceased as I got hit on the back.

"Let go of the Queen!"

I turned to see a brown head holding a tool he had hit me with and attempting to do it again. I caught his wrist in a painful grasp as he winced.

Had she not stood between us to intervene, he would have been thrown through the shelves in the store. My wolf was ready to make sure that happens.

"That's enough," she said in an authorization. "Let go of Daniel," she said looking over at him. I let go of his wrist and

I watched in anger as they left the store.

Ava's POV

I rubbed my hands on my shoulders feeling the air more chillier than usual. Daniel had paid for the supplies and we were heading back to camp. Uncle was planning on getting a house in town and I couldn't wait. I didn't want us to keep staying in shabby cabins in the forest. We arrived back to the woods and saw uncle pacing about.

"What took you so long?"Uncle barked at Daniel. He shivered. "The Queen was hassled by the alpha of the blood moon pack," he said.

Uncle's face hardened as he turned in my direction throwing questions at once. "Did he hurt you? did he say anything to you?"

"He said the queen.."Daniel began but I interrupted him knowing what he had to say.

"He called me a weakling. The usual taunts of the blood moons." I said signaling for Daniel to leave. He walked away.

"I warned you not to leave the camp," he said.

"I'm glad I did, "I said shrugging off.

"Ava," uncle's voice sounded low in a warning. I shrugged off again.

"I wasn't hurt, was I ?"I questioned.

"I forbid you from leaving the camp till further notice." he declared.

"Uncle!" I yelled.

"You were not hurt this time, what about next time?" he asked.

"I'll be fine. I can take care of myself."I assured him.

"I have made my decision. You stay with the pack," he said.

I frowned at him and walked away. "Ava, wait up." I turned to look behind me and saw Fernandez running towards me. I placed my hands in my pocket and kept walking, a little slower than before. He walked beside me falling along with my strides. "You don't look fine, Ava," he said.

I heaved in. "I'm fine," I said looking away.

"You're not, Ava. I've known you since we were kids, I can tell when you're sober," he said.

I sighed as I kicked a small rock that was in my way. "I'm fine,"I said again.

I was heading to the river. A good swim was what I needed to clear my head. "I've noticed since your fight with the blood moon alpha, you've not been yourself," he said driving straight into the bone of contention. I stopped in my tracks.

"This has nothing to do with that scoundrel,"I said looking away. Of course, I was lying. It had everything to do with him and Fernandez wasn't wrong about what he said.

"What's wrong Ava? you definitely don't look fine but worried. If you don't confide in me, then who will you?" he coaxed me and I had no choice but to tell him. He was right. I couldn't bring it upon myself to tell my uncle and I needed to let it off my chest.

I sighed. "It's the alpha of the blood moon pack." I said. He looked curiously and also suspiciously at me.

"What about him?" he asked.

"Promise me you won't tell anyone." I said to him.

He placed his hand on his chest. "I promise." he said.

I looked about hoping no one was eavesdropping.

"He's my mate." I dropped the bombshell watching his face turn pale.

"You're his what?!" he yelled out. I covered his mouth with my hand shushing him up. "Don't yell." I hissed out irritated by his outburst.

He took my hand off his mouth. "Tell me you're kidding Ava." he said.

"I wish I was." I said sighing.

"You are, right?" he asked again and I frowned at him resuming my walk to the river.

"I would not be so tensed up if this were a joke."I said.

He followed me. "I still can't believe it." he said in bafflement.

"It's the truth Fernandez,the horrible truth." I said. "You're not gonna accept him are you?" he asked.

I could feel his eyes boring at the back of my neck as I took off my jacket. I stopped and turned to him. "He's an enemy from the lineage that killed my mother and wiped away most of the pack. I would never forget that day."I said staring straight into his eyes.

~~~~~~~

Skye's POV

I dismissed the ladies I had earlier sent for the night to fill the emptiness of my bed. I was no longer in the mood to have them by my side. Meeting Ava today and still having her scent on me,I couldn't get her off my mind. I needed to but I just couldn't. I was still looking out the window when Robin walked in.

"The ladies have been dismissed from the house Skye."he said.

I nodded waving him aside. "I've noticed my alpha is always in a deep thought. What troubles you?you never can tell,I might be of help."he said. "What goes on in my mind is not something that you can help me with Robin."I answered him. "We've shared many secrets together, Skye. I'm not just your beta but also your best friend." he said.

I looked away from the window,walking towards the table that stood close to the wall.

"The crescent girl, I want you to find out everything about her. I mean everything and leave no stones unturned." I said.

"Why? what for?" he asked at once in a baffling tone. "Do as I have said."I said in authority.

"But, Skye," he protested.

"It's an order." I said more vehemently than I intended. He nodded and left.

Why I was so interested in this enemy from the crescent pack alarms me. Every part of me wanted her even when I try not to. My wolf demands for her presence every now and then. How could I be mates with an enemy?Why is the universe against me?why are they bringing torture to my soul? I groaned. My cellphone beeped and I picked it up to see a message from Natasha.

With all the chaos and my thinking,I'd forgotten she was a part of my life. I dropped the phone and laid on the bed,my hands folded behind my head. I wanted to forget her but I couldn't. I closed my eyes in slumber and all I could see was her spiky silvery coloured eyes.