Conrad kept close to her as they made their way toward the forest. He’s got this prickly feeling in his chest whenever he caught another guy looking at his mate. It was an irritating feeling, but he knew he needed to keep it under control.

Alice noticed his closeness, but it did make her feel safe in this unfamiliar territory. At one point, he grabbed her wrist and held it as they walked. Then, he started telling her the areas in the pack that they’d come across. She looked around and felt a certain level of calm in her heart. This place seemed to have that effect on her. It looked peaceful. It was simple and neat, but that was its beauty.

She frowned at how organized and tidy the place was. Her old pack was known for being chaotic and messy. The environment alone kept her alert and on guard. But here . . . she liked the momentary feeling she was having. She took in a deep breath and then smelled his scent again. Apples. At some point, his hand had moved toward hers and clasped it. It was warm and seemed to be sending a tingly feeling through her arm toward her body. She knew this was a result of the mate bond. She wanted to be as close to him as possible.

He tugged her towards the woods they were in yesterday, and she simply followed while staring at him.

She actually found her mate, but what should she do now? Last night, she hadn’t been able to make a decision. It’s a good thing that she didn’t want to let go, but her conscience couldn’t let them suffer because of her. She had to go.

Sensing her feelings, Conrad squeezed her hand and stopped walking. She bumped into him, a clear indication that she was spacing out.

“I’m sorry.” She looked around, unsure why they stopped walking. This wasn’t the place.

“You look sad.” He carefully touched her cheek, and she savored the feeling.

Alice bit her lip. Yeah, she was. She stared directly at him. She would commit his appearance to her memory. She was happy to have simply met him, so she smiled.

Sighing, Conrad asked, “Can you tell me what your situation is? Your companions couldn’t tell us much. All they know is that you’re being hunted. Who’s after you and why are they hunting you down?”

This was the task his father gave him, but he was equally curious. Why would anyone want to hurt his mate? An indescribable anger surged from within him, and she felt it. Her eyes widened, and she tried to pull her hand away.

Conrad closed his eyes and took deep breaths, but he didn’t let her go.

“Sorry. I just . . . I’m angry because there are people who want to hurt you. I won’t let them hurt you. I’ll protect you.”

His words were sweet, but she couldn’t . . .

After she retrieved the daggers, she would ask them for supplies. Then, she would be off. Just like that, she had made her decision. Her heart ached, but it was what she must do.

“Alice?”

“I have to leave. I can’t stay here.”

Her words alarmed him.

“No. You have to stay. This is your home now.” There was urgency in his voice, and he gripped her hand tighter.

Home. That sounded nice.

“I can’t . . .” she told him again.

“Why can’t you?” he pressed for an answer.

Alice shook her head. “I don’t want to cause you trouble. They would attack your pack if I stay here.”

Just thinking about it made her feel so much guilt. Her mother died protecting her.

“We know that part already. And as my mate, do you really think I would simply let you go? I’m going to protect you. My father agreed it’s the right thing to do.”

“It’s too risky . . .” she continued. “Members of your pack could die if they attack.”

“We’ll be prepared for that. We’re not exactly weak.”

Seeing the doubt on her face, Conrad knew he must convince her.

“It’s the Silver Crescent, right? They’re notorious for their strength and brutality, sure, but I can assure you that we can take them on. Won’t you trust me?”

Okay, it might have been too early to ask that from her. They didn’t know each other yet, but here he was, asking her to trust him.

“Alice, you’re my mate. That means you’re going to be this pack’s Luna later on. There are no coincidences to the moon goddess, is there? You’re meant to be here.”

Alice very much wanted to believe his words and rely on him. But could she really?

“Why don’t you tell me the situation first? That way we would be more prepared. We need to know what you know to do that. You can tell me anything, Alice.” He liked saying her name. It still felt surreal to him that he found her after so many years. It was a good thing that he waited until now. The elders had already advised him to choose a mate instead. Thankfully, he didn’t listen.

“I ran away from my pack,” she began after a few minutes of silence as they stared at each other.

He nodded and encouraged her to continue.

“Alpha Walter wants me dead,” she admitted.

Conrad frowned at this. “Why?” Why would that vicious wolf want her dead?

“He . . . he killed my mother. He k-killed his mate. He’s my f-father.” Her voice trembled as she told him the truth.

Conrad inhaled deeply as she finally gave him some answers. So, some of the rumors were true. The guy actually killed his own mate. But that begged the question, why?

The rumors . . . somehow, he couldn’t bring himself to ask her. ‘Are you sure he’s your father? Why would he want you dead if he is?’

The implication would be . . . her mother was truly unfaithful. Then, who was her father?

Alice watched his expression closely.

“They’re saying he may or may not be my father, aren’t they?” she asked in a low voice, her expression turned serious. She considered it, and it could be possible. Otherwise, the man who showed her love for many years wouldn’t just . . . kill his own flesh and blood.

“Your mother didn’t tell you anything?” Since she brought it up, Conrad simply wanted to make sure.

Alice shook her head. Her mother didn’t say anything. She couldn’t even understand how her father could possibly know what the truth was. He came home one night with the intent to murder them. It was horrifying. Remembering that night made her cry, and Conrad was alarmed to see her tears.

“I’m sorry. I promise he won’t be able to come near you. I’ll protect you.” He enclosed her in his arms, and she finally let herself grieve. It had been so long, and she’d been enduring so much.

She cried for a while, and Conrad tried his best to comfort her. He felt helpless with his words. He knew he would truly protect her and keep her safe, but she couldn’t seem to accept it. He could tell she was having thoughts of leaving.

Alice found comfort in his arms. She grudgingly admitted to herself that she liked the feeling. To have someone to lean on . . . but she really didn’t want to trouble them.

She wiped her tears and stepped away from him.

“I’m sorry.”

“You have nothing to be sorry about,” Conrad replied, itching to touch her again.

She turned away from him and asked, “Should we move on? I really want to retrieve my daggers.”

Conrad checked their position and gestured towards a certain direction, “This way.”

As soon as they neared the place, Alice sniffed the air. The daggers definitely had her scent. They were very dear to her, and she slept at night holding them. Conrad picked up the scent as well, but he let her find it. It wasn’t difficult at all. She adorably ran towards the left and slumped on the ground, heaving a sigh of relief.

She’s glad, but her eyes pooled with tears again. She couldn’t bear losing them: her mother’s last gift to her.

“Glad you found them.” Conrad sat next to her, and they stayed like that for a few minutes.

After a while, he extended an arm and put it around her shoulders. He’s glad she didn’t stiffen or anything to indicate she didn’t want his touch. He was even more pleased when she leaned on him.

They enjoyed the companionable silence. Having her this close, he was tempted to kiss her again. It was as if she could hear his thoughts. She looked up at him, and they stared into each other’s eyes. Clearly, there was a pull. He gave in to it and kissed her. He was just about to deepen it when someone called him. He almost growled his annoyance.

“Hey, Conrad. Why are you sitting there?”

He recognized the voice as Wayne’s. He glared when he turned to face them.

“Oh, sorry.” It was then that the newcomers saw the woman next to him.

“We’re on our way for our shift. Guard duty. This isn’t a good place for a picnic, is it?” Wayne noticed the food basket next to Conrad.

The man sighed, tempted to yell at the disturbance. That wouldn’t leave a good impression on her, though.

“We retrieved something she left here last night. We’ll be going near the lake later. Why am I even explaining to you?” The last bit was grumbled out, making Wayne and the others chuckle.

“I’m surprised you’re not roaring at any unmated male that looks at your mate.”

At the mention of this, Conrad’s eyes constricted, and he sharply looked at the others behind Wayne. Aside from him, the others are unmated trainees.

His action made the others tense, and they quickly looked elsewhere. Anywhere but the woman. Wayne was the only one chuckling, but his expression turned serious when Conrad growled at him.

He huffed, “What? I’m already mated. Ah, fine. We’re leaving now. Shift starts in five minutes. Good luck with your date.”

Wayne led the others away, and Conrad turned to see her red face.

“Why are you embarrassed? It’s not as if they know nothing about mates.” His tone was teasing.

Well, he was not wrong. Even she was aware of what having mates meant. The pull between them was not easily ignored. Unless you truly hated the other person, you were most likely to succumb to it.

She didn’t hate him. In fact, she would love to have him as her mate. But she was afraid, and her conscience couldn’t let him and his pack be in danger.

“Should we go to the lake? I guarantee you would like it.” He picked up the basket and took her hand as he stood. She followed quite willingly.

Conrad glanced at her. She was too quiet. What could they talk about?

“Have you seen a lake before?” he asked, unable to think of anything else.

Her lips curved upwards, “Yes, I have.” It was not as if lakes were rare.

“Do you enjoy going on a run?”

Okay, he might have phrased it badly. She’d been on the run for months now. Her step faltered, and he felt it when he had to tug her hand forward as they walked.

“I’m sorry. I meant taking a run in your wolf form,” he quickly amended.

Alice took a deep breath before walking again. “I do. What kind of wolf doesn’t?”

Conrad was glad to see a small smile on her face again.

“Do you want to go on a run? There’s enough space around the lake. It’s a small lake, actually.”

Alice couldn’t help blushing. She had never transformed into her wolf in front of another person, except her mother.

Seeing her this way, Conrad stated, “Don’t worry. There’s a cottage where you can change your clothes.”

Near the lake was a favorite running spot in their pack, so his father allowed the building of a few cottages near it to accommodate the ladies and to serve as a shelter during sudden rains. Not that most wolves minded rains, but some do.

She was relieved to hear this. “Okay.”

They walked for quite a while, and he only managed to ask simple questions.

“What food do you like? I’ll make sure the kitchen prepares them.”

“Please don’t bother them. I can eat anything,” she replied.

“But there must be something you enjoy the most. Does your mother cook?” He kept his tone gentle, not wanting to trigger her. He thought talking about her dead mother was what she needed.

“Yes, all her dishes are delicious. That’s why I can’t choose just one.”

He observed her expression closely, making sure she was fine talking about it.

“I see. My mom’s a good cook, too. But there are a few dishes she can’t do.”

“Is that so?” Well, she herself couldn’t cook much, so . . .

“Yes. Why don’t you tell me the things that makes you happy? You’re in a safe place now. By any chance, do you enjoy cooking?”

The first part of his statement was quite serious, but she chuckled upon hearing his last question. She shook her head.

“I can barely cook, so, no. I don’t enjoy cooking. I like chatting with my mother, though, while she works in the kitchen.”

“Is that right? I’m sure mom would love chatting with you. She’s usually in the kitchen before meal times, helping the others prepare the food.”

“Your mom is nice.” Alice recalled the warm hug she received from the older woman.

“She likes you.”

“I’m thankful.”

“She would love to have you in the pack, as do I.” Here, he made his position clear. He wanted her to stay.

“I can understand your worries. They’re valid. You’re right. The pack could be in danger if we keep you here, but we also can’t not help someone who’s being hunted by evil wolves. Especially when she happens to be you. My mate. My Luna. This pack’s future Luna. You may not be one of us yet, but abandoning you would feel as if we abandoned one of our members. You’re already part of this pack, whether you like it or not. You don’t need to feel guilty about it. You have to trust me. Trust the pack that we will surely keep you safe.”

She couldn’t help feeling touched by his words.

“How about you? Do you want me here? Won’t you despise me if someone else gets hurt? Won’t you blame me if they ruin your pack?” There was both despair and hope in her eyes.

It broke his heart to see such an expression on her.

“I’ll surely blame myself if you get hurt. And yes, I want you here. I want you to accept me as your mate.”

She stared into his eyes, wanting to see the depth of his sincerity. He’d shown her nothing but kindness. But still, they’d only met yesterday.

She took a deep breath before shyly looking away. She didn’t know what to say to that.

Conrad decided to give her more time. He understood it wouldn’t be easy for her to trust him when she spent the last few months only relying on herself and others she’d been with.

When they neared the lake, he heard her soft gasp.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” He was proud of this scenery. It was one of the best places in their territory. Also, it was calming.

The surface of the lake was calm and reflected the mountains beyond. The colors were clear, perfectly simulating a mirror.

Her pace became faster, and she almost skipped toward it, going ahead of him.

He chuckled at her reaction. He was glad she liked it.

Alice also noticed the cute cottages that were situated near the lake. There were several of them. Her gaze focused on the lake and its water surface. She breathed in the fresh air, too. His scent of apples tickled her nostrils. It made her shiver. ‘Mate, huh?’

When her mother lectured her about mates, she kept covering her ears. Some of those things were embarrassing. She never liked anyone in their pack, so she couldn’t relate to some of the things her mother said. In a way, when she sensed him as a mate, some of those lessons came to her mind. If they accepted each other, he would have to mark her. And then, they would have to be intimate. Her face burned at imagining it. She’d never been naked in front of another person. Again, except for her mother. How could she do those things with him? She was kissed for the first time yesterday, and yes, she liked it. It was nice and gave her a very warm, fuzzy feeling. Her mother told her it was going to be instinctual if it happened. ‘Just go with it, if you accept your mate. He’ll take care of you.’

Still . . . she was embarrassed by the thought of letting him see her naked body. Since she only shifted into her wolf a year ago and she didn’t have much experience doing it, she was not comfortable flinging her clothes away. She knew most men were very comfortable parading their nudity. It was second nature to them. For women, it was completely different, though there were definitely some that were very comfortable with it, too. She was not one of them.

“I think there are extra clothes inside the cottages. But you won’t need them unless you ruin your clothes.” Conrad stood next to her before escorting her inside.

“Are you going to run with me?” She was suddenly nervous. Would he shift with her?

“Do you not want to? I can just watch you from here if you’re more comfortable with that.”

Alice hesitated. She’d be more comfortable, yes. But . . . she was curious about his wolf.

“I think running together would be better, right?”

The way he brightened up was cute. Right, he was definitely much older than her.

“How old are you?” Her eyebrows furrowed. It must have been a rude question, so she quickly covered her mouth.

“I mean . . .” How should she apologize for her slip of the tongue?

“I’m twenty-eight. Does that bother you?” He ran a hand through his hair, a little concerned. They had a nine-year gap between them.

“No. I’m just curious. You still look young. Just older than me.”

He was relieved to hear her mumblings.

“Ready to shift? I’ll wait for you outside.”

“Oh, okay.” Why did she even assume that he’d shift with her inside the house? Stupid her, she scolded herself.

The thing was, she was not used to shifting. It took her more time than others. She still felt the pain, but it was now bearable compared to the first few times she did it.

When she was fully transformed, she made her way toward the door and pushed it open. Huh, didn’t she push it as well coming in? It was a nice door.

She found a larger wolf waiting for her. His fur was pure white. She would definitely ask him about it later. Most wolves had black fur or darker shades. White . . . that’s unique.

He gestured with his head and started walking towards the side of the lake. She quickly followed. When she caught up with him, he started a light run. And then, they were playing who ran faster. It was immensely fun.

She knew he was just accommodating her. There was no way she could outrun someone like him. She enjoyed their time playing near the lake very much. It must have been over an hour before they got tired. Well, she was more tired than him. They shifted back, and she wore her clothes again, grabbing her daggers.

There was a built plank, some sort of walkway, near the lake, and Conrad was setting up the picnic there. Alice took a deep breath as she made her way toward him. He didn’t look tired at all.

Conrad glanced at her and smiled. It’d been a while since he had a fun run, and he was happy to have done it with her. Normally, he was preoccupied with his duties and responsibilities in the pack. When he ran with the others, it was for training.

Her wolf was like any other. Dark brown fur. Brown eyes, just like the one he was staring at right now.

She raised an eyebrow when she noticed the different way he was looking at her.

In response, he simply smiled again. He may not have seen anything out of ordinary, something that would make her special or better than any other wolf, but he knew he would treasure her as his mate. He only needed her to exist.

“Are you hungry? Let’s see what mom packed for us.” He assisted her in sitting on the edge of the plank, her feet almost touching the water below.

Alice couldn’t help returning his smile. He did make her feel safe. If only it could last . . .

“I don’t get hungry when I’m tired,” she honestly told him how she was feeling.

“I see. Here, drink this then.” He gave her a tumbler filled with lemonade.

She already drank half of it before realizing there seemed to be only one tumbler. Though she still wanted to drink, she stopped and offered it to him. If he was not thirsty, she would think he was a monster.

“You looked as if you could drink more.” He chuckled and pushed it back to her.

“How about you?” she was bewildered.

“I’m fine. I’m used to running.”

“Still, drink some. You must be thirsty,” Alice insisted.

He stared at her for a while before relenting, “Alright.”

He took a couple of sips, then returned it to her.

Both of them observed the lake. In their wolf form, they could definitely drink directly from its surface. They both chuckled.

He shook his head, wondering why he didn’t check the contents of the basket earlier. Why would his mom put only one tumbler? In a way, it made him see that Alice was not selfish. She was considerate. She did care for others. She would be a kind Luna.