𝑯𝒐𝒘𝒍𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑪𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝑭𝒂𝒕𝒆

Nothing is as it seems.

When finding your fated mate was supposed to be inevitable, reaching my age without one felt like a curse—and my father’s constant pressure to find her only made things worse. Maybe I was a lost cause, and that fact would finally let him sleep at night. Or not. Cry me a river.

The bass thumped through the walls of the club, a relentless rhythm that matched the beat of my heart. I loved the numbness the place and Friday’s happy hour drinks offered. It was the stress release I needed after my father’s big speech.

I lounged alone on a plush sofa at our pack’s table, trying to ignore the stares and whispers from others who knew exactly who I was. Gulping down another glass of rum and cola, I then took a deep breath to ease the weight of their eyes on me.

The air was thick with the scent of sweat, cheap cologne, and something sweet—like trouble waiting to happen.

“The big talk from your father really messed with you, didn’t it?” Asher, my best friend and classmate, handed me another drink, his tone too casual to be innocent. “That we have to search for our mates every damn—”

“Asher,” I warned, narrowing my eyes at his messy brown hair. “I’m here to forget all that, not to be reminded. So either help me or find someone else to nag.”

He grinned and sat next to me.

“So, his talk was meant for you only?” He chuckled into his glass and quickly downed it when he noticed my pointed look.

“Asher, stop.” His sister brought more drinks to the table, squeezed in between us, and leaned in with a mischievous grin. “Gideon, don’t worry. Maybe if I stare into your eyes long enough, we’ll find out that we’re fated.” Her dark eyes locked onto mine, playful, searching deep into my soul.

Asher laughed, shaking his head. “Lilly, you’d need a miracle for that. And Gideon’s got enough on his plate without adding a jokester like you into the mix.”

“Hey! I’m not just a jokester,” Lilly shot back, feigning offense as her blond curls bounced around. “I’m keeping all you pups in line.”

Despite my efforts to remain unaffected, I found myself laughing along with them. “Yes, you try.”

She ran a hand quickly through my hair to prove her point. “And we’re both blonde—”

“Stop,” I groaned, rubbing a hand over my face.

“Honestly though, I really do need a wolf in my life. I want to be a wolf too.” Lilly leaned in closer, her grin widening as she saw a glimpse of fear in me. “But even though I’d love to have an alpha… no, Gideon, I can’t take you as more than a friend,” she teased, her voice dripping with mock seriousness.

I cringed but couldn’t help smirking. “Thank God for that,” I replied, seeing her fake puppy eyes. “But hey, those pancakes you made this morning? Top-notch. You’re really stepping up as the pack’s big mama.”

Lilly nodded proudly. “I know, right? I’ve got plenty of time to perfect my cooking skills being with the pack.”

“You’re just nineteen,” I pointed out, half-smirking.

“So are you!” she shot back, nudging me playfully with her elbow. “Your father is right. Four years without finding your girl is too long.”

I opened my mouth but I was already too tired of that never ending debacle about my loneliness.

Asher, who had been leaning back, casually checked his watch. “It’s getting late,” he noted, though he didn’t seem in a hurry to leave—just helping me out of the talk.

Lilly pouted, her playful mood shifting to disappointment. “But it’s Friday night! We should be having fun, not worrying about the time.”

“And my father’s grand talk,” I muttered to myself, but they clearly heard me.

Lilly and Asher exchanged a look before she turned to me with a wink. “Dear Gideon, I’m very sure that your father meant that you should at least try harder to find your mate. Not to date or marry her instantly.”

I gave her a skeptical look. “And how did you come up with that? Did you hear the same speech?”

“You need to know how to read between the lines,” she laughed and winced as another friend loudly dropped onto the sofa next to me.

“Caden, where are the drinks we bought?” Asher didn’t waste a second before snapping at him.

Caden shrugged with his usual devilish grin. “I gave them to two girls at another table. They need them more.”

“But Gideon paid for them, so you’d better go get them back or buy another round,” Asher mocked him, and I straightened my posture, preparing myself for another one of their fights.

Lilly saw Caden’s scowl and stopped him before he could make a scene. “Go now!”

I blinked, starting to say, “Hey, that’s okay—”

But my words were drowned out by the loud music and Caden storming off, kicking the table in frustration.

Lilly and Asher moved quickly to save the full glasses before the table stabilized and stared at me.

I rolled my eyes. “I would tell him to buy another.”

“No, you wouldn’t. He’s your weak point, but that’s not how it should go in packs,” Asher sighed.

Lilly joined in and held my hand. “Honey, you need to overcome your insecurities and be the leader you’re meant to be, okay? We love you, but you’ve got a lot of work to do to earn the respect of the other members. Fresh pack or not.”

I sighed, the reality of my responsibilities nudging at the edges of my mind. “Yeah, well...”

“Well?” Lilly’s face lit up.

“I’d better go find Caden before he causes any more trouble. I’ll catch up with you two later.”

She rolled her eyes but smiled, waving me off. “Go on, then. We’ll hold down the fort here.”

I scrunched my nose with a smile at her and continued deeper in the club.

The place was packed, bodies moving together in a sweaty, rhythmic mass.

I waved at two of my wolves dancing with their girlfriends and earned their grins in return.

One little step at a time.

As I pushed through the crowd, dodging girls who threw interested glances my way, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of my father’s expectations pressing down on me again.

I was always making sure to gaze into everyone’s eyes to see if it was her. I couldn’t count all the festivals, clubs, and hangout spots we’d visited with Caden over the year to overcome my father’s skepticism. But today, he had struck.

It didn’t feel like my fault, though. Maybe I wasn’t meant for anyone right now.

Every girl in that room was determined to be mated to a wolf, yet alone to an alpha, but I saw all of them that night, and I could say with certainty that none were the one.

Being fated wasn’t about power, status, or choice—it was about destiny. Total randomness, in my eyes, and anxiety rose with the thought.

A girl caught my arm, her grip light but insistent. “You’re the alpha from Moongrave, right? My brother is in your pack, I’d like to join your parties someday.”

I met her gaze, searching for that spark, but found the same nothing as at the beginning of the night. “Come with him anytime, that’s okay.”

“And do you have time now?” she asked and pinched the hem of my black shirt. Was there a smudge?

“Sorry, hun. I really need to find my friend,” I said frowning.

She nodded, her half-smile tinged with disappointment. “Caden?”

“Do you know where he is?”

“He’s with two girls in that corner.” She pointed behind me.

“Thank you,” I exchanged a sudden smile with her and turned around.

Just then, I spotted Caden’s black hair peeking through the crowd.

I swiftly navigated through the throng and stopped a few feet away.

He was near the far wall, his arm draped over a girl’s shoulder. Her long brown hair flowed like silk to her hips, but it was sadly trapped to the wall thanks to Caden.

Though she seemed to be trying to keep some distance, there was a playful spark in her eyes, mocking him.

Caden was grinning, clearly enjoying himself. “Come on, you can’t resist me,” he teased, his tone light.

The girl laughed, rolling her eyes. “You’re too old for me, Caden. What are you, like, twenty?”

“Not that old!” he protested, but she just shook her head, still smiling.

“Really, you should find someone your own age, grandpa,” she teased, attempting to slip out from under his arm.

“Why would I? Don’t be scared.” He tried again.

“Scared of you, Caden? You wouldn’t last a second with me,” she warned, and I finally noticed her straighten her posture to look intimidating. Damn, she was tall and it made him lean back.

“Let’s—” Caden began.

“Enough!” I intervened before he could continue. Grabbing his other arm, I freed the girl’s hair and brought his ear close to me. “You should know better than to mess with underaged girls.”

He gulped, but his drunken state made him play the drama queen. “Come on—”

I growled despite trying not to. “This is serious, Caden. I have to tell my father about this.”

“No, hell, I’m your friend, Gideon.”

His crying like he was innocent made me more angry.

“And this isn’t fun,” I gritted between my teeth. “Where’s the other girl?”

“I don’t know,” he pipped looking around.

“Go find her and bring her here, nothing more.” I ordered, and he obeyed.

I quickly tried to ease my wolf and turned back to the girl. I needed to make sure if she wasn’t my mate and maybe make sure she won’t talk about this.

She was staring at her shiny sneakers, fidgeting. “Thank you, my savior.”

Was she mocking me too?

I sighed and grabbed her shoulder—I wanted to have the eye staring competition already behind me. “Sorry about him. How did you even get here?”

She sighed deeply, touching the ends of her long hair. “A moment ago, my friend—”

“This club is 18+.” I cringed. Where were the security guys, anyway?

She didn’t seem inclined to look at me, but I took a long glance at her fancy outfit. It looked expensive, yet a few small details suggested it was DIY.

“I’m seventeen; it’s not a big deal,” she scoffed, tilting her head, perhaps admiring my new expensive shoes.

“Let’s get you home.” I stated firmly. I didn’t want to see her there and I needed her attention.

“No! I’m going alone now,” she piped up, glaring at my tattooed forearms with a faint smile.

“Alone?” I probed my eyebrow, releasing her shoulder.

“Calm down. I have a car on the next street...” She lowered her eyes more again.

“You drive without a license?” I asked, waiting for her glare.

She finally gave me a full glance, raising her chin proudly. “I probably know how to drive better than you, Gideon.”

Our eyes met—hers and mine—and the world seemed to stop. Her deep green eyes were captivating, and for a moment, everything else faded away. I felt it in my chest, a deep, instinctual pull, an undeniable connection. This girl—this stranger who knew my name—was my mate.

Her teasing smile faltered, her gaze on me shifting with a mix of curiosity and recognition. Was she a werewolf? Did she know too?

I moved a little closer and inhaled her scent, realizing she was human. She had no idea and I shouldn’t rush her.

Her hand moved, perhaps to push me away, but her fingers traced the ink on my arm as she continued to stare. At least my future wife seemed to appreciate my quirk for silly drawings.

The loud club music faded, leaving only the bond between us, raw and powerful.

I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know how to keep her near me. “What’s your name again?”

Something shifted in her eyes that I couldn’t quite come up with. Maybe she was sad I didn’t recognize her from somewhere? It was nonsense. If I had met her before in the last years, I would have already known she was my mate. And I didn’t remember her from anywhere before.

I took a step closer and gently grasped her wrist. “Please let me take you home. I’ll call a driver for you.”

She shook her head. “I’m not from here.”

“Doesn’t matter,” I pressed hopefulness into my voice.

When I said that, she grimaced to be disgusted and stared behind me as Caden appeared with another girl. As I turned to him, he seemed to be deep in a kiss. Oh hell.

“Caden!” I warned him.

He stopped and laughed while hugging her. “Vivian here is eighteen; don’t worry. But you lost her friend.”

“What?” I was frustrated.

As I turned back, there was no one. I took Caden by his shirt and dragged him outside despite his protests.

We waited there for about a minute while I still clenched his shirt. If she wanted to leave, she’d have to go through us. Or—I hoped not—she was already somewhere outside.

The town was quiet, but the May air felt too icy, and Caden shivered under my grip. “You can release me,” he muttered.

“Dude, what were you thinking?” I scolded him.

“She’s eighteen very soon; I can sense that!” he tried.

“She’s still underage!”

“Oh come on, why does it matter? She isn’t your mate.”

I stared at him, my nostrils flaring.

He was drunk but quickly realized. “No way! I messed up this badly. I—I am so sorry, Gideon.”

“At least tell me her name,” I said slowly.

“She didn’t want to tell me, but I’ll ask her friend Vivian.”

“Quickly, and search for my mate in the meantime.”

“Okay.” He dashed back inside as I tried to dial Asher and then Lilly.

She answered immediately. “What’s up?”

I took a deep breath. “I found my mate, but she ran away, and I don’t know her name.”

“She’s in the club?” she asked without any doubt.

“Probably. Very long brown hair, green eyes, sparkly shoes—” I couldn’t continue as I heard an engine in another street. I hung up and ran toward the sound, knowing full well that it could be my mate. I hoped not.

An old red Fiat drove around twenty yards away, and I saw her. She was speeding away from the town square. I quickly heightened my senses to see the license plate and made a note in my phone.

Running after her and scaring her wasn’t an option.

— ⋆ ✯ ✵ ✯ ⋆ —

I rushed back to the club and ran straight into Lilly.

“What is she wearing?” she asked, focused.

“She’s already gone. I have just license plate.”

Lilly nodded and tried to process it. “Alright, don’t worry. We’ll figure it out.”

“Vivian is her friend—she’s with him over there,” I said, nodding toward Caden and the girl.

“Got it.”

Lilly tugged me through the sea of bodies, determined and quick. When we reached Caden and the girl, Vivian, they were deep in conversation. Caden glanced over at us, but his usual smirk was absent; he looked serious.

Lilly stepped up first, her voice calm but demanding. “Hey, Vivian, right? We need to know who your friend is. This is important.”

Vivian’s eyes flickered nervously, but she kept her posture guarded. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, clearly stalling.

“Come on,” Lilly pressed. “We’re not looking to cause trouble. Just tell us who she is, and we’ll leave you alone.”

Vivian shook her head, her lips pressed into a thin line. “Sorry, she left me here. She can go straight to hell.” She grabbed her purse and pushed past us, muttering, “I gotta go.”

“Wait—!” I reached for her, but she was already weaving through the crowd, disappearing out the door.

Lilly let out an exasperated sigh, glancing back at me. “Well, that went well.”

Caden, who’d been watching the exchange silently, finally spoke up. “Vivian’s not gonna talk. You’ll need another way to find out.”

Lilly crossed her arms, her brow furrowed. “Yeah? And how would you know that?”

He shrugged. “She’s tight-lipped about everything. If you want info, you’ll need someone else in that circle.”

“And how did you find out?”

“She was at your birthday party last month. I talked to her there; that’s why I went to her here—to catch up.”

I shook my head. “I don’t remember Vivian.”

Lilly turned to me. “You don’t remember anything important.”

“What is that supposed to mean? I have to find my mate, Lilly.”

“Don’t worry,” she gestured with her hand for me to calm down.

“Don’t worry?” I echoed.

“Calm down. Once you lock eyes with her, it will lead her to you slowly. It activates fate.”

I nodded, trying to swallow my frustration, pointing at them. “Don’t tell my father, either of you. I don’t want him to know until I figure out who she is.”

Caden opened his mouth but Lilly nudged him and he pipped. “Count on us.”

I exhaled and tried to dampen the loud music that was trying to put me down.

That girl—my mate—had vanished, leaving only questions in her wake. Whoever she was, whatever she was hiding, it didn’t matter. Fate had drawn us together, and no matter how hard she ran, I would find her.

Asher came to us and frowned at me. “What’s wrong with you?”

“It’s getting late,” I stated, repeating his previous words, and Lilly patted my arm.