Chapter 1
Leo had faced death before.
War. Silver blades. Darius.
But nothing had ever terrified him like the thought of standing in front of Mira on Choosing Day—
And hearing her say someone else’s name.
He hadn’t even asked her yet.
That was the worst part.
The Choosing Day would come again on August 7th.
Every unmated wolf of age would gather at Moonfall Clearing, beneath the open sky. Packs would travel from miles away. Some would arrive already certain. Others would decide in front of everyone.
Chosen Mates.
Not forced.
Not bound by instinct.
Chosen.
And Leo didn’t know if she would choose him.
He watched her from the edge of the training yard, trying very hard not to.
Mira moved like she owned the ground she walked on. She had tied her hair back messily, sleeves rolled up, arguing with Nyra over stance and technique.
“You telegraph your right hook,” Nyra said.
“I do not,” Mira snapped.
“You absolutely do.”
“Leo,” Mira called suddenly without looking at him, “tell her she’s wrong.”
He stiffened.
“I’m not involved.”
“You’re always involved,” she replied.
The warriors nearby snickered.
Kael, leaning casually against the stone wall beside Scarlett, raised an amused brow.
“Gamma,” Kael called lightly, “is she telegraphing?”
Leo swallowed.
“Yes.”
Mira gasped dramatically. “Traitor.”
Scarlett laughed softly beside Kael. “You do telegraph.”
“Not you too,” Mira groaned.
The yard erupted into light laughter. Leo forced a smile. This was normal. This was safe.
But something had changed in the last few months. Since the war ended.
Since Mira stopped saying she would leave “soon.”
Since she started staying.
Later that afternoon, Scarlett found him alone near the lower barracks.
“You’re staring again,” she said gently.
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
Leo sighed. Scarlett leaned against the railing beside him.
“You know Choosing Day is in four months.” He went still.
“Yes.”
“And you haven’t asked her.”
“It doesn’t work like that.”
Scarlett tilted her head. “It can.”
“No,” he said quietly. “She has to want it.”
“And what if she does?”
Leo’s jaw tightened.
“What if she doesn’t?” he replied.
Scarlett studied him carefully.
“You’re afraid.”
“Yes.” She nodded slowly.
“That’s fair.” Leo let out a breath.
“I’m Kael’s gamma,” he said. “Second. Always second.”
Scarlett frowned. “That’s not how she sees you.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I do.”
“How.”
Scarlett’s lips curved faintly. “Because she watches you the way I used to watch Kael before I admitted anything.”
Leo’s heart stumbled.
“She doesn’t want roots,” he said.
“She says that.”
“She also says she might go back to her pack before winter.” Scarlett’s expression shifted.
“She told you that?”
“She tells everyone that.” Silence.
“You should talk to her,” Scarlett said softly.
“And say what?” Leo asked. “Hey, if you’re not busy leaving, would you maybe consider choosing me publicly in front of every pack?”
Scarlett laughed.
“You could try something less terrifying.” Leo shook his head.
“If she says no,” he said quietly, “I still have to stand beside her every day.”
Scarlett’s eyes softened.
“That’s the risk of choice.”
Mira didn’t know he was watching when she packed. It wasn’t much.
Just a small leather bag. A folded cloak. A few keepsakes.
He saw it through the open doorway of the guest chambers.
His chest tightened. She wasn’t leaving yet. But she was preparing.
“You’re reorganising?” he asked from the doorway.
Mira jumped slightly.
“Don’t sneak up on me.”
“I didn’t.”
“You did.”
He stepped inside slowly.
“What’s that?”
She shrugged. “Nothing.”
“It looks like something.”
“It’s just… in case.”
“In case of what?” She hesitated.
“In case I go home for a while.”
The words felt like a blade under his ribs.
“When,” he asked evenly.
“Soon,” she said. “Maybe.”
“Why.”
She looked at him like that was obvious.
“Because that’s where my pack is.”
“And this isn’t.”
She opened her mouth.
Closed it.
“Blackmoor isn’t mine,” she said carefully. “I’m a guest.”
The word hit harder than anything else. Guest. Temporary. Disposable.
“You’re not,” he said before he could stop himself.
Her eyes lifted to his.
“Then what am I?”
Dangerous question.
Very dangerous.
He forced his tone to be neutral.
“You’ve been here through war. Through rebuilding. Through… everything.”
“That doesn’t make it mine.”
“No,” he agreed quietly. “It doesn’t.”
Silence settled between them.
Thick.
Unsaid things pressing against skin.
“Choosing Day is coming,” Mira said suddenly.
His pulse spiked.
“Yes.”
“Kael and Scarlett said they’ll host it this year.”
“They will.”
Mira’s fingers tightened on the leather strap of her bag.
“I don’t know if I’ll stay for it.”
Leo felt the ground tilt.
“You’re of age,” he said carefully.
“I know.”
“You should stand.”
“Why.”
Because if you don’t—
You’ll never choose me.
He swallowed.
“Because you deserve the option.” She studied him closely.
“And you?”
His throat felt dry.
“What about me?”
“Are you standing?”
“Yes.”
“Do you have someone in mind?” There it was. The moment.
The edge of the cliff.
“Yes,” he said quietly.
Her breath caught.
“…Oh.” Silence.
“Does she know?” Mira asked.
“No.”
“Why not?” Because she might leave. Because she might laugh. Because she might say no.
“Because,” he said carefully, “I don’t want her to feel pressured.” Mira stepped closer.
“Chosen Mates means chosen,” she said softly. “Not cornered.”
“I know.”
“Then why does it sound like you’re afraid?”
He met her eyes fully now.
“Because if she doesn’t choose me,” he said quietly, “I still have to protect her.” Her breath hitched.
“You talk like it’s me.”
He didn’t respond. He didn’t deny it either.
The air changed. Something shifted. Not a magical snap. Not a bond claiming. Just awareness.
“You think I’d say no,” she whispered.
“I think,” he said honestly, “you deserve someone you’re certain about.”
“And you think you’re not certain.”
“I am,” he said immediately.
Too quickly.
She stepped closer.
“So the problem isn’t you.”
He went still.
“It’s me,” she finished.
He looked away.
She laughed softly.
“You idiot.”
He blinked.
“Excuse me?”
“You think I’d pack a bag because I’m leaving you?” she asked.
His heart stopped.
“You said—”
“I said I might visit,” she corrected. “There’s a difference.”
Hope was dangerous.
He knew that.
He’d watched Kael almost lose everything before Scarlett chose him publicly in front of the packs.
Choice mattered.
Publicly.
Irrevocably.
“You don’t have to decide now,” Leo said quietly. “Four months.”
Mira searched his face.
“And if I don’t choose you.”
His wolf snarled inside him.
He kept his voice steady.
“Then I’ll stand as your gamma.”
She stared at him like she was trying to see inside his head.
“That’s unfair.”
“That’s loyalty.”
“No,” she said softly. “That’s love.”
The word hit like thunder.
He didn’t confirm it.
Didn’t deny it.
He simply held her gaze.
“If you ask me,” she said slowly, “you have to be ready for the answer.”
“I know.”
“And if I choose someone else?”
His jaw tightened.
“Then I’ll make sure he treats you right.”
Her expression softened.
“You’d do that.”
“Yes.”
Silence.
Then Mira smiled slightly.
“You’re really stupid, you know that?”
He huffed a breath.
“I’ve been told.”
She stepped past him toward the doorway.
“I haven’t decided anything,” she said over her shoulder.
“Okay.”
“But I’m not leaving yet.”
His heart steadied just a little.
“Okay.”
“And if you’re going to ask me,” she added lightly, “maybe don’t do it in the middle of a hallway like a coward.”
His brows lifted.
“Coward?”
She grinned.
“Four months, gamma.”
Then she left.
Leo stood alone in the doorway, heart racing.
Four months.
Four months until Choosing Day.
Four months until she could choose him.
Or not. And for the first time in his life—
He wasn’t afraid of war. He was afraid of choice.
