Chapter 3

NIMA’S POV.
I kept my head down as I moved around the packhouse grounds.
I tried my best to stay out of everyone’s way.
After everything that had happened, I knew I was not safe around attention right now.
Lochlan was outside with the elders.
They were seated at a round wooden table not far from the packhouse entrance.
They were talking about Alpha Frank’s burial arrangements, and then Lochlan’s Alpha swearing-in ceremony, which was to take place shortly after that.
I should not have been close enough to hear them.
But I was sent to carry refreshments and later supplies, so I had no choice.
Every few seconds, I felt it even from a distance.
Eyes.
Lochlan’s eyes kept burning into me.
When I looked up once, I caught him staring at me.
His gaze was sharp and cold.
It felt like he wanted to break me just by looking.
I quickly lowered my head again.
I did understand why he kept looking at me like that, and I knew it wasn’t good.
The night fell fast.
People around started whispering, pointing to the sky.
Then I saw it. The moon. Full and bright in the sky.
Lochlan stood up suddenly from the table.
The chair scraped loudly behind him.
“Please excuse me, elders,” he said sharply.
His voice sounded controlled, but his body told a different story.
He was tense.
He turned and walked fast toward the packhouse.
People moved out of his way immediately.
I watched as he rushed inside, and the door shut behind him.
For a moment… everything was silent.
Then suddenly, a loud howl exploded from inside the packhouse.
It shook my entire body. People started screaming.
“What was that?!”
“Oh my goddess!”
Guards ran toward the building, calling out to each other to be careful.
Then someone shouted.
“It’s the future Alpha!”
“He has shifted!”
Panic broke out everywhere.
Lochlan had force-shifted. I had never met him before today, but I had always known the story about his wolf and how he lost control and became bloodthirsty during full moons. Everyone knew the story.
And now it was happening. Right inside the packhouse. His wolf was out.
The whole place turned into chaos.
People ran in every direction. Some screamed.
Some fell while trying to escape. Some helped each other up and continued running, searching for where to hide.
Guards tried to move closer, but they stopped immediately.
Even they were afraid.
“No one goes near him!” one guard shouted.
“He’s not stable!”
Another one backed away slowly.
I could hear crashing sounds coming from inside, followed by heavy footsteps and shaking walls.
My heart was beating too fast.
I should have run with the others.
But my legs moved in a different direction on their own.
I ran toward the side of the packhouse, near the car Lochlan arrived in earlier, and hid behind it, pressing myself low.
My breathing was shaking. He already hated me even as a human for getting his father killed. What would his wolf, who was unstable, do to me? I didn’t want to find out.
I covered my mouth so no one would hear me.
Please don’t find me.
Please don’t—
A sound stopped me.
A deep growl that came right from behind me.
My body froze.
Slowly… I turned, and I saw him.
Lochlan’s wolf. It had to be him. No normal wolf looked like that.
It was huge and terrifying.
Its eyes locked on me immediately, and my heart stopped.
This is it.
I am going to die.
I closed my eyes tightly.
I did not want to see it coming.
Please… just make it quick.
But nothing happened.
No attack.
No pain.
Instead, I felt something touch my hand. I froze.
Then slowly, I found the courage to open my eyes.
The wolf had moved closer. It nudged my fingers gently.
Then it rubbed its head against my arm.
I froze completely. I didn’t even allow myself to breathe.
It licked my cheek softly.
Once. Then again.
A soft whine came from it.
It didn’t sound angry or violent like I expected.
It sounded almost… sad.
From far away, I could hear voices shouting.
“Why is it not attacking her?!”
“Someone explain this!”
People were watching us.
Everyone.
The wolf stayed close to me.
Its breathing slowed. Its body slowly started to relax.
The aggression I had heard earlier was gone.
Completely gone.
For the first time, I did not feel like I was about to die near it.
It looked… calm, which was beyond strange.
Guards stood frozen.
Elders were staring in disbelief.
Even Violet was there, watching in shock and confusion.
Everyone was confused, but not more than I was.
“This cannot be happening,” someone said.
No one understood it.
Not even me. I continued to hold my breath, afraid I might upset it with any movement and get myself killed.
Then, after what felt like hours but was probably a few minutes, the wolf suddenly staggered back.
It let out one low sound, then it collapsed.
Its body twisted, and in seconds, it shifted back into human form.
Lochlan lay on the ground, barely conscious and breathing heavily.
For a long moment, everyone stood still. Nobody spoke.
Then guards rushed forward.
“Alpha!”
“We need to move him!”
“Take him inside!”
They lifted him and carried him into the packhouse.
People slowly began to calm down and started to follow, but I could not move.
I was still shaking. My whole body was vibrating without control.
I did not understand what had just happened.
My feet moved slowly on their own.
After a moment, I followed them inside.
I did not even know why.
I just needed to know what was going on.
Inside, I stopped near a corner.
I could hear voices.
The elders were speaking urgently.
“This is impossible…” Elder Edwards said.
“But it is clear,” another elder said.
There was silence.
Then one of them finally spoke.
“It seems your wolf has found its true mate, my Alpha.”
A pause.
Then Lochlan’s voice, weak and confused, spoke.
“What are you talking about?”
Another silence.
Then the answer came.
“I’m talking about Nima.”
Everything stopped.
Even my breathing.
“I’m tired, Elder Bennett,” Lochlan’s voice started. “Don’t add to my stress by irritating me.”
The words were instant. Cold.
“But my Alpha, you know what the witch said. Only a true mate bond—” Elder Edwards was speaking, but Lochlan cut him off coldly.
“Anyone,” he said slowly, his voice shaking with anger.
“Anyone but her.”