The full moon hung low in the sky, painting the forest in silver light. The night was alive with the whispers of the trees and the distant howls of wolves marking their territory. I felt the familiar pull deep in my chest, a sensation both exhilarating and terrifying. The Moon always spoke to us during the full moon, guiding our instincts, revealing our mates… or in my case, twisting my fate in the cruelest way possible.
I had learned to guard myself. Life had taught me that trust was dangerous, that attachment could leave you vulnerable. But nothing could have prepared me for what awaited tonight.
As I stepped into the clearing, the air thickened. The pack was gathered, their faces illuminated by the ethereal glow. They murmured greetings to one another, but my focus was fixed on him.
Golden eyes. Strong, commanding presence. The kind of man who could silence a room without saying a word. My ex's brother. The last person I ever expected.
A jolt shot through me. My hand went to my chest, where the mark burned hotter than ever. The Moon had chosen, and there was no escaping it. I had tried to resist destiny before, but the pull was too strong, and it surged through me like wildfire.
He took a cautious step forward, his eyes widening as they met mine. Recognition. Confusion. A flicker of something… vulnerable. He tried to hide it, but I saw it all. The air between us crackled with unspoken words, tension, and the undeniable bond of mates.
I wanted to run. I wanted to deny it, to pretend it wasn't real. But even as I shook my head, telling myself I didn't want this, I couldn't stop the pull, couldn't ignore the heat rising through my veins.
The pack was watching. Whispers rippled through the crowd. I knew what they were thinking. The mate of my ex, now marked to his brother… scandalous, dangerous, and utterly forbidden.
I swallowed hard. "This… can't happen," I said, though my voice trembled.
He stepped closer, his gaze locked on mine. "I didn't choose this," he said softly. "But neither of us can fight it."
I wanted to hate him. I wanted to see him as just the brother of the one who broke me. But the Moon had other plans. And as my heartbeat synced with his, I realized I didn't have a choice.
The forest seemed to hold its breath. Even the wolves howled in the distance as if acknowledging the shift in destiny. I had always believed that the Moon guided us for a reason, that it never made mistakes… but looking into his eyes, I couldn't help but feel that this was the wrong path.
And yet… it was the path I was on.
I was marked. I was bound. And no matter how much I tried to resist, I was… marked by the wrong wolf.
The ceremony continued around us, but we were in our own world, connected by something ancient and unbreakable. My mind raced with questions, doubts, and fears. How could I ever trust him? How could I navigate the resentment I still carried from my ex? And most importantly… how could I ignore the undeniable pull of desire and connection that now burned between us?
The Moon watched silently as I took a step closer, feeling the weight of destiny pressing on my shoulders. Tonight was the beginning of something I couldn't escape. Tonight, everything changed.
And I knew, deep down, that my life would