Night fell quietly over Black Pack territory, but Hailey couldn't sleep.
Her body was exhausted from training, yet her mind buzzed like a storm refusing to settle. She tossed under her blanket, staring at the ceiling.
Then it happened.
The room faded.
Her breath hitched.
Darkness pressed around her—and then silver light bloomed beneath her feet like a glowing path stretching into forever.
"Hello?" Hailey whispered.
A low growl answered.
Her wolf bristled with recognition, with longing… with fear.
From the silver mist stepped a massive wolf—larger than any alpha she had ever seen. His fur was obsidian black, streaked with faint, burning gold. His eyes…
His eyes were molten silver.
They pinned her in place.
Her heart hammered.
The wolf stepped closer, power rolling off him like waves. He lowered his head, touching his nose gently to her forehead.
And a voice—deep, ancient, possessive—echoed in her mind.
"Found you."
Hailey gasped and stumbled back.
The wolf didn't move. He only watched her, gaze burning through her soul.
"Not yet," the voice murmured.
"But soon."
The world cracked.
Hailey jolted awake with a scream, sweat slick on her skin.
Her breath came fast. Too fast.
She touched her forehead.
His warmth lingered.
Meanwhile — Ricky
Ricky Wright slammed one of his warriors against a training post.
"What did you say?" he growled.
The warrior trembled.
"I—I said… people are saying Hailey Black is some kind of… rare wolf. Something legendary. Even stronger than your pack."
Ricky's blood ran cold.
He shoved the warrior away.
"Who told you this?"
"It's all over the territory," the warrior stammered. "They say she's a Celestial Wolf. That her true mate will—"
"ENOUGH!"
Ricky didn't know whether he wanted to shift, scream, or tear the world apart.
His wolf paced violently inside him.
We rejected her. We rejected a Celestial.
We rejected our true destiny.
"No," Ricky hissed.
"She wasn't our destiny. She can't be—"
But even as he said it…
He felt her dream.
For a split second.
A shiver of her fear.
A flicker of her power.
And the presence of something else—
A dominant, ancient force brushing against her aura.
Ricky staggered, grabbing a tree trunk for support.
His wolf whimpered.
He's coming for her.
And he's stronger than us.
Ricky felt sick.
He'd lost her.
And now someone far more powerful was claiming her.
Far, far away — The True Mate Awakens
Across the distant mountains, in a territory untouched by any known pack, a man shot upright in his bed, eyes glowing the same molten silver as the wolf in Hailey's dream.
His breath came out like smoke.
He touched his chest—where his mate's power had brushed his.
Finally.
After lifetimes of waiting…
She had awakened.
He swung his legs over the bed, every movement radiating lethal grace. His wolf pressed hard against his skin, impatient and restless.
He whispered one word, but it shook the air:
"Hailey."
A powerful aura burst from his body, cracking the stone floor beneath him.
His beta rushed in, terrified.
"Alpha! What's wrong?"
The man stood tall, eyes burning.
"She called for me," he growled.
"And nothing—no pack, no alpha, no world—will keep me from her again."
His wolf snarled agreement.
He left the room, already shifting, already running.
Destiny had awakened.
And he was coming.
Somewhere in the shadows — A Hunter Watches
In the forest near the border of Black Pack, something ancient stirred.
A figure cloaked in dark bone armor lifted its head, sniffing the wind.
A whisper drifted through the trees:
"The Celestial Wolf has awakened."
The figure's hollow voice echoed:
"After centuries… at last."
He reached out a bony hand; shadows curled around his fingers like living smoke.
"Find her."
A monstrous creature—half wolf, half nightmare—crawled from the darkness and bowed.
The Hunter smiled beneath his mask.
"The girl's power belongs to me. And before her true mate arrives… she will be mine."
The creature snarled and sprinted into the night, hunting.
Back in Black Pack — Hailey
Hailey sat on her bed, hands shaking.
The dream…
That wolf…
Those eyes…
She felt his voice still echoing in her bones.
Found you.
Della rushed in, alarmed.
"Hailey! What happened?"
Hailey swallowed hard.
"I… I think… my true mate found me."
Her family stared.
And outside, deep in the forest…
Something else found her too.
And its eyes were hungry.