Page 12 of Moon Fated

I pushed harder, my muscles rejoicing in the exertion, feeling every bit the alpha I was. My wolf drove forward, thrilled to be let out to stretch his legs. Lana was to my right, her lean form a blur as she leaped over a fallen log, her tawny coat and tail streaming behind her like a battle flag.

Is that all you’ve got? she taunted. Lana talking shit only made me grin.

We were a small group that morning, but a force to be reckoned with. Jasper, unyielding and brutally honest. Lana, fierce and undaunted. Callum, a beta whose high energy was infectious. Liam and Mia, young wolves with eyes bright with determination, and Will, silent but unwavering. Each one a living testament to the potential of my pack.

As the sun crept higher, painting the sky with hues of gold and rose, we wound down, our run giving way to the simplicity of the day ahead. We transformed back to human forms, our laughter mingling with the rustling leaves as we each dressed and went our separate ways, ready to blend into the world of man.

I lingered for a moment longer, watching them go, pride swelling in my chest. This was more than a pack. It was a family, one I would protect with every fiber of my being. Which was why it hurt so much to know each of them still had open wounds from the split.

With a final glance at the sky, now awash with the light of day, I headed for town, toward the mechanic shop that bore my name. The rhythm of the pack's heartbeats still echoed in my ears as I swapped the wild freedom of the forest for grease-stained concrete and the scent of motor oil.

The clang of metal against metal sang out as I slid under the rusted belly of a pickup truck, the wrench in my hand my weapon of choice in this daily battle against wear and tear. "Rowan, Mrs. Henderson's here about that weird noise her Camry's been making," Jasper called out a half hour later, his voice echoing off the concrete walls of the shop.

"Got it.” My mind shifted gears as smoothly as the transmissions I repaired. Sliding out from under the pickup, I wiped my hands on a rag and rose. Mrs. Henderson was a staple in Black Lake, her silver hair a badge of the years she'd spent watching over the town like one of its own guardians.

"Morning, Rowan." She greeted me with a smile that crinkled the corners of her eyes. "It's making that sound again. Sounds like a wailing banshee every time I take a turn."

I chuckled, the familiarity of our routine comforting. "Don't worry, Mrs. Henderson. We'll exorcise that banshee for you." My hands delved into the heart of her car, fingers deftly searching for the source of the problem. It was a dance I knew well, each step practiced and precise.

Even as I worked, the memory of Evelyn at the door of Tim Hortons drifted through my thoughts, unbidden but insistent. That brush of her hand had been electric, a jolt of lightning coursing through my veins, igniting something primal within me. The way her hazel eyes had locked onto mine, fierce and unyielding—it was intoxicating.

"Dammit," I muttered under my breath as I fumbled with a bolt that usually gave way easily. Since when did I let distractions cloud my focus? Since her, whispered a traitorous thought. My heart raced in my chest, my wolf pushing for my attention. I shook my head, trying to dispel the image of her auburn hair catching the light, the curve of her smile...

"Rowan?" Jasper's voice pulled me back to the present. "You alright?"

"Fine," I lied, not wanting to admit that I was anything but. I tightened the bolt with renewed determination, forcing myself to concentrate on the task at hand. Cars don’t fix themselves, and packs don’t run on daydreams.

"Looks like you had a run-in with a pretty serious pothole, Mrs. Henderson," I explained after diagnosing the issue. "Strut's busted. We'll have to replace it."

"Can you do it today?" Hope laced her words.

I didn’t have time to add another car to the rotation, especially since we were trying to get out early for the meeting. "Of course," I assured her, my confidence returning as I spoke the language of solutions. "We'll take care of it."

As Mrs. Henderson left, satisfied her beloved Camry was in capable hands, I dove back into the work, hoping it would get the crazy to leave my head. I could almost hear the rumble of my wolf, restless beneath my skin, itching to break free and find her. But I pushed it down, buried it under layers of duty and resolve. If what I’d heard was true, Evelyn was a lone wolf, untethered and unpredictable. And I was the alpha of Black Lake Pack, bound by blood and honor.

The pack needed their alpha clear-headed and sharp, not lost in a haze of what-ifs and might-have-beens. There would be time to ponder the enigma that was Evelyn Berry later. For now, there were cars to fix and a pack to lead.

As the hours passed, engines roared back to life under my hands, each repair a small victory. But even as I worked, part of me remained attuned to the whisper of the forest. To the call of my wolf becoming more insistent. The yearning was a wildfire, and I was standing in the eye of the storm, trying not to get burned.

The scent of motor oil and grease was a balm to my frayed nerves as I slid under the belly of a Ford F-150 near three o’clock, wrench in hand. But even as I focused on loosening the stubborn bolts, that same undercurrent of wildness pulsed through me, a relentless whisper that beckoned me to abandon my duties and search for her—the woman with eyes like autumn leaves.

Autumn leaves? What the hell was wrong with me?

"You’re a stubborn ass." Jasper's voice cut through my concentration, the clang of his tools punctuating each word. I grunted in response, not trusting my voice as my wolf rumbled within.

"Your hands are shaking. Either you tell me what’s going on or I’m kicking you out of the garage." Jasper crouched, staring at me.

I tightened the bolt with more force than necessary. The metal groaned under my grip, a testament to the strength I was barely keeping in check.

"Shit bud?—"

"I’m fine." My words came out sharper than I intended. "Just got a lot on my mind with the meeting tonight."

Jasper nodded, though I could tell he wasn't entirely convinced. He clapped a hand on my shoulder as I slid out and sat, a silent offer of brotherhood that steadied me for a moment before he moved back to his own work bay.

I could tell him. I knew he’d listen and probably have good advice, but the idea of admitting what was happening inside me made me want to shove a hot poker down my throat.

Evelyn Berry. A shiver ran down my spine at the thought of her with Nathan. Had she come back to be with him? Were they fated? If so, talking to her was forbidden, a line I shouldn't even contemplate crossing. Yet here I was, fighting an urge that was becoming increasingly obvious. I needed to find her. I needed to protect her. As soon as I allowed the words to run through my head, they grew until my head felt like it would burst.

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