Page 5 of Moon Fated

I knew I’d probably regret it. Not probably. Definitely. But the idea of stepping into my empty house alone with my warring thoughts made me antsy.

The dimly lit room buzzed with energy as I passed through the doorway, the familiar scents of whiskey and pine enveloping me. It wasn’t hard to spot my pack in the back corner. It was always a variation of the same group, with Jasper and Lana as the steadies. Tonight, there were a few humans mixed in, which I loved to see. We’d been here in Black Lake long enough that the locals didn’t blink at us anymore, but the rig pigs and wanderers moving in each summer were always a bit intimidated.

I chuckled to myself as I wove through the crowd. It wasn’t surprising that we repelled mundanes. Lana in all black, her ink swirling out the side of her tank top on shoulders bigger than most of the men sitting at the bar. Jasper, with his grizzled beard and cap pulled low over his eyes.

It was good. If someone from town had the balls to approach, they’d be able to handle everything else beneath the rough exteriors.

The group erupted in boisterous cheers when they caught sight of me. Jasper was at least three drinks deep. The Sully twins next to him were four by the look of their glassy eyes. It wouldn’t last long with our metabolisms. "Rowan! Hell, man, about time you showed up!" Liam, my ever-loyal beta, clapped me on the back, his grin wide and infectious.

Before I could respond, I was swept up in a whirlwind of bear hugs and hearty handshakes, the pack's enthusiasm washing over me in waves. They dragged me toward the bar, pressing a cold beer into my hand and launching into animated chatter about their latest exploits. I loved hearing their stories, grateful not to talk about myself.

As the night wore on, the conversation inevitably turned to one of the topics I dreaded. There seemed to be too many to count these days.

"So, Rowan," Elijah, one of the younger wolves, leaned in conspiratorially, "when are you going to finally settle down with a mate?"

The others chimed in, their good-natured ribbing tinged with genuine concern. "Yeah, man. You can't be a lone wolf forever," Lucas chuckled, his eyes glinting with mischief.

I forced a smile. "You know how it is, guys. When fate decides it's time, I'll know."

The truth was, I'd always believed that my mate would be chosen by destiny, a deep, unbreakable bond forged by the moon goddess herself. That was how it had happened for my father and his brother. I wasn’t naive enough to think I was entitled to a fated mate, but the goddess had chosen me as alpha. I’d shown up at the mating dances. I’d been open to it. But as the years passed and my packmates found their other halves, I couldn't help but feel a growing sense of disappointment and loneliness.

Mia, Liam’s younger sister and ever the meddler, grinned wickedly. "Well, if fate won't cooperate, maybe we should take matters into our own hands. Let's find Rowan a lady to take home tonight, eh?"

The pack erupted in laughter and cheers, but as they scanned the bar for potential candidates, I felt a sinking sensation in the pit of my stomach. This wasn't what I wanted, a meaningless fling with a human. I’d had plenty of those, and it only left me feeling more empty. I needed a partner. Someone who understood my responsibility and shouldered it with me. It was a big ask. Maybe too big.

“There.” Mia pointed at a woman with long dark hair hanging down her back. She turned and smiled at her friend next to her. She had a pretty face, nice smile. I felt nothing, and Mia groaned as I shook my head.

As the laughter and banter continued, Jasper leaned in close. "You can’t avoid this forever. And you don't have forever to find your mate. As alpha, it's your responsibility to ensure the future of the pack."

I took a swig from my beer. "Yeah. I’m aware.” I didn’t know why I wasted money drinking. Our metabolisms worked through the alcohol so fast, I barely felt a buzz. It couldn’t come close to the rush I felt at letting my wolf out.

“You’re aware mating can be fun, right? Pretty sure Nathan’s well aware of?—”

I punched his shoulder. “Shut the hell up.” Speaking of my wolf. He growled and curled up with a huff. Letting me know he was a fan of the whole mating idea, and I was the problem here.

Jasper chuckled. "I’m just saying, you’re not getting any younger, and the pack needs strong, new blood. You've got until the next Blood Moon to find your mate, or the Elders will start getting restless."

They were already restless. Keira and the rest of the peanut gallery had made their opinions on my lack of a mate clear enough. The Blood Moon, the most sacred night for our kind, was only a few months away. It was a time when the veil between worlds was at its thinnest, and the moon goddess was said to bless the unions of fated mates. If I didn't find my mate by then, the Elders would have the right to arrange a match for me, a thought that made my stomach churn.

I knew the rules, the traditions that had governed our pack for generations. An alpha without a mate was seen as weak, unable to lead and protect the pack to the fullest. And an alpha without an heir? That was unthinkable.

But I wasn’t ready. The idea of being responsible for a mating bond? I was already responsible for an entire pack, and I couldn’t even repair that properly. How could I take that on? A mate? Pups? No. The universe knew what it was doing. I needed to make our pack whole before I could even think about taking on something else.

As the night wore on, my packmates continued to tease and cajole me, their laughter ringing through the bar. I laughed along with them, joining in the jokes and antics, but my heart wasn't truly in it.

As the hours slipped by, one by one, my packmates began to peel off, some with their mates, others with newfound companions for the night. Eventually, I found myself alone at the bar, nursing the last of my drink.

With a heavy sigh, I settled my tab and headed out into the night. The cool, crisp air was a welcome relief from the stuffy bar.

And lucky me.

My empty apartment was waiting.

I stepped through the door and emptied my pockets on the end table, and that’s when I saw it—a message notification from Tori Campos in Chilliwack.

Lower province pack meeting. Thursday night. Help me make some calls?

Chapter

---