Page 60 of Alpha's Runaway Mate

I love coming home to you,” Kaine started softly, his eyes gleaming with warmth and affection. “I love having you wrapped in my arms, watching as you drift off to sleep. I love waking up to the sight of you every morning,” he paused, his smile deepening, lighting up his entire face. Instantly, tears welled up in my eyes. “I want to make a family with you, Lyra—an official one, with you and Leo. And I want you to move into the packhouse with me,” he laughed softly before adding, “It’s starting to feel a little lonely now.”

A laugh bubbled up in my chest, and a tear slipped down my cheek. I wiped it away, overwhelmed by his words.

Kaine grinned and continued, “So, what do you say, Lyra Winters? Will you be my Luna?”

I knelt in front of him, my heart swelling, and kissed him deeply. When I pulled away, I smiled into his eyes, my voice barely above a whisper. “How could I say no?”

Chapter Twenty-Seven — Lyra’s POV

Dear Journal,

I never believed in fate. To be honest, I never used to believe in a lot of things before I met him. When a werewolf finds her mate, it’s a moment forever etched into her memory—like a nail driven deep, impossible to remove. That’s exactly how it felt the day my eyes locked on Kaine Thornfield. In that instant, a primal connection was forged, resonating deep within my soul.

Before that day, finding a mate was the last thing on my mind. I would have been content to go my entire life without one, as long as I had my best friend and my father by my side. But then I met him, and my entire world shifted. Suddenly, I couldn’t stop myself from imagining a future with him—quiet evenings spent watching our children play in the courtyard, both of us smiling, fulfilled, and whole. It was magic, like stepping into one of those fairy tales they told us under the moonlight. But fate had a way of shattering illusions.

It’s strange to think that everything we’ve built started in chaos—a storm of emotions, misunderstandings, and pain.My father once wrote in his journal:Sometimes, the tests we face are not meant to break us but to make us stronger.I didn’t understand what he meant then, but now I do. What Kaine and I share is far from perfect, but it’s real.

We’ve been tested in ways neither of us could have imagined. And every time we face a new challenge—every time we fall apart only to piece each other back together—we grow stronger. He may have broken me once, but he also taught me what it means to love someone with everything I have.

After everything we’ve been through, I know we’re fated to be together. Now, we’re learning to trust again, to forgive, and to love each other in ways we never thought possible.

I decided to take a page from my father’s life and start a journal. Like him, I wanted to capture the good moments, to hold onto them when life grew uncertain. But more than that, I wanted to confront my own shortcomings. In some ways, Isolde was right. I had been so consumed by my own happiness that I failed to see how deeply my best friend was hurting. This journal would be my mirror—a way to reflect, to grow. It would help me become a better friend, a better mother, and even a better person.

Today marked my first entry: my mating ceremony. After everything Kaine and I had been through over the past month, we wanted something simple, intimate, but the pack had other plans. To them, this wasn’t just a union—it was a moment to be immortalized in history. They said there were a thousand reasons to celebrate, and so, our quiet dream of privacy turned into a grand celebration, far beyond anything we could have imagined. It wasn’t what we planned, but maybe it was exactlywhat we needed—a reminder that even in the darkest times, there is still joy to be found.

The ceremony became the talk of the town for weeks. It was set to take place on the next full moon, just a month after the ordeal that nearly cost us everything. With such an ambitious plan and so little time, the entire pack sprang into action. Preparations began the moment we announced our engagement.

The town hall was rebuilt faster than anyone could have imagined. Hunting crews were sent out to capture the wildest and largest animals for the feast, turning the task into a competition. The prize? A reward from the Alpha himself. The pack’s excitement was infectious, and it wasn’t long before I found myself swept up in the chaos of it all.

Amidst the whirlwind of planning, I hadn’t given much thought to what I would wear. I’d always pictured myself in a flowing white dress, my hair adorned with petals and flowers, laughing and chatting with my best friend as we prepared for the big day. But I didn’t have a best friend anymore, and I didn’t have a dress either.

Surprisingly, it didn’t bother me. The day before the ceremony, I rummaged through some old boxes in the attic and found the dress my father’s wife had worn for her own mating ceremony. It was simple—a plain white dress with pleated edges—but it would do. In that moment, I realized that what mattered most wasn’t the dress or the flowers, but the promise of what lay ahead.

On the morning of my mating ceremony, I woke up to find the most beautiful dress I ever laid my eyes on. Hanging by the window was a gown—pure white and simple, yet beautiful. The fabric flowed gently, almost like it was made of light. The dresshad a fitted bodice with delicate lace along the edges, and the skirt fell softly to the floor in smooth, graceful folds. There was a note attached to it, which read,“You deserve a dress as beautiful as you.”

I barely had time to process the sight before me when I heard his voice behind me.

“Do you like it?”

I turned to see him standing by the doorway, his eyes watching me intently.

I was speechless for a moment, my fingers brushing over the fabric. “How did you find the time to get me a dress?” I asked, my voice laced with surprise.

Kaine shrugged his shoulders. “I made the time. So, do you like it?” he asked again, walking toward me.

I glanced back at the dress, a smile spreading across my face as my heart warmed. “I love it, Kaine.”

A satisfied nod was his reply before he took a step forward, as though ready to pull me into his arms. But I stepped back, wedging a hand between us. “Don’t you know it’s bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding?”

“That’s nonsense,” he muttered with a grin. Without hesitation, he reached out, wrapping his arms around me, as he pulled me into him, and placed a kiss on my lips.

Our mating ceremony was nothing short of magical. Bathed in the full moon’s light, Kaine and I exchanged vows—promises to cherish one another, even on the days we were hardest to love. As he leaned in to mark me, a smirk played at the corner of hislips, and the mischievous glint in his eyes reminded me of the previous night, when he had marked me in secret places only he knew about.

But this was the moment that bound us, marking our official union. Once it was completed, the pack roared in approval. I turned to see Leo, standing with the others, clapping his hands, his bright eyes shining with excitement. My heart swelled with love for him. This was the life we would build for him—one where he would be safe, where he would grow strong, and one day, lead the pack himself.

*****

In the dawn of the morning, when the pack’s celebration had faded into the night, Kaine and I lay in bed together, watching the sunrise from his open terrace. Our legs were tangled, and the soft white sheets of the king-sized bed the pack had prepared for us were wrapped around our bodies. The weight of yesterday had lifted, leaving the two of us in our peaceful haven.

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