where it began

A R C H E R —⌲

*night time

2 years ago

I breathed in and out as I finally decided to get out of the car. I'd rather be anywhere than here, a stupid party.

The party was held every year, the hosting pack was always different and this year was particularly a bigger party than the last ones. After all, it was a party aimed to help young werewolves meet their mates.

I am currently twenty-two years old, an Alpha and one that doesn't have a Luna just yet. My parents sent me here in hopes that I would find my mate, but I wasn't particularly thrilled by it.

If you ask me, I am not the most prepared with meeting my mate. I still have some baggages that aren't quite loaded off my shoulders and meeting my mate would complicate that. Especially with all the rumours going on about me.

Thankfully, Allan decided to come along or else, I would be bored. My only consolation was that at least I'd meet up with a few Alphas here, maybe I could strike a deal with some of them.

But the moment I stepped in the ballroom, I felt something different.

The place was filled with hundreds of werewolf from different packs and so all sorts of scents has mixed in, not to mention the food and smoke that swirled around too, but still there was a particular scent that stood out.

It was distinct, it was pure and sweet. In a chaotic environment, it was soothing.

"What is that scent?" I turn to Allan who had just grabbed a glass from a passing waiter.

"What do you mean? This? Apparently it's human alcohol, but it doesn't taste too strong." he answered. And with that, I arrived to the conclusion that I must be the only one who noticed it because there was no way a scent like this would be ignored by Allan and everyone else around us.

Just like that, I left my Beta and walked around the room. My agenda of meeting with the other Alphas was now gone, my new mission of finding the owner of the scent rose above all.

Just what is that? Is it a spell? Are they using illegal substances here?

The longer I was exposed to the scent, the more my senses were heightened. My chest started feeling an unfamiliar boost in its beating, as if an excitement. It reminded me of my very first shift, but this one was a bit different. A bit more... I-- I can't explain it.

As I surfed from the crowd and pushed away the people that approached me, I was starting to lose hope that I would find the owner of the scent.

Frustrated, I decided to stand still and try my best to pinpoint where it was coming from, what I should have done from the beginning.

Unknowingly, I had used my wolf to strengthen my tracking and when I opened my eyes, in the sea of people, I see a pair of blue eyes looking back at me.

The room was dark and I could barely make out her form, but I could tell that she froze as she saw me too.

The realization quickly hit us both and I was also taken aback. I mean, I had no idea I would be meeting my mate tonight.

My heart was beating so fast I could barely tame it, as I was about to take my first step towards her, she turned around and walked away.

I stopped momentarily and followed her with my eyes, she was leaving! Her scent was even barely noticeable now, but I could still smell it out. How could I not? It stood out in the crowd.

I pushed people out again as I focused on the scent and followed the unknown girl. All I had in mind was her blue eyes, her long dress flowing as she walked away.

I got outside and did not see her anywhere, following her scent once more, I was led to the forest, away from the people. There was barely light around me and I was starting to doubt that she came this way, but it was her scent that gave it away.

There were times when I couldn't completely pinpoint where she went, I suspect she tried to conceal her scent, but I was simply glad that I was still able to get her direction.

Although I don't understand, why would she run away? Does she not know that we are mates? Meeting ones mate is supposed to be a... happy occasion.

Did she not feel the same connection?

But no, this is definitely what they call the 'mate pull'.

Anyways, I kept tracking the scent until I came to a stop. This is where the scent stopped, but my mate wasn't anywhere to be seen. I suspected that she hid behind a tree so I walked around until the emotion I felt was at its strongest.

I peeked behind the tree, but she wasn't there. That left only one place.

I took a few steps back and looked up. Sure enough, from where I stood, I a pair blue-eyed goddess stares back at me.

With my eyes having adjusted to the darkness, I could see her face much more clearly. She was beautiful, she looked like a doll and her eyes were just so captivating that I couldn't help but be drawn in.

She was wearing a white long dress that swayed perfectly with the wind and as she held one arm on the tree as support and as she stared down at me, I felt like a peasant staring up a divine being.

Is she even human?

But then she took a deep breath.

She was taken aback, she looked like she was in a pinch and I could be here to save her, but it looked like the last person she wanted to see me at the moment was me.

"Why did you run away?" I ask, curious as to why her first instincts were to run.

"You're Archer Hamilton, that's enough reason to run away." she said. I took a while to answer and simply nodded my head.

So she knows me... Most people know only know me by name and not my face so I suspect that she must be at least a warrior or probably a high ranking wolf.

I question her a bit more until she mentions Jessica.

Ah, there it is. Of course she's heard of the rumours.

"You don't have to worry about her, she's not my mate." I answered simply, trying to dismiss the issue so I can at least get her name, but it didn't seem to work. I could already see that explaining my whole relationship with Jess was going to be a huge burden.

My mate still looked distressed and now she was even proposing that the pull we both felt was an effect of a drug. She proposed waiting for 30 minutes before confirming that we truly were mates and although I know that she was simply saying it to get away from me, I went along with what she wanted.

She looked uncomfortable, baffled even so I want to give her a bit of space.

"Fine, but before I leave... I didn't get your name." I tell her.

Her lips parted a bit, surprised.

"How cruel, I remember you yet, you don't remember me?" she answers.

I instantly felt guilty. I couldn't deny that there was something familiar in her, no doubt, I must've seen her somewhere before, but I can't exactly remember where.

"We've met before?" I ask, trying to get an answer of where we've seen each other, but she didn't give in.

Instead, she shook her head and sat down on the branch. I was worried she might fall, but the branch she sat upon was big and sturdy enough.

"It doesn't matter, we have plenty of time to get to know each other if we really are mates." she says and bids me farewell.

As I was walking away, I was satisfied with my decision of giving her time and space, but as I got father away from her, I was starting to regret it more and more.

I had a foreboding feeling that I won't be seeing her again after a while.

❀

I was right.

I didn't see her again after I left her at the forest.

She had ran away from me. When I realized what had happened, I immediately called for everyone's cooperation. I made sure that I saw every person coming in and out of the hosting pack.

I don't know how she escaped in such a short time, but she managed to do it.

I tried to ask everyone I knew and described how she looked like to them but no one could offer concrete help. After all, the party was in a dark place and no one could really see each other that clearly and plus, there was hundreds of people that night.

Allan was quick to catch on things and started laughing at me for what had happened to me. Some friend he is, he was laughing at my misery first before deciding to help me.

I got the list of the packs who sent delegates and I had immediately started visiting them.

When we were on a roll, we visited three to four packs every day, when were in a remote area, we only had one pack in day.

I was getting frustrated, I started questioning a lot of things. I mean, why would she run away? Did I something wrong to her? Is it me?

The thoughts tortured me and getting no answers was even worse.

Two weeks had passed, almost fifty packs visited and still no signs of her. I was starting to get discouraged that I would ever find her again.

Was I simply dreaming? Was I really drugged?

I mean, she was too good to be true. Was my mind playing tricks on me?

I don't know anymore.

But as Allan drove through the gates of Aeternum, I felt it. The familiar pull. And suddenly, all my doubts faded away.

The headaches, the worries, the doubts and confusion melted as I was wrapped with the familiar soothing scent. After weeks of trying to find her, her scent calmed the chaos of thoughts and emotions inside.

And that's how I started realizing that she already held such great power over me. If the lack of her presence drove me crazy and her scent was my newfound peace, what more if I start to know her?

But somehow... that does not sound too bad.

We rounded up to the pack house and I quickly looked for her and my heart stopped when I saw her standing at the line of leaders.

She seemed to be standing next to Alpha Nash and I had remembered that he had a sister... perhaps it's her?

I didn't delay getting off the car.

Finally, after weeks of searching there she was. She still looked beautiful although she was trying to avoid my eyes, but once I caught her gaze, we didn't let go. Doubtless, the pull was affecting her.

I tried to suppress the smile and excitement I felt, but I couldn't. I tried to stop my legs from walking up to her, but my feet had a mind of their own and started walking up to her.

I headed towards her and just as I was going to stop, she turned back and was about to walk away again.

But I learned my lesson. I quickly held my hand out and held her arm and the proof that we were destined with each other manifested itself and everyone around us was witness to that.

Waves of current surged from the contact of our skins that surprised both her and I. It was surprising at first, but the emotions that followed after was pure bliss.

I couldn't contain it, I wasn't a smiley person but at that very moment I couldn't stop.

"It wasn't drugged." I tease her.