Chapter 3

Fall, rain, and air – it was his favorite season. So smelling it on her sent him into a sense of delirium. At first, he couldn’t understand what was happening and why he felt a tug in his chest, similar to the one he’d felt with his first mate and luna, Azalea, before.

Kayden thought it was impossible. Or rather, he had given up on the idea of ever finding another one, not after her. But his inner wolf wagged its tail – still wagging, might he say – when the girl’s eyes lingered a beat too long on his lips. He wanted to kick himself, or maybe his wolf, for betraying Azalea. Because he and his wolf were feeling excited and comforted at the same time in the presence of a literal stranger. For all he knew, it could just be her perfume. Too bad, though, that his wolf senses were tingling and telling him that it wasn’t some cheap perfume. Her scent was too strong to be just sprayed on her clothes or skin.

Mate. He couldn’t believe this. What would Azalea think of this if she were still alive? What would her parents think of him? What would his parents think of him? Kayden knew finding another mate in one lifetime was possible when the moon goddess deemed it so. But… Azalea… Just when he thought he was determined to serve his pack as a mateless alpha, some stranger came strolling into this part of his territory. He had even made plans to mate with someone who preferred to stay mateless like him for his heir. Or maybe just let some other alpha challenge him and lose to them so his pack still had a leader to look up to when his time would come.

Why was he suddenly feeling again? he didn’t deserve this second chance to find a luna. Not when he was to blame for the death of his family and hers. Their blood had been on his hands since he was a pup. Kayden never even intended to be the pack alpha in the first place. So why was someone who smelled so much like his luna standing in front of him, testing his resolve?

Kayden was fine with his routine. Wake up, eat, take a bath, get ready to work on pack duties, and train his warriors with his second and third-in-command. And right now should not be any different. It was evening, and what he usually ended the day with was leading his pack in patrolling their borders, going back home to eat before shutting everyone and everything out as he succumbed to a fitful sleep. Azalea’s face always haunted his dreams, serving as a constant reminder that all he deserved now was pain. Not excitement and comfort. He didn’t have the luxury to change his routine when it had been working so well in keeping his pack safe and sound, unlike before.

This girl was probably a danger in disguise.

“By the way, I’m Zayla Malich. Will.” Her voice pulled him back from drowning in his thoughts. No one had ever done that… except for Azalea.

“Kayden Felch.” He didn’t want to appear rude even though all he wanted right now was to run away and forget this encounter. Stiffly, he held his hand out, silently hoping that she wouldn’t take his hand. But luna played him when the girl, Will, extended hers and clasped it around his and shook it.

“Oh.” She jumped slightly as their hands touched. So she felt it, too, huh?

“Sorry. I—” She started to pull away from the grasp, her eyes seeming to be hesitant as her fingers lingered a little longer on his palm, sending shivers through his body.

“Do you know him?” Kayden could feel the air becoming awkward, so he decided to ask her the question that he really should have just started with when he approached her.

“Jackson? No, I met him today for the first time. I think he’s been stalking me, though, ever since I was in the woods.”

He took note of the name, wishing that it could serve a purpose when they tried to find him and ask him what he was really doing in his territory when it was clearly marked and owned by his pack.

“Will, I hope you don’t mind me asking. Why were you in the woods?” He discreetly looked behind her, scanning the area to see if there were other rogues that Jackson was with.

“I’m a photographer. A wildlife photographer, to be exact.” She lifted a camera that was hanging around her neck.

“Whoa, that’s cool. So where do you work? I love animals too, you know. I mean—”

Damn, in such a short time, Kayden found himself wanting to see her again.

“Las Vegas.” His eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets, hearing her.

“Then why are you here in Portland, of all places? Not that I’m saying the place is ugly. But nothing relevant to see here.” He wanted to convince her even further that Portland was not ideal. But who was he to talk when he knew how good the hunt was in the area? It was one reason why the pack settled here in the first place.

“No reason, really. Portland just happens to be one of the many stops on my bucket list, you see. And it was the first one I had written. So… Hi.” She waved shyly as she explained how this was her first real vacation after years of working.

“You’re far from home then.” Kayden didn’t understand why he was feeling miserable at the fact that she lived at least fifteen hours’ drive away from him. He wouldn’t be able to visit her then. He didn’t know if he liked that fact or not.

“It’s getting late. So I hope I see you around, Kayden?” Will had a small smile, the moon illuminating her face and making her eyes twinkle as if they held the stars.

“Oh, right. Sorry for keeping you. You must be tired as hell, too, after that Jackson incident. Listen—”

Kayden stopped himself from rambling and said, “Would you like to have dinner with me?”

He could see her having a debate with herself as she weighed the idea of going or not going with him. He personally wanted her to say no, but his wolf was howling at the thought of spending more time together.

“I can also take you back to your hotel after. I mean, just to make sure you’re safe and all.” He added hastily, not wanting to sound like a desperate creep.

His wolf was feeling impatient, wanting to just claim her and give her a reason to stay. But Kayden knew he couldn’t just do that. It could traumatize her, and she might really drive back to Vegas, not wanting to see him ever again if he did that.

“Please, join me, my luna,” he murmured in his mind.