Episode 18

Henrique gazed at her, struggling to restrain himself from doing something drastic, such as going over to her and striking her.

"No, what I had to do, I've already done. And you, what do you plan to do? You haven't answered me."

"My main intent is to rebuild the Gray Wolf Pack. As you can see, I've already started this process. I'm an Alpha wolf, and an Alpha must have a pack."

"But you're my Luna! You should be by my side."

"How were you by my side when I was brought here?"

"I was celebrating, since you were asleep."

"Celebrating what, when you didn't even accept me. It was your wolf that claimed me."

Elias, having overheard everything, interjected:

"What do you mean? You were going to reject her?"

Henrique lowered his head and said no more. He was ashamed, yet still reluctant to accept Luana. Especially now that he knew she wasn't from the same pack as his.

Luana, noticing his hesitation and insecurity, continued sharing her plans:

"Moreover, I've been imbued with the souls of all the wolves that were slain in the massacre your father instigated, and now, they have left and seek revenge. I lead them, but I don't want more bloodshed; I've warned them that it will become an endless cycle of vengeance."

Relieved that she had changed the topic, Henrique, paying close attention to her words, became somewhat perplexed.

"What do you mean, souls inside you?"

"There was a shaman in the village, and when she saw the wanton slaughter and that your father made no distinction among those lives, she chanted a mantra and bonded the souls to the body of a just-born baby—that baby was the one I brought home to replace mine who was stillborn," Elias revealed.

Henrique stood up and began to pace back and forth, thoroughly disturbed.

"So all this is your fault? That's what my wolf saw in her, all these souls wanting revenge against us. And that blue light, what was it?"

"Stop, Henrique, you're creating too much chaos in your mind. Sit down, and I'll explain everything calmly."

With his pacing, Henrique had moved closer to Luana and began to feel the pull of mating. He was nervous, for he had not felt this before. Why was he experiencing this call only now?

"I apologize, Elias, I am indeed confused, but that's not all."

He looked at Luana intensely, his emotions laid bare on his face, and she smelled the scent of the male, releasing his pheromones and drawing her towards mating.

"What's happening? Why now, Henrique?"

"I don't know. I didn't feel this during the full moon night. It was my wolf that heeded the female's call, not me."

Elias realized the two were magnetized by the true feeling of mating. He pondered over why just the wolf had felt it the first night and concluded it was because she still contained the souls within her, which interfered with his human side.

"I believe the souls of the wolves within her caused an interference. Now that they've departed, she's ready to accept you. What will you do, Henrique?"

"For you, traitor, it's Alpha Henrique."

Elias clenched his teeth, holding back a retort. The young man was overly arrogant, rightfully so as he was the alpha of his pack, albeit not yet in command because of his father.

Luana fought to maintain control, but her hormones were responding to his, and her wolf began to grumble in her mind, eager to be with her mate.

"Oh, just my luck now..."

"We are mates, I feel it now, I accept you, Luana. What do you decide?"

"There are times when I feel such deep hatred for you, Rique!" she spoke like the old Luana, the child.

He smiled, feeling his insides finally settle down. That was the genuine feeling that should exist between two mates finding each other, and he was content with this realization. He just hoped that all he had done to her in the past could be forgotten and that she might accept him entirely.

But Luana hadn't forgotten what he did to her, despite not suffering over it. She felt there was a barrier between them. The bond's force was too strong to resist, but she didn't want to give in just yet. She didn't want to yield because of the bond; she wanted to be loved thoroughly, to have a complete partner, and not just out of obligation.

"I won't leave here; I'll stay where I need to be. I will look after this Pack and tend to the souls here, so they may be free and return to their place of origin. The decision is yours to make. I will only accept you if you pursue me, proving you're worthy of my love."

"Why do I have to pursue you? We've known each other since childhood; you know well who I am. There's no need for this talk of having to pursue."

"Then go. What I feel for you is nothing but disdain for the pathetic figure you are now."

"Me? Pathetic? You don't understand what it means to be mates, then, so I will indeed leave."

"Go, and take with you those vultures circling overhead, giving you that stench of decay, like your father."

Hearing these words, his fury grew so fierce he was about to leap at her with claws outstretched, but Elias stepped in front and was the one to receive the scratch across his face. Luana didn't stand by; she too displayed her claws and positioned herself in front of Elias to defend him. When Henrique looked at her, he was taken aback by the sight of the warrior.

Unbeknownst to them both, someone outside rejoiced, peering in through the window, listening to everything. It was Lucas, who saw an opportunity in their quarrel.

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