Chapter 3 The New Alpha

Ryan’s POV

I leaned back in the car seat, trying to focus on the passing streetlights. But my mind kept drifting to last night.

I wasn't supposed to drink that wine. The wine had been drugged—I was sure of it now. But I didn’t know that back then.

It was a time when the pack celebration was in full swing. Someone handed me a glass. "To our new Alpha," they said, smiling.

One sip. That's all it took.

My head spun, senses dulled—except for scent. Something sweet called to me, pulling like a magnetic force.

I stumbled into the elevator, pressing random buttons. My blood was humming with heat. My wolf was going crazy, growling and pacing inside me.

The hotel room door was unlocked. She was there, sleeping peacefully.

'Mate.' My wolf's voice was absolute.

For the first time since becoming Alpha, I lost control. Let instinct take over completely.

I don’t remember her words—if she spoke at all. Just the sound of her breath hitching when I touched her. The softness of her skin. The way her body melted against mine like she already knew me.

After that wonderful night, I was awakened by father's mindlink: "Ryan, emergency meeting. Saviano Mansion, now."

I dressed quickly, stealing glances at her sleeping form. My fated mate. And I didn't even know her name.

But I didn’t need to.

Because I’m still in love with someone else.

I don’t understand why the Moon Goddess would be so cruel.

The first person I gave my heart to… wasn’t even my fated mate.

After she left my world, the pain was enough to make me swear I’d never love again.

So I just left.

And then was the car accident happened this morning.

The memory of her kicking my car made me almost smile. She'd been magnificent in her fury, throwing money back at me like it was poison.

But it seemed that she had no idea I was the man who'd claimed her just hours before.

I didn’t know the reason, but I accepted it. It was better this way—for both of us.

So I just sit there, seeing her run away immediately.

A few hours later.

Looking out of the car window, my father's words from earlier echoed in my mind.

The urgency that my father mentioned was my mate.

"Find a Luna for the pack within a month. If you don't, I’ll appoint another heir to become Alpha." My father slammed his cane down.

“But how can I find my mate in one month—"

"No excuses!" His voice echoed through the study. “The pack needs stability.”

I stayed silent, because I knew he was right.

"I know you still can’t forget Evelyn Walker," his face softened. "But you two broke up a long time ago. You should move on now. Find your Luna."

"I'll consider it," I heard my compromising voice.

…

"Alpha, look at that girl," Marcus’s words interrupted my thoughts. "Sitting alone this late. That's dangerous."

I glanced out the window, not interested. I had no patience for random girl at this hour. But as the car drew closer, my wolf stirred inside me again after this morning’s accident. A deep, unfamiliar pull tugged at me.

I glanced up and froze.

There, sitting alone on a bench in the dark, was her. Again.

She looked lost, vulnerable. Everything in me wanted to go to her.

"Keep driving," I ordered, for I didn’t know what attitude should I adopt to face her. Especially after the talk with my father. Fated mate, Luna, first love, these concepts kept reeling in my mind.

But the car hit a massive puddle.

SPLASH.

Water exploded everywhere, drenching her completely. She shot to her feet, eyes blazing.

I should’ve asked Marcus to stop. I should’ve said something, done something. But I froze, caught in my own conflicting feelings. My wolf wanted to run to her, wanted to comfort her, but I didn’t want to follow my wolf now.

It obvious that she was furious, chasing after us.

But my car was soundproof. She might have screamed her lungs out, and I wouldn’t have heard it.

"Should I stop?" Marcus asked.

"No—"

CLANK.

Something hard hit the trunk. The car jerked to a halt.

"She threw a rock, Alpha," Marcus said in disbelief, getting out to inspect the car damage.

I closed my eyes. The Moon Goddess had a twisted sense of humor.

How could I meet her so frequently within one day? It almost felt like she created these coincidences.

Wait—was that possible?

Could she have felt our mate bond… and waited here for me on purpose?