I sprint desperately after Nina. My breaths are ragged, and my heart is pounding. 'I'm sorry; that never crossed my mind.' My legs give way beneath me, and I collapse in the dirt. 'I'm the biggest idiot ever to exist.' My mistakes bear down on me as I pour my heart out.
Hearing my anguish, Nina slows to a stop, turning to face me. Her eyes are a mix of confusion, hurt, and a lingering warmth from our shared past. 'We were the best of friends once,' I tell her, my voice choked with regret. 'I thought the pack saw me as one big joke. I pushed you away and ignored you for years. Then, I made things even worse. I cursed you, and now you don’t have a wolf. And you won’t be able to sense your mate until I find mine.' I lower my head with remorse. 'All I ever wanted was to protect you and keep you safe, but all I’ve done is cause you hurt and pain. I’m so sorry, Nina. Will you ever forgive me?' My plea echoes in the stillness, filled with a vulnerability I never thought I would reveal.
Nina slowly approaches me and falls to her knees in front of me, our knees touching. Tenderly, she takes my hands in hers. I feel her hands trembling, mirroring the chaos within our hearts.
Our eyes lock, tear-filled pools of regret and understanding.
Nina, unable to contain her sorrow any longer, bursts into tears. She wraps her arms around my neck, seeking comfort in our shared pain. I reciprocate, holding her tight, my tears mingling with hers as we feel the void between us dissipate.
We slowly part from our embrace, and Nina's eyes glisten with tears as she stares at me. 'All those years, you say you ignored me; you never did,' she whispers amid sobs. 'Every day, we had breakfast and dinner together, and you would stare at me with a longing. When you climbed trees and swam through the lake with the others, you would always look to see if I had followed. The days I watched, and you couldn’t see me, you were miserable and became agitated towards the others. Throughout high school, every girl would try to get your attention, but you would still sit where you could be near me and watch me at every chance. Even Claire and May were always catching you staring at me. You stopped May that day in the cafeteria from hurting me, not because you were concerned for her, but because you wanted to protect me. You were always looking for me and seeing where I was because you wanted to always be near me. I could constantly sense your eyes on me as if you were caressing me with your own hands. As for the curse, you were only a child venting. If you had known it would have been granted, I know those words would have never left your lips. I forgive you, Magnus,' she declares, and I squeeze her tighter, gratitude flooding my heart.
'Thank you,' I whisper, nuzzling my face into her soft brown hair.
We reluctantly part, wiping the tears from our faces. 'What do we do now?' Nina asks, her voice still trembling with emotion.
'The only thing left to do is make things right by finding my fated mate to break this curse,' I reply with determination.
Nina nods, adding a small smile.
'We must visit all the packs we can to find my mate. Let’s start with the Starlight pack east from here,' I suggest
We decide it’s safer to wait the night out until sunrise so the Starlight pack sees us arriving so we aren’t mistaken as rogues.
As soon as the sun rises, and without warning, Nina's fingers dig into my arm, her grip firm. ‘Skedaddle Dash, Skedaddle Dash, Skedaddle Dash,’ she chants rapidly.
The world around us blurs into streaks of light and shadow as we flash one thousand meters east at a time until we reach Starlight territory. The disorientation is overwhelming, and I collapse to the ground as we arrive, severe nausea gripping my stomach.
‘Next time, please warn me to brace myself, Nina?’ I groan, clutching my stomach.
‘Don’t be such a baby, Magnus. It’s not that bad. I don’t feel any motion sickness at all,’ she teases, smirking.
‘Maybe because you’re the one casting the spell, you’re immune to the effects?’ I mutter, still trying to steady myself.
‘Maybe karma’s just getting you back for cursing me?’ she suggests playfully.
‘You forget that when I cursed you not to have your wolf, it cursed me by being unable to shift without immense pain.’
I sit up, the world gradually stopping its chaotic spin. As I stand, growls resonate around us, and I pull Nina behind me to face five circling wolves.
One of them shifts back into human form.
‘You are trespassing in Starlight territory,’ he warns, his eyes narrowing.
‘I’m Magnus, the future Alpha of the Shadow Crest pack. I apologize for trespassing and the lack of notice of my arrival. I must meet every unmated she-wolf to find my mate. Please escort me to your Alpha.’
His eyes flicker as he mind-links his Alpha. ‘This way,’ he says, gesturing for us to follow. ‘It will be quicker if you both shift.’
Nina and I exchange a look. ‘Oh, but the weather is so… lovely that I think I’d like to walk?’ Nina says, her tone a question, her shoulders subtly shrugging in my direction as if to say, what else am I to say? Sorry, I have no wolf, but that’s okay. I’m a witch and can blink instead?
‘Okay… sure, I guess,’ the man responds, a perplexed expression on his face.
The wolves fall in behind us as we are led to the packhouse. The rest of the wolves morph back into their human forms and enter the Packhouse after us, a subtle tension lingering in their expressions. ‘Beta Ryan, thank you for bringing Magnus to me. Fetch us something to drink for our guests, will you?’ Alpha Edward addresses his beta with a gracious smile.
‘Of course, Alpha Edward.’ Beta Ryan bows respectfully before striding away to fulfil the request, leaving a trail of formality in his wake.
‘And who is this beautiful young she-wolf you have with you?’ Alpha Edward inquires, his eyes shifting to Nina.
‘This is Nina. She is the daughter of my pack warrior’s commander,’ I reply, a protective instinct nudging me to ensure Nina's comfort.
‘I see.’ A warm smile graces Alpha Edward's lips.
‘Please take a seat, both of you.’ He gestures gracefully toward the table.