*NEW* Chapter XXI

Fabian's POV

Fabian's paws pounded against the forest floor, his muscles stretching and contracting in perfect rhythm as he ran through the dense woods. The moonlight filtered through the canopy, casting a silvery glow on his dark fur. He barely registered the branches whipping against his body, the sting of brambles catching on his coat. The pain inside him was far greater.

Sorrow weighed heavy in his chest, slowing his steps, but he pushed forward. He had thought his heart had died with his mate in the war. That the brutal conflict had stolen every last shred of love he had left to give. Then she came along—soft, warm, kind. A beacon of hope in his darkness. But fate had been cruel, revealing that she was never meant for him. She belonged to Alpha Derek.

Fabian snarled at himself, frustration burning hotter than his grief. How foolish had he been to believe he could love again? That he had the right? He exhaled, watching his breath mist in the cold air as he slowed to a walk, his ears twitching at the sound of rustling leaves ahead.

Then he saw her.

A flash of white between the trees, moving swiftly, gracefully. A she-wolf, her fur as pure as freshly fallen snow, her scent... unrecognizable.

Fabian stiffened, instincts flaring. No wolf of the Crescendo Pack carried that scent. Who was she? And what was she doing in their territory?

She turned slightly, as if sensing his gaze. Their eyes met for the briefest second before she bolted, her paws barely making a sound against the earth. Fabian didn't hesitate. He lunged forward, his body surging into motion as he gave chase.

His breath came in short, rapid bursts as he pursued her, his heartbeat hammering in his ears. She was fast, almost impossibly so, weaving between the trees with practiced ease. Was she a rogue? A spy? Or something else entirely?

A surge of determination propelled him forward. He had to find out.

He had to know who she was—and why she was running.

Derek's POV

I stood at the edge of the gathering, my hands clenched behind my back as I watched my sister's wedding unfold before me. The altercation from weeks ago still lingered in my mind—how she had defied me, taking Lydia to the club, putting her in danger despite my strict orders. I had marked Lydia without her knowledge, against her will, and now she bore the weight of my grotesque memories of the war. I could see the distance in her eyes every time she looked at me, the way she recoiled from my touch.

But today was different. Today, I allowed myself a moment of pride. My little sister, the only family I had left, was becoming someone's wife. Time had moved too fast—she had grown from a pup into a strong, independent woman, and now she was bound to a mate, a good wolf, one I could trust. I watched as she emerged, dressed in white, the entire pack witnessing the sacred moment.

My gaze drifted across the crowd and landed on Lydia. She was clad in pink, her face bright with a smile I hadn't seen in so long. The sight sent a pang through my chest. I imagined our own wedding day—if it ever came. Would she ever accept me? Or had I ruined every chance?

My past loomed over me like a shadow. The rejection of my last mate had nearly destroyed me—crippled and without my wolf after the war, I had suffered as she took other men into her bed, feeling the pain of every betrayal. Yet I had refused to reject her. Not until Lydia came along. She was supposed to heal me, but instead, I had only inflicted wounds upon her.

As the ceremony continued, I remained still, lost in my thoughts. I had already hurt Lydia too much. Was there even a way to fix what I had broken?

Lydia's POV

I was beyond happy for Vanessa. I could wish her nothing but happiness. From the very first moment, she had been my friend, her witty sarcasm breaking through even the toughest walls. For over a decade, joy had been a stranger to me, ever since I had been forced to live with my aunt. But now, despite all that had happened, this pack of supernatural creatures had taken me in and treated me better than any human ever had.

Alpha Derek, on the other hand, had been a pain in the ass from day one, constantly trying to keep me away from Fabian. Now I understood why. It was because we were mates. And Fabian... he avoided me at every cost. His relationship with Derek—his best friend—had soured because of me.

I sighed, shaking off the heavy thoughts, and focused on the wedding. The music, the dancing, the laughter—these were moments I needed to hold onto. But I wasn't oblivious. I knew there were eyes on me the entire time. Derek wouldn't stop looking. And now that the entire pack knew I belonged to him, they were more careful around me, cautious with their words, their movements.

At the end of the party, I hugged Vanessa and Caleb goodbye, warmth filling my chest as Vanessa whispered, "Take care of Derek while I'm gone, okay?" She was leaving for her honeymoon, and in her absence, I was left to navigate the tangled mess of my life with Derek.

As I walked back to the villa, the cool night air brushing against my skin, I felt a presence before I saw her. A woman stood in my path, her dark skin mirroring mine, her features eerily similar.

Could it be...? Arabella.

The mate who had rejected Derek. They said she looked like me.