Mated To The Ruthless Alpha Brothers

Taking a deep breath, I entered the ancient temple's ruins with all my senses sharpened.

 It was gradually growing darker as the sun began to set on the horizon.  I could tell by my nose and ears that this area of the woods was devoid of people.

 There is no more ideal moment than now.

 I cautiously made my way through the remains, keeping an eye on my footprints in the rubble.  I kept going till I came to the two pillars standing tall and majestic in the middle of the ruins.

 The twin pillars of the ancient temple stood despite the fact that the majority of its structure had crumbled and deteriorated over time as a result of weather and time.  I could have seen the sun rising in the east through them if I had arrived at dawn.  I put that off for another time, although it would have been lovely to watch.

 Despite all the damage to the rest of the building, the carvings on the pillars were more pronounced than ever.  I was always curious about the materials used to build the pillars because of this.  My interests, however, were elsewhere tonight.

 I had to concentrate on the more significant reason I was here.

 I was facing the enormous snow-capped mountains from between the two pillars.  In order to relax and concentrate on my surroundings, I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply many times more until I felt like I was merging with the forest.  I could feel everything at once, including the movement of the tiny animals, the rustle of the leaves, the turn of the breeze, and their soft landing on the forest floor.

 I remained until I started to feel like the woods were extending into me.  In the moment, everything felt so perfect.  It was this.  I lifted my hands and felt the night breeze dance with my hair as I began to quietly chant the spells.  That made me smile without fail.  It was so satisfying.  Just as I was beginning to love it too much, the breeze suddenly ceased.

 I couldn't decide if the surrounding woods froze or fell silent.  I sensed an all-powerful force behind me, and that was the reason everything had stopped.  I was unable to get myself to turn around and see it.

 I felt the presence coming toward me, and it sent a chill down my spine.  I took a deep breath.

 "Is that you, Luna?"  I was about to tremble as I whispered.

 "Why did you summon me, my child?"  A voice asked.  I had never heard a voice as gentle and sweet as this one.  Even though it immediately made me feel more at peace, I still lacked the bravery to turn around and see her.

 "Is this genuine, is it?  Are you real?  Unbelieving that I was speaking to a divinity, I inquired.

 "I'm as real as everything around us, and tell me, why did you summon me?"  She persisted, coming to a halt behind me where I could feel her strength rushing through me so strongly that I felt like I was about to pass out.

 "Luna..." I licked my lips, suddenly feeling nervous.  I should have given this more thought, but whatever.  The goddess was waiting for me when I arrived.  I had no desire to waste her time.  I needed to let her know exactly what I wanted.  I would never have gotten it otherwise.

 After all, I was well aware as a child that people with closed mouths seldom eat.

 I told her straight out, "I'm looking for a mate," and she laughed gently and amusedly.

 I heard her say, "I could guess," with a smile on her face.

 "I've stopped dating and am now looking for my soul mate Before turning 20, the majority of wolves find a partner.  Isn't it a little late for me, in your opinion?  I questioned her.

 Her smile was soft as she said, "Nine years late, to be precise,"

 "Exactly..." I let out a sigh.  "I'm simply fed up with waiting.  With tears stinging my eyes, I murmured, "It's difficult, especially when I see everyone around me paired up."  I didn't want to think about Jason, my previous boyfriend.  He was mateless, just like me, and I had assumed that I would have him for a while until I witnessed him find a partner last year.

 All of that changed at that instant.  I was left alone once more when he abruptly left me and vanished with his new partner.  I had made every effort to put that behind me, but it had harmed me.  That was hardly the first time that had occurred, after all.

 Jason wasn't my first boyfriend.  Despite being much older, he had no mates.  I believed he would be perfect for me, but one night he went out on his own and met someone. And abruptly stopped communicating with me via text.  I was younger at the time and assumed I would learn to cope with the pain, but then I met Jason.

 I ought to have given it some thought.  I ought to have exercised caution and known better, but I didn't.  After dating Jason for nearly six years, I was devastated to be abandoned for the second time.  I had no mate, no idea what I was doing, and I was about to die.

 I decided to remain celibate and wait for my partner when Jason broke up with me last year, but it became too difficult.  Too damned lonely.  I am the only one I know without a partner.  I was dumped so f*ck*ng viciously for the third time, and this time I didn't have the strength to pull myself back and find someone else.

 I'll lose it if I'm dumped for the third time.  After spending a lot of money on a spell to call forth the moon goddess, I found myself asking her for my partner.

 "I know what you mean, my child, but everyone has their time," she reassured me.

 "When will mine come?"  Impatiently, I asked her.  How I sounded at the time didn't matter to me.  I was in dire need of a partner—someone to hold onto in this meaningless life of mine.  I had no friends or family. Only a few coworkers I occasionally collaborated with.  The fact that I completed most of my work alone didn't help either.

 I had finished this.  I was going to lose myself without someone.

 "Soon," the goddess of the moon promised.

 "How soon?" I continued.

 She said, "You'll find that out,"  She sounded unsure about that herself, and I didn't miss it.  I nearly turned to face her because of this.

 "Have you not found anyone for me yet?"  I questioned her.

 "Is there anything particular you're looking for?"  After a pause, she questioned me.  Her voice still had that indecisive tone.  Thinking, I cocked my head to the side.

 "Actually, yes," I exhaled with excitement.

 Then, my kid, tell me.  What qualities do you want in a partner?  I kept you waiting a long time.  With a somber tone, she said, "I owe this to you."  I eagerly licked my lips, prepared with a lengthy list.  However, I wish I had thought about it more.

 The adage "Be careful what you wish for" has a purpose.

KAIRA

 "I would like someone kind and nurturing," I stated.

 "Kind and nurturing," observed the moon goddess.

 "But at the same time, aggressive and ruthless," I pictured.  Despite the difference, it stoked a fire within me.  I hadn't given this much thought previously.  I had never given my likes and dislikes in a person much thought until now.

 Otherwise, I usually dated anybody I could find without a partner, which was a very small and continuously declining population.  I therefore never really had an option.  I always ended up feeling hurt and dumped because I went with whatever I received.

 The moon goddess mumbled, "Aggressive," with an odd inflection in her voice.  Despite that, I ignored it and carried on.

 "Although I want someone to be tough and extremely possessive with me, I also want someone who will treat me like I'm the most vulnerable thing on the planet.

 In addition to allowing me to be myself, I wa