The Ugly Wolfing

I was nervous. Sweaty palms, my stomach tied up in one big knot. This was it. The moment I had been waiting for for years. Tonight was the night that the mate bond would awaken and if he was here tonight, I would find him. The one person who would love me unconditionally, who would see me for who I am and not for what I look like. Surely the Moon Goddess wouldn’t fail me.

I was so uncomfortable just being here, knowing how much I stood out. Everyone else is beautiful and I’m just… not. I’m short, chubby, with dull skin and hollow eyes. Even my wolf wants nothing to do with me. She disappeared shortly after my first shift and I hadn’t heard from her since. I just needed this one thing.

Deep breath, Ellen. I thought to myself. Tugging on my dress and smoothing my unruly hair one last time, I stepped through the enormous double doors and into the grand hall of the packhouse. Towering wooden beams crossed the ceiling, holding chandeliers that flickered with a beautiful golden glow, casting warm shadows over the crowd below them. The smoky scent of pine, firewood and musk filled the air, mingling with the aroma of roasted meat and mulled wine. The buzz of conversation, clinking glasses and laughter surrounded me, but I could hardly hear a thing over the sound of my heart beating in my ears.

Slowly, I picked my way through the crowd. Anxiety was starting to kick in, did I even want to be here? I had heard all the stories, it’s supposed to be an instant connection. A magical, undeniable pull that would lead me right to the one I was meant to spend the rest of my life with. I could feel myself biting the inside of my cheek, not enough to draw blood, but just out of nervousness as I scanned the crowd, glancing from one familiar face to the next, none of whom appeared to notice me at all.

Then, I felt it. The scent of smoky cedar and an unshakable need to find it’s source. Sudden and overwhelming, it was as though an invisible thread had been pulled from my chest, connecting me to him. My mate. 

Warmth spread through me, erasing all traces of my prior anxiety. My knees wobbled, my breath caught in my throat my heart was beating so loudly it drowned out the whole room. My entire world turned upside down and the only thing that mattered was that I find him.

Everything faded into the background, the world blurred. My fingers searched for the strap of my purse. Something, anything to ground me as I moved forward. Wide eyed, I searched for him, heart pounding. This was it. The moment that destiny had woven into the fabric of my being. My mate was here, waiting for me.

And then, I saw him.

Aiden Blackthorne, the Alpha’s second son. Charming, powerful, and completely untouchable, carrying all the privilege of his lineage but without the burden of responsibility. He did whatever he wanted with no consequence, no concern for others. I just knew that everything was over now. This would be no different.

His piercing blue eyes locked onto mine, and for a single heartbeat, the world seemed to hold its breath. The moment stretched between us, fragile with hope. But the warmth I had longed for never came. Instead, his face twisted, his lip curling in unmistakable disgust.

I immediately felt my lungs deflate as I fought for a painful gasp of air. His whole demeanour shifted, as though the very sight of me was an insult, a mistake. His body stiffening, he took a step back, shaking his head as if to rid himself of some unseen horror.

"No," he muttered, his voice cold and unyielding. "This can’t be."

A dull roar filled my ears. Why? This isn’t what’s supposed to happen. He’s supposed to see me for me, to love me. The bond is supposed to bring us together because we were, without a doubt, meant for each other. But instead, rejection rolled off of him in waves. From his clenched jaw to the way his hands were curled into fists at his sides. He didn’t want this. My mouth opened, but nothing came out. What could I possibly say to someone that was looking at me like I was worse than the mud on the bottom of his boots?

Before I could even process the rejection, movement at his side caught my eye. Icy blonde hair, long red claws and golden eyes that sparkled with malice. Astrid was draped over him with practiced ease, her manicured fingers trailing possessively down his arm as she leaned in closer, a slow, cruel smile spreading across her face.

"Poor thing," Astrid purred, tilting her head mockingly. "You actually thought that he would want you?"

Aiden didn’t push her away. He didn’t deny her words. Instead, he turned back to me, his eyes gleaming with something cruel, something taunting.

"Don’t worry," he said smoothly. "I won’t reject you. That would be too easy. This… this is more fun."

He took a step closer, looming over me, his scent—smoky cedar and dominance—threatening to suffocate me. My body wanted me to submit, to yield to my mate, but my heart crumbled beneath the weight of his words.

He leaned in close to me, keeping his voice low, though I knew Astrid could hear every word. “You will always feel the bond, Ellen. You will always crave it. But… You will never have it. You will never have me."

Astrid giggled, her hand brushing his chest while she leaned in closer and whispered something in his ear. Whatever it was, his smirk widened, and her eyes sparkled with excitement as she looked back at me. She was obviously getting pleasure seeing my pain. Her gaze was triumphant, almost predatory.

“Please come with us," she invited, too sweetly. "Let’s celebrate. After all, tonight’s special. It’a your eighteenth birthday, isn’t it? We have a gift for you.”

Aiden forced a smile and nodded his head. His eyes never left me, savouring my discomfort, glinting with cruel satisfaction as I squirmed under his gaze. I swallowed hard, my heart racing, my stomach in knots.

I wanted to turn and run, to escape before they could humiliate me further, but I felt trapped. My feet refused to move from their spot on the polished wooden floor, the ache of rejection pressing down on me like an unbearable weight. But worse than the rejection was the knowing  that Aiden was going to draw out my suffering, and that he was going to enjoy every minute of it.

The crowd around us carried on, oblivious to everything that was going on between us. Music was still playing, people were still eating, drinking and enjoying their evening. Somewhere in the distance, a new song started, the haunting melody of strings and drums filling the air. Aiden took Astrid’s hand in his own and led her deeper into the crowd, their laughter trailing behind them like a cruel echo.

But when I stayed rooted in place, unable to follow them, he paused. Slowly, deliberately, he turned back to me, his piercing gaze locking onto mine with something dark and unreadable. The amusement in his eyes hadn’t faded, but now there was something else. Impatience.

He reached me in just a few steps, and before I could stop him I felt his fingers close around my wrist. He held me tightly, not painfully, but he made it clear that he wasn’t letting me go. This was an order, A silent command.

"Come on, Ellen,” he said, his voice low, almost teasing. "This is going to be fun."

The words sent a fresh wave of unease through me. I knew that this wasn’t going to be “fun”. My instincts were still telling me to snap out of it and run, but Aiden gave my arm a slight tug, forcing me to take a step forward. He wasn’t letting go. There was really no way out of this, so why fight it? Astrid was still waiting, watching from a few feet away, arms crossed, a satisfied smirk playing on her lips.

Again, I hesitated, every rational part of me wast telling me to resist, to stand my ground, to run. But I felt helpless. This was my mate. And besides, what was the alternative? Aiden’s grip tightened just enough to remind me of his control, and Astrid’s smirk widened, daring me to defy them. I let out the breath that I didn’t even realize that I was holding, and with no real options left, I forced my legs to move. My heart thundered in my ears, my mind racing, I followed them, past the party, into the living areas inside and into whatever awaited me. Each step up the staircase felt heavier than the last as they led me deeper into the packhouse.

Being different was never a good thing in the Silverfang Pack. Standing out was only good if you were exceptional, otherwise, it was something to be avoided. A sign of weakness. People would avert their gazes, openly whispering, expressions flickering between pity and amusement. Beauty and strength were everything here. Wolves who had both held the highest ranks, admired and respected. Their power evident down to the way they carried themselves. Strength was the hallmark of leadership, but beauty ensured desirability, securing the most powerful alliances through mate bonds. A wolf’s appearance mirrored their power. Their worth. And Ellen? She had neither. She was nothing. A ghost in her home, an afterthought to her own pack.

As she made her way through the bustling marketplace, the crisp morning air biting at her nose, Ellen kept her head down. Vendors called out, their voices becoming part of the hum of daily life, selling fresh meat sizzling on open grills, fresh produce, cl