Katie POV
Two days earlier, my mother had called with news that shattered the fragile peace I’d only just begun to rebuild in my life.
"The Alpha of the Ludwig Pack has approached us. They want you to mate with their second son, Griffin Ludwig."
I froze. The Ludwig Pack was legendary—one of the most powerful and ancient werewolf packs in the entire realm. And Griffin Ludwig? His name was whispered like a ghost story among both wolves and humans. A ruthless Alpha-in-training, he ruled his pack with cold efficiency, leaving no room for dissent. His reputation for being indifferent to women was just as infamous as his knack for power plays.
The idea of being bound to someone so distant unsettled me deeply. But after everything that had happened in my life—Jason’s betrayal, the pain I’d endured—it felt like fate was forcing me to take a leap into the unknown.
Without telling my family, I decided to return to the pack early. I wanted to surprise them, to show them I was ready for this, whatever it might mean.
Three hours later, I arrived at London’s main train station. The air smelled of human exhaust and faint traces of lingering wolves who had passed through the city’s crowded streets. As I dragged my suitcase through the terminal, I was caught off guard by a commotion ahead.
A well built man with sharp, predatory eyes snatched my bag and darted toward the exit. Instinct took over. My wolf stirred within me, growling for justice. Without thinking, I bolted after him.
Despite my speed, I couldn’t stop him. Just as he disappeared into an alley, the bag fell from his hands. I grabbed it, relieved—until I looked inside. It was empty. How did he switch my bag with the exact same type? It didn't make any sense.
Still trying to understand what was going on, an old woman was pushed to the floor by another man.
My chest tightened. Something felt off. As I turned back toward my luggage, my wolf snarled a warning in my mind. The old woman was no victim. Another man was dragging my suitcase toward the station doors, and her accomplice—the strange man—was waiting for her on an electric scooter.
"Hey!" I shouted, sprinting toward them.
Before I could reach her, a tall figure emerged from the crowd. With a fluidity that could only belong to a trained warrior, he launched a kick that sent both thieves sprawling. The scooter crashed onto its side, and the crowd gasped.
The man crouched, lifting my suitcase with ease, and handed it back to me without a word.
"Thank you," I stammered, breathless and overwhelmed.
He nodded slightly, his voice low and commanding. "Be more careful next time."
I barely managed to mumble another thank-you before he turned and walked away. He was taller than any wolf I’d seen, his presence radiating raw power. Though his physique was striking, his expression was so cold that it discouraged further conversation.
I watched his broad shoulders disappear into the crowd just as the local enforcers arrived to apprehend the thieves. My wolf stirred, curious, but I brushed the feeling aside.
When I finally arrived home, I was greeted by the familiar scents of my family—the comforting blend of pine and lavender that I’d missed so much during my time away.
Grandma fussed over me as though I were still a pup, her frail hands patting my cheeks. My parents’ warm smiles eased the tension I’d carried for years.
For the past seven years, I had stayed in Edinburgh for Jason, neglecting the family that had always stood by me. Now, surrounded by their care, I felt my walls crumbling.
Tears spilled down my cheeks, unbidden.
My mother mistook my tears for heartbreak.
"If you can’t let go of Jason, we won’t force you," she said gently, stroking my hair.
I shook my head, wiping my face. "I’m willing to mate into the Ludwig Pack."
My parents exchanged worried glances. Even in the world of wolves, arranged matings weren’t uncommon, especially among powerful packs. But the Ludwig Pack was a league of its own.
The next morning, the Ludwigs sent a formal envoy to arrange the mating bond ceremony. My mother explained that Old Alpha Ludwig had spent years searching for the perfect match for his second son. Dozens of prominent she-wolves had been rejected by Griffin himself.
I couldn’t help but wonder why he’d agreed to mate with me.
Although our pack was respected, we were nowhere near the Ludwigs’ level of influence. My family didn’t have the kind of strategic alliances that might explain this union.
My mother seemed just as worried. As she helped me choose a gown for the ceremony, she took my hands in hers, her usual confidence replaced with vulnerability.
"If you don’t like him when you meet, we won’t go through with it," she said softly.
I tried to smile, though my stomach churned with uncertainty. "Honestly, Mom, I’m more worried he won’t like me."
Her laughter filled the room, lightening the moment. "If Griffin Ludwig doesn’t see your worth, then he’s a fool."
The next morning, as I prepared for the ceremony, I couldn’t shake the feeling that my life was about to change forever.
The venue was held deep in the Ludwig Pack’s territory, an ancient forest that buzzed with the energy of hundreds of wolves. The ceremony itself was simple—just the exchange of vows and the marking of the bond.
As I waited in the ceremonial hall, the heavy oak doors creaked open. My wolf stilled, every sense sharpening as Griffin stepped inside.
It was him.
The man who had saved me at the station.
Our eyes met, and for a brief moment, the air seemed to still. His expression remained unreadable, his gaze piercing through me as though he could see every secret I’d ever kept.
He walked toward me, his movements fluid yet restrained, like a trapped man.
