Adrian’s POV

For five years, I’d searched for Natalia, but had never heard from her. I had no idea where she was; no one had found any trace of her or her path through the forest when she left the pack.

“Adrian,”

A soft voice called. I emerged from my thoughts and turned to the person at my office door.

She entered with an innocent grin.

“Lynda,” I murmured, rubbing my forehead. She’d been with me for five years. Three years ago, when my father made me head Alpha, she’d wanted to be my Luna.

Nevertheless, she accepted my decision, assuring me her interest wasn't driven by greed; she simply wanted to be with me. She was a good woman, perhaps too good for me.

“Adrian, I heard you’re leaving today for tomorrow’s werewolf council party,” Lynda said. “The Alphas and Lunas from all the major packs will be there.”

I leaned back in my chair and nodded.

“Hmm.”

She lowered her head. I frowned. “What?”

“Will you take me this year?”

Her question, or rather, request, took me aback. I wanted to say no, but saw the tears in her eyes—she’d already anticipated my answer. I couldn’t refuse.

“I will.”

She looked shocked, clearly unexpected. She rushed to me, bending down. “Thank you so much.” As she reached for a hug, I raised a hand to stop her.

“I have things to do before leaving. You should pack your things now.”

She nodded, looking slightly sad, and left my office.

It wasn’t the first time I’d made an excuse to avoid her. I didn’t understand why, but I hadn’t slept with Lynda.

The next day, I arrived at the party hall with Lynda. My sole purpose was fulfilling my duties as pack leader. It wasn’t just a party; it was an annual gathering where packs mingled and acquainted themselves.

As I entered, everyone’s eyes fell on me, the hall instantly silencing. My power allowed me to subdue even council members; I’d instilled both fear and respect.

Many Alphas arrived with their daughters, ostensibly to introduce their families. I wasn’t foolish; their intentions were clear. They wanted me to marry one of their daughters.

I ignored them, scanning the hall. Then, I saw her.

My composure nearly shattered. Natalia! There, after all these years, was the woman I’d been searching for. My wolf went wild. I almost forgot Lynda and rushed toward Natalia.

“Adrian?” Lynda called, but Natalia held my attention, preventing me from even glancing at Lynda. My legs seemed to move on their own, drawn to her.

I stopped when I saw her talking to some women from my pack. My eyes devoured her. I couldn't believe it—five years! She’d changed so much.

In her black satin dress, she looked stunning. The fabric shimmered in the hall’s light, accentuating her figure and captivating everyone’s attention. Her beauty had blossomed; her allure could captivate any man. Every curve was mesmerizing.

Our eyes met, and mine darkened. She said something, and the women turned to me in terror. I ignored them, my focus solely on her.

Rage consumed me. Where had she been? Why hadn’t she returned? Who’d sheltered her?

As she started to leave, I narrowed my eyes and stepped toward her.

“How dare you show up?” I asked coldly, my anger fueling the words.

As I approached, a strange feeling washed over me; my heart pounded. My wolf reacted violently, his desire to shift overwhelming. He growled.

“Mate!”

This cleaned-up version improves grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and word choice for a smoother read. It removes unnecessary repetition and clarifies ambiguous phrasing. The final advertising sentence was removed as it was out of place and unrelated to the story.