Chapter 3

Liam's POV

The day of my younger brother Luca's wedding finally arrived, and I made sure to get to the venue early.

A huge sense of relief washed over me, knowing that, with Luca getting married, I would be off the hook for a while. The pressure from my family to find a mate, to continue the bloodline and strengthen the Pack's alliances, would subside- for the time being.

A gentle hum of anticipation thrummed within me, and I crafted some heartfelt advice and careful reminders for Luca, hoping to give them to him before the ceremony. "Treat your wife with care and love," I had planned to remind him.

"What would a love expert be without a mate to share his life with?" Rex teased.

"Come on, Rex. Let's focus on the wedding. Besides, I'm not in any rush to find my mate."

"I see where you're coming from, but I believe you just haven't met her yet. There's someone out there destined to be with you," Rex replied.

"I'm not searching for a mate right now," I explained. "I want to take the time to truly understand what that bond means. It's a layer of complexity I'm not ready for."

"That's where you might be mistaken, Liam. Finding a mate can enhance your abilities," Rex urged.

"Enhance my abilities?" I raised an eyebrow.

"You know, I've often imagined what our mate would be like," he continued. "I bet she'd be stunning. Just imagine what your connection could feel like."

"You will experience a bond that is magical and beautiful when the time comes," Rex added. "It's a moment I truly look forward to."

I interrupted him, "Let's save that discussion for another time. Right now, we need to find Luca before the ceremony begins."

The officiant's booming voice pierced through the ambient chatter, commanding everyone's attention with authority.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats. The wedding ceremony is about to begin!" he announced.

"If you hadn't distracted me with all that talk about finding a mate, I might have had a chance to meet with Luca beforehand," I remarked, half-jokingly.

As the ceremony commenced, a surge of emotion washed over me. We all stood together, ready to welcome the couple.

And then, amid the blissful chaos, Rex exclaimed, "Mate!!"

"What do you mean?" I asked, bewildered.

As I instinctively looked up, an electrifying surge ran through me- more powerful than anything I'd ever felt before, as if I'd been struck by lightning. My heart raced, pounding furiously in my chest, as if it were trying to escape my body.

The feeling grew stronger with every passing second, and suddenly, my gaze was drawn to Luca and his bride, walking hand-in-hand.

How can my brother's bride turn out to be my mate? I wondered.

Inside me, Rex howled with both joy and anxiety. He rejoiced at the possibility of finally discovering the mate bond he'd longed for- a connection so deep and primal that it felt almost sacred.

"I'm going to reject her," I murmured.

The moment those words left my lips, Rex's jubilant howls came to an abrupt halt.

"What do you mean, Liam? You can't be serious right now," Rex replied, his tone filled with disbelief.

"I won't claim her, Rex. I will reject the mate bond," I stated firmly.

"You can't do that, Liam. She is yours! All you have to do is claim her here, at this moment, as ours," Rex urged.

"It's not as simple as you think, Rex. She is my brother's bride," I insisted.

"You can't run away from the mate bond, Liam. You can only ignore it, but it will find you. That's the fate the Moon Goddess has bestowed upon you," Rex continued.

I remained silent, grappling with the weight of the dilemma before me.

"Can you just keep it down for a moment and let me think?" I snapped.

Just when I started to lose hope of finding an opportunity to speak with my brother's bride, I saw her- gracefully making her way outside. An unexpected glimmer of hope ignited in my chest.

"This may be my only chance," I whispered.

As she opened the door to a nearby room and stepped inside, I seized the moment and followed her without hesitation. I gently closed the door behind me, but the soft click startled her, causing her to whip around with wide eyes, her expression shifting to one of alarm.

"What are you doing in here?" she exclaimed.

"I'm sorry for barging in on you like this," I said.

"I apologize for raising my voice just now. I was a bit taken aback because I didn't recognize who was at the door," Aurora said, her cheeks flushing with a hint of embarrassment.

"You don't need to apologize; I completely understand. It can be startling," I replied warmly, offering her a reassuring smile that seemed to ease the tension in the air.

"If you're here to see Luca, I must let you know he's not here at the moment. He's currently entertaining some guests at the wedding venue," she added, her words spilling out in a slightly rushed breath.

I took a moment to gather my thoughts amidst the charged atmosphere before responding, "Actually, I came to talk to you, not Luca."

The surprise that swept across her face was unmistakable. Her eyes widened, reflecting a mixture of astonishment and intrigue that softened her features.

"I wanted to discuss something important with you," I explained, my voice steady but tense.

The air between us crackled with tension like static.

"I'm guessing you know what I'm talking about," I said.