My Fated Mate Isn't One of Them

I am the only sister of the Alpha of the White River Pack. For as long as I can remember, Dorian Blackwood, Kieran Holloway, and Ronan Sinclair have always been by my side. Their names serve as my protective charms. When I tell them I crave the sour berries from the southern forest, a plate of fresh, dew-kissed berries will show up on my windowsill the next day. When I'm 16, I accidentally fall off a cliff because I'm too busy having fun to watch where I'm going. Kieran's the one who jumps down and breaks my fall with his body. He ends up with four broken ribs, yet the first thing he does when he comes to is ask if I'm hurt. For 18 years, they protect me and spoil me like a princess. I view each and every one of them as my personal possession. I assume that when it comes time for me to get married, I won't even have to choose. Whichever one of them I end up with, I feel completely confident I'll live a good life. It all changes when Maeve Greystone joins the pack with her pup. She rarely smiles and tends to keep to herself. She's half a head taller than me and an excellent hunter. On her second day in the pack, everyone goes out hunting together, and she practically outshines all the pack's warriors. Dorian's the first one who changes. He calls me useless because I can't even aim my gun properly when we hunt, and he thinks that I'm too spoiled. That night, I sprain my ankle while I'm alone at the hunting grounds. I call Dorian and ask him to come get me. He answers the phone, but he tells me he's too busy. In the end, Kieran and Ronan come to take me home. They also berate Dorian on my behalf. Yet, it isn't long before Kieran has a change of heart too. He gives Maeve the horse he promised to give me. Then, he tells me, "She goes hunting in the forest a lot these days. She needs it more than you do." … At the graduation party, the whole pack gathers around the bonfire and dances. I look at Ronan, the only one who is still by my side, and ask him, "Do they all think I'm the problem?" He pats me on the head and smiles. "You've done nothing wrong. The problem lies entirely with them." That night, Ronan personally fastens the moonstone necklace he promised to give me as my graduation gift around Maeve's neck. He even tells her that it looks better on her than it does on me. I mull it over for a long time before knocking on my older brother Sten White's door. "I'll go to the Moon Guard Pack to fulfill the marriage alliance." Chapter 1 Astrid's POV My older brother, Sten White, forced out the words, "Say that again!" There were three elders in the office. When I pushed the door open, the four of them were in the middle of a heated discussion. However, as soon as I said that, all eyes were instantly on me. Sten strode over and yanked me into the inner room. "You're telling me that the only sister of the Alpha of the White River Pack is going to the Moon Guard Pack?" He still had a tight grip on me. "Have you lost your mind, or have I?" The Moon Guard Pack was located in the snow-capped mountains at the northernmost edge of the continent. There were no she-wolves there. Hence, for years, they had relied on marriage alliances, trading salt and grain with other packs across the continent in exchange for she-wolves. Snow wolves were unlike ordinary werewolves. They were brutish and powerful, and once they set their sights on someone, it was for life. Anyone they marked would be tracked down and brought back, no matter where they fled. No she-wolf was willing to gamble her entire life on that snowy mountain, knowing that once she went up there, she would never be able to come back down. At that moment, all the she-wolves who hadn't been marked were anxiously waiting for the lots in three days. Sten led me over to the table, pushed the contract in front of me, and told me to read it. The parchment had already begun to yellow with age, its corners worn smooth and glossy. The inions on it had been added by generations of werewolves. It detailed how much salt and grain the White River Pack owed the Moon Guard Pack, which years they were required to send a she-wolf over, and what goods had been offered in place of a she-wolf in the years they failed to do so. It even specified how many years those goods would cover. The last entry on the parchment was from this year. "For generations, we've been using other goods to make up for the she-wolves we're supposed to send. I didn't want to let any she-wolf in the pack suffer in a place like the Moon Guard Pack," Sten explained. "The Moon Guard Pack has been unwilling to accept that arrangement for a long time. They demanded that we send a she-wolf over this year. We just haven't decided who yet." He stared at me. "But I hope it won't be you. You know as well as I do that if I want to, I could pull you out of the lots right now." His gaze darkened, turning sinister. "Did someone say or do something to you? Was it Dorian, Kieran, or Ronan?" When I didn't answer, he lowered his voice even further. "Or was it all three of them?" Sten turned on his heel and was about to head toward the training grounds. I charged at him and wrapped my arms around him from behind. "Don't go, Sten!" It was useless. When I first noticed Dorian Blackwood and Kieran Holloway starting to distance themselves from me, Sten had stood up for me in the exact same way. He called both of them to the council hall to demand an explanation. Dorian and Kieran insisted that nothing was going on and that I was just being paranoid. Yet, as soon as Sten left, Dorian told me, "Can you stop acting like a pup? I have my own things to take care of, too. My life doesn't revolve around you." To this day, I still remembered the look on Dorian's face at the time. He despised me. Back then, I'd cast a pleading look at Kieran, who was standing beside Dorian. "It's all in your head. What did Maeve ever do wrong? I can't believe you want to drive her away just because the two of us haven't been paying you much attention lately! "Your older brother's the Alpha of the pack. That's the only reason you get treated like you're the center of the universe. Without him, you're nothing!" He sighed. "I can't believe I used to think I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you. I must have been blind." Every word cut deeper than I could bear. I cried until I was completely drained, and Ronan Sinclair stayed by my side all night to watch over me. However, now, no one wanted me anymore. "You're my only sister, Astrid." Sten let out a soft sigh. His tone softened. "Other people might not cherish you, but I always will." He cupped my face in his hands. "You just turned 18; you're still just a pup. How could I possibly feel at ease sending you off to a place so far away all on your own? But it breaks my heart even more to see you so miserable here in the pack. "The lots will be drawn in three days. The members of the Moon Guard Pack will arrive before the first heavy snowfall blocks the roads. If this is what you truly want, as long as you can ensure your own safety, I'll support you." He looked at me and pressed his lips together, as though he was trying to hold back his tears. I walked out the door first. It was freezing outside, and a blast of cold wind instantly rushed down my collar. I bumped right into someone. Ronan had his back to me, holding an invitation. He turned around and noticed it was me. "Is your brother in?" "Yeah, he is." "Alright, I'll go have a word with your brother." He briefly held the invitation up in front of me, as if he wanted me to see it, though it could have just been an absentminded gesture while opening the door. "Maeve's birthday is tomorrow. I want to invite your brother to make it a proper celebration. If you're free, you're welcome to join us." It felt as though there was a huge boulder on my chest. It throbbed while my throat burned so badly that I couldn't make a sound. I nodded numbly and started heading home. My thoughts were a complete mess as I turned back around to look at Ronan. He hadn't gone inside yet. The invitation in his hand was blindingly red. "Ronan." "Yeah?" "Do you know about the lots between the White River Pack and the Moon Guard Pack three days from now?" I asked. "Will you be there?" "I will," he responded. "You'd look pitiful standing on that stage all by yourself, so I'll be there with you. But this is the last time, Astrid. It's time you learned to grow up." A faint chuckle escaped my lips. There were three days left before the members of the Moon Guard Pack arrived at the White River Pack. Chapter 2 Astrid's POV When I was left all alone, I realized how painfully long a single day could be. I kept myself busy for what felt like forever, only to realize that just one day had passed since last night. When I returned home, the room felt unbearably empty. For a moment, I felt as though I were the only person left in the entire world. A bowl sat on the table, with half a bowl of bone broth inside. A note was tucked underneath it. It was from Sten. "I have a meeting today, so I won't be home in time. Eat something light for now. I'll bring you something delicious when I get back." I carried the bowl out to the doorstep, sipping the warm soup while the cold wind bit at my skin. I glanced at the corner of the yard. I used to stand there with a bowl in my hands. There would always be a familiar silhouette at the door, keeping me company and chatting with me. Every now and then, he would do something to make me smile. However, no one was left now. I set the bowl down on the table and went out to take a walk. It was pitch-black outside. I trekked across the frozen, hardened dirt until I reached the fork by the river. Then, it struck me that today was Maeve's birthday. Since Ronan had invited me, there was no reason for me not to go. Maeve's house was at the bottom of the slope at the fork in the road. It was sheltered from the wind, and it used to be the place where the four of us often hung out. Back when we spent our winters there, the four of us would sit inside the house and chat around the fireplace. We were all too reluctant to get up to add more firewood. In the end, Dorian was always the one who rose to his feet, grumbling under his breath. I stopped at the doorstep and knocked on it. Dorian was the one who answered the door. He noticed how thinly I was dressed, and his expression cracked for a fraction of a second. Before I could pin down what it was, he asked apathetically, "What are you doing here?" "It's Maeve's birthday. I came to celebrate with her." After hearing that, he stepped aside and opened the door a little wider. There was no one inside. "The birthday party is already over. You're too late." He had changed so much. He never treated me like this in the past. Dorian was the very first wolf to ever come into my life. He was sharp-tongued, hard to please, and fiercely protective of his own. He wouldn't waste his breath on someone he disliked. Back when he still liked me, he would criticize me from morning till night. No matter what we were talking about, he always ended up lecturing me. "Astrid, what were you thinking, going into the forest by yourself? You're way too reckless! If you run into Rogues and can't outrun them, don't you know to hide first and then call us? You act like you've never been taught any better!" Every single word out of his mouth dripped with exasperation, yet whenever real trouble hit, he was always the first to throw himself in front of me. Sometimes, before I even realized what was happening, he would already have me sheltered behind him in a completely safe spot. Other times, he would be so harsh with me that I wouldn't want to speak to him anymore. Then, he'd turn around and give me jewelry he knew I liked. "Where did those two go?" I asked. "Maeve's pup wanted to set off some fireworks, so Kieran and Ronan took the two of them out to do it." I nodded and was just about to head home when Ronan returned. "What are you doing?" Ronan frowned. "It's a good thing Maeve isn't back yet." His tone toward me was cold. "This is Maeve's home now. Don't come here anymore unless you have a good reason. She isn't fond of you." "I won't come again." I looked up at him. "There's one more thing I need to do before I leave." I pulled a small cloth pouch out of my pocket and handed it to Ronan. "These are the things the three of you gave me in the past. I've already converted the food and drinks into cash, and all the jewelry pieces are in here. You can split them among yourselves when you have time." Dorian's expression changed drastically. "Do you have any idea what you're doing?" He said in a low voice, "Come inside. We can't have this conversation out here." "That won't be necessary. Maeve will be unhappy if she comes back and sees me here." With that, I turned and left. There were two days left before the members of the Moon Guard Pack arrived. Chapter 3 Astrid's POV I was about to reach home when I spotted Kieran outside my front door. "Kieran, what are you doing here?" He smiled at me. "I heard you've been feeling down these past few days, so I came to keep you company." I nodded. "In that case, come in." I led him inside and brewed him a pot of coffee. He took it from me. "Did Dorian and Ronan give you a hard time?" "Not really. They have their reasons." I poured myself a cup of coffee. "Look at you, all grown up now; you're starting to see things from other people's perspectives. Yet, here I am, still treating you like a pup." His smile was still gentle as usual. "To be honest, there's something I came here to talk to you about." "I'm listening." I had a hunch about what it was. "You're the Alpha's only sister, so you can pretty much have your pick of the pack's warriors. Remember how you used to tell us that none of the three of us were good enough for you and that you were going to find a mate a hundred times better than us?" I nodded. "Yeah, I did say that." "I'm going to hold a mating ceremony with Maeve," he continued gently. "You know how hard it's been for her to raise her pup on her own. I want to have a legitimate reason to take care of her. You're the best little sister I could ever ask for, and you're the person I'm closest to. I hope I can have your blessing." I was dumbstruck for a moment. Then, I found the entire situation absurd. "Do you realize how hypocritical you sound right now?" I inquired. This time, he was the one who was dumbstruck. Clearly, this wasn't the reaction he'd expected from me, and he was suddenly at a loss for words. "We used to be close, and I did imagine that my future mate would be one of you." I paused for a beat before continuing, "However, that was on the premise that we were still the most important people in each other's worlds. "Yet, now, you want to hold a mating ceremony with another she-wolf, and you still came to me to ask for my blessing? What am I to you, some kind of joke?" I asked. Just then, several vegetable leaves were thrown against my door. I walked outside. Maeve's pup, Simon Smith, was right outside my door. He glared at me viciously, as if he wanted to devour me whole. "You're pure evil! What gives you the right to stop my mom from forming a mate bond with Kieran?" I looked at Kieran. Instead of standing up for me, he lowered his head and remained silent. I looked at Simon. "Your mom is free to choose who she wants to bond with. It's none of my business. I've never stopped anyone from being with your mom." He abruptly charged at me, intending to bite me. I shifted into my wolf form and dodged him. I instinctively dropped into a battle stance, though I had no intention of hurting him. All of a sudden, Simon sat down on the ground and burst into tears. I stared at him. Before I could even figure out what to do, Dorian rushed over, with Maeve right on his heels. Maeve immediately shielded Simon. "Stay away from my pup!" Dorian stepped in front of them as well. "I can't believe you'd actually hurt a pup. What the hell is wrong with you?" I looked him dead in the eye. "You don't even know the full story, but you're already assuming I'd hurt him. Is that how little you think of me?" For a moment, I couldn't bring myself to smile anymore. It felt as though all the years of friendship between us had been thrown down the drain. "I was so wrong about you. I can't believe I ever thought you were an honorable person." His expression shifted, as if he was wrestling with his conscience. Yet, it soon hardened. "Here we go again; you're making a mountain out of a molehill." "Oh? What exactly have I done wrong?" Dorian was stumped. The three of them had expected me to cry, make a scene, and point fingers at everyone else. When I didn't do any of those things, they had no idea how to handle me. "Well? Don't just stand there, Kieran. Tell them. What did I do to this pup?" Kieran walked over. "Astrid didn't do anything this time." I walked up to Simon. "Did I hit you? Tell them." "No," Simon muttered under his breath. Clearly, he was reluctant to tell the truth. "Apologize to me." I looked at both Maeve and Simon. Simon didn't want to, so Maeve lowered her head and said, "I'm sorry, Astrid." I didn't want any part in their games. I was baffled by the way they treated me. I needed some time to slowly sort through my thoughts. I walked past the rowdy crowd and slowly made my way home. There was only one day left before the members of the Moon Guard Pack came to the White River Pack. Chapter 4 Astrid's POV "Are you sure you really want to go to the Moon Guard Pack?" Sten fretted over me. "I know you're doing this for the sake of the pack. Everyone here will forever be in your debt." I nodded. "I've already made up my mind." He lowered his head and let out a sigh. "The members of the Moon Guard Pack will be here tonight. The journey to the snowy mountains is long and grueling, so once you leave, there's no turning back. If you've already made up your mind, then today, the two of us—" Sten was about to have a proper heart-to-heart with me when an urgent message suddenly came from the pack, requiring his presence. He hastily bade me farewell and rushed off to deal with the matter. … I was packing my belongings at home when someone suddenly banged on the door. "Astrid, what exactly did you say to Alpha Sten? Why's Maeve on the list to go to the Moon Guard Pack this time?" I walked over and answered the door. The moment I looked outside, I found Dorian, Kieran, and Ronan standing beside Maeve, much like the way they once stood beside me. I was a little caught off guard. "Are you saying Maeve is the one going to the Moon Guard Pack this time?" "Drop the act already! You're the only person in this pack who could convince Sten to handpick someone for the marriage alliance with the Moon Guard Pack. You're his sister, and you've always hated Maeve. Who else could it be if not you?" Dorian shot daggers at me. "Weren't we supposed to draw lots tonight to decide who goes? How do you already know she's going to the Moon Guard Pack?" Kieran looked somewhat disappointed in me. "I've never said anything when you threw your immature tantrums, but this time, you've truly gone too far." "Astrid, hurry up and tell your brother that the whole thing about Maeve going to the Moon Guard Pack is just a joke." Ronan frowned. "If you can't change his mind, I'll make sure you regret this!" My heart missed a beat. I looked at the three of them as if I had never known them before. All I could see now were monsters. How could they bear zero resemblance to the companions I grew up with? I shifted my attention to Maeve. Sensing my gaze, she looked away, her eyes darting around, but it lasted only for a fleeting moment. I had a pretty good idea of what was going on. "So what if it was me? I'm my brother's only sister. I'm the most powerful woman in this pack." I smiled. "I want to send the person I hate to a place where she won't be able to survive. So what if you have a problem with me? What can any of you do about it?" "Astrid…" Dorian's expression darkened. "Even though you're the Alpha's younger sister, he's still the Alpha of the pack. He won't let you get your way." "In that case, why don't you wait until tonight and see if she's still around?" The three of them eventually left with Maeve. There was nothing they could do about me. I took a deep breath and picked up my luggage. Sten had been watching me from the shadows the entire time. He was observing me. He'd wanted to see if I could hold my own earlier. If I couldn't, he would've simply denied my request to leave the pack. I looked at him. "Sten, let the Moon Guard Pack members know that they don't need to come here anymore. I'll meet up with them." Sten's eyes gradually misted over. "Why are you so set on leaving?" "Our pack has never been particularly strong when it comes to combat, but the Moon Guard Pack is arguably the strongest pack in terms of military strength. I want to go there and learn from them so that I can help our pack grow stronger in the future." Sten fell silent for a long while. In the end, he reached out and gently ruffled my hair. "None of that matters to me. All I care about is your safety." "I know." Sten saw me off at the station as I boarded the train bound for the pack's border. After saying goodbye to Sten, I headed off toward the Moon Guard Pack. A group from the Moon Guard Pack was already waiting for me at the border.