CHAPTER 3

**Cassie’s POV**

I NEVER thought that starting from that night, my life will be ended so beautifully. Kaiden and I have a short make-out session before coming back to the party. I am hesitant to announce the news about finding my mate, which is Kaiden. But I have no other choice when Kaiden himself dropped the news that shocked everyone.

“Congratulations!”

They all greeted us. Everyone is happy, I am happy too. I thought that being mated is bad. But Goddess Luna is kind enough to let me be mated to someone I love the most.

“We never see this coming, but it is great that you are the next Luna of this pack,” our alpha said in the middle of his laughter.

After the gathering, we came into the living room and our parents talk about our future. Kaiden and I are still young, but age does not matter when it comes to mating. We can be married as early as we can. But both families decide that the marriage will happen 2 years from now.

I nervously sat across from my parents, waiting for the right moment to bring up the topic of marriage. I knew that this was a big step, and I wanted to make sure that I approached it in the right way.  I sat next to my mate, Kaiden, as our parents discussed our upcoming marriage. As fated mates, we knew from the moment we met that we were meant to be together, and our families had been supportive of our relationship from the start.

"I'm so happy for you both," Kaiden's mother said, smiling warmly at us. "I remember when Kaiden was just a little boy, and he used to talk about finding his mate one day. And now, he's found you."

I felt a surge of happiness fill me as I looked at Kaiden, feeling grateful for our fated bond and the love that we shared. My own father nodded in agreement, his eyes filled with pride.

"I've never seen you happier, dear," he said, looking at me. "And I can tell that Kaiden is a wonderful mate for you."

We talked for hours, discussing everything from the wedding details to our future plans as a couple. Both of our families were supportive and excited for us, and I felt like we were all on the same page. As the conversation wound down, Kaiden's father stood up and addressed us directly.

"Your father and I are so proud of both of you," he said, looking at us. "And we know that you will have a long and happy life together. We will do everything in our power to support you and make sure that your union is blessed."

I felt tears well up in my eyes as Kaiden took my hand, squeezing it tightly. We had always known that we were meant to be together, but hearing our parents' words of love and support made it all the more real.

As we hugged our families goodbye, I knew that our wedding day would be a special one, filled with love and happiness. And I felt grateful to have such wonderful parents, who had raised us to love and cherish each other as fated mates.

We talked for hours, discussing everything from our future plans to our values and beliefs. My parents had some concerns and questions, but overall, they were supportive and happy for me. As we wrapped up the conversation, my dad gave me a hug.

“Then we will end this talk, for now, it is so nice to know this good news. Have a great morning,” Luna Andrea adjourned.

It is past 1 in the morning. They left with Kaiden who gave me one last kiss on his lips. He looks not wanting to leave. They said that it is normal to feel abnormal attraction for newly found fated pairs.

“Wow, so our little sis will be soon Mrs. Luna of the pack,” Marcus started to annoy me.

“Yeah, and if that day will come, I will make you my butt wiper,” I teased back. His face churned into a disgusted expression.

My dad came into the middle of the conversation.

“Okay, let us stop this noise and go back to your rooms. We need to rest,” he yawned.

We all agree because we are all freaking tired.

The next morning, I have to wake up so early to clean the mess left last night in our backyard. I brewed coffee and drank before taking the sweep from our garden garage. I bet my brother is still snoring right now.

“Hey!” I almost knock him off with my sweep because of surprising me.

“You know what, it is so early for you to ruin my day, Kaiden.” I mean he can greet me like a normal werewolf!

But I appreciate that he is here this early. I can see that he is excited as I am so excited too.

“Well, you need to drink coffee moderately, it is not good for you,” he joked so lamely but why do I have this urge to smile?

“You know it is impossible.” I am addicted to coffee, as much as I am so into mint and lemon.

“What happened last night,” he started his words shyly, very unusual for Kaiden. He is confident with everything, so this is new and unusual.

“You look beautiful. I saw you last night, but you ran away,” he reminded me about what happened last night.

I remembered him talking to his ex, which gives a pang to my heart, and replied, “Because I honestly do not like you seeing me talking with the other girl. Since you are my mate, maybe it is not too bad, to be honest with you. I like you since we were both young, and it blooms more until I fell hard for you.”

“Cassie…,” he could only mumble as his response.

“I am scared to say it to you. That you will be disgusted with the idea of your childhood friend falling in love with you. So I kept this feeling a secret. But who knows that you will be my mate?”

He sighed and hug me as well. Wiping my tears and giving me warmth and comfort.

“To be fair, I am also having a deep attraction to you. You are so beautiful that there are dozens of men every week, every single day that tried to ask you to go out, but I scared them off because I am scared that you will find someone more than me. I am so happy that our feeling is mutual, and not just because we are mated.”

Then, suddenly, he conquered my lips, but we were interrupted by my dad who is watching us with his hissing smile. So overprotective! We started cleaning the backyard, and it is so fun doing it with my mate.

The next day, Kaiden plans to ask me for a date, but an emergency has happened.  I heard from someone that ten rogues have been seen to the boundaries of our pack territories. We have few casualties, but they manage to get rid of those stinking blood-lusting monsters.

I got home and I saw one of my brothers, Tom, with wounds on his arms being treated by the pack doctor. It seems like he also helps to fight those rogues.  It is very alarming for our security the number of rogue and missing pack members nowadays.

Tom has to sleep, he is out of danger now. It is already evening when I sneak out of my room. Coincidentally, I saw Kaiden's brother going somewhere deeper in the wood. He looks suspicious, but I remember that he is also the son of our alpha. Maybe he loves to run in the woods, but it is dangerous this time. I tried to go on his trail, but someone topped me.

“Hey, where are you going?” Kaiden asked me. He is holding a weapon. It looks like he will be patrolling for the pack's safety.

“N-Nothing, I just miss you...”

“I miss you too, but it is not safe to go outside this time. Rogues are being active again,” he cautioned me not to venture into the woods.

In the end, he escorts me to go home, and I have to be scolded for being so 'stubborn'. I can defend myself. I trained hard enough to knock a few enemies. That night, I also get a dream. It is so weird because it is so realistic. I saw Kaiden being bitten by a rogue. That gives me a heart attack. I forcedly raise from my bed, in the middle of the night just to drink cold water.

‘Relax, Cassie. It was just a dream,’ I convinced myself.