Xavier Marchand's POV

I was huffing and panting as sweat was accumulating on my back. It was a hard day work as I was looking over the new lumber that we have collected from the forest that we will export to the town.

It was a new idea from Luna Marina after she had been married to Caleb Andino, the Alpha of Shadows pack, also my best friend's wife. I sighed as I never thought that outsider will be our new Luna. It was a nice change.

Well, everyone else, not me.

Until last year Folk's festival.

I saw it with my own eyes as Marina changed into a werewolf and a big one at that. She was a werewolf, just like me and Caleb, but she never surpassed the instinct to change. Her own family thought that she was not fit to be one, let alone change into one.

"Is everything in order, Xavier?" Caleb asked me as I was looking at him. I smiled before I nodded. Luna Marina was now heavy with his pups and I think it will be due time before we see new heirs of Shadows pack.

"Yes, I have packed at it all and we can be delivered it first thing in the morning," I said as I was looking at the evening sky of red, yellow and orange.

"Good work," he said as he patted on my shoulder before he asked me to round up the boys and went on our daily patrol. Even we were the closed community, Caleb still wanted us to keep our territory safe from humans.

"It's that time of the year again," Caleb said as I was putting on my button shirt. I looked at him, puzzled to what he was talking about.

"What time?" I asked as I don't look at the calendar recently. So I was left in the shadows for now. Caleb looked at me as if I was losing my mind.

"Really? I thought you were excited to get one of yours this year, probably after 25 years of waiting?" He said as he was arching his eyebrow at me. The thing about the Folk festival was that it was held every month that we gathered together with the humans on the island and maybe our mates will show up.

Caleb found his last 3 months.

"I don't know. I mean it would mean a world to me if I found her but I was not keeping hope," I said as was rolling my sleeves. Caleb was rolling his eyes at me. Since when he learned to do that? His wife maybe.

"I found mine. I'm sure yours will turn up," he said as he smiled at me as an encouragement for me.

"Well, I see you tomorrow," I said as I was ready to leave, being away from being questioned from him again. I love Caleb but not when he was being a busy body with my love life.

"And don't stay up too late," he said before I went to on that patrols. It was a quiet night as I was running with my boys before we split up. I went to the south end of our territory before I saw the human settlement below. It was the city of Paphos before I sense that smell.

'Mine,' my wolf purred as I can sense our hearts were beating fast. She was here. I can sense it in my veins but who? Who could be the one that just showed up and my wolf started to purr at the scent?

'Mine,' it growled happily as I was trying to control the urge to find her. Not like this, when I was a big, scary hairy werewolf. The human did not know about us but they have legends to keep them in the game.

'We will find her later,' I said to my wolf before he growled. I controlled it and it submitted it to me.

'Make her ours,' it said before I was looking at the city. She must be in the city and I will find her. She will be mine at last.

Stella Canali's POV

The sun was shining and I was ready for an adventure. I got out of bed at 6 AM and headed to the shower. Today was the first day that I will be exploring for one week in Paphos. I can hardly wait last night as I went to bed.

I hummed in the shower as I felt like someone that has no care in the world. I was happy and I think I can count when I was really happy. It was at this time.

And the time when I was with him.

No, stop it, Stella! Stop thinking about that douche. You are better than him and you will have a better deal than him.

I pushed that thought away as I was looking at the mirror. The jet lag was still lingering on my mind but I pushed it away. I will constantly yawn but I will try to control it. Just this once.

I put on my sundress with the sandal as I was ready to explore the city. I heard there was a cafe that was so good that I can hardly contain the excitement.

"Now, let's tackle the breakfast first," I said as I went out of the room and went down to the lobby by the elevator. No one was up yet or maybe they just simply order room service.

For me, when you were on vacation, it was the best time to explore the locals. That's what I have learned my years of exploring in Verona and Milan. I was born and raised in Rome so when I went to study in Verona, it was a nice adventure.

I walked out of the lobby as I saw the same receptionist as last night. I waved at him as he smiled at me. I was smiling as I went outside, the sun was shining with its dewy scent all over the town.

"Such a nice morning," I said as I went to find the place that was supposed to be the most popular one. I searched on Google that it was located near my hotel but I don't know if it was near. You can never trust the map on Google anyway.

I went around the corner and I saw that the lines for the cafe that I was searching for. I was screaming with delight before I went running across the street. I forgot to look at both sides before crossing. There was a car that was coming my way and I froze on the street.

"Look out!" Someone shouted as I was still standing there. Then, someone pushed me away as I was hitting the ground with someone growled on top of me.

Growl?

I went to look up and I met his eyes. It was the palest eyes I have ever seen in my life and I think my heart stopped beating as I took in his feature.

Straight nose, aristocratic for sure.

High cheekbones and chiseled jaws.

And those kissable lips. I saw it was close on top of mine and it was snarling at me.

"Are you fucking out of your mind?" It moved and when I realized that he was talking to me, anger consumed my body.