Winter had run in her wolf form as deep in the forest as she could. It took her a long time before her wolf settled down, not wanting to kill the girl Charlie had kissed in front of her eyes.

She felled so confused, why was she suddenly so attracted by him? She had never liked him in that way. As one of Aster's best friends he had always looked out for her, he was even the first to find her that night.

But he never pursued her romantically. So why did it all change now?

The fur off Winter's light grey wolf sparkled beneath the moonlight. She just wanted to talk to her mother for advice, as a Luna she would know what was happening to her. But she couldn't. And Robin would immediately tell Aster so that wasn't an option either.

Winter stopped at a beautiful lake, the moon started to rise and she knew that it was almost time. She could feel how her body was changing getting ready for a new chapter in her life. Maybe a dive would calm her and her wolf down, so that's exactly what Winter did.

When Winter had approached the town, she had changed back in her human form, she had put her clothes back on and walked back. She must have been gone for hours since everybody had already left home.

Her birthday hour had already passed, but there was nobody left to celebrate it with. There was nobody left. Since she escaped the party she hadn't eaten and she felt how her stomach rumbled. Winter made her way over towards the fire, looking for some leftovers. Knowing the pack, much food would be left out since most of them would be too drunk to clean up.

Winter nestled herself in a comfortable chair in front of the fire and took a slice of cake. She saluted herself and took a bite. Suddenly something happened to her.

The most delicious, mouth-watering smell filled her nose. The smell was indescribable, it wasn't like anything she had smelled before. Winter looked around but nobody was near, she shook her head. Maybe she just had imagined everything.

She took another bite and felt how her wolf was on alert. There it was again; it was a smell Winter didn't want to stop smelling. It was the most heavenly combination she had ever smelled. It smelled so pure and manly, combined with fresh pine apple and a woody smell.

Her wolf started to purr, load and clear. Winter couldn't help herself she felt something pull at her, it pulled hard at her core. She wanted to inhale that scent, nestle herself in it. She wanted to smell nothing more. And then she saw him. 'Mate' her wolf screamed and he howled loudly.

Charlie had been restless for the rest of the night, ever since he had seen Winter. She was so goddamn beautiful. He had known for a long time that she was his mate, but no matter how hard he thought about it, he saw only one solution. He had known that that was the only way.

So, he had kissed the blonde in front of him. When he saw the pain and rejection in his mate eyes, his wolf almost lost it. He had taken the blonde back to her room, but nothing had happened he couldn't get her out of his mind. He had tossed and turned all night but sleep wouldn't come.

He had just decided to go down to get something to eat when the most majestic smell had hit him. He wanted to go back, because he knew damn well what it was, there was only one thing that smelled this good. But his wolf took over, he wanted to fix his previous mistakes.

Charlie walked completely on autopilot outside. Sniffing the air over and over again it was filled with the smell of apples and cinnamon, the most delicious smell ever. And then he saw her. 'Mate' his wolf screamed and a growl escaped his throat 'mine' his wolf roared. And he couldn't stop himself.

Winter saw how Charlie walked straight up to her. She felt how a pool of desire rose from her belly, how her wolf couldn't stop herself. 'Get to him.' She said and without thinking Winter ran over towards him.

With each step she took his eyes darkened, she could feel how much she wanted him, how much she wanted to burry herself in his neck, his arms wrapped around her. Most off all she wanted to please and love him until there was no tomorrow.

Winter jumped and Charlie caught her with ease. He wrapped her legs around his waist. She noticed how heavy her breathing had become, but Charlie's breathing was just as heavy as hers. His eyes pitch black only focused on her lips.

She closed her eyes and inhaled his smell, unconsciously she squeezed her hips together and a howl pierced to the sky. Before Winter could register what was happening, Charlie had pressed her back against a three and his warm lips landed on her mouth.

They roamed over her mouth and it was the best feeling she had ever felt. The kiss quickly became demanding and he softly bit her under lip demanding access. Winter opened her mouth while her hands gripped his blond hair firm. She felt how Charlie pushed her dress aside and his hands roamed over the lace edge of her panties covering her bottom.

"Fuck" he moaned in the kiss and pressed himself harder against her.

His tongue slipped into her mouth and licked everything from top to bottom. A sensational shiver went through Winter's body and a soft moan escaped her lips. Charlie broke the kiss and they both tried to catch their breath while resting their forehead against each other.

"You are my mate." Winter whispered softly.

And before Charlie could respond she kissed him again. Wrapping herself even tighter against him, taking the lead. Her hands went over his hard-exposed chest and he moaned loudly as she nibbled at his bottom lip. She started to trail kisses a long his neck and jawline and he pushed himself even deeper against her.

Winter licked from his ear over his neck towards his chest. She felt how his hands reached over towards her back and making way to the front towards her breasts. They were almost dry humping against the three.

Winter had never felt so good, never felt so safe as in this moment. She and her wolf couldn't be happier. They had found their mate. She wanted never to let him go, stay like this forever.

"Charlie." Winter whispered softly.

"You are here." She said.

And in that moment, he froze.

Charlie placed Winter down he saw the confusion in her eyes. He couldn't do it, he just couldn't. Those were the exact words she had said to him that night.

He pressed her tight against his chest he knew what he had to do. But he wanted to inhale her scent one last time, feel her against his body one last time. His wolf became anxious, he didn't agree with Charlie. He wanted to mark his mate and spent every moment of the rest of his life with her. But he simply couldn't.

He took her head in his hands, this would hurt a lot. He had no doubt in his mind, this was the hardest thing he ever needed to do. His wolf was ready to come out. To stop him and to mark his mate. But Charlie wouldn't let him.

Winter placed her small hands on top of his big hands and she smiled up at him.

"You have no idea how happy I am." She almost whispered.

"Winter don't." he said coldly.

She looked confused at him.

"What do you mean? You are my mate, aren't you?" she asked eyes filled with doubt.

"The feelings I have right now are over whelming, I felt so good, safe and loved I your arms. I don't want to ever leave you."

"Winter don't." Charlie said stern again.

"We can't." He added.

Winter felled how her wolf became alert, sensing there was something wrong. Sensing that what was about to happen would hurt her a lot.

"Winter Hope Whitefortis, I Charlie Pierce Einar reject you as my mate."

Winter looked shocked at Charlie.

"You can't, please don't do this." She softly whispered.

But it was already too late. Winter felt how a hard pain rose in her chest. She felt how her wolf howled in pain and how her heart shattered in a million pieces.

"I can't be your mate, Winter. You deserve someone better."

Charlie released her face and watched her.

Winter clenched her chest clawing at the gaping hole in her chest.

"You need to say something back."

"Why?" she asked.

"Why did you do it?" She yelled at him.

"I can't be your mate Winter. It's because what happened that night. You need to answer my rejection Winter."

"Fuck off." She answered and collapsed against the ground.

Charlie quickly tried to help her back up.

"Get your hands off me." She hissed.

Tears streamed down her face.

"Please Winter, you need to accept my rejection." Charlie begged.

"Wasn't I clear?" she asked coldly through her tears.

"I don't want to ever see you again, let alone talk to you. So, fuck off." She answered with each word her heart broke a little further.

Winter watched how Charlie walked away from her. How he seemed unaffected by this all. But she knew she had to find a way through this all. Her wolf was as heartbroken as she was.

'How could he?' Her wolf wined.

"I am sorry." Winter whispered.

She found the courage to drag herself inside. She needed a drink something strong preferably. As she grabbed a bottle of whiskey, she heard a voice.

"He rejected you, didn't he?"

Winter turned around and faced her father. He had a huge smirk on his face.

"You aren't good for anything. You can't even please your own mate." He continued.

"At least I know how to please my pack." Winter was so done with all of it.

"Hold your tongue, don't forget your place."

"Don't forget your place." Winter spat back.

She was done taking shit from her father.

"Aster is coming for you, and he will have the full support of the pack. And I will make damn sure of it. You're a pathetic old man." She saw how he turned angry at her.

"He probably didn't want you because you are a whore, have you seen how you are dressed?"

Winter couldn't take it anymore. She grabbed her glass and tossed it at his head. He moved and it passed right beside his head.

"Winter stop it." He sent out alpha vibes to make her stop to let her obey.

But Winter was done listing instead she grabbed the bottle and tossed it at his head.

"I should have killed you right after you were born. I knew from the start that you would be trouble. That you aren't good for anything." He spat and took a threatening step towards her.

"Even that night you almost failed to do what was asked off you. You just had to sleep with him and our debt was settled." She looked shocked at her father.

"I paid for your debt?" she asked shocked.

He laughed loudly.

"Don't flatter yourself, it isn't because he liked you. He just wanted to fuck you."

Winter felt how the tears started to form back in her eyes.

"Aster is going to crush you, you are done. You are death and I will make sure of it."

As she said those last words her father's face changed. He grabbed his chest; his face was filled with pain.

"Winter." He choked out.

"Help me."

Winter watched him; she could clearly hear that something was wrong with his heart.

"You should have killed me when you had the chance." She said and turned around.

Tears rolled over her cheeks. She was done with this life, done with everything. As she made her way to her room, she heard how her father fell down and still she didn't move to help him.

Winter's mind was set. She knew what she wanted and what she didn't. She tossed a large bag on her bed and started to fill it with her most important belongings.

She opened her lingerie drawer and removed a couple of bras until she had found her hidden cash. She rolled it up in a small package.

As she removed her dress, she looked in the mirror, a red spiral started to form over her heart and it went down towards her tummy. Winter traced the scar that was forming with her finger tips and fresh tears rolled over her cheeks.

With all the pain she had endured; the rejection of her mate, the betrayal of her father. It had all been too much. It was as if her wolf was digging her way out. But she knew that she couldn't let her wolf free, because that would be like a wild animal on the loose, killing everything on its path.

Winter grabbed the money and tucked it safely in her bra. She changed in a black skinny pair of jeans and a large grey sweater. She tied her hair in a high bun and took a seat at her desk.

Winter needed to say goodbye to her brothers, she had to give them a decent explanation to why she left them.

And so, she started on the hardest goodbye of her life.