"Love is not in our choice, but in our fate." - John Dryden

Mates are the one thing we are guaranteed in life. If no one loves you, at least you know that one day your mate will. It doesn't matter how you look or what your ranking is. The only thing that is important is the bond.

It's ingrained in our minds as pups that we are allowed to love one person in this life. Relationships are basically doomed from the start because someone will end up getting hurt once a mate is found. But who was going to tell the future alpha of one of the strongest packs not to date?

I have never loved Zane. The only person I've loved romantically is my mate. My mate who was supposed to love me no matter what happened. He was supposed to love me even if I drove him crazy. My mate was going to love me and treat me like a queen. Unfortunately for me, the man I've never loved and the one who I have loved forever are the same damn person.

No matter what happens, Zane will always be the one for me. Not because I love him, but because he was made for me. It was written in the stars. My soul is forever tainted with his memory.

I can't say I don't believe in love, because I do. I've seen love with my own eyes with my parents. I saw it with Luna Lucile and Alpha Giovanni. Love is a phenomenon that consumes people. It grabs onto our hearts and never lets go. When you love someone you will love them forever. No matter how much they hurt you, there will always be a part of your heart that keeps the memory of the love you had.

He will always love Isabel.

After the encounter with Zane, I had been too tired to shift into my wolf again. By the time I reached my house, my feet were covered in dirt. I was strong the whole walk here but the second I see Isabel's window, my eye sheds a tear.

"Oh, my goddess! Are you alright?"

I can barely see with the tears in my eyes but I see a blur of blonde hair.

"I'm fine."

"Trust me, you're not. Follow me."

I take the woman's hand and let her lead me away. For all, I know she could be a rogue taking me to my death but my heart hurts too much to care. As we approach our destination, my tears start to slow down.

"Here sit on the rock."

I follow her directions and finally look towards the sky. The sight of the lake takes my breath away. I've lived here my whole life but it never ceases to amaze me. The water is crystal clear and despite all the tourists, it's usually quite solemn.

"We live in a beautiful place don't you think?"

Her voice pulls me from my thoughts. I inspect her face and even though she seems familiar, I can't think of a name to match her angelic face.

"I'm sorry, do I know you?"

"My name's Lilia Dupont."

"Wait I do know you, you're the girl who moved to France."

"That's me!"

France. Any place away from here sounds like a good place to go. Plus, I've always wanted to see the Arc de Triomphe.

"What's the reason for your tears?"

"Why do you care?"

"Well I'm a good person, and you're the strongest girl in this pack so it's kind of weird to see you cry."

What am I supposed to tell her? My mate is in love with my sister and I hate him, but for some reason, my heart still feels like it is shattered?

"My mate loves someone else."

"Oh no, I'm so sorry."

"Yeah."

"You know the bond always wins right? He won't be able to resist you for long."

To no one's surprise, I didn't believe her. Once upon a time, I might have believed those words. That was a time when my vision was blurred by the notion of love.

At that very moment, I had decided something. Today would be the last day I would cry for Zane De Luca.

"Lilia, do you have something to cry about?"

"Why?"

"I don't want to cry alone."

She smiled. Then we proceeded to release our sadness until there was no sadness left.

You have to send her away.

You have to send her away.

My mind was a mess. All I could think about were the words the elder had said.

The only way to resist the bond is distance.

The thought of sending her away made me feel anxious. If she was far away, how would I know she was safe? How am I supposed to keep the entire male species away from her if she's not close by?

Shut up, Rafael.

What irked me more was what the elder said after she told me to send Alessandra away.

You can send her to the moon, but all you are doing is delaying the inevitable.

If I make sure I never see her again then I don't have to worry about anything.

Some might say I was being a prick. They would be correct. I'm doing this for myself, but I'm doing it for Alessandra too. She deserves a mate who will give her his heart completely. Someone who loves her because of who she is, not because of the mate bond.

I've lived my life being tied to one woman. A woman who cheated on me and obliterated the little part of my heart I had left. I want to live my life, the life I would have lived had Isabel not been in it.

I can't look at Alessandra without being reminded of my past. She reminds me of betrayal and pain. How do you love someone when all you feel for them is hate? How do I give her my heart when I'm questioning if I have one in the first place?

I have to find my soul before I find my soulmate. So I'll do it, I'll let her go, for both of us.