Moonlit ice; A wolf's fated mate

Roman POV

My wolf snarls, clawing at the edges of my mind as I turn away from Leera. Her scent spun sugar and honeysuckles clung to me, a ghost of Imogen that shouldn’t exist. The locker room buzzes with my teammates’ chatter, but it’s all static against the roar in my chest. She growled. A human shouldn’t growl, not like that. My mismatched eyes burn, my vision sharpening as my wolf fights to break free. I need air. I need answers.

I shove past Benny, ignoring his raised eyebrow, and head for the exit. The hallway’s fluorescent lights hum, the concrete walls closing in. Leera’s scent lingers, pulling me back like a tether. My boots echo as I stride toward the arena’s side door, the cold Ohio night biting through my jacket. The moon hangs low, nearly full, its light slicing through the trees. It’s mocking me, the Moon Goddess’s gift turned curse. Imogen was my mate. My only mate. So why does Leera’s scent hit me like a blade?

“Roman, hold up!” Benny’s voice cuts through my thoughts. He jogs up, his athletic frame filling the doorway. His dark eyes narrow, scanning me. “What the hell was that back there? You dropped like a pup in front of that girl.”

“Not now,” I growl, my voice rougher than intended. I keep walking, the gravel crunching underfoot.

Benny grabs my arm. “Don’t pull that alpha crap with me. You smelled her, didn’t you? Like Imogen.”

I yank free, glaring. “Don’t say her name.”

He doesn’t flinch. “I’m your lieutenant, man. Talk to me. You collapsed, and she growled. That’s not normal for a human.”

“She’s not human,” I snap, then freeze. The words slip out before I can stop them. My wolf whines, certain of it, but my mind rebels. She can’t be a wolf. I’d have sensed it. Wouldn’t I?

Benny’s jaw tightens. “Are you sure about that? Because India’s already sniffing around, and she’s not happy.”

“India can go to hell,” I mutter, running a hand through my hair. Her green eyes and sharp tongue flash in my mind, her engagement to me a chain I never wanted. “This isn’t about her.”

“It’s always about her,” Benny says, crossing his arms. “She’s got her claws in deep, Roman. If she thinks this girl’s a threat”

“She is,” I cut in, my voice low. “Leera’s my mate.”

Benny stares, his mouth opening, then closing. “That’s… impossible. The Moon Goddess doesn’t give second chances.”

“Tell that to my wolf,” I say, pacing. The forest looms beyond the parking lot, Shawnee State’s trees whispering secrets. My wolf begs to run, to hunt, to find Leera and claim her. But I can’t. Not yet. “I need to see Meredith. She’ll know.”

“The elder?” Benny frowns. “She’s half-crazed, Roman. Lives in a cabin with no electricity.”

“She’s the only one who understands mate bonds,” I say. “I’m going. Cover for me with the team.”

Benny sighs, rubbing his neck. “Fine. But if India comes sniffing, I’m not lying for you.”

“Fair,” I say, clapping his shoulder. “Keep an eye on Leera. Discreetly.”

He nods, but his eyes are troubled. “Be careful, man. Something’s off about this.”

I don’t answer, already moving toward my truck. The engine roars to life, and I peel out of the lot, the moon’s light guiding me toward the forest. My mind churns Leera’s silver hair, her icy eyes, the way her scent hit me like a memory. Imogen’s been gone for centuries, her death a wound that never healed. Yet Leera’s growl, her fear, her pull it’s real. My wolf knows it, even if I don’t.

The drive to Meredith’s cabin is short, the dirt road bumpy under my tires. Her place is a shadow among the pines, smoke curling from the chimney. I park and knock, my breath visible in the chilly air.

“Roman,” Meredith’s voice rasps before the door creaks open. She’s ancient, her white hair wild, her eyes sharp despite her age. “I felt your wolf from a mile away. What’s wrong?”

I step inside, the cabin smelling of herbs and woodsmoke. A single candle flickers on a cluttered table. “I found her,” I say, my voice tight. “A girl. Her scent… it’s Imogen’s. But she’s human. Or I thought she was.”

Meredith’s eyes narrow, and she gestures to a chair. “Sit. Tell me.”

I do, the words spilling out Leera’s interview, my collapse, her growl. Meredith listens, her fingers tracing a pendant shaped like a crescent moon. When I finish, she’s silent, her gaze distant.

“A second mate,” she says finally, her voice low. “Rare, but not impossible. The Moon Goddess doesn’t play tricks, Roman. If your wolf claims her, she’s yours.”

“But Imogen” I start, my chest tightening.

“Imogen’s gone,” Meredith cuts in, gentle but firm. “This girl, Leera, she's not a replacement. She’s something new. A wolf, you say?”

“She growled,” I confirm, leaning forward. “But she didn’t know. She looked… scared.”

Meredith nods, her fingers tapping the table. “Suppressed, maybe. Some wolves are hidden, their nature locked away by magic or medicine. Check her past. Her family.”

“Her parents are dead,” I say, remembering Leera’s necklace, the pain in her eyes. “Car accident.”

Meredith’s eyes sharpen. “Convenient. Dig deeper. And watch your fiancée. India’s ambition is a poison.”

I grimace. “I’m handling India.”

“Are you?” Meredith’s tone is skeptical. “She’s not one to let go, Roman. Not when the throne’s at stake.”

I stand, my wolf restless. “I need to see Leera. Tonight.”

Meredith grabs my wrist, her grip surprisingly strong. “Be sure, Roman. A second mate is a gift, but it comes with a price. Protect her.”

I nod, pulling free. “I will.”

Back in my truck, I check my phone. A text from Benny: *Leera’s at her dorm. Zoey’s with her. India’s circling.* My grip tightens. India’s always been a problem, her father’s schemes tying her to me since we were pups. But Leera she’s different. Fragile, yet fierce. I need to know her, to understand why the Moon Goddess chose her.

I drive to campus, the dorms lit up against the night. Leera’s building is quiet, the lobby empty except for a bored security guard. I slip past, following her scent to the third floor. It’s stronger here, intoxicating. My wolf whines, urging me closer. I knock on her door, my heart pounding.

Zoey opens it, her eyes narrowing. “Roman? It’s late.”

“I need to see Leera,” I say, keeping my voice calm.

“She’s freaked out,” Zoey snaps. “What did you do to her?”

“Nothing,” I say, but guilt twists my gut. My reaction scared her. “Please. It’s important.”

Zoey hesitates, then steps aside. Leera’s on her bed, knees drawn up, her silver hair loose. She looks small, her icy eyes wide. That scent hits me again, and my wolf howls.

“Roman?” Her voice is soft, uncertain. “What’s happening to me?”

I step closer, ignoring Zoey’s glare. “You felt it, didn’t you? The growl. The pull.”

She nods, her fingers clutching her moonstone ring. “I thought I was losing it.”

“You’re not,” I say, kneeling to meet her gaze. “You’re… like me. A wolf.”

Her breath catches. “A what?”

Before I can explain, my phone buzzes. Benny again: *India’s at the rink. She knows about Leera. Move fast.* My blood runs cold. India’s jealousy is a blade, and Leera’s in its path.

“Leera,” I say, my voice urgent. “You’re not safe here. Come with me.”

She stares, fear and defiance warring in her eyes. “Why should I trust you?”

“Because,” I say, my wolf’s certainty bleeding through, “I’d die before I let anything happen to you.”

Her lips part, but before she can answer, the window shatters. Glass sprays across the room, and a dark figure moves in the shadows outside. Leera screams, and my wolf roars, ready to fight. Whoever’s out there, they’re here for her and I’ll tear them apart before they touch her.