Lycan 14 (HS) (Patreon)

word count: 1.7K 

author's note: hello everyone! i hope you enjoy tonight's chapter. happy reading! xx 

They sat in the softly lit dining room, side by side, shoulders touching, and their elbows occasionally bumping into each other as they ate. Y/N couldn't help but notice how swiftly everyone devoured their meals, as if they were racing against the clock. Before they knew it, they were left alone. The other pack members had stopped observing her after Harry introduced her as a friend, which eased the tension.

“So, you've known that we were mates all this time?” Y/N turned to Harry, who smiled and looked down at his bowl.

“Perhaps. Your scent is different to me,” Harry admitted, his eyes meeting hers. “Sweeter. It's rather enticing. When we touched, it confirmed my suspicions.”

Y/N blushed, surprised by Harry's straightforwardness. “You weren't really fighting over the hot sauce, were you?” She teased, raising an eyebrow.

Harry let out a hearty laugh. “I do like hot sauce, but I may have exaggerated just to have an excuse to talk to you.”

She smiled, a newfound sense of warmth filling her. Her life had changed dramatically in a matter of hours, and she felt like a different person. For the first time, she could truly understand what people meant when they spoke of having butterflies in their stomach.

“I'm sorry I couldn't tell you sooner,” Harry apologized, his eyes reflecting a tinge of guilt for how everything had been revealed to her so abruptly. “It definitely wasn't how I had planned to share this with you.”

“It's alright,” she sighed, feeling a sense of acceptance. “Either way, it would have been a shock to learn about another species or world beyond humans.”

“That's true,” Harry chuckled, his eyes reflecting the warmth in his heart. “I'm just glad I found you,” he confessed, a hint of happiness in his voice. “And I'm grateful you're giving us a chance.” Y/N smiled, doing her best to resist the urge to move closer to him and to reach out and touch him.

“Are you up for an adventure?” Harry asked as he wiped his mouth one last time and rose to his feet.

“Another one?” Y/N raised an eyebrow in playful surprise.

“I want to show you my favorite place on the territory,” Harry replied. He had been saving this special spot, dreaming of sharing it with his mate. Harry had wished for many moons and prayed for his mate for many years. Ruling the pack had become a struggle, and the members had started to wonder if his mate even existed. Finding a mate usually happened around the age of eighteen, but Harry had waited for ten long years to finally find Y/N. Rumors had spread throughout the pack, and many believed his mate had been lost, which could lead to the fall of the pack. It had taken immense self-control for Harry to remain composed.

“Alright,” she eagerly agreed, intrigued by the prospect of seeing more of the land and learning about the pack. Harry reached for her hand, and as their skin touched, a sensation coursed through Y/N's body. Goosebumps covered her skin, and a shiver ran down her spine. It was a strange and novel feeling, one she couldn't quite explain. Although she wanted to pull away, something within her kept her close.

Harry smiled down at her and reassured her, “It's alright.”

“What are you looking for?” Y/N inquired as he rummaged through a closet beside the front door, seemingly in a hurry.

“I'm trying to find you a hoodie or something to keep warm,” Harry said, his focus on picking the perfect hoodie for her, one that would permanently belong to her.

“Why? I'm not cold,” Y/N pointed out.

“Trust me. It gets very chilly out there,” he replied, slipping the hoodie over her head and helping her get her arms through.

“It smells like you,” she commented as the oversized hoodie enveloped her. Harry grinned, his own wolf joyfully stirring within him, sensing the bond growing stronger.

“Perfect,” Harry beamed as he pulled the hoodie over her. “I want you to stay warm.”

“What about you?” Y/N asked as he gently tugged the strings, tightening the hoodie around her head.

“I'm constantly warm. It's another wolf thing,” Harry explained as he led the way outside. The weather was changing, and it appeared as though rain was imminent. The air felt different, more humid, and the sky was darkening. The temperature was dropping noticeably. Y/N gripped the sleeves of the hoodie, understanding why Harry had been so insistent on bundling her up.

“Do you have any siblings?” Y/N was trying to get to know him better. There was definitely a lot that she didn’t know about him.

“No. I am an only child” Harry smiled at her as he gripped her hand tighter. “I definitely wanted siblings, but my parents said their hands were already full with me” he slightly laughed. “They still live in the territory”.

“Oh that’s nice” She was suddenly nervous, and Harry could sense it. Y/N was jealous of him, but in a good way. It seemed like he had a good relationship with his parents. Something that she lacked.

“You'll meet them when the time is right. Don't worry about it. They are very kind,” he reassured her with a reassuring smile. “In fact, I think they'll be relieved that I've finally found you.”

For the first time, Y/N felt a sense of belonging and care. She had always felt like an outsider, never quite fitting in. But in less than a day, Harry had managed to make her feel like she truly belonged.

“What's that place?” Y/N pointed to a small yet beautiful temple nestled at the base of the mountain. It was distinct from the other locations in the territory, hidden and secluded, more private. “Does someone live there?”

“No, it's a temple. My great-grandfather built it during a challenging period in the pack's history,” Harry explained as they passed by it. They had ventured away from the paved roads and the town's bustling shops.

“A temple to whom?”

“Remember when I told you about the Moon Goddess? It's dedicated to her.” Harry gripped her forearm as she stumbled over a tree branch. “I've got you.”

“Who was she?” Y/N inquired.

“Her name was Selene. She was the sister of the sun god and the goddess of dawn. Selene fell in love with a mortal named Endymion, a shepherd who lived on Earth, unlike her. She would visit him every night, observing mortals during the day and witnessing their eventual deaths. But her love for Endymion was so deep that she couldn't bear the thought of his death.” Harry recalled how his mother used to read him stories about the origins of the wolves and their connection with the Moon Goddess. She often emphasized that his role was not just to protect the pack but to connect with its members on a spiritual level.

As they continued walking into the woods, Harry continued with the story.

“Selene cast a spell on him, putting him into a deep sleep for eternity just so she could be with him. Endymion remained unchanged and eternally young. She never saw him awake again so that he would never die. When Selene created the wolves to assist mortals, she made sure they would never be alone. She wanted all wolves to experience the depth of love she felt for Endymion, which is why we're mated for life.”

“Selene is the moon goddess, then?” Y/N asked, feeling like they had been walking for hours but captivated by the story.

“Yes. People go to the temple to pray for guidance in finding their mates. After all, it's the Moon Goddess who assigns our mates. Our world revolves around her. She protects and blesses us and pairs us with a mate. We owe a great deal to her. That's why the female leader of the pack is called Luna, which means 'moon' in Latin. The Luna is essentially our moon goddess on Earth.”

Y/N now grasped the magnitude and importance of her role within the pack. She wasn't just Harry's mate; she was the leader of the pack. The future and survival of the pack hinged upon her.

“It's getting cold,” she whispered, her fingers tightly clutching his biceps. Harry concentrated on the path ahead, trying to divert his focus from the fiery sensation her touch ignited on his skin.

“It's because we're getting close,” Y/N smiled, her ears picking up the sound of water. Harry had heard the water long before her, tracing its soothing melody since they passed the temple.

Harry led her to a waterfall he had discovered when he was just sixteen, following an argument with his father. It wasn't the largest waterfall, but it was undeniably stunning. The water cascaded against the dark rocks, creating a striking contrast, and the area was filled with a palpable energy. The water tumbled into a small, bright blue lagoon, surrounded by numerous trees. The moonlight danced on the water's surface, giving the place a magical, almost fantastical aura.

“It's beautiful,” Y/N whispered as she approached the water's edge. Harry reached out for her hand and held it firmly.

“I don't want you to fall in. It's pretty chilly,” he mentioned. He had taken countless dips in the lagoon, as it was his favorite spot for swimming. However, Y/N was human, and the cold water could be dangerous for her.

“Thank you,” she turned to him, a wide smile on her face. “For sharing this place with me.”

“I'm glad I can finally bring you here,” their hands were still entwined, and Harry seized the opportunity to wrap an arm around her. As he hugged her gently, he silently hoped she wouldn't reject his affections.

His heart skipped a beat when he felt her hug him back with equal intensity and enthusiasm.